Airborne forces beret : Major B W Fox, Royal Australian Army Medical Corps

Dull cherry felt beret with black nylon band threaded through with black cotton grosgrain ribbon for adjustment, and two pairs of ventilation holes edged with buttonhole stitch. An antique silver United States basic parachutist's badge, showing an open parachute between a pair of upswept wings, is attached to the left front of the beret. The beret has a black cotton lining.

Associated with the service of 3101834 Major Bruce Walter 'Doc' Fox, who was born in Victoria in June 1932. His father died on active service in New Guinea in 1944 and Bruce and his younger brother Boyd became Legacy wards. Bruce was awarded a number of scholarships by Legacy, including the prestigious Gellibrand Scholarship, which enabled him to study medicine, specialising in surgery. Fox was an enthusiastic member of the Citizens Military Forces (CMF) and became first Regimental Medical Officer (RMO) of 2 Commando Company in 1955, despite heavy surgical commitments at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. He qualified as a parachutist, swimmer/canoeist and small craft handler. He was often impatient of authority and what he saw as excessive red tape. During further surgical training in Britain in the 1950s and 1960s 'Doc' Fox continued army reserve service with the Royal Marine Commandos and the Parachute Regiment (TA). He was offered a commission in the latter unit but was unable to take it up. In 1960-1961 Fox served with an Australian surgical team during the rebellion in the Belgian Congo. Following his return to Australia he continued service in the CMF in Victoria until May 1966 when he transferred to full time CMF duty in Vietnam with 2 Field Ambulance. In June he was appointed to the regular Army (RAAMC). Three months later he was appointed the first RMO of the Special Air Services Regiment (SASR) in Vietnam but less than a month later he was sent back to Swanbourne Barracks, WA, after running foul of military authority. Soon afterwards he spent six weeks in New Guinea with 1 Squadron SASR during their pre-Vietnam training, where he participated in their runs and marches. Back in Western Australia he insisted that SASR medics be send to Perth hospitals for casualty ward experience before their departure for Vietnam. In June 1967 Doc Fox returned to Vietnam with 1 Australian Civil Affairs Unit where he proved an invaluable member of the Medical Civil Aid Programs (MEDCAPS). To relieve stress he was occasionally sent to unwind with 1, and later 2 Squadron SASR and completed one of their patrols. On his return to Australia from his second tour in Vietnam Fox, suffering from deteriorating eyesight and a muscular condition brought on as a result of his war service, was no longer able to practise as a surgeon. He left the army in July 1968 and took up general practice in Frankston, Victoria. He died in July 1975. This beret, which appears to have been presented as a souvenir of Fox's service, represents his enthusiasm for, and participation in, parachute training, while the United States parachutist's badge possibly represents members of the US 173rd Airborne Brigade with whom Fox may have had contact during his first tour in Vietnam.