Set of modified South African M83 webbing : Sergeant P Brinkworth, 5/7RAR

Set of modified South African M83 chest webbing. The entire webbing set has been hand camouflaged using paint matched house paint. The webbing consists of a black nylon vest fitted with a pair of black fastex clips on the lower front. Sewn horizontally onto each side of the vest near these clips are three Disruptive Pattern Camouflage Uniform (DPCU) pouches for carrying either F88 Steyr or M16 rifle magazines. Each pouch has a flap secured by piece of olive green velcro and a circular brass press stud. Each pouch is capable of carrying two magazines side by side. Inside each of these pouches is a black and red brown coloured elasticised divider. The empty single opaque olive green plastic F88 Steyr magazines that were stored in the upper and middle right magazine pouches have been subdivided at REL45802.001 and REL45802.002.

Behind these magazine pouches is a large vertically aligned coyote brown coloured pouch, each has a green 'fastex' clip and adjustable tab fitted. A folding 'D' shaped flap secured by a piece of velcro is attached to the top of each pouch. When opened they expose a rectangular shaped opening in the top of the pouch. A smaller pouch is fitted to the front facing side of these larger pouches. A folding velcro flap secures the top of the small pouches. A broad thin band of foam rubber can be seen through the lower part of the vest. This band is within the vest and is to provide a measure of comfort and protection for the wearer. A large vertical pouch is fitted in a similar style to a 'camelbak' to the centre rear of the webbing. On either lower side of this large pouch are four adjustable black nylon straps all have been taped with black electrical tape. The upper most strap on the left hand side has come undone and has one half of the strap missing. A pair of horizontally aligned black zippers is sewn into this pouch, one at the top and one in the middle which has access to the two separate compartments. The top compartment has a small folding velcro backed flap which exposes a small rectangular opening. On the rear facing surface of both pouches is a pair of vertical machine sewn nylon tabs. All of these tabs are able to have used as a tie off. On both sides of the upper compartment are a pair of black nylon straps which have all been taped off with black electrical tape. Each shoulder strap has a pair of adjustable tabs which lead over the shoulder of the wearer.

This set of modified M83 webbing was worn by Sergeant Peter Brinkworth in East Timor while serving with the Sniper Reconnaissance Platoon, Support Company 5/7RAR between September 1999 and mid-2000.

Peter attended Eaglevale High School, Campbelltown before leaving to join the Australian Regular Army in 1989. Like his father, Stephen Paul Brinkworth, who had served in South Vietnam with 7RAR, Peter became an infantryman in the Royal Australian Regiment serving initially in C Company of 5/7RAR (Mechanized), based at Holsworthy in Sydney. With this unit he deployed to Malaysia and Singapore twice on Rifle Company Butterworth rotations. In 1994 he became part of the Anti-Armour Platoon of Support Company 5/7RAR.

During 1996 he was promoted to Lance Corporal and was posted to the Reconnaissance Platoon of 5/7RAR. The following year he qualified for and joined the Sniper Platoon and served with them at the rank of corporal then sergeant where his roles included being No1 team leader and sgt supervisor.

In 1999 Brinkworth's Battalion deployed to East Timor as part of the Australian led International Force East Timor (INTERFET) operation. Whilst in East Timor Brinkworth was a sniper team leader, patrol commander and sniper supervisor.

After his return from East Timor Brinkworth transferred to the School of Infantry at Singleton NSW as sniper instructor before once again returning to the RAR, this time with the newly re-formed 4RAR (Commando). Whilst there he helped re-raise the 'green role' sniper capability before being posted in a variety of roles as a Regular Army cadre staff to the 4/3rd Battalion Royal New South Wales Regiment (4/3 RNSWR) at the rank of warrant officer class 2 from 2004 to 2008. Whilst in this unit he was on exchange to the US Marine Corps as a sniper instructor at 29 Palms base in California. Upon his return Brinkworth returned to an instructional role at the Infantry Centre at Singleton in 2009.

Brinkworth deployed to Afghanistan on Operation Slipper attached to 8/9RAR between September 2011 and July 2012 with Mentoring Team Three. In late 2012 he again went on an exchange program with the Marine Air Ground Task Force Training Command at 29 Palms, California.