Historical information

Water Sterilization Outfit manufactured in Australia to sterilize water for use in the field by soldiers particularly deployed to Borneo and New Guinea/Kokoda Track Campaigns during WW2, where clean jungle drinking water was a matter of survival.
Item belonged to Robert Francis ISKOV VX15237 served with the 59th Battalion/Hume Regiment CMF before joining the 2/14th Battalion at Caulfield in September 1940. He disembarked for the Middle East in November, 1940 and fought in the Syrian campaign in 1941. In 1942 the 2/14th Battalion returned to Australia and sent to Papua where he fought at the Battle of Isurava before the battalion was sent to Gona. On 1943 Bob returned to Australia to undertake officer training and in 1945 with the 2/23rd Battalion sailed to Morotai and served with the battalion on Tarakan. He returned to Australia in November, 1945 and discharged a month later

Physical description

Rectangular tin with hinged lid containing two clear glass vials of water sterilization tablets. The tin is plain metal apart from the black lid with white lettering. The two vials are stoppered with cork. The thinner vial contains small round blue tablets, while the thicker vial contains a white substance and has a paper label titled '50 Sterilizing Tablets'.

Inscriptions & markings

LID - 'STERILIZING OUTFIT / FOR USE WITH / WATER BOTTLES / (KEEP DRY)