Unofficial history of the Australian
& New Zealand Armed
Services
Category: Badges
This page is a
sub-category index
History of the Badges of the Australian Army (1903
to
1966)
After 1911 the
use of Regimental badges was discontinued. For a while brass numerals
worn on the front of the slouch hat was the method used to indicate
units. Numerals were 1 to 92. See
right. Regimental badges, if approved, could
still be (and were) worn but were not to be supplied at public expense.
Note.
Numerals, along with shoulder titles indicating Branch of Service (BoS),
(see left)
made a brief reappearance in the very early part of WW1 before
colour patches were accepted as the more appropriate way to
distinguish the different Units. These numerals & BoS insignia
were worn on
the epaulette (shoulder strap)
above the AUSTRALIA title. See
below left and centre. These were separately
manufactured pieces and are not to be confused with the later (between
wars) style where the numeral and the shoulder title were one piece. See
below right
1st
Infantry Battalion AIF
4th
Australian Light Horse AIF
6th Australian Light Horse (New England
Light horse)
This
image of a young 10th Australian Infantry Battalion AIF soldier (circa
1915) shows the uniform as it was then worn with the numerals, the title
"INF" and the curved AUSTRALIA all worn on the shoulder strap
(epaulette).
It also shows the ORs version of the
peaked cap (Service cap) that was popular with the troops until after
Gallipoli.
<<The first badge ( wrongly called "Rising Sun")
approved for use by an Australian
Army unit was approved on 7
February 1902. It was created for use in South Africa by the
Australian Commonwealth Horse. There was another, later version for the
same unit.
It later evolved into the famous
"Rising Sun" General Service badge of the AIF. There have been 7 versions. See
the page RISING
SUN.
This
section draws heavily on research by Alfred N Festberg as presented in
his book Australian Army Insignia 1903-1966. He concentrated only on
units in the 1966 Order of Battle.
The only Field Marshal currently on
the Army List is HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh so the crossed
batons badge of the Field Marshal is rarely seen in Australia.
General Officer's hat
badge. Queens Crown (St Edward's
Crown) version also available
Badges as worn by
Brigadiers & Colonels Queens
Crown (St Edward's Crown) version also available
Introduced in 1904. Worn by
HQ Staff and later the Administrative & Instructional Staff till
1921. The scroll is sterling silver.
Worn by Staff Corps
Officers between 1921 & 1930. The words "Staff Corps" are
on a blue enameled label. See a
facing pair of collar dogs below.
<<
This badge was introduced in 1930. For a short time it was worn with red
enamel between the arches of the crown. Afterwards it was bronze until
1941.
