Breeches : Captain G L Hinchliffe, 23 Battalion, AIF

Mounted pattern khaki wool Bedford cord breeches. A slanted slash pocket has been let into the front of both hips. The concealed fly is fastened with five brown plastic buttons and there are six larger buttonsaround the waistband to carry braces. The waistband is lined with cotton drill. There are three self-fabric belt loops evenly spaced around the waist. The pockets are lined with khaki cotton plain weave. Panels of reinforcing self-fabric have been sewn on to both inner legs. A large triangle patch of khaki wool serge has been double-stitched to the knees. The breeches are secured at below the knee with seven pairs of brown metal eyelets with cotton laces. A 130mm wide piece of khaki wool serge has been added to the hem to add length to the legs.

George Leslie Hinchliffe was born in Melbourne, Victoria on 31 July 1890, and was a commercial traveller when he enlisted in the AIF on 17 May 1915. Briefly ranked as a corporal, once it was discovered that he had already served as a sergeant in the Volunteer Cadets and attended officer training he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and assigned to the 9th reinforcements to 23 Battalion.

Hinchliffe sailed for service on the Western Front aboard the transport HMAT Warilda on 8 February 1916. After a brief stop on Egypt Hinchcliffe joined his battalion in France on 3 May 1916. He took part in the Battle of Pozieres, in which he received a shrapnel wound to the face and ear at the end of July. Hinchliffe was evacuated to England for treatment, returning to his battalion, by now in Belgium, at the end of September, when he was also promoted to lieutenant.

In January 1917 Hinchliffe was evacuated to hospital with laryngitis. He remained in England for treatment, convalescence and training, and rejoined his unit at the end of June. The battalion participated in the 3rd Battle of Ypres, at Broodseinde Ridge. Hinchcliffe was awarded the Military Cross for his actions in the battle. The citation reads, ' For conspicuous gallantry in action at BROODSEINDE on 9 October 1917. In spite of heavy machine gun fire, which caused 60 percent casualties he rallied his men and by his coolness and determination reached the objective and consolidated. Owing to the right flank unit being held up he skillfully formed a defensive flank and held the position with very few men until reinforced at dusk.'

Hinchliffe was promoted to captain in October 1917 and went on to fight at Hamel, Ameins and Mont St Quentin before being sent to an officer training brigade at the end of July 1918. He saw no further active service and returned to Australia on 7 July 1919.