Service dress tunic : Trooper E C Matheson, 9 Light Horse Regiment AIF

Other rank's pattern private purchase khaki wool and cotton blend gabardine service dress tunic with pleated breast pockets with triple pointed flaps. There are two large expanding pockets on each side of the front skirt, with rectangular flaps. The jacket has a back yoke. A box pleat extends from the yoke down the length of the centre back. The stand and fall collar is secured at the throat by a brass hook and eye. A self fabric belt, with a leather covered buckle, is sewn in place around the waist. Brass belt hooks are sewn into the belt on either side of the waist. A brass hook at the waist, behind the buckle, further secures the front fastening. There are oxidised brass 'AUSTRALIA' shoulder titles on each shoulder strap together with voided numeral/letters '9 L.H.', and oxidised brass Rising Sun collar badges. The front of the jacket, shoulder straps, cuffs and pocket flaps are secured by brown leather buttons pressed to resemble plaited leather. There is an additional concealed celluloid button beneath each lower pocket flap. Both upper sleeves bear rectangular diagonally divided green over yellow colour patches for 9 Light Horse Regiment, with a brass Anzac 'A' letter in the centre. The lower right sleeve bears a gold Russia braid wound stripe, and four woven service chevrons, one red for 1914 enlistment, and three blue for 1915-1917. The body of the tunic is lined with brown polished cotton; the sleeves with blue striped cream cotton. A welt pocket is set into the lining of the proper right front skirt. The pocket flaps are lined with brown cotton twill.

Born in Cairns, Queensland, Ernest Charles Matheson was working in South Australia as a labourer when he enlisted in the AIF on 25 November 1914, at the age of 22. He was assigned to the 1st reinforcements of 9 Light Horse Regiment, with the service number 722. After initial training Matheson embarked for overseas service from Melbourne, aboard the troopship HMAT A52 Surada, on 6 February 1915.

He joined his regiment in Egypt on 8 April and was posted to A Squadron. The regiment arrived on Gallipoli in May. Matheson was wounded in the face at Lone Pine on 7 August 1915 and was immediately evacuated to Egypt and then on to England to the 3rd London General Hospital. He lost his left eye and also the sight in his right eye. Once his wounds had healed he was admitted to St Dunstan's Hospital for the Blind in November 1915 where he underwent rehabilitation and training for work in civilian life for the next two years. He was discharged from St Dunstan's on 25 November 1917, described as being 'fully trained in mat making', and returned to Australia two days later. He was discharged from the army at the end of January 1918.

Although blind, Matheson was able to find his way around parts of London with little assistance. In 1917 he was noticed by a British artist, Claire Sheridan, in Regent's Park, dressed in his uniform. She later recalled that Matheson had attracted her attention 'by the way he walked alone, with his head held high and an inspired expression on his face. He was beautiful and resigned and patient'. His appearance inspired her to create a small painted plaster statue of Matheson, now in the War Memorial collection as ART19568. She replaced the cane he normally carried with the figure of a woman to guide him. Ernest Matheson died in Adelaide in December 1965.