From:Rocky Hill War Memorial Museum
Name/TitleAyling Collection June 2026
About this objectCollection of items including -
1. Australian Defence Heritage, Limited Edition Prints. A portfolio of some of Australia's historic forts, barracks and defence buildings, selected from original artwork prepared for the publication, "Australian Defence Heritage.'' Produced by the Directorate of Public Relations, Department of Defence.
Including prints of Victoria Barracks; the former School of Musketry in Enoggera, Queensland is now All Saints Chapel; The Royal Australian Navy's Garden Island Dockyard, Sydney includes the Administration Building, built in 1892; Drill Hall in Geelong, Victoria, home of the Army Reserve's 10th Medium Regiment; Duntroon House; Fort Queenscliff, Port Phillip Bay, Victoria; Fortuna at Bendigo; Anglesea Barracks, Hobart, Tasmania; Shafston House, overlooking Brisbane; Amity House looking across the Brisbane River; Rhyndarra, Brisbane, Queensland; The Bungalow, Victoria Barracks, Paddington, N.S.W.; Fort Denison, Sydney; 'Bob's Hall, Lancer Barracks, Parramatta, N.S.W.; Victoria Barracks; Fort Queenscliff; Dilhorn, east Perth; Anglesea Barracks, Hobart, Tasmania.
2. Part of Sam Browne belt, no markings.
3. Khaki webbing belt, no markings.
4. Dark green housewife, black tape closure, with a needle threaded with white cotton; 1 hank each of black wool and khaki wool. The label stitched to the object has 'DRIGLAD PRT LTD N.S.W. 19657. D^D. Regimental No. 2952. Name - AYLING.
5. Australian military ammunition bandolier, cotton, with individual canvas pockets, brass metal press studs for secure cloisure and a sewn cloth shoulder strap. Various markings include '50 BALL 303. MARK 7; 26-10-56; MF C.G.C.F. Aust. 1956. D^D.
6. Traditional Scottish Balmoral bonnet or Tam O'Shanter, with a flat crown and red pom pom in the centre. Black tag inside 'SIZE... 57CM.'
7. Kent military-style beret crafted from 100% pure wool. The interior features a branded lining and a grosgrain ribbon headband. The inside has 'KENT (tm) PURE WOOL XLARGE'.
8. Military style pure wool beret, manufactured by John Star Pty Ltd in Sydney, Australia with material made in New Zealand. Size is L.
9. British/Australian Pattern 1903 leather bandolier typically used during WWl and WWll by cavalry and mounted troops for .303 Lee Enfield ammunition. It features 5 individual fold-over pouches, each secured by a distinct brass stud fastener.
Owned by Stephen Henry Ayling, AM who joined the Australian Regular Army on 17 January 1972 as a Staff Cadet in Kokoda Company at the Royal Military College Duntroon. He was appointed to the rank of Sergeant in first class, 1975. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from the University of NSW and was commissioned with the rank of Lieutenant (LT).
Between January 1976 and March 1978 Lieutenant Ayling was the Troop Commander 139 Signal Squadron, 6th Task Force, Enoggera Barracks Brisbane.
April 1978 to August 1979 Lieutenant Ayling was promoted to Captain (CAPT). He was posted to the UK to attend the Telecommunications Engineering Management (TEM) Course. This was followed by attachments to 7 Signals Regiment British Army on the Rhine (BAOR) in Herford West Germany. He met Clair Ponting who was a British Forces Education Systems (BFES) teacher.
August 1979 to December 1981 Captain Ayling was Squadron Second in Command (2IC) 4th Signal Regiment, Brisbane. He married Claire Ponting on 2 January 1980 at Radford Semele Warwickshire UK.
January 1982 to December 1983 Captain Ayling was Squadron 2IC, 2nd Signal Regiment, Watsonia Barracks Melbourne. On 12 February 1982 a son Timothy Stephen Ayling was born.
January 1984 -December 1985 Captain Ayling was promoted to Major (MAJ). Staff Officer Grade 2 (Communications) Headquarters Field Force Command, Victoria Barracks Sydney. A second son Robert John Ayling was born on 1 February 1984.
Between January and December 1986 Major Ayling was posted to Pakistan to attend the Pakistan Army Staff College, Quetta, Pakistan.
January 1987 to December 1988 Major Ayling was the Officer commanding 103 Signal Squadron, 3rd Brigade, Townsville. A daughter Caroline Ruth Ayling was born on 19 February 1987.
January 1989 to December 1990 Major Ayling was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel (LTCOL) and was on the Directing Staff at the Australian Army Command and Staff College, Queenscliff Victoria.
January 1990 to March 1991 Lieutenant Colonel Ayling was the Commanding Officer 2nd Signal Regiment at Watsonia Barracks, Melbourne.
