Pair of black gaiters : Captain M T Turrell, Australian Infantry Corps, Royal Australian Regiment

Pair of Australian Army canvas gaiters, painted black. On the inside of both gaiters is a faded manufacturer's stamping in white ink, which reads: 'C.G.C.F / D [broad arrow symbol] D / 1963 / SIZE 4'. Each gaiter has a pair of buckles and straps on the side, and a buckle and leather strap at the bottom, that is fitted under the sole of the boot. On the inside bottom of both gaiters is a single metal tab and double bracket for the tab to slide into.

Born in Sydney on 19 January 1938, Maxwell Thomas Turrell was educated at Crows Nest Intermediate Boys High School and North Sydney Boys Technical High School. At both schools he served in the School Cadets, attaining the rank of cadet lieutenant. Turrell enlisted in the Australian Army in 1956, graduating from the Royal Military College, Duntroon.

In 1961, in the wake of the Malayan Emergency, Lieutenant Turrell served in Malaya with 2 Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (RAR). Operating as part the 28th Commonwealth Brigade, Turrell commanded 11 Platoon, D Company, 2 RAR in conducting patrols the 'Black Zone' on the Malay -Thailand border, aimed at suppressing continued Communist Terrorists (CT) activity in the region in 1962 and 1963. In May 1966 Captain Turrell was deployed to South Vietnam as adjutant of 6 RAR. Following his service in the Vietnam War, Turrell was promoted to Major and appointed Officer Commanding 2nd Army Recruiting Unit. Major Turrell served in the Army until his discharge in 1981.