Australian Arm of Service Colour Patches 1944-1951

For details on these patches

For details on these patches

For details on these patches

For details on these patches

THE ARM OF SERVICE COLOUR PATCH 1944 to 1951

The overall aim was never achieved due to the end of the war within months of its introduction and its secondary purpose of providing the basis of a new colour patch scheme was overshadowed by the proposed introduction of embroidered shoulder titles. There was no attempt to introduce them to the Citizen Military Forces when they were re-established in mid 1948, although they are known to have been worn unofficially by at least one unit, and by the time instructions to cease wearing them by the whole of the AMF were received in mid 1949, their use had virtually been restricted to units still serving with BCOF, Japan.

With the exception of No's 1631 and 1638, which were I and 3/4 inch equilateral triangles, all colour patches approved as part of this scheme measured a standard 2 and 1/8 inches by 3/4 inch, with the addition of a 3/16 inch battleship grey background for AIF personnel.

• 1631. Headquarters, Corps Artillery, 1945-1946: Auth. GRO 61/1945, 16.2.1945.
• 1632. Headquarters, Divisional Artillery, 1945-1946: Auth. GRO 61/1945, 16.2.1945.
• 1633. Royal Australian Artillery (Field), 1945-1949: Auth. GRO 61/1945, 16.2.1945. For all field regiments and batteries. From mid 1946 this comprised only 'A' Field Battery and 53rd Aust. Field Battery, although the 7th Field Regiment is also understood to have worn this patch briefly after it was re-raised in 1948.
• 1634. Mountain Batteries RAA, 1945-1946: Auth. GRO 61/1945, 16.2.1945.
• 1635. Medium Regiments RAA, 1945-1946: Auth. GRO 61/1945, 16.2.1945.
• 1636. Royal Australian Artillery (Tank Attack), 1945-1946: Auth. GRO 61/1945, 16.2.1945. The title of these units reverted to 'Anti-Tank' on 31.5.1946, by which stage however all units of this type had been disbanded. The anti-tank role passed to the Royal Australian Armoured Corps in January 1952.
• 1637. Royal Australian Artillery (Heavy), 1945-1949: Auth. GRO 61/1945, 16.2.1945.
  Retained by Coast Artillery units, all Heavy Batteries having been disbanded by early 1946. The Coast Branch was disbanded in October 1962.
• 1638. Royal Australian Artillery (Anti-Aircraft), 1945-1946: Auth. GRO 61/1945, 16.2.1945. For all types of anti-aircraft gun and searchlight units, and headquarters. All anti-aircraft units were disbanded by early 1946, being re-established in the CMF in 1948 and the ARA in 1949.
• 1639.  (i) Survey Batteries RAA, 1945-1946: Auth. GRO 61/1945, 16.2.1945.
  • (ii) Flash spotting Batteries RAA, 1945-1946: Auth. GRO 127/1945, 4.5.1945.
  • (iii) 1st Aust. Sound Ranging Battery RAA, 1945: Auth. GRO 127/1945, 4.5.1945. Formerly the Sound Ranging Cadre RAA, expanded in June 1945 by absorbing the 2/3rd Aust. Flash-spotting Battery.
• 1640. Naval Bombardment Groups RAA, 1945: Auth. GRO 61/1945, 16.2.1945. The 1st Aust. Naval Bombardment Group was disbanded by the end of 1945. The unit of this type which was subsequently raised in 1949 was known as 1st Combined Operations Bombardment Regiment, later 28th Amphibious Observation Regiment, and eventually 128th Amphibious Observation Battery.
• 1641. Royal Australian Engineers, 1945-1949: Auth. GRO 62/1945, 16.2.1945. In late November 1944 the C-in-C directed that this patch was to measure 1/4 inch narrower than the patch introduced for Aust. Corps of Signals. This direction was subsequently rescinded in the interests of a standard size for all new colour patches. On 1.4.1947 the RAE absorbed the Aust. Army Transportation Corps and all Movement Control Groups.
• 1642. Australian Corps of Signals,. 1944-1948; 
  • Royal Australian Corps of Signals, 1948-1951: Auth. GRO 411/1944, 10.11.1944. This design was first proposed by the SO-in-C in February 1944 in lieu of a square white over sky blue patch suggested as suitable for the Corps by the MGO.
• 1643. Australian Intelligence Corps: This design was submitted to the Corps for comment by the MGO in a minute dated 18.5.1945. It was never approved or adopted, nor have any examples been sighted. The green and grey was based on the Sherwood Green and French Grey of the Intelligence Corps of the British Army.
• 1644. Australian Army Chaplains Department: This design was submitted to the Chaplain-General for comment by the MGO in a minute dated 18.5.1945. It was not accepted, although an example exists in the Military Heraldry Collection, AWM. Black was the traditional colour of badges and facings of Australian chaplains.
• 1645. Christian Chaplains: Australian Army Chaplains Department, 1945-1948; 
  • Royal Australian Army Chaplains Department, 1948-1949: Auth. GRO 293/1945, 23.11.1945. This design was originally submitted by the Chaplain-General with a recommendation that the cross be of gold wire embroidery. Samples were supplied by the CCF in this form on 5.9.1945, however the cost, at three shillings each, was prohibitive, and the cross on issued colour patches was of gold silk embroidery.
• 1646. Jewish Chaplains: Australian Army Chaplains Department, 
  • 1945-1948; Royal Australian Army Chaplains Department, 1948-1949: Auth. GRO 293/1945, 23.11.1945. This design was originally submitted by the Chaplain-General with a recommendation that the Star of David be of gold wire embroidery. A sample in this form was submitted by the CCF on 5.9.1945, the cost being five shillings. The Star of David on production colour patches was in gold silk embroidery.
• 1647. Australian Army Service Corps, 1945-1948; 
  • Royal Australian Army Service Corps, 1948-1949: Auth. GRO 62/1945, 16.2.1945.
• 1648. Australian Army, Transportation Corps, 1945-1947: Auth. GRO 239/1945, 17.9.1945. This Corps was created on 6.8.1945 (GRO 190/1945, 20.7.1945.) to absorb the existing services of Rail and Road Transportation, Water Transport and Docks. All units of the RAE Transportation Section (Water Transport) and (Docks), the Directorates of Railway and Road Transportation, Docks, and Water Transport (Small Craft), the Water Transport Training Centre RAE, and LHQ School of Military Engineering (Water Transport), were transferred to this Corps on that date. In April 1947 it was absorbed back into the Royal Australian Engineers (Transportation).

