Winter service dress trousers : Flying Officer J A Harris RAAF, 43 Squadron, RAF

RAAF blue officer's winter service dress trousers with front pleats. The trousers have a concealed five button fly, and six buttons around the inside of the waistband for the attachment of braces. The buttons are each stamped with the maker's details 'WARDROP PTY. LTD. MELBOURNE'. The waistband is slightly raised and notched at the back and lined with white linen fabric. There are pockets in each side seam and a small inset pocket above the right pocket. There is also a rear inset pocket on the right side. All of the pockets are lined with white linen. The rear waistband has a white cotton tag embroidered with the manufacturer's details 'Wardrop's of MELBOURNE COLLINGWOOD, GEELONG APPROVED MILITARY TAILORS'. The tag is also marked in red ink with 'F/O HARRIS 32671 July 1945'. The waistband extends to fasten on the right side with two slide buttons. Each hip has an adjusting strap with a black metal buckle that attaches to the two rear straps lined with black polished cotton, these are designed to adjust the waist size. On the inside of each cuff a small strip of black leather has been sewn into the back to prevent wear from heels.

Worn by 407618 Flying Officer James Arthur Harris of 43 Squadron, RAF . Harris was born in 1920 in Gawler, South Australia. He worked as a clerk until his enlistment in the RAAF on 7 December 1940. He trained in Australia and Southern Rhodesia, qualifying as a sergeant pilot. After obtaining their wings Harris and fellow trainees were on their way to England when torpedos struck their ship. The Australians stuck together and managed to board a small life boat with one South African, some RAF officers and one WAAF. They were rescued by a Polish Cargo ship five hours after the ship sunk. He flew briefly in Egypt and North Africa before moving to England where he was posted to 43 Squadron, RAF, mainly flying Spitfires over France, North Africa, Italy and Malta. He was later commissioned. Harris was discharged on 1 October 1945.