Cold weather combat smock : Warrant Officer Class II C Love, Royal Corps of Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

British Army cold weather combat smock with hood as issued to Australian forces in Korea. The green, waterproofed cotton gabardine smock has a front zipper fastening with a weather protection flap secured by five plastic buttons. Under the collar are two buttons and a fabric tab to enable the collar to be turned up and secured against the weather as required. There are a pair of outward slanting breast patch pockets, the left pocket having a pen pocket, and a pair of elasticised expanding waist pockets. All pockets have pointed flaps and are secured by a plastic button. The smock has two inner breast patch pockets and a large buttoned pouch inside the lower rear of the jacket, possibly for storing the hood when not fitted. Drawstrings are fitted at the waist and at the hem. The sleeves are reinforced at the elbows and have adjustable button cuffs. There are ventilation slits under each arm. Shoulder straps are secured by a single plastic button. A white cotton label is sewn inside the smock detailing instructions for care and wear. Below this is a maker's label reading 'Smock Combat Size No. 4. Height: 5ft. 7ins to 5ft. 10ins. Breast 34 - 36 COHEN & WELLS LTD 1951. (broadarrow)'. The hood is attached to the smock via a button located below the collar and the buttons securing the shoulder straps. The hood has a chromed press stud fastening at the throat and a drawstring with wooden toggle for adjusting the brim of the hood. Sewn inside the hood are two white cotton labels. One details instructions for attaching the hood, and the other is a maker's label reading 'HOODS, ATTACHABLE (For Smocks Combat) Small For Smock Sizes 1,2,4,5 & 7 John Hammond & Co. (1922) Ltd. 1951. (broadarrow)'.

Associated with the service of Warrant Officer Class II Cecil Love who was born in Sydney on 16 October 1921. Love volunteered for service in the Second AIF on 12 July 1943. He was posted to the engineers with the service number NX201803 and served primarily in the Sydney area.

After the war, Love enlisted into the regular army and he was allocated the new service number, 21323. He was promoted to corporal on 6 January 1947 and to staff sergeant on 1 February 1950.

He went on to serve as a temporary warrant officer class II in Korea in 1953 with the 16th British Commonwealth Infantry Workshop as a member of the Royal Corps of Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RAEME) from 19 February to 18 July. After his return to Australia he was discharged on 7 September 1953.

• Cold weather combat trousers : Warrant Officer Class II C Love, Royal Corps of Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers