WW2 Dispatch Rider's Coat - owned by D E Griffiths

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Foy and Gibson

c. 1939

Subcollections

Overview

This leather coat belonged to W40037 Signalman Daniel Edmund Griffiths who served with 15 Line of Communication Signals from Busselton in WW2.

The 15 Line of Communication Signals (often referred to as 15 L of C Signals) was a vital Australian Army unit based in Western Australia during World War II, with key personnel and signalmen operating in areas including Busselton.

Historical information

Daniel Edmund Griffiths was born in Wales in 1898. Family folklore says that Griffiths volunteered for the British Army during the first world war (1914-1918), putting his age up from 15 to enlist and is reputed to have fought at the Somme.

In 1926, Daniel's parents David and Agnes moved their family from Wales to Western Australia as part of the Group Settlement Scheme and were assigned a farm at Group 18, Acton Park, near Busselton. This property was sold to the Dimasi family in 1947.

Daniel again volunteered for World War Two (1939-45), this time lowering his age as he was too old to enlist, however he was found out. As he was only just over the cut off age, he was allowed to enlist and spent the war years as a Dispatch Rider between Perth and Northam.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-124-2022.26

Item type

Clothing

Themes

War and Conflict > World War 2

Material

Leather

Inscriptions and markings

Foyson Suits
FOY & GIBSON (W.A.) Ltd Perth

Contextual information

Dispatch Riders rode motor bikes in all weathers and this coat would have been a very necessary item in Daniel Griffith's wardrobe - not marked with any Department of Defence identification, it would seem to be a private purchase.

The coat was made by Foy and Gibson (WA) Limited, a large department store and manufacturer of clothing in Perth, Western Australia.

Keywords

Second World War

Acton Park

World War 2

Place made

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

Year

c. 1939

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Social or spiritual significance