Denison Smock : Captain R G H Gulliver, School of Land Air Warfare

Camouflage cotton twill paratrooper's Denison Smock (second pattern), as worn by British airborne troops. It has an Army parachutist's qualification wing on the right sleeve. The smock has a high stand collar, concealed brass zip fastening extending from neck to lower chest, shoulder straps fastened with brown Bakelite buttons, long sleeves with adjustment tabs at the cuffs with three brown Bakelite buttons. There are four patch pockets with pointed flaps fastened by a brass stud ont he front of the smock. There are side adjustment tabs with brass studs on each side seam at the hem, and an adjustable 'tail' passing between the legs, that is sewn to the centre back hem and adjusted at the centre front hem by means of three pairs of brass studs. The inside neck is lined with fine khaki wool and grey flannel. A lightweight khaki canvas panel is sewn over the entire back yoke. The same canvas has been used to reinforce the back edge of the collar. All seams are double stitched. The shoulder straps bear khaki drill shoulder slides with embroidered rank pips (yellow ground) for an Armoured Corps captain. A white label sewn inside the lower right hem is printed in black with the words 'SMOCK - DENISON (AIRBORNE TROOPS) SIZE 3 Height 5' 6" to 5' 8" Breast 36" to 38" JOHN GORDON & CO 1944' above a Broad Arrow marking.

Associated with the service of Robert Gordon Hamilton (Gordon) Gulliver, born 22 September 1913 in Brisbane. Aged 25 and working as a commercial traveller, Gulliver enlisted in the Militia in January 1939. He was assigned the number 401488 and served as a bombardier with 5 Field Brigade, Royal Australian Artillery. On 3 October he enlisted as a corporal in the Permanent Military Forces (PMF) and joined the Australian Army Service Corps (AASC) with the number QP8322. Gulliver was released from the PMF to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in May 1940. He was assigned the service number QX7498 and joined 2/1 Australian Corps Troops Supply Column. Gulliver was promoted to acting sergeant in June and received training at the Motor Transport School, Geelong before embarking from Sydney on 27 December and arriving at Hill 69 camp, Palestine in February 1941. Here he was admitted to hospital on several occasions suffering from appendicitis, fibrositis and a shoulder injury. In January 1942 Gulliver was transferred to 1 Australian Corps Troops Petrol Company and promoted to acting warrant officer class two. Gulliver and his unit left the Middle East in February and returned to Australia on 17 March. In August he was commissioned lieutenant and continued to serve with various ammunition and supply companies before embarking for New Guinea in July 1943. In November 1944 Gulliver returned to Australia. He completed the No. 12 Supply Drop Course at 1 Australian Parachute Training Centre in April 1945 and in October was appointed as instructor at the Army School of the AASC. He ceased his secondment to the AIF and transferred to the Interim Army in July 1946. In August 1947 Gulliver was appointed instructor of the Transport Wing and quartermaster of the RAAF School of Air Support, Laverton (renamed the School of Land Air Warfare in March 1948). In 1949 he received further parachute training in the United Kingdom and then served with the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) in the Berlin Airlift. He returned to Australia in February 1950 and was promoted to captain in July. From September 1952 to October he served as an airborne advisor during the Malayan Emergency. Gulliver was discharged from the Army on 28 February 1955, and died at Tamworth on 27 February 1997. His brother, 270655 Squadron Leader Donald Keith Hamilton (Keith) Gulliver, also served during the Second World War as commanding officer of 93 (Beaufighter) Squadron, RAAF. He was killed in a take off accident at Labuan, Borneo on 10 December 1945.