Units of the Aust. Army Transportation Corps were: 

• 1649. Australian Army Medical Corps: A sample prepared by the CCF in response to a request by the DGMS on 10.1.1945 that dull cherry, the colour of the Royal Army Medical Corps, be substituted for the chocolate currently used by the AAMC. It was not approved, possibly because of the potential for confusion with the maroon of the AAVC.
• 1650. Australian Army Medical Corps, 1945-1948; 
  • Royal Australian Army Medical Corps, 1948-1949: Auth. GRO 62/1945, 16.2.1945.
• 1651. Australian Army Dental Corps, 1945-1948; 
  • Royal Australian Army Dental Corps,1948-1949: Auth. GRO 283/1945, 16.11.1945.
• 1652. Australian Army Ordnance Corps, 1945-1948; 
  • Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps, 1948-1949: Auth. GRO 283/1945, 16.11.1945. The first authority for this colour patch for production purposes was LHQ (DOS) Memo B73452, 1.11.1945. It was not however allowed to be issued or worn until it was promulgated in GRO's.
• 1653. Corps of Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, 1945-1948; 
  • Royal Australian Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, 1948-1949: Auth. GRO 283/1945,16.11.1945.
• 1654. Australian Army Catering Corps, 1945-1949: Auth. GRO 283/1945, 16.11.1945.
• 1655. Australian Army Pay Corps, 1945-1948; 
  • Royal Australian Army Pay Corps,1948-1949: Auth. GRO 283/1945, 16.11.1945.
• 1656. Australian Army Veterinary Corps, 1945-1947: Auth. GRO 283/1945, 16.2.1945.
  This Corps was disestablished soon after the end of the Second World War.
• 1657. Australian Army Legal Corps, 1945-1949: Auth. GRO 283/1945, 16.2.1945.
• 1658. Australian Army Provost Corps, 1945,-1948; 
  • Royal Australian Army Provost Corps, 1948-1949: Auth. GRO 62/1945, 16.2.1945. Absorbed the Aust. Army Military Prisons and Detention Barracks Service.
• 1659. Australian War Graves Service, 1945-1949: Auth. GRO 283/1945, 16.11.1945. The
  duties of this service were taken over by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
• 1660. Australian Army Education Service, 1945-1948; 
  • Australian Army Education Corps, 1948-1949: Auth. GRO 283/1945, 16.11.1945. Became the Aust. Army Education Corps in 1948 and was granted the title 'Royal' in 1961.
• 1661. Australian Army Amenities Service, 1945-1949: Auth. GRO 283/1945, 16.11.1945.
• 1662. Australian Army Psychology Service, 1946-1949: Auth. GRO 66/1946, 15.2.19461.
• 1663. Australian Army Postal Service, 1945-1948: Auth. GRO 283/1945, 16.11.1945.
  Disbanded on 31.1.1948, becoming an RAE function, then RAASC from 1966.
• 1664. Australian Army Salvage Service, 1945-1949: Auth. GRO 283/1945, 16.11.1945.
  The functions of this service were taken over by the RAAOC in 1949.

