Outfit First Aid for Mechanised Units

Hinged, black, flat, rectangular, steel box with two securing clasps and a steel rod carry handle. The lid of the box has been impressed with a Broad Arrow Mark and below that the text 'FIRST AID OUTFIT MECH. UNIT' in khaki lettering with a red cross stencilled below the text. The inside lid has a printed sheet attached to it, listing the contents as they were in 1943. The box contains the following items. Two unwrapped rolled bandages; one 'FIRST FIELD DRESSING'; one 'SHELL DRESSING'; a small cardboard box containing glass 'MOP IODINE AMPOULES'; a small buff envelope containing twelve steel safety pins; two packaged 3 and 2 inch x 6 yards neat edge 'Listers' 'WHITE OPEN WOVE BANDAGES'; one packet of 'SIMPLEX' razor blades; One orange bakelite eye bath and one red 'CARDINAL' brand tobacco tin containing some unrelated items. These are, two 'AUSTRALIA' oxidised brass shoulder titles, two pennies fashioned into miniature slouch hats, one partly completed heart shaped, rising sun sweetheart brooch in clear plastic, one nickel plated Mauser bullet (projectile only), one brass tube containing small flechettes, one 'AMF' button, one cufflink, one brass cylinder and one small steel rule.

This medical kit was used by Craftsman VX122839, Robert Bruce Cairns, who enlisted in the Australian Army on 25 January 1943 at Bendigo in Victoria. His last posting was to the 2/7 Australian Advanced Workshop. He was discharged on 26 October 1946.