March to December 1992 Lieutenant Colonel Ayling was the Commanding Officer Force Communications Unit (FCU) United Nations Transitional Authority Cambodia and Australian Contingent Commander, Operational Service.
January to June 1993 Lieutenant Colonel Ayling attended the Australian Defence Force Joint Services Staff College in Canberra.
26 January 1993 saw Lieutenant Colonel Ayling appointed a Member in the Military Division of the Order of Australia (AM), for service to the Australian Army as Commanding Officer of 2nd Signal Regiment and the Australian Contingent United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC).
July 1993 to July 1995 Lieutenant Colonel Ayling was the Deputy Director of Communications Operations Strategic Command, Headquarters Australian Defence Force (HQADF), Canberra.
August 1995 to May 1997 Lieutenant Colonel Ayling was promoted to Colonel (COL). Director of Plans Army Headquarters, Russell Offices Canberra.
June 1997 to October 1998 saw Colonel Ayling posted to the USA to attend the US Army War College, Carlisle Pennsylvania USA.
November 1998 to December 1999 Colonel Ayling was promoted to Brigadier (BRIG) - Director General Military Strategy (DGMS) HQADF and Director General INTERFET (DGINTERFET), Russell Offices Canberra.
January 2000 to March 2002 Brigadier Ayling was seconded to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet as Security Advisor Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Task Force Canberra and Brisbane.
On 4th April 2002 Brigadier Stephen Henry Ayling retired from the Australian Regular Army. From April 2002 to November 2018, he served with the Australian Army Reserve.
In September 2011 Claire and Steve purchased Mandelson's of Goulburn located at 160 Sloane Street, Goulburn.
Stephen's 'CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE' shows -
221614/8217055 Brigadier Stephen Henry AYLING, AM
Served with the Australian Regular Army from 17 January 1972 to 04 April 2002.
Australian Army Reserve from 05 April 2002 to 30 November 2018.
Stephen's Decorations, Medals and Commendations include:
Member of the Order of Australia
Australian Active Service Medal with Clasp Cambodia
Defence Force Service Medal with First, Second and Third Clasps
Australian Defence Medal
United Nations Medal with Ribbons UNAMIC and UNTAC (Numeral 2)
Meritorious Unit Citation - Force Communications Unit (UNTAC) 15 March 1992 to 7 October 1993.
Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) Commendation for establishing the Defence White Paper 2000 Secretariat.
Return from Active Service Medal
Signed Richard M Burr, AO, DSC, MVO
Lieutenant General
Chief of Army
3 December 2019.
Stephen's father, NX24369 Gunner Robert Bruce AYLING, (known as Bruce), born 27 July 1920 in Grafton, N.S.W., enlisted in the Australian Army 29 May 1941 in Paddington, N.S.W. His locality on enlistment was Hamilton, N.S.W. and his next of kin was Henry AYLING. Robert's posting at discharge was 29 Australian Field Regiment.
MakerVarious sources
Maker RoleManufacturer
Period20th-21st century
Place MadeAustralia
Place MadeNew Zealand
Medium and MaterialsWool, cotton, webbing, leather.
Style and IconographyUniform
Inscription and Marks2. Sam Browne belt, no markings.
3. Khaki webbing belt, illegible markings on inside.
4. Housewife has 'DRICLAD PTY LTD' N.S.W. 1967 D^D Regimental No...2952. Name... AYLING.
5. Cotton ammunition belt has 50 BALL-303. MARK 7, 26-10-56 C.G.C.F. AUST. D^D 1956.
6. Tam-O-Shanter size 57 CM.
7. Navy beret 'KENT' tm Pure Wool Xlarge.
8. Khaki beret - 'JOHN STAR PTY LTD. SYDNEY. PURE WOOL. MADE IN NEW ZEALAND.
9. Leather bandolier - no markings.
Measurements1. Australian Defence Heritage book 70 x 96mm.
2. Sam Browne belt - 12 x 96 x 12mm.
3. Webbing belt - 9 x 88mm.
4. Housewife 66 x 29mm.
5. Cotton ammunition belt 94 x 20mm.
6. Tam-O-Shanter Size 57cm.
7. Navy beret - Size 57cm.
8. Khaki beret - Size large.
9. Leather bandolier - 94 x 20mm
Subject and Association KeywordsSteve Ayling
Subject and Association KeywordsThe Australian Army
Subject and Association DescriptionSteven has donated a vast collection of military objects including uniform, equipment, awards included in Mosaic-numbers 2024.809 and 2024.810.
Steven's father, Robert Ayling has a collection in Mosaic - 2024.811.
Named CollectionAyling Collection
Object TypeCommemorative books and military equipment
Object number2026.1074.1-9
Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved
