Personal water carrier : Private R J Barry, 6 Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment

The water carrier is nylon with a waterproof coating and lining inside. The carrier is green with brown camouflage patches and is made from two halves joined together and seamed around the edges with nylon webbing tape. The back panel of the carrier has an extra overhang at the top which acts as the flap to secure the water bladder inside the carrier. The flap is secured by a metal press stud which attaches to the front of the carrier. Stamped into the top of the stud is 'LIFT THE DOT'. The stud on the front of the carrier is attached to a nylon webbing tab. Beneath the tab has been stamped in black, the Department of Defence broad arrow. There are two metal eyelets in the lower front of the carrier for drainage. On the back of the carrier is attached a nylon belt loop which can be attached to a webbing belt or attached to a pack. An adjustable nylon webbing shoulder strap is also attached to the back of the carrier. Inside the carrier, located at the base of the flap is printed the maker's details and the item's serial number. '8465-66-024-1068 / 1967 DRICLAD PTY. LTD.'. The rubber bladder has a fill point at the top with a plastic screw cap to seal it attached. The bladder has been heat sealed down both sides and at the bottom. Printed on the front of the bladder is the outline of the broad arrow and below is printed '8465-66-024-4020 / DRICLAD 1967'.

Initial issue equipment associated with the service of 2788438 Private Richard Joseph Barry. Barry was born on 16 March 1947 in Sydney, NSW and was eligible for the National Service Scheme, which operated in Australia from 1964 to 1972. The scheme was based on a birthday ballot of twenty-year-old men who had registered their names with the Department of Labour and National Service (DLNS). If balloted in, these men were called up to perform continuous full-time service in the Regular Army Supplement for two years, followed by three years of part-time service in the Regular Army Reserve. National servicemen on full-time duty were liable for what was called 'special overseas service', which included combat duties in Vietnam. Barry registered with the DLNS at the beginning of March 1967. The ballots were held twice a year after the close of each registration period to select those to be considered for call up. Barry's date of birth was drawn during the fifth National Service ballot, which was held on 10 March 1967. He underwent a medical exam and interview on 31 July to see if he would be fit for service. Barry received his call up notice on 13 September, which required him to present himself to Colonel Oxley at 3 Training Battalion (3 TB), Singleton on 4 October at 4pm. There Barry was allocated for ten weeks basic recruit training and became a part of the 10th National Service Intake out of the thirty that were eventually established. After completing basic training Barry was automatically promoted from a recruit to a private. He chose the Armoured Corps and the Artillery Corps as his first and second choices respectively for Corps training. However Barry was allotted to the Infantry Corps. He undertook ten weeks Infantry Corps Training at Singleton from 15 January to 28 February 1968. Barry was then given a choice about which unit he wished to be posted to. Barry decided to join 6 RAR at the newly constructed Laverack Barracks in Townsville. On arrival, in March 1968 Barry was allotted to Anti-Tank Platoon, Support Company. During his time there Barry undertook a visual tracking course from 24 May to 10 June and a Combat Tracking Team Course from 13 to 24 June. At the end of June Barry was appointed as a visual tracker rifleman. He then undertook a long range patrolling course from 9 September to 4 October. On 8 May 1969 6 RAR embarked aboard HMAS Sydney for Vietnam part of 6 RAR's second tour of duty. The unit arrived at Nui Dat on 19 May and was renamed 6 RAR/NZ (ANZAC) Battalion to reflect the inclusion of two Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment rifle companies, two sections of mortars and two assault pioneer sections. Barry served with 6 RAR in Vietnam until 3 September 1969 when he flew to Sydney via Saigon, arriving in Australia on the morning on 4 September. Barry was formally discharged on 3 October 1969 having completed the prescribed period of two years continuous full-time service in the Regular Army Supplement.