Patches of Machine Gun Corps, Service Corps & Pioneers

Index to Units on THIS PAGE: Click the Links

HQ Aust. and NZ Forces CM No. 17, 25.2.1916, directed that machine gun companies then forming in Egypt would wear the patch of the brigade HQ to which they belonged, with the letters 'MG' in worsted on a circular piece of cloth beneath it. 

The 9th, 10th, and 11th Machine Gun Companies in the United Kingdom were directed to wear only their brigade headquarters patch by 3rd Aust. Div. Instruction, para. 7, of August 1916.

• 205. Aust. Machine Gun Corps, 1916: To be worn below the patch of the brigade headquarters to which the company was attached vide HQ Aust. and NZ Forces CM No. 17. Correspondence from the Director of the AWM states that in the case of the 8th, 14th, and 15th Aust. Machine Gun Companies the letters 'MG' were embroidered directly onto the brigade headquarters colour patch, for the 14th and 15th the letter 'G' being below the 'M'. Ref. AWM 93, item No. 12/3/11. The style of lettering depicted is not confirmed as no example has yet been sighted.
• 206. 1st Aust. Machine Gun Squadron, 1916 - 1919 : Auth. Aust and NZ Mtd Div. RO
  No. 1, para. 4, 18.10.1916.
• 207. 2nd Aust. Machine Gun Squadron, 1916 - 1919: Auth. Aust and NZ Mtd. Div. RO
  No. 1, para. 4, 18.10.1916.
• 208. 3rd Aust. Machine Gun Squadron, 1916 - 1919: Auth. Aust and NZ Mtd. Div. RO
  No. 1, para. 4, 18.10.1916.
• 209. 4th Aust. Machine Gun Squadron, 1917 - 1919: Auth. ATO 795, 10.8.1917.
• 210. 5th Aust. Light Horse Brigade Machine Gun Squadron: Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 1521, 21.1.1919. The role of this unit was undertaken by the 2nd Squadron, New Zealand Machine Gun Corps, which been raised from No's 15 and 16 Companies, 4th (Anzac) Camel Battalion on 1.7.1918. Although examples of this patch are held in the Military Heraldry Collection AWM, there is no reference in any New Zealand publication on that nation's military insignia to suggest this colour patch was in fact worn.
• 211. 1st Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1916 - 1918:
• 212. 2nd Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1916 - 1918:
• 213. 3rd Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1916 - 1918:
• 214. 4th Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1916 - 1918:
• 215. 5th Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1916 - 1918:
• 216. 6th Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1916 - 1918:
• 217. 7th Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1916 - 1918:
• 218. 8th Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1916 - 1917:
• 219. 8th Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1917 - 1918:
• 220. 9th Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1916 - 1918:

• 221. 10th Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1916 - 1918:
• 222. 11th Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1916 - 1918:
• 223. 12th Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1916 - 1917:
• 224. 12th Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1917 - 1918:
• 225. 13th Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1916 - 1917:
• 226. 13th Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1917 - 1918:
• 227. 14th Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1916 - 1918:
• 228. 15th Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1916 - 1918:
• 229. 16th Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1917: Formed by re-designation of the 3rd Aust. Divisional Machine Gun Company between July and September 1917.
• 230. 17th Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1917: Formed by re-designation of the 4th Aust. Divisional Machine Gun Company between July and September 1917.
• 231. 21st Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1917 - 1918:
• 232. 22nd Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1917 - 1918:
• 233. 3rd Aust. Divisional Machine Gun Company,(see note 49) 1917; and
  • 23rd Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1917 - 1918:
• 234. 4th Aust. Divisional Machine Gun Company,(see note 50) 1917; and
  • 24th Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1917 - 1918:
    • Note 49. In addition to this unit, the 207th (British) Machine Gun Company served with the 3rd Aust. Division between October 1916 and October 1917, although there is no evidence it wore a colour patch. The 3rd Aust. Div. MG Coy joined the division in mid 1917, but was allotted to 16th Aust. Infantry Brigade, 6th Aust. Division, between July and September 1917.
    • Note 50. Joined this division in. June 1917 but was almost immediately allotted to l7th Aust. Infantry Brigade, 6th Aust. Division, not rejoining 4th Aust. Division until September 1917.

