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Both these World War 1 soldiers could be 'drivers'. The soldier on the left is wearing the uniform of a sergeant in the Australian Service Corps, in particular the 2nd Division of the A.S.C. , the soldier on the right is wearing a uniform of the 1st Field Artillery.
The first soldier's head wear is a British Sun Helmet, or Pith helmet. These are usually made from a cork 'pith'. It is a light helmet covered in a kakhi cloth, the inside is lined with a green cloth. The sweat band is well constructed of leather with adequate ventilation supplied by the gap between the sweat band and a cloth covered brass fitting button on the centre top of the helmet. The helmet is also supplied with a leather chin strap. On the inside of the helmet it is named to a soldier who served in the 4th Light Horse Regiment. An Australian collar rising sun has been put into the helmet just above the puggaree. This helmet is British made and is stamped with British acceptance marks.
The soldier of the Australian Service Corps is wearing a tailored made tunic. Usually there would be a wool felt divisional patch on each shoulder, but unfortunately the patch on the left upper sleeve is missing on this example. On the right sleeve the blue and white, vertically divided, diamond is worn. Below that patch the rank of three chevrons for sergeant is worn. Australian troops only wore their rank on the right sleeve. Other badges on this tunic are the small Australian military rising sun collar badges, these can be seen at the point of each collar. On the edge of each shoulder strap is the curved bronze 'AUSTRALIA' title.
The tunic is an olive drab colour, and made of a fine quality wool. The tailor was 'Berkley Ltd. Victoria St. LONDON'. The tunic is well made and follows the standard Australian pattern, excepting that the collar has been given a 'parade' look by causing the collar to be made to look like a standing collar.
The buttons are the common pressed leather type, with a patterned surface to give the impression of woven leather. These are often mistaken for the brass or bronze Australian buttons in many early photographs.
It appears that before joining the A.S.C. the original owner of this tunic was a member of a Light Horse Brigade. The original owners name and regimental number were still visible on the inside of the tunic, and it was possible to research some of his military career. From some very basic research it appears that he was one of the Light Horsemen who charged the Turks at BEERSHEBA, on horseback with drawn bayonets. At this time he a member of the 4th Light Horse Regiment.
The other tunic is that of an Artillery man, either a gunner or a driver. This is an Australian made tunic for a soldier in the 1st Australian Field Artillery.
He wears a slouch hat turned up on the left hand side, and secured by either a press-stud or a brass hook arrangement. On the turned up side of the hat there is a badge. This badge is the Australian Commonwealth Military Forces, general service badge, commonly known as the 'rising sun'.
The equipment worn is the British pattern 1903 bandolier equipment, although all leather pieces are Australian made.
The breeches are made of a hard wearing Bedford cord, and dated 1915. He is wearing leather leggings which are held in place by two straps and buckles, one is short at the top of the legging while the other is a long strap, starting at the bottom of the legging and wrapping about the legging and finishing at the top at another brass buckle just below the first.
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