Jungle green shirt : Captain M T Turrell, Royal Australian Infantry Corps

Places
Accession Number REL38078
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Uniform
Physical description Cotton, Plastic
Maker Fuseplay Products
Place made Australia: New South Wales
Date made 1955
Conflict Malayan Emergency, 1948-1960
Vietnam, 1962-1975
Description

Jungle green shirt, with breast pockets with buttons and flaps. The shirt has a fold down collar, with seven button fastening down the front. The shoulders have epaulettes with plastic buttons, and the sleeves have double button cuffs. The label inside the collar reads 'Fuseplay Productions / Co. Pty. Ltd / 1955 / D [broad arrow symbol] D'.

History / Summary

Born in Sydney on 19 January 1938, Maxwell Thomas Turrell was educated at Crows Nest Intermediate Boys High School, and North Sydney Boys Technical High School. At both schools he served in the School Cadets, attaining the rank of cadet lieutenant. Turrell enlisted in the Australian Army in 1956, graduating from the Royal Military College, Duntroon.

In 1961, in the wake of the Malayan Emergency, Lieutenant Turrell served in Malaya with 2 Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (RAR). Operating as part of the 28th Commonwealth Brigade, Turrell commanded 11 Platoon, D Company, 2 RAR, conducting patrols of the 'Black Zone' on the Malay -Thailand border from 1962 to 1963. This was aimed at suppressing continued Communist Terrorists (CT) activity in the region. Turrell was promoted to captain and in May 1966, he was deployed to South Vietnam as adjutant of 6 RAR. Following his service in the Vietnam War, Turrell was promoted to major and appointed Officer Commanding 2nd Army Recruiting Unit. Major Turrell served in the Army until his discharge in 1981.