• 235. 5th Aust. Divisional Machine Gun Company, 1917; and
  • 25th Aust. Machine Gun Company, 1917 - 1918:
    • Did not join the division until September 1917.
• 236. 1st Aust. Machine Gun Battalion, 1918 - 1919: 
  • Absorbed the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 21st Aust. Machine Gun Companies.
• 237. 2nd Aust. Machine Gun Battalion, 1918 - 1919 : 
  • Absorbed the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 22nd Aust. Machine Gun Companies.
• 238. 3rd Aust. Machine Gun Battalion, 1918 - 1919 
  • Absorbed the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 23rd Aust. Machine Gun Companies.
• 239. 4th Aust. Machine Gun Battalion, 1918 - 1919 
  • Absorbed the 4th, 12th, 13th, and 24th Aust. Machine Gun Companies.
• 240. 5th Aust. Machine Gun Battalion, 1918 - 1919 
  • Absorbed the 8th, 14th, 15th, and 25th Aust. Machine Gun Companies.
• 241. 1st Aust. Armoured Car Battery, 1917;  and 
  • 1st Aust. Light Car Patrol, 1917 - 1919: Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 613, 1.5.1917. 
    • This was actually the second design approved for this unit. The first, which was unlikely to have been issued, appeared in Anzac Mounted Division Routine Orders dated 21.11.1916 and comprised a purple circle, 2 inches in diameter, representing the colour allotted to machine gun units in Egypt, superimposed on a 2 and 1/4 inch diameter white circle representing the wheel of a motor vehicle. HQ AIF immediately directed that this patch be redesigned as it was similar to that already in use by the 4th Aust. Pioneer Battalion.

• 242. 1st Aust. Pioneer Battalion, 1916 : Auth. HQ Aust. & NZ Forces CM No. 17, 25.2.1916. Superseded by No. 243 in April 1916.
• 243. 1st Aust. Pioneer Battalion, 1916 - 1917: Auth. HQ Aust. & NZ Forces CM No. 52, 20.4.1916. Stated to have been superseded by No. 244.
• 244. 1st Aust. Pioneer Battalion, 1917 - 1919 : Ref Vol. III, The Official History of Australia in the War of 1914 - 1918. No date can be located regarding the replacement of No. 243 by this colour patch, the assumption being early 1917. First Australian Division Standing Orders, 1917, para. 44 and Appendix IV, makes no reference at all to any colour patch for 1st Aust. Pioneer Battalion.
• 245. 2nd Aust. Pioneer Battalion, 1916 : Auth. HQ Aust. and NZ Forces CM No. 17, 25.2.1916. 
  • Superseded by No. 247 in April 1916.
• 246.2nd Aust. Pioneer Battalion, 1916: 
  • Variation of No. 245 in chain stitch embroidery.
• 247. 2nd Aust. Pioneer Battalion, 1916 - 1919: Auth. HQ Aust. and NZ Forces CM No. 52, 20.4.1916.
• 248. 3rd Aust. Pioneer Battalion, 1916 - 1919: Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 231, 26.8.1916.
• 249. 4th Aust. Pioneer Battalion, 1916 : Auth. HQ Aust. and NZ Forces CM No. 17,
  25.2.1916. 
  • Superseded by No. 251 in April 1916.
• 250. 4th Aust. Pioneer Battalion, 1916 : 
  • Variation of No. 249 in chain stitch embroidery.
• 251. 4th Aust. Pioneer Battalion, 1916 - 1919 : Auth. HQ Aust. and NZ Forces CM No. 52, 20.4.1916.
• 252. 5th Aust. Pioneer Battalion, 1916 : Auth. HQ Aust. and NZ Forces CM No. 17, 25.2.1916. Superseded by No. 253 in April 1916. 
  • This colour patch was not issued, HQ 5th Aust. Division being advised in April 1916 that stocks were available for initial issue to all units of the division with the exception of the pioneer battalion.
• 253. 5th Aust. Pioneer Battalion, 1916 - 1919 ~ Auth. HQ Aust. and NZ Forces CM No. 52, 20.4.1916.

