Pattern 1944 haversack : Sergeant A F Stewart, 2 Squadron, SAS

Pattern 1944 haversack. The haversack consists of a central compartment which has fold-in weather flaps for additional protection and two external pockets. A top flap, secured by two small straps with quick release buckles, secures the central compartment. Written on the top flap in permanent black marker is 'A F STEWART / 54791'.

On the inside edge of the top flap is stamped in black ink 'L S 1965 [broad arrow symbol] / 973-6185'.The side pockets each have a flap secured by a quick release toggle fastener. The right pocket flap is missing it's aluminium locking piece. On the back of the haversack are two shoulder straps, 5 cm wide tapering to 2.5 cm wide, and on the bottom are a pair of 2 cm straps with quick release buckles for the attachment of rolled bedding.

The flap of the central pouch and the lower front of the haversack have straps with quick release buckles for the attachment of pick, shovel or entrenching tool.

Alan Frederick Stewart enlisted in the Australian Regular Army at Albany, WA on 24 September 1963 and was allocated the regimental number 54791. He had previously served in the Naval cadets and the Air Training Corps in high school before serving two and a half years as a rifleman in the Western Australia Regiment.

Stewart finished his basic training at Kapooka. He initially hpoed to serve with the engineers, but was selected for the infantry instead. Following completion of his Infantry Training at the Infantry Centre School, Ingleburn he was the awarded top trainee award for his platoon, and elected to serve with 3 Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR).

He was posted to C Company, 3 RAR at Terendak, Malaysia for an 18 month deployment. Stewart was a part of the battalion's operations on the Malay-Thai border countering Communist Terrorist (CT) incursions. Another six months were spent in Borneo on operations against Indonesian infiltrators.

Towards the end of his deployment, Stewart and several other members of 3 RAR were selected to undertake the instructors Course at Ingleburn. He completed the course and chose to stay at the Infantry Centre School, Ingleburn as an instructor. 18 months later, Stewart successfully applied to undertake the Special Air Service (SAS) selection course. He passed and was posted to 1 SAS Squadron in June 1966, which was preparing to deploy to Vietnam.

Stewart undertook three months of pre-deployment training in Papua New Guinea. During this time, his step father, a forestry worker, was tragically killed when a tree fell on him. Stewart returned to Australia on bereavement leave. After returning from leave, Stewart was posted to 2 SAS Squadron as a corporal and was later promoted to temporary sergeant. He spent the next nine months in preparation for service in Vietnam.

Stewart deployed to Vietnam with the advance party of his unit on 5 February 1968. During the following 12 months, Stewart led 22 patrols in Phouc Tuy Province, these included ambush and intelligence gathering patrols. For his actions over several weeks in January 1969, Stewart was Mentioned In Despatches. The end of his citation reads 'Sergeant Stewart, by his judgement and determination to succeed, obtained extremely valuable information on enemy movement under difficult conditions. His performance reflects great credit on himself, his Regiment and the Australian Army'. Stewart returned to Australia on 23 February 1969. During his remaining time with the SAS Stewart specialised in water operations and unconventional warfare.

Over the next nine years, Stewart remained in the Army, eventually being posted to RMC Duntroon as a warrant officer second class. In 1978, he joined the Commonwealth Police as a specialist trainer. He also joined the Army Staff Group and, in conjunction with his police service, spent time over the following three years with the directorate of Special Forces. After this he served 10 years with the RAAF Active Reserve Squadron (28 Squadron) at Fairbairn. Stewart retired from the Australian Federal Police in 1999 after 21 years service. From 1999 Stewart has served as a member of Marine Rescue NSW.