• 1665. Australian Army Printing and Stationery Service, 1945-1949: Auth. GRO
  283/1945, 16.11.1945. Absorbed by the RAAOC on 1.3.1951.
• 1666. Australian Army Canteens Service, 1945-1949: Auth. GRO 283/1945, 16.11.1945.
• 1667. Aust. Army Movement Control Staffs, 1945-1949: Auth. GRO 283/1945, 16.11.1945. Movement control staffs were absorbed by the RAE (transportation) in April 1947.
• 1668. Aust. Kit Stores, 1945-1947: Auth. GRO 283/1945, 16.11.1945.
• 1669. Unidentified: JA. Ryan Collection, AWM.
• 1670. Unidentified: Compressed felt, of either NSW or Queensland manufacture, with a grey background trimmed back to the patch.

Miscellaneous Miniature Colour Patches

• 1671. Royal Australian Navy: Worn between 1940 and 1946 by personnel of the AMF with previous service with the RAN during the 1914-1918 War. It was initially stipulated that this patch could not be worn by eligible personnel serving with the AIF, however there is no reason why personnel serving with the AIF could not wear it after August 1941. Auth. AAO 62/1941, 30.4.1941, amending SO Dress, 1935, however the matter had first been raised by the Naval Board in November 1939 in regard to ex-naval personnel serving with garrison battalions. First approval was granted by Sec. Military Board Memo No. 2573 dated 15.1.1940, and the first army reference to this design is AHQ(DPS) Memo No. 12834, dated 28.2.1941, although it appears much earlier in RAN correspondence. The letters 'R.N.' in white were also approved for use by the Naval Board for eligible personnel. This badge should not be confused with a curved title of similar colour and lettering worn by Beach Commandos of the RAN during 1944-1945.
• 1672. Merchant Navy: For personnel serving in the AMF during the Second World War with previous service in the Merchant Navy during the 1914-1918 War. No authority yet located, however it has been seen in use in Tasmania in late 1942.
• 1673. Royal Australian Air Force: For personnel of the AMF with previous service in the RAAF, and possibly the RAF, during the 1939-1945 War. No authority located but was worn by personnel serving with BCOF, Japan, during the post-war period.
  
  Note: Due to the Military Board granting approval in 1931 for personnel serving in the Permanent and Citizens Forces with previous wartime service with the forces of other Commonwealth nations and dominions to wear a miniature colour patch of their previous unit, it is likely that numerous combinations similar to No's 1671 to 1673 will be found. In the majority of cases these would have been of an individual nature. In addition a considerable number of miniature colour patches in varying combinations of shape and colour, but with no counterpart in a full sized patch, exist in collections. These have not been included in this book unless they are readily identified as belonging to a particular arm or service.

Colour patches depicted in the following section are those which have not been identified as belonging to a particular Corps or Service, nor has the unit which may have worn them been identified. As much information relating to source of manufacture and location is given as is known, without indulging in undue speculation, in the hope that they will be recognized. Some are possibly colour errors in manufacture.

• 1682. NSW manufacture c. 1942.
• 1683. WA manufacture, ex Urquhart Collection.
• 1684. NSW manufacture, J.A. Ryan Collection AWM.
• 1685. NSW manufacture, J.A. Ryan Collection AWM.
• 1686. NSW manufacture, J.A. Ryan Collection AWM.
• 1687. As above.
• 1688. As above.
• 1689. As above.
• 1690. As above.
• 1691. J.A. Ryan (AWM) and Victoria Barracks collections.
• 1692. No information, possibly a manufacturer's colour comparison sample.
• 1693. Military Heraldry Collection AWM, "700 2nd AIF Colour Patches". From an 
  examination of this patch it would appear that it was made by the donor of the
  collection to demonstrate the use of the so-called 'Broken 8th' colour patch.
• 1694. WA manufacture, ex Urquhart Collection.
• 1695. NSW manufacture.
• 1696. NSW manufacture, J.A. Ryan Collection, AWM. The eagle and crown are the standard RAAF issue in brass. This patch would appear to denote Combined Operations, and is possibly a development of requests from the CO's of the 1st and 2nd Aust. Beach Groups in 1944 for the adoption of distinguishing insignia similar to that used by combined operations formations of the British Services.
• 1697. NSW manufacture.
• 1698. No information.
• 1699. No information. Compressed felt and possibly worn.
• 1700. Victoria Barracks Collection.
• 1701. Victoria Barracks and J. A. Ryan (AWM) Collections. Another example in the AWM is in burnt ochre, similar to the AA Dental Corps colour.
• 1702. Appears to be of United Kingdom manufacture of the Great War period.
• 1703. CCF manufacture, possibly manufacturing error for No. 1594.
• 1704. J. A. Ryan Collection, AWM.
• 1705. J. A. Ryan Collection, AWM.
• 1706. J. A. Ryan Collection, AWM. Note: 'lightning strikes' are in gold thread.
• 1707. No information, compressed felt.

