Historical information
The 39th Battalion, The Hawthorn Kew Regiment was allied with The Dorsetshire Regiment (British Army) in 1931. It is believed that as a token of friendship to commemorate the alliance, the officers of The Dorsets gifted the officers of the 39th Battalion with a number of their mess dress jackets which the 39th then adopted as a unit-specific mess dress; using their unit badges and Australian Army accoutrements. It is believed the jackets were worn throughout the 1930's until the start of WWII when it became harder to source the jackets.
Physical description
39th Battalion, The Hawthorn Kew Regiment Officer's Mess Dress Jacket c.1931
Subjects
References
- The Lineage of the Australian Army by A Festberg c.1972 p.97
