Service dress tunic : Lieutenant F B Stafford, 2 Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron, AIF

Officer's private purchase khaki wool gabardine service dress tunic. The open collar has unofficial blackened brass collar badges for 2 Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron showing crossed Vickers machine guns surmounted by a small Rising Sun badge, and the numeral '2' beneath the guns. The shoulder straps have two pips, indicating the rank of lieutenant and oxidised brass curved voided AUSTRALIA titles.The shoulder straps are secured to the tunic with a small pressed leather buttons. Four large pressed leather buttons fasten the front of the tunic (two missing). Each breast pocket has a central box pleat and triple pointed flap. The lower larger pockets have expandable sides and a straight flap. All the pocket flaps are secured buy a small pressed leather button (right breast pocket one is missing). Above the left breast pocket is a ribbon bar for the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, and Victory Medal. There is a brass belt hook on both sides of the waist. Sewn onto the head of each sleeve is a rectangular purple over red colour patch for 2 Light Horse Machine Gun Squadron. Each colour patches has a brass ANZAC 'A' fitted to them, indicating the wearer's service on Gallipoli. Above the point of the right sleeve cuff is an embroidered overseas service chevron with five stripes, which were once blue but now appear green. The tunic is lined with khaki cotton twill, and the sleeves with white cotton sateen with brown stripes. There is a single central rear vent.

This tunic was worn by Lieutenant Francis Bide Stafford. Stafford was born on 30 March 1888 and had nearly three years of experience with a machine gun detachment at West Maitland before enlisting as a private with the AIF on 23 December 1914. He was given the service number 675 and joined the 12th Light Horse Regiment, 'A' Squadron (12LHR MG), 4th Brigade. He embarked at Sydney aboard HMAT 'Suevic' on 13 June 1915.

At Gallipoli, Stafford was assigned to reinforce 1LHR who were engaged in a defensive role for most of the Gallipoli campaign. They were however, also involved in the August Offensive in an attack on the Turkish position known as 'the Chessboard'. The regiment left Gallipoli on 21 December 1915, heading for Egypt. Stafford, as part of the 1LHR would have then been part of the protection of the Nile Valley from bands of pro-Turkish Senussi Arabs until his transfer back to 12 LHR, 4th Brigade after a troop reorganisation on 22 February 1916.

The 12 LHR joined the forces defending the Suez Canal on 14 May 1916, conducting patrols and participating in several forays out into the Sinai Desert. In April 1917 the regiment moved into Palestine to join the main British and dominion advance. It joined its first major battle on 19 April when it attacked, dismounted, as part of the ill-fated second battle of Gaza. Stafford was promoted to corporal on 23 July 1916 and the following day was transferred to the 2nd Machine Gun (2AMG) Squadron of the 2nd Light Horse Brigade. 2AMG formed part of the Anzac Mounted Division, along with 1LHB and New Zealand Mounted Rifles. They were involved in the Sinai-Palestine campaigns.

Stafford was soon promoted to sergeant on 15 August, and to squadron sergeant-major (Warrant Officer Class II) on 19 December 1916. On 6 November 1917, he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant, but was wounded in action on 10 November 1917 possibly during a skirmish with the Turks at Suafir es Gharbiye. His injuries are unclear, but he was able to remain on duty. Early in 1918, Stafford joined the School of Instruction first at Zietoun, then Moascar, with the Machine Gun training squadron until 9 September 1918. During his training time, Stafford was promoted to Lieutenant on 6 February 1918 and seconded to Australian Machine Gun (AMG) training squadron on 25 March 1918. His reporting officer noted that Stafford was 'a good disciplinarian, very trustworthy and capable, handles his men well, and possesses first class knowledge of M.G [machine guns] and tactics'. In February 1919, he was detached to Agricultural School at Jaffa until 23 March when he rejoined 2 AMG. Stafford embarked for Australia on HT 'Madras' on 28 June 1919, and his AIF appointment was terminated on 3 October 1919. Stafford died on 4 September 1966