Battledress trousers : Flight Lieutenant A R Marriott, RAAF, 35 (Pathfinder) Squadron RAF

RAAF blue wool serge battledress trousers with concealed six button fly closure. The trousers have two side pockets and an inset back pocket on the right rear secured by a button flap. The front left hand side has a small pleated pocket secured by a black plastic button. The inner waistband is lined with dark blue cotton fabric and has six buttons placed around it for the attachment of braces. At the rear of the outer waistband are a pair of buttons which attach to the battledress blouse. A printed white cotton manufacturer's label sewn inside the left rear waist reads 'SUITS, AIRCREW TROUSERS R.A.A.F. SIZE No. 5...HART & LEVY LTD. 1944 [broad arrow symbol]'.

Worn by Flight Lieutenant A R Marriott, RAAF, 35 (Pathfinder) Squadron RAF. Born on 22 December 1921 at Jerseyville, NSW, Alan Raymond Marriott trained as a laboratory assistant before enlisting in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) on 3 February 1941. Marriott embarked at Sydney on 21 March 1941 for training in Canada with the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS). Qualifying as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner (WAG) and promoted to the rank of pilot officer in September 1941, Marriott continued on to the United Kingdom in January 1942. After further training he was posted to 279 Squadron RAF, an air-sea rescue unit equipped with Hudsons based at RAF Bircham Newton in Norfolk. Promoted to flying officer in March 1942, Marriott was posted to 200 Squadron RAF in Jeswang, Gambia, West Africa in July 1942, where he crewed Hudson bombers on convoy protection missions. He was promoted to flight lieutenant in September 1943. Posted to 35 Squadron RAF in July 1944 Marriott flew 30 missions in Lancasters as part of Pathfinder Force and was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for his 'Skill & [sic] fortitude in operations against the enemy'. Promoted to squadron leader in January 1945, Marriott returned to Australia in March of that year and was posted to the School of Administration at Victor Harbour. After four years of war service, 37 operational missions and 1,050 flying hours, Squadron Leader A R Marriott received his discharge from the RAAF on 7 January 1946. He was 24 years old.