This uniform was also worn by members of the Australian Imperial Forces, all volunteers, who were operating in tropical regions. Soldiers from Australia who served in Palestine (mainly the Light Horse units), Egypt, Mesopotania, and New Guinea, often found their woollen uniform less than desirable, so a cotton uniform was sometimes issued. Most soldiers in Mesopotania seem to have worn this uniform, and certainly many Light Horsemen worn it, although usually not with the Pattern '08 web equipment.

The tunic is made of a strong cotton cloth, and has no lining. There are five buttons in the front and there are two breast pockets, and two shoulder straps. Each has a brass British General Service button, all of the same size. A third pocket is located in the front right hand skirt of the jacket, and this holds the First Field Dressing package. The collar is a stand and fall type collar, and has a hook and eye to hold it closed. The cuffs are plain and have no buttons or vents. The shorts are long, reaching almost to the knee, and unlike later British tropical clothing, do not blouse or 'bag', they are relatively close fitting. Only one pocket is found and that is a right side hip pocket. There are metal buttons on the shorts, both on the fly and also about the waist for braces. Around the waist are three belt loops, these are made to accept a belt up to three inches wide. Both articles are marked with black ink stamps, indicating a year of manufacture of 1917.