• 254. 1st Aust. Division Train, 1915 - 1919: Auth. I Aust. Div. Order No. 562, 8.3.1915. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Coys AASC (741st, 742nd, 743rd and 744th Coys ASC), 1st Fd Bky, 1st Fd Bchy, 1st to 5th DUS. Initially also comprised No. 10 Company (1st Aust. Reserve Park) AASC.
• 255. 2nd Aust. Division Train, 1915 - 1919 : Auth. 2 Aust. Div. Instruction, 3.8.1915. 15th, 16th, 17th, and 20th Coys AASC (745th, 746th, 747th, 748th Coys ASC, 2nd Fd Bky, 2nd Fd Bchy, 6th to 10th DUS.
• 256. 3rd Aust. Division Train, 1916 - 1919 : Auth. 3 Aust. Div. Instr, August 1916. 22nd, 23rd, 24th, and 25th Coys AASC (867th, 868th, 869th, 870th Coys ASC, 3rd Fd Bky, 3rd Fd Bchy, 11th to 15th DUS.
• 257. 3rd Aust. Division Train : Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 231, 26.8.1916. Although shown as a cancelled patch by Vol. 111, 'Official History of Australia in the War of 1914 - 1918',the description of this patch contained in the above order is an error, and was corrected by an amendment promulgated in Australian Imperial Force Order 340/1916, 21.10.1916.
• 258. 4th Aust. Division Train, 1916 - 1919: Auth. HQ Aust. and NZ Forces CM No. 17, 25.2.1916. 7th, l4th, 26th, and 27th Coys AASC (753rd, 754th, 755th and 756th Coys ASC), 4th Fd Bky, 4th Fd Bchy, l6th to 20th DUS.
• 259. 5th Aust. Division Train, 1916 - 1919: Auth. HQ Aust. and NZ Forces CM No. 17, 25.2.1916. 10th, l8th, 28th, and 29th Coys AASC (757th, 758th, 759th and 760th Coys ASC, 5th Fd Bky, 5th I'd Bchy, 21st to 25th DUS.
• 260. 6th Aust. Division Train, 1917 : Auth. AAG AIF Letter No. 15/42, 25.5.1917. Only the 30th and 3 1st Companies AASC were raised for this formation, and were disbanded in September 1917.
  • Note: The 11th, 13th, 19th, and 21st Companies AASC were disbanded in early 1916 to form the field bakeries and butcheries, and depot units of supply, for the 1st and 2nd Aust. Divisions. The original 4th ALH Brigade Train (14th Company AASC and 4th ALH Brigade Ammunition Reserve) was disbanded in July 1915 and absorbed by 2nd Aust. Division Train.
• 261. (a) AASC, Aust. and NZ Mounted Division, 1916 - 1917: Auth. Aust. and NZ Mtd. Div. RO No. 1, para. 4, 18.10.1916. The original light horse brigade trains (5th, 6th, and 12th Companies, AASC, and the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd ALH Brigade Ammunition Reserves) were disbanded in mid 1916, with only a brigade supply element remaining with each Aust. Light Horse Brigade until September 1917.
  • (b) Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division Train, 1917. 32nd, 33rd, and 34th Companies AASC, 26th DUS. - 1919 : 
  • (c) Australian Mounted Division Train, 1917 - 1919 : 35th, 36th, 37th, and 38th Companies AASC, 27th DUS.
    

Note: Approval to raise the mounted division trains was given in September 1917 by Australian Imperial Force Order 877/1917. No. 5 Company NZASC which formed part of the Anzac Mounted Division did not wear this patch. In October 1917 a patch of identical design, but with colours reversed and measuring 2 inches by 3/4 inch, was approved for wear horizontally on both sides of the hat puggaree by this unit. Ref. Thomas and Lord, New Zealand Army Distinguishing Patches, 1911-1991, Part One, p.28.

• 262. 1st Aust. Railhead Supply Detachment, 1918 - 1919 : Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 1306, 19.7.1918. Formerly part of No. 11 Company AASC, later 1st Anzac Railway Supply Detachment then 1st Anzac Railhead Supply Detachment.
• 263. Aust. Sea Transport Service, 1916 - 1919 : Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 396, 9.12.1916. Worn by permanent staff on sea transports.
• 264. No. 1 Aust. Remount Unit, 1916: and 
  • Australian Remount Unit, 1916 - 1917:
• 265. No. 2 Aust. Remount Unit, 1916:
  • Note: No's 264 and 265 initially appeared in "Distinguishing Marks and Badges AIF", undated but submitted for drafting on 14.3.1916. A photograph facing page 147 of "Hooves, Wheels and Tracks ", dated February 1916, shows No. 264 in use at that point. No. 264 is again depicted as the Australian Remount Unit in line drawings notified by AIF Admin. HQ Memo No. 26144 of 31.10.1916, No. 265 apparently no longer being in use at that stage. Both units were raised in September 1915, arriving in Egypt in December 1915. They were reorganized in March 1916 as the Australian Remount Unit, comprising four squadrons, which was further reduced in September 1916 to a remount depot, comprising a headquarters and two squadrons. This patch was superseded by No. 266 in May 1917.
• 266. Australian Remount Unit, 1917 - 1919 : Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 613, 1.5.1917. Note: Personnel with service in remount units in Egypt during the Gallipoli campaign were forbidden to wear the brass 'A' under the terms of MO 20/1918 because they were specifically enlisted in a non-combatant role. Ref. AA(Vic.): MP 742/1, item 87/1/37.

