The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Naval officer's undress sword belt. The black morocco leather belt and slings have gilded brass fittings. The belt also has a circular brass clasp bearing an embossed laurel leaf edge and a king's crown, anchor and 'RNR' (for Royal Naval Reserve) in the centre.
Gerald Ashby Hill was born at Birmingham, England in 1880. He had already qualified as a master mariner in the Merchant Navy when he was taken on strength in the Royal Naval Reserve as a sub-lieutenant in 1909.
Hill was promoted to lieutenant in 1913 and in May that year was lent for duty aboard HMAS Australia. He was a member of the Military (sea-going) Branch and had completed short courses in signalling, gunnery and torpedoes.
This was typical of experienced merchant seaman who were recruited and trained by the Royal Navy and then sent to Australia to assist with development and training in the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), which had been established in 1911. Hill was posted to HMAS Yarra in July 1914 and took part in the seizure of German New Britain by the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (ANMEF).
HILL commanded one of the columns sent to capture the Bitapaka Road on 11 September 1914 and was the first member of the Australian forces to capture an armed enemy force in the First World War. He transferred to the RAN in 1915 and served in HMAS Torrens in European waters for the rest of the war. Hill retired in 1920 and settled in Sydney, dying there in 1931.
Naval officers blue superfine wool mess jacket lined with self fabric, black silk and white cotton. The double breasted jacket has a turn down collar, six button holes in each row (four in the turn of
Pair of officers navy blue mess undress trousers with a five button fly. Trousers are cut high at the back waist and are shaped with darts to give a close fit over the buttocks. the waist is lined wit
Naval officers full dress black 'beaver' cocked hat lined with loosely pleated white silk and a leather sweatband. The upper edge of the hat is bordered with black silk lace woven in an oak leaf and a
Naval officers full dress coat. The double breasted blue superfine wool coat has a double row of eight buttons, and skirt tails lined with white kerseymere. The tails have concealed inset pockets of w
Pair of naval officers full dress epaulettes lined with black leather stamped in gold with the manufacturer's details. The area that the epaulette rests on the end of the wearer's shoulder is made fro
Naval officer's tropical mess waistcoat. The single breasted low cut waistcoat with a roll collar, is fastened with four gilded brass Royal Navy officer's buttons. There are two small welt pockets set
Pair of officers navy blue mess undress trousers with a five button fly. Trousers are cut high at the back waist and are shaped with darts to give a close fit over the buttocks. the waist is lined wit
Naval officers blue superfine wool mess jacket lined with self fabric, black silk and white cotton. The double breasted jacket has a turn down collar, six button holes in each row (four in the turn of
Naval officers full dress black 'beaver' cocked hat lined with loosely pleated white silk and a leather sweatband. The upper edge of the hat is bordered with black silk lace woven in an oak leaf and a
Naval officers full dress coat. The double breasted blue superfine wool coat has a double row of eight buttons, and skirt tails lined with white kerseymere. The tails have concealed inset pockets of w
Naval officer's tropical mess waistcoat. The single breasted low cut waistcoat with a roll collar, is fastened with four gilded brass Royal Navy officer's buttons. There are two small welt pockets set
Pair of naval officers full dress epaulettes lined with black leather stamped in gold with the manufacturer's details. The area that the epaulette rests on the end of the wearer's shoulder is made fro