Officer cadet's full dress tunic : Royal Military College, Duntroon

Place Oceania: Australia, Australian Capital Territory, Duntroon
Accession Number REL27701
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Uniform
Physical description Brass, Cotton twill, Leather, Shell, Superfine wool, Wool twill
Maker Commonwealth Government Clothing Factory
Place made Australia
Date made 1913
Conflict Period 1910-1919
Army organisation period 1912-1918 (not WWI)
Description

Loose fitting khaki wool twill tunic with high stand collar decorated with scarlet gorget shaped tabs at the front edge. Tabs have three holes for collar badges, now missing. Khaki shoulder straps have 1cm scarlet stripe running the length of the strap, finishing with a small Australian Commonwealth Military Forces button 1903-1910. Round scarlet superfine cuffs, each with two of the same buttons. Square fronted tunic is plain, with two darts radiating out from the neck edge towards the breast. Six large brass Commonwealth buttons arranged in pairs at the front made by 'STOKES & SONS MELBOURNE'. Back of tunic is panelled with two side vents at the skirt. Tunic is unlined but collar lined with khaki wool and cotton sateen mixture, with five small white shell buttons, although one missing, for attachment of an inner collar. Underarm side dart lined with same wool and cotton mixture as reinforcement for the brass belt hooks on the outside of tunic. Inner left breast has small patch pocket and above this a small leather tab with buttonhole. Small cotton tape tag at back neck and written above and below this, the number '36'. Sleeves lined with striped cotton twill with circular stamp in left sleeve bearing 'C.G.C.F.', a crown, '1913' and 'No.4'.

History / Summary

Full dress tunic worn by a senior cadet, as indicated by the scarlet shoulder stripes. Cadets had several uniforms which they had to change frequently during the course of a day depending on the activity they were undertaking. These included white canvas for classroom use and breeches and puttees for cavalry lessons. The full dress uniform was worn with khaki trousers and helmet, and used on parade. The Government clothing factory stamp in the sleeve indicates that the tunic was made in 1913 although it bears buttons from an earlier period. The Royal Military College at Duntroon, Canberra, was established in 1911.