Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

Vietnam - Scrim Sweat Rag, 55093 LAWLER, 4 Field Regiment,

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Overview

Scrim sweat rag worn by Brigadier Dick Lawler who served as 55093 2nd Lieutenant Richard Anthony Lawler, 55093, 4 Field Artillery Regiment in South Vietnam 1967

Historical information

Sweat rags have been used since Roman times to protect a soldier from armour rubbing on their necks. This standard issue cotton scrim was used by soldiers in Vietnam in tropical conditions. Soldiers spent time on patrols on foot away from the base carrying their rifle, ammunition, water bottles and claymore mines mounted on webbing belts and their packs. Sweat rags could absorb/wipe sweat away, reduce chaffing from uniform/equipment rubbing on the neck, aid concealment, provide shade for the head or be used as a bandana to keep hair off the face. They were made from lightweight cotton fabric designed for use in tropical environments. Often they were an open weave mesh design loosely woven and sweat rags were still issued to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan in desert colours.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-54-818

Inscriptions and markings

This sweat rag belonged to 21 year old 2nd Lieutenant Richard Anthony Lawler, 55093, who served with 4th Field Regiment, Artillery in South Vietnam as a Forward Observation Officer supporting rifle companies of the 7th and 2nd Battalions, The Royal Australian Regiment. He was posted to Malaysia and Singapore and went on to spend many years as a training officer and instructor in Artillery, and was Commander 13th Brigade here in Western Australia. After retirement he served as Colonel Commandant Western Region of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery

Contextual Information

Visitors to the Australian Army Museum of Western Australia can see sweat rags on soldiers on display in the Post-1945 Gallery.

Links to additional resources

Biography

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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