Full dress overalls : Captain J P Chirnside, Victorian Horse Artillery

Dark blue wool twill overalls with wool instep straps, high buttoned waist, buttoned fly opening and wide 4.5cm gold hussar pattern lace down the outer seams. The waist lined with undyed linen and a striped cotton twill fabric. There is a single curved welt pocket at the waist on the wearer's right side. The top edge of the waist is finished with a narrow black silk band. Several lines of handstitching across the waist lining probably to keep the lining from riding up. The buttons are black coated brass made by HAIGH BROS. MELBOURNE.

John Percy Chirnside was born on 2 October 1865 at Skipton, Victoria. He was the youngest son of Andrew Chirnside, pastoralist. His father, and uncle Thomas, built the mansion Werribee Park in the mid-1870s where Percy settled following his education at Geelong Grammar School and overseas. Seeking a military career, Percy was commissioned a lieutenant in the Victorian Field Artillery Brigade in June 1887. In 1889 he took command of a half-battery of the Victorian Horse Artillery at Werribee that his father helped to raise and maintain financially, including horses, uniforms, drill hall and stables. After his father's death in 1890, Percy and his brother continued to maintain the half-battery and Percy returned to England for several months training at Woolwich and Aldershot. In January 1893 he was promoted to Captain but the following month the government disbanded the Werribee half-battery and Percy was placed on the reserve list of officers. He retired in 1897, having won a seat in Parliament in 1894. In June 1905, he was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George and after the First World War was made an Officer of the Order of the British empire. During the war he served with the Remount Section of the British Army and was twice mentioned in dispatches for his work. He died in Melbourne on 6 January 1944.