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World War 2, Western Australia, WX25293 PEARCE, 2/7 Field Regiment, 1945

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Overview

Khaki Tunic Lieutenant Jack Stuart Pearce, WX25293, 2/7th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, 9th Division, Tarakan, (donated 2004)

Some units used colour patches from the 1st AIF, but by 1940, an instruction was issued for grey backgrounds for 2nd AIF units. Miniature colour patches were worn above the unit patch for previous AIF service. In 1943, due to the variety of shapes, the 9th Australian Division was permitted to wear distinctive ‘T' patches, like the one on Jack’s jacket, commemorating involvement in the Siege of Tobruk.
In 1949 they were discontinued and the British system of embroidered shoulder titles, formation signs and lanyards adopted. Reintroduced in 1987, they are now worn on the right side of the puggaree on a slouch hat. Lieutenant General Sir John Monash (Corps Commander WW1) stated in his book 'Australian Victories in France 1918' that 'the private soldier valued his battalion colour patch almost more than any other decoration.' It is this heritage that the Army seeks to continue with its reintroduction

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-54-738

Contextual information

This uniform element formed part of the VP (Victory in the Pacific) special 80th Anniversary Exhibition presented at the Australian Army Museum of Western Australia from 6 to 24 August 2025

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Post 1945 Service

Service Records

Last modified

Sunday, 10 August, 2025

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Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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