Annotated United Nations flag: Captain Ian Bottrell, 2nd Australian UNTAG Contingent, 8 Construction Troop, 17 Construction Squadron, Royal Australian Engineers

Light blue nylon flag with white United Nations symbol in the centre. The hoist is of a white cloth with a brass grommet at each end. The flag bears the names, written by Captain Botrell, of the 34 Australian and New Zealanders who served in the troop and features the wording "2ND Australian Contingent UNTAG Namibia 8 Construction Troop 17 Construction Squadron".

This flag was flown at 8 Construction Troop’s base in Rundu throughout their stay in Namibia.

Captain Ian Bottrell commanded 8 Construction Troop, 17 Construction Squadron, Australian Engineers, which formed a part of 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.