Service dress tunic : Lieutenant E G J Harkness, 2 Battalion AIF

Australian Army khaki drab wool twill tunic tailored from the early-war style. The tunic has an open (step) collar with four large oxidised buttons for closure. There are general servie oxidised brass Rising Sun badges on the collar, and small holes, perhaps from Harkness' previous militia service. All the buttons have standard 'AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES', surrounding a map of Australia surmounted by a crown. They were all made by 'STOKES & SONS MELBOURNE'. The shoulder straps are secured to the tunic near the collar with a small Australian Military Force button. There are two pips, indicating rank of lieutenant, and holes , perhaps from a metal militia shoulder title. The patch pockets on the breast are box-pleated with three-pointed scalloped flap. The flaps are secured with oxidised brass buttons. Below the attached waistband are large plain patch pockets with expanding sides and a straight flap. The general service buttons, collar badges, and curved 'AUSTRALIA' titles, are oxidised brass. The sleeves have pointed cuffs, and there are no colour patches. The sleeves are lined with a fine white cotton plain weave, with light blue stripes, but the rest of the tunic is unlined. There is a unfinished inside yoke lining of the same tunic material, extending to the top of the sleeves. The shoulder pads are uncovered, and can be easily accessed under the inside yoke. On the inside, just below the collar is the paper maker's label, 'A.S. MORROW, Civil and Military Outfitter 25 P.O. Chambers'. '401 Lt Harkness' is handwritten on the label. There is a narrow khaki twill hanging loop stitched above the label and a small patch pocket on the inside of the left breast. There is a brass belt hook on the proper left of the waist and a small lined watch pocket on the proper right waistband, near the tunic opening.

Worn by Lieutenant Edward George John Harkness (service number 7343) 2nd Battalion 1st AIF. He enlisted on the 6th March 1915, but was killed in action at Gallipoli during a battle at Lone Pine on the 6th or 8th August 1915. He is buried in the Lone Pine cemetery, Anzac, Gallipoli.
Prior to World War One, Harkness served for five years as 2nd lieutenant with the 31st infantry in commissioned service.