DPDU bush hat : Private C J Donovan, 5/7 Battalion (Mechanised) The Royal Australian Regiment

Place	Middle East: Iraq
Accession Number	REL34639.001
Collection type	Heraldry
Object type	Headdress
Physical description	Cotton, Plastic, Terry towelling
Location	Main Bld: Conflicts 1945 to Today Intro Gallery: Intro Area: Introduction to Post 45 Conflicts
Maker	S.O.S. Marine
Place made	Australia
Date made	2003
Conflict	Iraq, 2003-2013

Description

Wide brimmed bush hat in Disruptive Pattern Desert Uniform (DPDU) fabric with a tan towelling sweatband and crown lining. The hat has a cotton chinstrap with a black plastic toggle. Around the crown a band of fabric is sewn at 40 mm intervals to create a series of loops. Written in black inside the crown is 'SCHOER'. A maker's label is sewn to the inside of the hat.

History / Summary

Private Christopher John Donovan enlisted in the Australian Army in 2003 and after completing basic recruit training was posted as a trainee to the School of Infantry in Singleton, NSW where he learnt his trade as an infantry soldier. Upon graduation Donovan was allocated to 5/7 Battalion (Mechanised), The Royal Australian Regiment in Darwin.

In 2004 he marched into 9 Platoon, C Company, and early in 2005 was posted to 4 Platoon, B Company. Donovan was deployed to Iraq on 5 May 2005 as part of Combat Team Tiger, one of two Australian combat teams assigned to the Al Muthanna Task Group (AMTG). The AMTG formed part of Operation Catalyst, the Australian Defence Force’s contribution to the reconstruction and rehabilitation of Iraq, and was tasked with providing a secure environment for the Japanese Iraq Reconstruction and Support Group (JIRSG) and assisting in the training of local Iraqi Army units to enable them to take over the internal and external defence of their country. Donovan served as the assault gunner for his section, 21B, carrying one of the section’s two light support weapons, the F89 Minimi.

This hat was collected from Donovan, along with other uniform and personal items, after his participation in an operation conducted on 5 October 2005 in B sector of Combat Team Tiger’s area of operations in southern Iraq. Tasked with operating an observation post, Donovan’s section was inserted by a British Sea King helicopter approximately six kilometres from their observation post location. They conducted dismounted patrols through some of the smaller villages before setting up to observe their designated area. Once the task had been completed, Donovan and his section were extracted by a patrol of Australian Light Armoured Vehicles (ASLAV) and returned to the Australian base of operations, Camp Smitty. Donovan returned to Australia in November 2005.