| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | RELAWM40209.002 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Headdress |
| Physical description | Cotton |
| Location | Main Bld: Korea, Malaya & Indonesia Gallery: Lower Level: POW's |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | China |
| Date made | c 1950-1953 |
| Conflict |
Korea, 1950-1953 |
Prisoner of War uniform cap: Private Glen Brown, 3 Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment
Description
Lightweight blue cotton peaked cap, with a black, cloth-backed leatherette sweatband. The crown is lined with unbleached calico and is stamped in black with indistinct Arabic numerals, 101/3, and three Chinese characters within a border. The underside of the peak is stamped with small yellow numerals '5928'.
History / Summary
Cap worn in captivity by 4/400163 Private Glen Brown, of A Company, 3 Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. Brown enlisted in 1952, and was taken prisoner in January 1953. He was the first Australian POW to enter Panmunjom following his release as part of an exchange of prisoners with Communist forces in Korea on 23 April, 1953.
This cap was part of a uniform issued by his Chinese captors on the day before his release. At the same time, the prisoners due for release were washed and shaved, and their finger nails were cut and cleaned. Brown was returned to Australia and discharged from the army in 1954. The other Australians released on 23 April, all members of 3 RAR, were; 5/40033 Private John Houston 'Jack' Mackay, 1/400481 Private John Frederick 'Jock' Davis, 2/401292 Private Brian Thomas Davoren and 1/400205 Private Eric Donnelly. All except Donnelly had been captured together on 25 January 1953.