Australian Army issue ground sheet : Private T W J Lupton, 1 Battalion Royal Australian Regiment

Olive drab nylon groundsheet and sleeping bag cover. The left side of the groundsheet has four pairs of press studs for opening and closing. An olive green nylon strip runs along under these press studs. A flap is also attached to the left side. Olive green nylon tabs are sewn along the bottom of the groundsheet. A white cotton manufacturers plate is sewn inside with black ink stamped 'C.G.C.F. / AUSTRALIA / 1961 / SIZE / D (Government broad arrow) D / 7210-66-011 5816'. On the outside of the groundsheet in white ink is the remnants of a manufacturers stamping, 'D (Government broad arrow) D / C.G.C.F.'. Hand written in black ink on the upper inside of the groundsheet is 'LUPTON'.

This particular type of Australian Army issued groundsheet could be clipped to a woollen blanket liner and used as an improvised light weight sleeping bag for the hot conditions encountered by the Australian Army in South East Asia. These groundsheets were also used to cover normal sleeping bags. This groundsheet was used in South Vietnam by 213548 Private Thomas William John Lupton, born 28 March 1943. Lupton served in South Vietnam with 1 Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) from 5 June 1965 to 3 June 1966. He later served nine years in the Australian Regular Army. He retired from the Army with the rank of corporal with 2RAR.