Other Ranks service dress tunic : Sergeant L W Thompson, 21 Battalion AIF

Khaki wool gabardine tunic with stand and fall collar and oxidised brass Rising Sun (general service) badges at front collar edges secured with split brass pins. There are four sets of metal hooks and eyes to fasten the collar. Khaki wool shoulder straps are secured to the tunic with a small oxidised brass 'AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES' button and each has a curved, voided, oxidised brass 'AUSTRALIA' shoulder title. The front of tunic has four patch pockets with oxidised brass AMF buttons: the two breast pockets are box pleated with pointed flaps, and the pair below, attached to the integral belt, are larger and expanding with a straight flap. A wide waistband is secured with a brass buckle and the tongue is secured with a small black plastic button. The tunic is fastened with five large oxidised brass AMF buttons stamped on the rear with 'COMMONWEALTH '. At the top of each sleeve is a diamond shaped, black over red, horizontally divided wool colour patch for 21st battalion. There is a brass 'A' attached in the centre of the colour patch, indicating service in the Gallipoli campaign. Sleeves are gathered into straight cuffs secured with a brown plastic button. Sewn onto the upper right sleeve is a sergeant's woven inverted chevron. There are two gold Russian braid wound stripes on the proper left sleeve. The back of the tunic has a 50mm wide box pleat running down the centre from the base of the neck yoke. The tunic and pocket flaps are fully lined in brown cotton twill and the sleeves are lined with fine plain weave white/blue striped cotton.

This tunic was worn by 1738 Sergeant Leslie Wilson Thompson who enlisted in the AIF as a private on 6 April 1915, aged 24 years and nine months. He was originally assigned to the 22nd battalion, but transferred to the 2nd Reinforcement of 21st Battalion on July 1916. He embarked for overseas service and served at Gallipoli. After evacuation from Gallipoli, the battalion moved to France in March 1916. Thompson was wounded in action on 26 August 1916 possibly at Mouquet Farm near Pozieres and admitted to 2nd Eastern General Hospital, suffering from 'a mild gunshot wound to the chest'. While he was recovering, Thompson was employed by the Australian Army Pay Corps as a lance corporal. This rank was reverted to private on his return to his battalion in France in June 1917. However, in September 1917 he was promoted to sergeant. On the 21st September 1917, Thompson was wounded in action for the second time possibly during the battle of the Menin Road. After recovering in hospital in England, Thompson returned to his battalion in France who were around the Ypers area recovering from operations. A few months later, in late May 1918, he underwent musket training on Hayling Island, England. The reports were very positive about Thomson, having 'good knowledge of musketry on arrival.. very good progress during attendance. An excellent type of NCO. Good fit for musketry instructor position'. He returned to France after training in August possibly to the area around Hamel, Amiens and Mont St. Quentin. After loosing so many men in the 1918 offensive on the Western Front, the 21st battalion was no longer able to muster a company. They remained together for their last battle on the on 5 October at Montbrehain before being disbanded on the 13th October 1918. The 21st was the last battalion to withdraw from active campaigns. Thompson was transferred to the 24th battalion. He returned to Australia on 8 April 1919.