Service dress jacket : Bombadier K Klu, 1 Division Ammunition Column, Australian Imperial Force

Accession Number	RELAWM13656.001
Collection type	Heraldry
Object type	Uniform
Physical description	Cotton lace, Oxidised brass, Plastic, Wool twill
Maker	Down & Mutimer
Place made	Australia, United Kingdom: England
Date made	1916
Conflict	First World War, 1914-1918

Description

Khaki wool twill tunic with stand and fall collar. A metal hook, eye and button secures the collar. Khaki wool shoulder straps are secured to the tunic with a small brown plastic button and each has voided oxidised brass 'AUSTRALIA' shoulder title. Front of tunic has four patch pockets with pointed buttoned flaps: the two breast pockets are box pleated and the pair below, attached to the waistband, is larger and expanding. All the buttons are brown vegetable tan or plastic. Wide waistband is secured with a brass buckle. Tunic is fastened with five larger buttons. At the top of each sleeve is a rectangular colour patch: green with white separated on the diagonal. Sleeves are gathered into straight buttoned cuffs with a placketed opening. Above the cuff on the right sleeve are three embroidered khaki cotton rank chevrons for sergeant. The back of the tunic has a 55mm wide box pleat running down the centre from the base of the neck yoke. The tunic is unlined and at the inside lower right front is a patch pocket for a shell dressing. A stamped maker's label is on the inside rear, DOWN & MUTIMER 1916 SIZE 28.

History / Summary

Karl Klu (service number 3296) was born in Fulham, London, and migrated to Australia before enlisting on 16 September 1914 with 2 Field Artillery Brigade. He embarked from Australia on 22 December 1914, transferring to 3rd Field Artillery Brigade after his arrival at Gallipoli in 1915. After this campaign he was appointed a driver and transferred to 1 Division Ammunition Column (1DAC) in France in May 1916, and later to 3DAC. He was promoted to bombardier on 4 April 1918 before returning to Australia on 13 October 1918 as part of Special 1914 Leave scheme. Post-war he changed the spelling of his given name to Carl.