Patrol Blues tunic : Lieutenant General Sir J Monash, Australian Army

Australian Army general officers patrol blues wool twill tunic with gilt brass rank insignia of lieutenant general. The general officer's red gorgets fitted to the collar are embroidered with bullion wire oak leaves and have small gilt brass buttons. The general officers buttons (crossed sword and gun, surrounded by a wreath) and curved 'AUSTRALIA' shoulder titles are gilt brass. The tunic has an open collar with four large gilt brass buttons to fasten along the front. A pair of brass hook and eye fasteners have been sewn along the front at the waistline, to secure the front panels.The pair of patch pockets on the breast are box-pleated with a scalloped flap and the larger pair of expanding patch pockets below the waistline have a straight flap. All the pockets are secured with gilt buttons as described above. Above the left breast pocket is a three-tiered ribbon bar representing the awards of: Knights Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (GCMG), Knight Commander of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath (KBE), 1914-15 Star, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal, Volunteer Officers' Decoration, Belgian Order of the Crown with rosette device, Belgian Croix de Guerre, French Legion d'Honneur 4th Class with rosette device, French Croix de Guerre avec palme, and United States Distinguished Service Medal (Army). There is an unusual pattern of seams in an 'H' configuration between the breast and lower pockets. The tunic is lined with black cotton sateen and the sleeves with beige cotton twill. 'Genl / 273 / Sir John Monash GCMG' has been hand-written in black ink at the bottom of the maker's white cotton label. This label is sewn inside the back of the collar.

General Sir John Monash was one of Australia's most distinguished soldiers during the First World War. During his Army career, General Monash was Colonel Commanding the 13th Infantry Brigade of the Citizen Forces, Commander of the 4th Infantry Brigade AIF at Gallipoli, Commander of the 3rd Australian Division AIF in France 1916-1918 and Commander of the Australian Corps AIF from 31 May 1918 until after the Armistice. Copied from 'The Empire at War', Volume 3, by Sir Charles Lucas KCB KCMG, page 166. Elliott and Fry, London).