Frock coat : Lieutenant Colonel S Rowell, Australian Army Staff Corps

Dark blue superfine wool double-breasted frock coat with stand collar. The collar is secured by two large black metal hooks and eyes which are protected by a small fabric tab. Attached to collar on each side is a gilt badge depicting a lion on top of an Imperial crown with a blue enamel banner with STAFF CORPS over a boomerang. Attached to the left breast are ribbons for OBE, 1914-1915 star, British War Medal 1914-1920 and Victory medal. Sleeves are plain with two small buttons and buttonholes at the bottom. Two rows of buttons down the front, six in each row at equal distances. There is one button on each side of the waist and one lower on each side of the mock sword flap and skirt. Vent extends from the waist to the hem. Shoulder straps are black superfine wool and attached to the coat by an underpiece passed through a loop on the lower part of the shoulder, and fastened on the top by a small button which passes through both underpiece and shoulder strap. The top of the shoulder strap is triangular. Stitched to the shoulder strap is a star and crown, signifying rank of lieutenant colonel. All the gilt buttons have the same emblem as the collar badge with AUSTRALIAN STAFF CORPS around the edges and were made by A.J.PARKES BRISBANE. Frock coat is fully lined with black silk/cotton mixture and quilted on the upper half. There are two brass hooks and eyes to fasten the coat around the waist.

Sydney Rowell was born on 15 December 1894 at Lockleys, South Australia. In 1911 he became one of the Royal Military College, Duntroon's first students; he was commissioned on 14 August 1914, and joined the 3rd Light Horse Regiment.

Ill with pneumonia, Rowell did not join the regiment in Egypt until early 1915. Soon afterwards he broke his leg. He arrived at Gallipoli on 12 May 1915 but was soon hospitalised in Malta. He returned to the peninsula but was evacuated with typhoid in November and returned to Australia. He taught at Duntroon until June 1917.

In 1937 he joined the Imperial Defence College, England as a lieutenant colonel.
Back in Australia, Rowell was appointed Chief of Staff in the 6th Division shortly after the beginning of the Second World War. In February 1940 he was appointed Brigadier, General Staff on the headquarters of I Australian Corps under Thomas Blamey.

In March 1942 Rowell was given command of I Corps and promoted to temporary lieutenant general. He was sent to Papua to command New Guinea Force in July 1942 and made responsible for defending Port Moresby and recapturing Kokoda.