Australian service greatcoat : Corporal G Binns, 1 Machine Gun Battalion, AIF

AIF khaki woollen other ranks' greatcoat. The coat is single breasted, and would originally have had five buttons, although only one large brown imitation leather example now remains. A single central rear pleat ends in a two button vent, (the lower button is missing) and there is a half-belted back with two of the three buttons for adjustment remaining. Two large pockets with external flaps are present at the hips. The sleeves are lined with discoloured white cotton fabric, and have large turn-back cuffs. The coat buttons to the neck with a large turn-down collar. A detachable oval khaki woollen panel can be buttoned across the throat for extra weather protection if required, and is secured underneath the turn-down of the left hand collar. The shoulder straps both have straight brass 'AUSTRALIA' titles. The left hand strap is secured by a small brass 'AUSTRALIAN MILITARY FORCES' button, but that on the right has no button. Colour patches for 1 Australian Machine Gun Battalion are carried on each shoulder. The right hand sleeve bears a set of corporal's chevrons.

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.