Owen sub-machine gun magazine pouch : Lieutenant M T Turrell, 2 Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment

Place Asia: Malaya
Accession Number REL38107
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Personal Equipment
Physical description Canvas, Cotton, Metal
Maker United Trading Co.
Date made c 1950s
Conflict Malayan Emergency, 1948-1960
Description

Olive drab canvas, three pocket magazine pouch, used to hold magazines for the Owen sub-machine gun. A single flap covers and secures all three magazine compartments, and is fastened by two quick-release canvas straps, which loop through overlapping 'D' rings, attached to the flap and the outer compartments. Sewn to the reverse are two canvas loops for attachment to an equipment belt. On one of the loops is stamped in black ink, 'UNITED TRADING CO. 61/CON/449-K'.

History / Summary

Used by Lieutenant M T Turrell, 2 Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (RAR). 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 the 28th Commonwealth Brigade, Turrell commanded 11 Platoon, D Company, 2 RAR in conducting patrols the 'Black Zone' on the Malay -Thailand border, aimed at suppressing continued Communist Terrorists (CT) activity in the region in 1962 and 1963. In May 1966 Captain Turrell 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.