Child's dressing gown with formation badges sewn on it, c.1943

This gown was worn by Antony Mallaby whose father, Major-General Aubertin Walter Southern Mallaby (1899-1945), served in the 2nd Punjab Regiment before becoming Deputy Director of Military Operations at the War Office in 1941. In 1943 he was appointed Director of Military Operations at Army Headquarters in India and the following year given command of the 49th Indian Brigade. Major-General Mallaby was killed in action at Surabaya in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia) on 30 October 1945 following a clash with Indonesian nationalists. During his wartime service he collected the badges, many of which he wore on his own uniform, and passed them on to his son.