Battle dress trousers : Major F R Matyear, Royal Australian Army Medical Corps

Australian army officer's khaki wool twill battle dress trousers with concealed five button fly and front pleats. The trousers have two side pockets, two inset rear pockets with concealed button flaps and one patch pocket on the left thigh also with a concealed buttoned flap. The waistband extends to fasten on the right side with three buttons. Each hip has an adjusting strap with a black metal buckle and the outside rear waistband has three buttons to attach the battledress blouse. The waistband is lined with light khaki cotton with six buttons fastened on the inside for attaching braces. A strip of khaki fabric is sewn on the inside rear below the waist band, covering the rear pockets. A white cotton maker's label is sewn inside the rear waistband and is printed in black with 'REGIMENTAL NO..... NAME....SIZE 2. Stamped over the top are the words 'SUPREMACY Clothing Co 1950 made in Australia' . Each of the trouser cuffs has two fabric tabs with two buttons to adjust the fit.

These battle dress trousers were worn by QX19060 Major Frederick Richard Matyear. Born in Cardiff, Wales, on 24 December 1915, Matyear was a pharmacist and industrial chemist in civilian life. He served with the Australian Army Medical Corps (AAMC) in the CMF with the service number Q185074 from 22 September 1939 to 9 January 1941, during which time he was commissioned a lieutenant on 1 November 1940. He enlisted in the Second AIF on 10 January 1941serving in the Middle East from March 1941 until the end of January 1942. Matyear had been promoted to captain in June 1941. In January 1942 he was promoted to temporary major, the rank being made permanent in September 1942. He returned to Australia in March 1942, where he married Jean Irene. In August 1942 Matyear arrived in New Guinea as the officer in charge of 2/4 Australian Advance Depot, Medical Stores. He had a staff of eight other ranks and the unit worked to maintain supplies to hospitals, field ambulances and casualty clearing stations. It was also responsible for packing medical supplies to be air dropped to forward units. On one occasion, with only his small team of eight men, almost 750 kilograms of stores were packed and sent forward in five days. Deliveries usually had to be ready for loading on to aircraft at 5 am, so the unit would work through the night to get them ready on time. In January 1943 Matyear was put in command of the New Guinea Force Depot Medical Stores (NGF Depot Med Stores). He was mentioned in despatches for his work with the depot in New Guinea. He continued serving in New Guinea until December 1943 when he returned to Australia. He spent the rest of the war serving in Australia. His last posting was with the Headquarters Australian Military Forces Depot of Medical and Veterinary Stores. Matyear was discharged on 23 November 1945. He may have re-enlisted or returned to the militia, as this uniform was manufactured in 1951. Major Matyear died in 1982.