Plate 2

Transition of Field Uniforms

 

 

 

 

 

Officer Cadet, Marching Order, 1950s-early 1960s

The basic training uniform at OCS was protective dress, a free issue khaki drill combination which comprised pre-owned clothing from stock, embracing a wide variety of shirts, jackets and trousers. The slouch hat, with rising sun or OCS badge, had an alternative strapped on the back of the pack in the steel helmet of the two world wars. Equipment comprised 1937 pattern basic webbing, pack and haversack, with SMLE rifle and 1907 pattern bayonet. The inefficient 1937 pattern web anklets remained until introduction of the Australian pattern gaiter, then in 1973 by general purpose calf-length boots, nearly a decade after their first introduction into the army.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Officer Cadet, Winter Weapon Training Order, late 1970s-80s

Green drill protective dress was reintroduced into the army in the late 1950s for field force units, spreading to the army at large in the early 1960s. The original light khaki pullover was replaced by a heavyweight howard green one in the 1970s; the initial pattern of green trouser had also been replaced by the one depicted, as had ankle boots by general purpose boots. The US pattern web equipment replaced the 1937 pattern in the early 1960s, and the F1 submachine carbine the Owen gun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Officer Cadet, Battle Order, 1950s-early 1960s

Field dress was the same for summer and winter. Battledress was never afield order, being considered too good and used as both general duty and walking out dress in an army otherwise without a uniform between working dress and blue formal dress. The protective dress depicted was augmented with a lightweight pullover and greatcoat for cold weather use, a range of protection with a wide gap in the middle. Webbing remained the 1937 pattern, with the anklets retained, even though Australian pattern gaiters had been developed at the end of World War 2 and could be purchased in disposals stores.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Officer Cadet, Battle Order 1960s-80s

Until the early 1960s the Australian soldier's basic outfitting differed little in dress, equipment and weapons from that of his predecessor in the Western Desert in World War II. Reequipment took the quick and easy approach of buying American, a sensible measure to meet a neglected and overdue need. While the uniform was Australian and did not meet the lightweight, rip-stop and other beneficial characteristics of US developments, the web equipment, helmet and depicted M60 machine gun were direct and useful solutions to an urgent requirement. The general purpose boots were locally designed calf length leather with composite sole.