Service dress tunic : Lieutenant R J Hunter, 19 Battalion, AIF

Privately-made khaki wool twill tunic with open lapel collar. Oxidised brass 'Rising Sun' general service badges are attached to the top lapels by metal split pins and a buttoned fabric tab enables the collar to be worn around the neck. The tunic is secured by four large leather buttons. The shoulders straps are fastened to the tunic by a small leather button, and have an oxidised curved voided 'AUSTRALIA' shoulder title attached by brass spilt pins. The left strap has two oxidised brass pips indicating rank of lieutenant, but the right pips have been removed.

The front of the tunic has four patch pockets. The two on the breast have scalloped and lined buttoned flaps with a central box pleat, and the larger lower pockets are attached to the waistband and have expanding sides and a deep straight and lined double-buttoned flap. All the buttons are pressed leather to resemble plaiting. The attached self-fabric waistband has two brass belt hooks on either side of the waist to support a Sam Brown belt and a small hidden pocket sits behind the belt on the right.

At the top of each sleeve is a diamond-shaped wool flannel patch divided horizontally across the centre with green and brown, representing the 19th Battalion, 5th Brigade, 2nd Division. Sleeves have straight cuffs, and above the right cuff are four blue service chevrons, indicating four years of service, and a red chevron indicating service in 1914. The rear of the tunic has a single vent extending from the lower edge of the waistband to the hem. The sleeves are lined with cream-coloured brown striped cotton sateen and the rest of the tunic is fully lined with khaki cotton / wool blend twill. The maker's label has been removed.

Associated with the service of Lieutenant Reginald John Hunter, who was born in Brewarrina, NSW in 1893. Hunter was working as a linesman when the First World War began and was among the first to enlist for service in the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (AN&MEF). He was allocated the service number 360 and was posted to C Company, 1 (Tropical) Battalion.

He embarked with the AN&MEF from Sydney on 19 August aboard HMAT A35 Berrima. After a training period at Palm Island, the force proceeded to New Britain where after an initial landing early on 11 September, the waiting infantry went ashore on the afternoon. The following day, after re-embarking, the AN&MEF landed at Rabaul and the Union Jack was raised over the town that afternoon. All armed resistance had ceased on New Britain by 17 September. Following the surrender of the German Forces, Hunter became part of the garrison based at Rabaul. He returned to Australia and was discharged from the AN&MEF on 4 March 1915.

Hunter enlisted for service in the AIF on 22 March 1915. He was allocated a new service number, 1211, and posted as a private to H Company, 19 Infantry Battalion. He was promoted to corporal in mid March then to lance sergeant at the end of the month. Hunter embarked with his unit from Sydney on 25 June aboard HMAT A40 Ceramic, arriving in Egypt in July. After a period of further training, the battalion embarked for service at Gallipoli in mid August.

Upon arrival, the battalion was thrown straight into the fighting for Hill 60, the last Australian offensive of the Gallipoli campaign. The battle ended on 29 August and from September, 19 Battalion primarily served around the Pope's Hill area. After withdrawing from Gallipoli on 19 December, the battalion returned to Egypt for training and to take on reinforcements.

They proceeded to France in 1916, where 19 Battalion were sent to the Nursery Sector near Armentieres to acclimatise to trench warfare on the Western Front. Hunter saw his first major action at Pozieres in late July and into August, before heading into a quieter sector in Belgium.

At the end of October, Hunter was sent to 5 Training Battalion at Salisbury Plain in England where he was sent for training at Southern Command Bombing School, Lyndhurst. After completing the course, he was promoted to acting company sergeant major and posted back to 5 Training Battalion in January 1917.

Hunter rejoined 19 Battalion in May, reverting to his nominal rank of sergeant. He was promoted to second lieutenant on 12 July before being sent to Infantry School in France at the end of August. He returned to the battalion at the end of September, in time to take part in the fighting for Poelcapelle in October. He was promoted to lieutenant on 25 November.

In December, Hunter was sent to gas school, then in January 1918 to musketry school. He returned to the battalion in February and took part in halting the German Spring Offensive near Villers Bretonneux in April.

On 5 June, 19 Battalion was in the front line near Morlancourt. The Germans launched a raid on the battalion's positions and Hunter was severely wounded in the head and shoulders by shrapnel from an exploding shell. He was evacuated to 20 (British) Casualty Clearing Station where he died from his wounds later that day. Hunter was buried at Vignacourt British Cemetery.

This tunic was returned with Hunter's other personal effects to his mother in 1918. Hunter's brother, Sergeant Hector Norman Hunter, was killed serving with 18 Battalion on Gallipoli on 22 August 1915. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Lone Pine Memorial.