WW2 Australian army tunics

[chippler]

Australian army 2/40th infantry btn. tunic. 1942 dated. It is named to TX4103 Jack Smith, who was a PoW

Australian army 2/31st infantry battalion tunic. 1942 dated. Named to TX140 Cpl. Jack Buckley

Australian army AEME tunic. 1941 dated. Named to SX9023 F.N Hissey

Australian allied HQ land forces tunic. 1942 dated. Named to TX12211 Albert Cashion

Australian army 7th div. artillery tunic. 1941 dated. Has the africa star riband.

Australian army 2/2 Forestry coy. tunic. 1941 dated. Named VX13773 F.C Starling

- Chris

 

[Harp]

Tunics

Impressive collection. :eusa_clap

 

[chippler]

thanks, mate. They took a few years to find but it's worth it.

- Chris

 

[Story]

Err...

What exactly did a "Forestry Company" do?

 

[chippler]

What exactly did a "Forestry Company" do?

lol I don't have a clue

- Chris

 

[dr greg]

in the woods

One could safely assume they would provide lumber for various buildings and shoring up artillery pits, dunnage, etc etc

 

[BellyTank]

Dunnage...

...now there's a word I haven't heard in a good few years.

Nice tunics Chris!

B
T

 

[dr greg]

expert advice

I think you might be the bloke who can tell me what this shirt is, "officer's formal?"

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Those tunics remind me of an occasion about 25 years ago in which I was an extra in a film about Simpson's Donkey, and we spent several days in full wool uniforms at the height of summer charging up and down sandhills with explosions going off etc. It made me appreciate in some small measure what a stinking hot ba***rd of a job soldiering can be, but then again the original Anzacs didn't have bikini-clad production assistants running round with spray bottles of water for their sweaty brows, although I'm sure it would have been appreciated.

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[chippler]

thanks for the replies, fellas.

Dr.Greg, that is indeed an officers shirt. It was made in Victoria for use by either an Australian or an American officer.

- Chris

 

[Archie Goodwin]

I am not sure what an Australian Forestry Company would do, but this is a descripton of a Canadian Forestry Company:

for various forestry tasks in the UK and France, including clearing airfields, preparing railway ties, and lumber for use in trenches, barracks, hospitals, road surfaces, crating ammunition, etc., as well as occasionally acting as infantry

Sounds somewhat similar to the Seabees here in the U.S. Build an airfield for the navy, then defend it with light arms until the marines show up. A very dangerous job.

 

[dr greg]

shirtfront

In that case Chippler, is it of interest to you, I just picked it up for my market stall, I'm more of a Hawaiian shirt guy, and it's too precious to wear around the farm.

 

[Benny Holiday]

I just checked out your wesbite Chris, some great pieces
of Aussie military history there. Thanks for sharing the pics
with us. Considering both military tunics and civilian suits
were made of such heavy wool back then, you gotta wonder
if people were cold-blooded back then or something! lol

How'd you come to get an interest in collecting those,
and where did you find them? I would guess old Army surplus
stores would have a few. Great collection!

 

[chippler]

hey Benny thanks for checking my site out and the compliment. You're right about how thick the tunics are... I once tried one on and I couldn't understand how someone could fight in one. They're itchy and fairly heavy.

I was told that back in the day you could find them at army surplus stores but now they're so popular you will usually only find them on eBay and in antique stores. I have acquired most of mine through online auctions however came across a few items via trades.

How did I get into it? About 5 years ago I was surfing eBay and saw a vietnam dated Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) slouch hat in Britain of all places. I asked my dad to buy it for me and that started off my collecting. I used to collect modern militaria but soon discovered the stuff from WW2 was way better. I had always thought I would never be able to get a WW2 slouch hat but now I have a fair few and the collection keeps growing

- Chris

 

[Benny Holiday]

My brother-in-law is ex-RAN, currently an Ambulance officer and mad about the military. (His grandfather was the first Australian to fly a Spitfire in Britain in WW2). From time to time we trawl the disposal stores in Sydney, a couple of them have interesting vintage articles. Next time we go, I'll keep my eye out for tunics and slouch hats for you mate, you never know what you might find in the right place! We even came across a US Navy anti-aircraft gunner's helmet last time we were scoping the usual haunts out!

fftopic: Good luck in the Cup today, I'll be checking the form out thoroughly in a short while and picking my horses.

 

[chippler]

Hi Benny, I have never found anything at a disposal store. Once a mate of mine did find a WW2 dated slouch hat with a leopard skin puggaree (hatband) at a Vinnies shop!

I would really appreciate it if you could keep an eye out for dated and patched WW2 slouchies and tunics for me.

I didn't take a punt on the cup but thought Maybe Better may get up. However it came third. Not bad, I guess.

- Chris

 

[Benny Holiday]

I'll be sure to look closely next time we go into the city, Chris. There are a couple of stores right in the city itself that I've seen some fascinating items in. One on George St has a whole collection of Nazi stuff, like original Hilter Jugend knives, some German caps and uniforms, and even a photo signed by Hitler himself! I wonder if any neo-nazi weirdos frequent the place!

I struck again yesterday, came out $135 in front after putting $20 on Tawqeet, $15 on Yeats and $10 on Delta Blues to win. I was also going to put $5 on Maybe Better, but the ticketing machine at the local TAB carked it halfway through me placing my bets! That's my formula every year, put some money across three horses, and I've come out in front 9 out of 10 years now. Everyone I know rings me up to get tips! But it's the only time I punt, I'd rather spend my dough on vintage threads.