Pair modified GP boots : Major R J Fletcher, Headquarters Australian Force Vietnam

Pair black leather general purpose (GP) boots with rubber soles made by Dunlop, Australia and 12 pairs of eyelets threaded with black cotton laces. Size 8 1/2. The boots have been modified by the addition of US Army issue lace-in nylon boot zippers.

Robert ' Bob' John Fletcher was born in Cowra, NSW in January 1932. His family moved to Sydney 1945, where he attended Mosman Intermediate High School and North Sydney Technical High School. He joined the school cadets in the same year.

Gaining his Leaving Certificate he entered Royal Military College, Duntroon in February 1951, graduating December 1954. He served with 2 Battalion Royal Australian Regiment from 1955 to 1957, including two years in Malaya as a Rifle Platoon then Mortar Platoon Commander. He later served as a Company Commander in 1 Battalion Pacific Islands Regiment between 1963 and 1966.

Fletcher attended Australian Staff College, Queenscliffe in 1967 and served in Vietnam in 1969 to 1970 as a Liaison Officer with II Field Force Vietnam. While in Vietnam he modified these boots by adding United States issue lace-in nylon boot zippers, which he bought at the American PX at Long Binh. The zipper inserts, first issued at the beginning of 1970 were designed especially for men working in wet areas so that their boots could be quickly removed, or replaced, allowing the wearer's feet to dry out. This reduced the incidence of tropical fungal skin diseases.