Forage cap : Miss G Pavitt, Australian Women's Legion

Brown wool twill forage or side cap with a shaped fold up brim. A folded piece of cherry red felt is stitched inside the brim, extending sllightly over a third of the way down each side of the cap, giving the impression of a piped edging. The cap is lined with dark grey cotton sateen. A round red and white enamelled brass badge with a brooch pin back, made by K G Luke, Melbourne, is attached to the front proper right of the cap. The badge shows a red map of Australia on a white ground with 'A.W.L SERVICE' beneath it. A red enamel band extends around the upper edge of the badge bearing the words 'AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S LEGION'.

Worn by Miss Gladys Pavitt during her service as transport driver and air raid precautions officer with the 1st Victorian Division of the Australian Women's Legion (AWL) in Melbourne. The AWL was a patriotic voluntary organisation committed to raising funds for the war effort and giving practical support to military personnel within Australia. Its members trained in a wide variety of skills, including as transport drivers, in first aid, air raid precautions and signalling. Note that although this cap has no manufacturer's label it is identical in appearance and construction method to a similar cap supplied new to the War Memorial in 1946 by Myers Emporium, as a type example of the AWL uniform they had supplied in Melbourne during the Second World War.