DPDU Trousers : Lieutenant A N Christie, 2 Cavalry Regiment

Place Middle East: Iraq
Accession Number REL34457.005
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Uniform
Physical description Cotton, Elastic, Plastic, Polyester
Maker Can't Tear 'Em Pty Ltd
Place made Australia
Date made Unknown
Conflict Iraq, 2003-2013
Description

Trousers in Disruptive Pattern Desert Uniform (DPDU) fabric. The trousers have a zipper fly, slash pockets at the hip, expandable cargo pockets on each leg and a rear patch pocket on the right side. An embroidered tag above the rear pocket reads 'CHRISTIE'. Sewn around the waist band are five large belt loops. The waist band can be adjusted using the fabric tab and two buttons at each hip. The knees are reinforced with a second layer of fabric and the cuffs have an elastic drawstring threaded through the hem. Sewn to the lining of the right hip pocket is a label with manufacturing details and care instructions.

History / Summary

1811830 Lieutenant Andrew Nolan Christie was born in Brisbane on 7 May 1980. He joined the Australian Army in January 1999 and attended the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2001 before marching in to the Royal Military College Duntroon. Christie graduated after 12 months officer training and was allocated to the Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC) and posted to 2 Cavalry Regiment. Christie then went on to complete his six month RAAC Regimental Officers Basic Course at the School of Armour at Puckapunyal and took up an appointment as cavalry troop leader with 2 Cavalry Regiment. His troop, V33, was chosen to form part of the cavalry element of the Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG) which was deployed in April 2005 to conduct operations in southern Iraq. The AMTG is made up of approximately 450 personnel and they are tasked with providing a secure environment for the Japanese Iraq Reconstruction and Support Group (JIRSG) and to assist in the training of local Iraqi Army units so that they are able to take over the internal and external defence of their country. These trousers were worn by Lieutenant Christie whilst serving in Iraq with the AMTG. They were collected from him, along with other uniform and personal items, after a patrol on 18 October 2005. The patrol, commanded by Lieutenant Christie, was tasked with the insertion of Australian Army Training Team (AATT) soldiers into the Samawah Army Barracks to facilitate the training and mentoring of Iraqi soldiers.