Note: The colour patch system approved for divisional and corps motor transport units AASC between 1916 and 1918. (Refers specifically to No's 268 to 285, and 293 to 296B.) The designs of patches allotted to ammunition parks and sub-parks, and supply columns, of the AIF from May 1916 were based on vehicle markings approved by the War Office in December 1915 for these types of units. The red shell standing on its base was for vehicles of divisional ammunition sub-parks, while the red shell with blue band and red zigzag used unofficially as a colour patch by siege battery ammunition columns in 1918 was originally approved (without the red zigzag) for vehicles of the ammunition columns of RGA brigades, and battery ammunition vehicles of tractor drawn gun or howitzer batteries. An identical shell shaped mark, vertically halved red and blue, was later approved for vehicles of army field artillery brigade park sections. The trefoil, referred to also as the ace of clubs, was symbolic of supply, and was approved, in red for vehicles of divisional supply columns. Lettering and numerals for No's 276-285 and 293-295 were to be of blue cloth, 1/2 inch high, bars to be 1/2 inch wide and 1/8 inch thick, although these dimensions vary. Trefoils were 3/4 inch high.

• 267. Australian Motor Transport Service, 1916 - 1919: Ref. 'Distinguishing Marks and Badges AIF", undated, and AIF Admin. HQ Memo No. 26144, dated 31.10.1916. The former reference shows this patch as not yet allotted. It may have been worn by personnel of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Aust. Auxiliary Motor Transport Companies prior to disbandment in July 1917, and there is evidence from a contemporary diary held by the RAMS of WA that it was worn by the siege battery ammunition columns in 1918. The auxiliary motor transport companies were disbanded to provide personnel for the formation of the 2nd and 5th Aust. Divisional Supply Columns and the 5th Aust. Divisional Ammunition Sub-Park.
• 268. Headquarters, 'K' Corps Supply Column, 1917 - 1918: Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 859,18.9.17.
• 269. No. 1 Aust. Divisional Supply Column, 1916 - 1918 : Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 340, 21.10.1916. Raised as No. 9 Company AASC, serving subsequently under British command as No. 300 (Aust.) Company ASC, then 17th Divisional Supply Column, until returning to the 1st Aust. Division in early 1916. This unit is credited with introducing the divisional sign of the 17th Division, a square 'dot' and rectangular 'dash' in black on a white oblong background, the dot and dash representing the Morse letter 'A'. 
  • from Divisional and Other Signs, V. Wheeler-Holohan, p. 50. This was initially a vehicle marking.
• 270. No. 2 Aust. Divisional Supply Column, 1917 - 1918: Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 859,18.9.1917.
• 271. No. 3 Aust. Divisional Supply Column, 1916 - 1918 : Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 340, 21.10.1916. Also numbered as No. 808 (Aust.) Company ASC.
• 272. No. 4 Aust. Divisional Supply Column, 1917 - 1918: Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 911, 16.10.1917. 
• 273. No. 5 Aust. Divisional Supply Column, 1917 - 1918: Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 859,18.9.1917.
• 274. No. 5 Aust. Divisional Supply Column :  
  • Example held in a private collection. It has been worn, and is most likely to have been worn by an individual, not on a unit basis.

