Summary

British uniform belonging to Sergeant George West, who served in the 1/4th Battalion, Black Watch, 9th Royal Highland Division, 1914-1919.

The uniform consists of a tunic, black watch buttons, shoulder titles, kilt, sporran, khaki apron, bonnet with red feather, two glengarry caps, crimson sash, leather waist belt, khaki spats, three pairs of hose (one khaki and two tartan), red tapes for hose, swagger stick with silver knob bearing badge of the Black Watch.

A pay book, dispersal note, medals, training manuals and two maps were included with the uniform when donated to the RSL, which later donated the collection to Museum Victoria.

George West (1895-1979) was born in Dundee, Scotland, and enlisted in the British Army at the age of 19, on 13 October 1914, regimental no. 200621. He served in 1/4th Black Watch Battalion, (9th) Royal Highland Regiment (1/4 was raised in Dundee), and was wounded in the Battle of Passchendale, 1917. He was discharged in January 1919. After the war George served in the Territorials (UK army reserve) from 1920 to 1923, when he migrated to Australia. From 1930 he served in the Australian Citizen Forces.

With the outbreak of World War II in 1939, George enlisted in North Melbourne (the nominal roll dates his enlistment as 27 August 1939; his attestation paper says 13 March 1939). He was then aged 43, a painter and decorator, and married to Elizabeth West. He was placed in the 6th Battalion, service no. V65572 / 449188. He was discharged on 2 March 1944 at the rank of Warrant Officer Class 2 with the 2nd Australian Regular Training Battalion. George West died in 1979, at the age of 84.

Physical Description

Uniform consists of a tunic, black watch buttons, shoulder titles, kilt, sporran, khaki apron, bonnet with red feather, two glengarry caps, crimson sash, leather waist belt, khaki spats, three pairs of hose (one khaki and two tartan), red tapes for hose, swagger stick with silver knob bearing badge of black watch.

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