Naval dress collection

Brief description

A collection of approximately 1,200 items relating to uniforms worn by men and women of the Australian naval forces, from about 1890 through to the 21st century. The collection includes both winter and summer examples and covers the range of ranks from junior and senior sailors to Admirals.

Notes

Parts of this collection are digitised and available on the ANMM website www.anmm.gov.au

Significance

Prior to the formation of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 1911, Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales had their own naval brigades. The earliest naval dress in the collection dates from this period and includes officers' dress coats and cocked hats; of special note is dress provenanced to Sub-Lieutenant (later Commander) William Staunton Spain. RAN uniforms in the collection cover ceremonial mess dress as well as working rigs; parts of uniforms including buttons, cap tallies, trade patches, insignia, epaulettes and ceremonial swords. WRANS (Women's Royal Australian Naval Service), submariners, naval aviators and RANNS (Royal Australian Navy Nursing Service) are also represented. Protective clothing includes NBCD (Nuclear Biological and Chemical Defence) and Fearnought, as well as great coats for Arctic service. The most recent naval dress covers the ship-designed t-shirts relating to a specific ship or specific naval exercise, and DPNU (Disruptive Pattern Naval Uniform) with its grey/blue camouflage design. Within the collection are groupings relating to the following: Vice Admiral Sir Alan McNicholl, Admiral Alan Lee Beaumont, Commodore Peter Collins AM RFD QC, Commodore Robin Millar, Captain Leonard Norman Dine, Commander Robert Varley, Lieutenant-Commander E Bryden-Brown, WRAN Margaret White, and boy sailor George Leatham Roberts.