• 275. 1 ANZAC Corps Troops Supply Column, 1916 - 1918; and 
  • Aust. Corps Troops Supply Column, 1918: Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 340, 21.10.1916.
• 276. 1 ANZAC Corps Ammunition Park, 1916 - 1917; and
  • HQ 'K' Corps Ammunition Park, 1917 - 1918: Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 143, 11.5.1916.
• 277. II ANZAC Corps Ammunition Park, 1916 - 1917; 
  • HQ 'Y' Corps Ammunition Park, 1917 - 1918 : Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 143, 11.5.1916. For AIF personnel only, but this patch was not cancelled by Australian Imperial Force Order 1216 of 3.5.1918, and may not even have been in use by this stage as the unit was predominantly British.
• 278. Unidentified: Military Heraldry Collection, AWM.
• 279. Unidentified: Military Heraldry Collection, AWM.
• 280. Unidentified: Military Heraldry Collection, AWM.
  • Note: It is possible that No's 278 to 280 inclusive were supplied in error for the 3rd, 4th and 5th Aust. Divisional Ammunition Sub-Parks following their reorganization as part of the Corps Ammunition Parks in January 1917. Large stocks of these examples were handed over to the AWM at the end of the Great War.
• 281. 1st Aust. Divisional Ammunition Sub-Park, 1916 - 1918 : Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 143, 11.5.1916. 
  • Formerly No. 8 Company AASC, then redesignated No. 301 (Aust.) Company ASC, and finally 17th Divisional Ammunition Sub-Park, serving under British command until the 1st Aust. Division arrived in France in March 1916.
• 282. 2nd Aust. Divisional Ammunition Sub-Park, 1916 - 1918 : Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 143, 11.5.1916. 
  • Raised in early 1916 as 23rd Divisional Ammunition Sub-Park from 4 personnel of the 17th Divisional Ammunition Sub-Park and Supply Column, serving under British command until the 2nd Aust. Division arrived in France in March 1916.
• 283. 3rd Aust. Divisional Ammunition Sub-Park, 1916 - 1918 Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 143, 11.5.1916.
• 284. 4th Aust. Divisional Ammunition Sub-Park, 1916 - 1918 Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 143, 11.5.1916.
• 285. 5th Aust. Divisional Ammunition Sub-Park, 1917 - 1918 Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 143, 11.5.1916.

In March 1918, Aust. Corps Motor Transport was re-organised to form a headquarters (absorbed HQ 'K' Supply Column and HQ 'K' Ammunition Park) and six motor transport companies, formed from the supply column and ammunition sub-park allotted to each of the five divisions. 'Me corps troops supply column formed the sixth company. Authority for the colour patches allotted to these seven units (Nos. 286 to 292) was Australian Imperial Force Order 1216, dated 5.3.1918. Numerals were approved in 1/2 inch high brass, although bullion wire examples also exist.

• 286. HQ Aust. Corps Motor Transport Column, 1918 - 1919:
• 287. 1st Aust. Motor Transport Company, 1918 - 1919:
• 288. 2nd Aust. Motor Transport Company, 1918 - 1919 :From 2nd Aust. Divisional Supply Column and 4th Aust. Divisional Ammunition Sub-Park.
• 289. 3rd Aust. Motor Transport Company, 1918 - 1919:
• 290A. 4th Aust. Motor Transport Company, 1918 - 1919 : From 4th Aust. Divisional Supply Column and 2nd Aust. Divisional Ammunition Sub-Park.
• 290B. 4th Aust. Motor Transport Company, 1919: Auth. SO AASC(MT) Memo No. 303, 7.6.1919. 
  • To be worn I inch below their original unit colour patch by personnel posted to this unit.
• 291. 5th Aust. Motor Transport Company, 1918 - 1919:
• 292. 6th Aust. Motor Transport Company, 1918 - 1919:
• 293. 3rd Aust. (Army) Field Artillery Brigade Park Section, 1917 - 1919 : Auth. AIFO 859,18.9.1917.
• 294. 6th Aust. (Army) Field Artillery Brigade Park Section, 1917 - 1919 : Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 859,18.9.1917.
• 295. 12th Aust. (Army) Field Artillery Brigade Park Section, 1917 - 1919: Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 859,18.9.1917.
• 296A. Siege Battery Ammunition Columns, 1919 : 
  • Example, Military Heraldry Collection AWM. No authority for this patch has been located although its use has been acknowledged in correspondence between the Director of the AWM and the staff of the Official Historian (AWM 93, item 12/3/11). The 1st and 2nd Aust. Siege Battery Ammunition Columns were raised in March 1918 from personnel rendered surplus by the reorganization of the Aust. Corps motor transport units.
• 296B. Siege Battery Ammunition Columns: 
  • An example of this colour patch appears in the Victoria Barracks Collection, although it is believed to be of post war manufacture. It is also depicted on several privately published colour charts printed after the Great War and a contemporary sketch exists in AWM 25, item No. 89/8, with a note that it was introduced after the Armistice.
• 297. Staff Officer, A.A.S.C. (Motor Transport), 1919: Auth. SO AASC(MT) Memo, 7.6.1919.
  • To be worn I inch below their original unit colour patch by personnel posted to the establishment of this headquarters. This staff controlled the 4th Aust. Motor Transport Company AASC and the AIF Graves Detachment which continued to operate in France and Belgium after demobilisation of the AIF had commenced.

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