Sleeve insignia : Captain W J Rowlinson, Royal Australian Infantry

Section of a khaki wool uniform sleeve with four cloth badges sewn onto it. The curved red felt shoulder title at the top shows 'ROYAL AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY' embroidered in white within a white border. Beneath this is the insignia for the US Presidential Citation awarded to 3RAR for the Battle of Kapyong, showing a small blue felt rectangle withing a gold bullion embroidered border. There is a machine woven cotton formation sign for Eastern Command (New South Wales) underneath the citation. The square grey-blue badge bears a red and green waratah flower. The fourth, and lowest badge, shows a white embroidered winged parachute on a maroon ground.

William Josiah Rowlinson was born at Balgowlah, NSW, in 1919. After pre-war cadet service with 17 Battalion, he joined the AIF in June 1941, serving as NX37487 with 2/7 Armoured Regiment, a unit which did not see service outside Australia. In November 1944, seeking a combatant role, he transferred to 1 Australian Parachute Battalion, reverting to private from the rank of sergeant, but the war ended before this unit saw action. After a period with 113 Australian General Hospital as a volunteer in tropical disease research, Rowlinson was awarded the Commander-in-Chief's Commendation Card, but took his discharge from the Army in 1946. In 1950, he re-enlisted for service in Korea, becoming number 2/400239 with 3 RAR. Twice wounded in Korea during 1951, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Bar for his gallant conduct in the battles of Kapyong and Maryang-San, becoming the most highly decorated Australian soldier of the war. In early 1952 he was commissioned as a lieutenant in the regular army, but later in the year, while giving instruction in the use of explosives at Ingleburn, he was seriously injured in a Gelignite explosion, his right hand and forearm being amputated as a result. He recovered from his injuries, remaining in the army until 1957, and reaching the rank of Captain. Bill Rowlinson died in the late 1990s.