DPCU trousers: Captain Ian Bottrell, 2nd Australian UNTAG Contingent, 8 Construction Troop, 17 Construction Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers

Place Africa: Namibia
Accession Number REL/21240.002
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Uniform
Place made Australia
Date made c 1989
Conflict Namibia (UNTAG), 1989-1990
Description

Disruptive pattern camouflage trousers featuring hip pockets and a large cargo pocket on both legs. The waistband features a series of belt loops and adjustment tabs, the fly being fully buttoned. The leg cuffs have nylon draw strings. The manufacturer's label is marked in ink 'Bottrell'.

History / Summary

Worn by Captain Ian Bottrell who commanded 8 Construction Troop, 17 Construction Squadron, Australian Engineers, which formed a part of the 2nd Australian contingent to the United Nations Transition Assistance Group, Namibia (UNTAG) between August 1989 and April 1990.

On his arrival in Namibia Bottrell and his Troop occupied part of a South African Defence Force (SADF) base in Rundu on the Angolan-Namibian border. From this base they conducted a number of operations which included engineer support to the United Nations (UN)forces in north-eastern Namibia, SDAF munitions retrieval, demolition tasks and assistance to the local population.

During this time Captain Bottrell was promoted to captain and he and his Troop occupied the base until the removal of the UN forces in April 1990.

Bottrell graduated from Duntroon in 1986 as a lieutenant and completed a degree in civil engineering in 1987. In 1988 he was posted as a troop commander to the 20th Divisional Engineer Support Squadron where he remained until August 1989.