Australia WW2 Rare VDC Forrest Green Tunic

Other ranks pattern wool twill forest green tunic as issued to the Volunteer Defence Corps during the early stages of the Second World War. Has all of its oxidized AMF button and rising sun collar badges. The inside label dated 1941. A rare tunic.

The Volunteer Defence Corps was formed on 15 July 1940. It was a kind of Australian Home Guard, paramilitary in nature, run by the government and the RSL and composed of volunteers. It was a national organisation, led by distinguished members of the First AIF who were too old for frontline service. General Harry Chauvel was appointed Inspector General. Originally the government only supplied the weapons but from 1941 on it supplied standard army uniforms and eventually took over the running of the organisation completely. The VDC was never well equipped however. But by the time the war with Japan began it had a strength of 44,000. Some 5,000 men of the VDC were soon called up for full time service as coast watchers, airfield defence and security guards in order to free up younger men for combat duties. Strength soared over 100,000 in 1942, with the VDC being responsible for the defence of key installations, and training for full scale guerrilla warfare if the Japanese invaded.

Code: 1691