• 1674. Title, 'AUSTRALIA', Embroidered, 1944-1952: Auth. GRO 285/1944, 4.8.1944. Approved for wear by all personnel who were serving overseas on special duties, liaison duties, or with the Aust. Army Staff, London, the Aust. Military Mission, Washington, or similar organizations. It could not be worn by members serving overseas as part of an operational force without the prior approval of LHQ. It was not to be worn prior to embarkation from Australia, and was to be removed prior to disembarkation on return to Australia, or on transfer to any area where members of the AMF formed part of an operational force. It was authorised in 1946 for wear by all personnel serving as part of the AMF component of BCOF, Japan. To be worn directly above the colour patch on the sleeves of greatcoats and jackets, SD. This item should not be confused with the title, 'Australia', embroidered, which was worn on the shoulder straps of shirts, safari jackets and women's frocks in lieu of metal titles. Wearing of these was approved by GRO 99/1944, 17.3.1944, as an optional item at private expense.
• 1675. British Commonwealth Occupation Force, Japan, 1946-1952: Worn on the right
  arm by all personnel serving with the Australian Component of this Force, and on the right hand side of the puggaree by all AMF personnel on the establishment of Headquarters BCOF. This badge would appear to have been approved in early January 1946, (HQ BCOF Memo AQ 133, 14.2.1946, but earliest appears to be HQ BCOF Memo Q9 of 8.1.1946. Order for British/Indian contingent notified on 21.1.1946, for New Zealand contingent on 31.1.1946.) with initial provision for all Australian, British, Indian and New Zealand contingents of the force being under-taken in Australia. The manufacturer was the J. and J. Cash Australian Weaving Company. Numerous variations exist, generally with gold wire embroidery, which were supplied in Japan. This patch was also worn by personnel serving with British Commonwealth Forces in Korea.
• 1676. Headquarters British Commonwealth Base, BCOF, 1946-1952: Auth. MBI 16/1946, 12.4.1946. Worn on the left arm by all personnel on the establishment of this headquarters.
• 1677. Headquarters British Commonwealth Base, BCOF, 1946-1952: Auth. MBI 16/1946, 12.4.1946. Worn on the right hand side of the puggaree by all personnel on the establishment of this headquarters.
• 1678. Australian Victory March Contingent, 1946: Concentrated in Victoria in April 1946, embarking on the cruiser HMAS Shropshire on 18.4.1946 for the voyage to the United Kingdom. The Contingent comprised two hundred and fifty personnel drawn from the three Services, and represented Australia at the Victory March in London on 8.6.1946. It returned to Australia and was disbanded on 16.8.1946.
• 1679. Emblem, Winged, Parachutist, 1943-1952: Ref. MGO Order No. 4191, 19.5.1943, placed with the J. and J. Cash Australian Weaving Company for the initial provision of 1,000 items. This badge was allotted to qualified parachutists of the 1st Aust. Parachute Battalion, 1st Aust. Mountain Battery (Mechanised) RAA, 1st Aust. Parachute Troop RAE, Services Reconnaissance Department and 1st Aust. Parachute Training Depot (Army Wing), and had its origin in a request in January 1943 for 400 badges, parachutist, of standard British army design, to be made available for members of the instructional staff at the Parachute Training Depot. This badge was first issued to the parachute battalion on 16.9.1943 and was worn on the upper right arm. During the postwar period personnel of SRD who had taken part in an operational parachute drop wore them on the left breast of the service dress jacket. Permission to wear this item on the shirt, and its provision in metal for this reason, was sought in November 1944 but was not given. Stocks of this badge were notified for disposal as early as October 1946, and they were superseded by the British pattern of badge in 1952.
• 1680. Title, Australian Women's Army Service, Embroidered, 1944-1947: Auth. GRO
  99/1944, 17.3.1944,
• 1681. Title, Australian Army Medical Women's Service, Embroidered, 1944-1946: Auth. GRO 99/1944,17.3.1944.

The material on this section of the site is drawn from "Distinguishing Colour Patches of the Australian Military Forces 1915-1951" by Keith Glyde. ISBN 0-6460-36640-8