| Place | Oceania: Australia |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL38082.001 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Uniform |
| Physical description | Anodised aluminium, Brass, Cotton sateen, Wool felt |
| Maker |
Leiboff and Sons Pty Ltd Leiboff and Sons Pty Ltd |
| Date made | Unknown |
| Conflict |
Period 1960-1969 |
Officer's winter mess jacket : Captain M T Turrell, Royal Australian Infantry Corps
Description
Bright red jacket with cream shawl collar and pointed cuffs. Has anodised buttons on shoulder straps with rank insignia. The shawl collar has Royal Australian Regiment badges on each side. The inner left hand side has a vertical pocket with the makers label sewn to the top of this pocket and reads 'TAILORED BY LEIBOFF / CONGRESS / FINE QUALITY / TAILORED GARMENTS'.
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.
This jacket was tailor made as a private purchase item by Moses Leiboff and Sons of Beenleigh, Queensland, under their 'Congress' brand.