HORSHAM Historical Society will display an extremely rare First World War uniform, once worn by Brimpaen farmer Alexander Duncan Cameron.
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Private Cameron was identified last year as the 100th lost digger of Vignacourt, from a collection of photographic slides discovered in France.
Green Lake’s Glen Mibus, Private Cameron’s grandson, said his wife Michele’s involvement with the historical society brought about the loan of the uniform.
‘‘They’re so happy to have something of that ilk. They can display it and really, if we didn’t do it, it would be sitting in a cupboard here,’’ he said.
The century-old uniform is in excellent condition and still bears a brass wound stripe, which was given to Private Cameron after he was wounded during his unit’s first battle at Fromelles.
Along with the uniform, there is a slouch hat and a peaked cap.
The 29th Battalion stripe is still attached, which is also rare.
Horsham Historical Society’s John Francis said it was important such a significant piece of history remained in the Wimmera.
‘‘It’s a part of our local history and it should stay here to be preserved, conserved and admired,’’ he said.
Mr Francis said he had contacted the Australian War Memorial after learning about the uniform.
‘‘The war memorial was absolutely astounded that it appeared and immediately told me to put it in the freezer for 48 hours to kill the bugs,’’ he said.
He said once the historical society got an appropriate mannequin, the uniform would be displayed in a cabinet.
The uniform was passed down through generations and preserved in a vacuum-sealed bag.
Mr Mibus said his grandfather was identified as the 100th lost digger of Vignacourt after his sister Gill recognised a photo during an exhibition of the slides in Adelaide.
‘‘My sister was just going through the display in Adelaide and looked at a photo and took a double take,’’ he said.
After sending a photo of the slide to Mr Mibus, they confirmed the identity.
Private Cameron survived the war, returning to Brimpaen in 1919.