'AUSTRALIA' cloth patch : N J Fletcher, Official Curator, Australian War Memorial

Rectangular machine embroidered DPCU cloth patch with the Australian flag and 'AUSTRALIA' embroidered in green. The patch has a green Velcro backing.

Associated with the deployment of Official Curator Nick Fletcher, of the Australian War Memorial's Military Heraldry and Technology Section, to Afghanistan in October 2009. This commission was the first time an official curator from the Memorial had deployed to Afghanistan to identify and collect items for the National Collection.

Specifically Fletcher was deployed to Oruzgan Province to carry out two main tasks:

To interview Australian soldiers, witness their daily lives and discuss collecting some of their personal equipment for inclusion in the National Collection.

To photograph Australian Light Armoured Vehicles and Bushmaster Protected Infantry Vehicles with a view to obtaining one of each for the Memorial's National Collection when they are retired from service.

Fletcher began his three week deployment at Billabong Flats, the Australian base within the American Camp LSA (life support area) in Kuwait, before moving to Kandahar Air Field (KAF) and then to Camp Holland, the Dutch military base near the provincial capital Tarin Kowt. He then travelled with Australian troops by Bushmaster to a patrol base which was being built.

Included among the notable items Fletcher identified for the National Collection during his deployment, is the uniform of Colonel Lindsey Cameron Morton AM, Deputy Chief of Staff, Headquarters Joint Task Force 633. HQ JTF 633 provides in theatre command and control of all Australian Defence Force elements deployed throughout the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO).