Photo 4th Div, Med TM Btys, WW1
 

An image of two soldiers of the 4th Div, Med TM Btys AIF, WW1

Nice scotch, photos of these in wear don't come up often.

This shows up the error conclusions reached in the Official History and almost every colour patch chart published since, not to mention the Army Colour Patch Register, that the 'grenade' was an integral part of the trench mortar battery colour patch.

It was not, and never was intended to be, it was a skill at arms badge, worn on the recommendation of the battery commander, and only on the right arm, below the colour patch.

I think the officers of the 15th Aust Light TM Battery wore gold wire embroidered grenades on their colour patches on both arms but this was an exception not the rule.

Also the assertion in the ACPR that Mediterranean Expeditionary Force GRO 791 of 31 Jan 16 is the authority for the AIF to wear the badge is incorrect, the only authority for such badges was HQ AIF.

Apart from the ad hoc battery on Gallipoli the AIF did not form its TM btys until it got to France. While there was certainly an authority for this badge issued by HQ AIF in 1917 I haven't yet located one in 1916, or even evidence that it was worn this early.

Keith

Thanks for the details Keith.

Sadly no date as far as I'm able to read on reverse, not named either. I've attached am image of the stamp on the reverse, never been able to find much detail on these but maybe someone out there can. I'm predicting it's a late war photo.

Cheers Nick