Khaki service dress breeches : Corporal G Binns, 1 Machine Gun Battalion, AIF

Places
Accession Number REL29295.003
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Uniform
Physical description Cotton, Plastic, Suede, Wool
Maker Unknown
Date made c 1917-1919
Conflict Period 1910-1919
First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Custom made Bedford cord breeches, strapped at the knees with suede for mounted service. The breeches have a six-button concealed fly, with six further buttons located around the outside of the waistband for the attachment of braces. There are single button fastenings below the knee. A pocket is located on each side of the fly at the waist, and the inverted letter 'B' is stamped in purple ink inside the left hand waistband.

History / Summary

Gordon Binns was born in 1899, and began his compulsory cadet service in March 1913. In February 1917, aged 18, he enlisted in the AIF, becoming number 712 in the 13th reinforcements to 2 Machine Gun Company. After sailing to England on the 'SUEVIC', he was sent in March 1918 to reinforce 6 Infantry Battalion, but almost immediately transferred back to 1 Machine Gun (MG) Battalion, of which 2 MG Company was a part. Binns was wounded in action on 10 August 1918 when his unit was supporting the Australian attack on Lihons, and spent over a month in hospital. Upon release, he was again transferred, this time to the Australian Provost Corps, where he served out the remainder of the war. Gordon Binns returned to Australia in 1919. He died in 1976.