Pair khaki cord breeches : Captain P G Taylor, Royal Flying Corps

Place Europe: Western Front
Accession Number REL/00022D
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Uniform
Place made Australia: New South Wales, Sydney
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Khaki wool/cotton twill weave breeches. Pockets at hip fronts, llacings at cuffs with metal eyelets. Patches at inside knee of same fabric. Cuffs bound with tan coloured cotton twill tape. Tan coloured plastic buttons at fly and around exterior of waistband.

History / Summary

This breeches were worn by Captain (Pilot) Patrick Gordon Taylor, an Australian who served in the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). In 1915 he was appointed temporary lieutenant in 26 Battalion CMF, replacing a lieutenant who had joined the AIF. Keen to be on active service too, but rejected by the AIF, he travelled to England at his own expense to join the RFC. Commissioned with the rank of lieutenant on 12 August 1916, he was posted to 66 Squadron, which was equipped with Sopwith Pup scouts, and was awarded the Military Cross in July 1917. Promoted captain and served with 94 and 88 Squadrons. Returned to Australia in 1919.