Artillery NCO's arm badge by Arendsen
 

Hi all,

I know this badge as a British Royal Artillery Sergeants or NCO's arm badge but this one is on a backing plate marked H. Arendsen Melbourne. Known Australian badge maker and doubt he would have made British badges so am assuming was an Australian badge similarly worn to British army or is it?

Guidance appreciated, regards Dean.

Yes it is,

Typical RAA makers mark for WW2.

Also comes in black oxidised.

regards

Thanks for the guidance Simon.

Regards Dean

Nice one Dean. Regards Phil.

Artillery NCO's arm badge by Arendsen
 

Hi. I was most interested to read your post about this badge. I have a photo taken of my Grandfather who served in the 7 FAB, 1 Div AIF in France from 1916 to 1919. This photo was taken in 1915 prior to his leaving Australia. He is wearing a 1912 pattern tunic with these field gun badges being worn on the collar. He is also wearing an emu plume in his slouch hat. I have no idea what hat badge he may have been wearing at that time. All photos taken of him after he left Australia show him wearing standard Rising Suns on collar and hat.

That sounds interesting, any chance of putting up a photo?

Hi Dave,

If you need assistance posting a picture of your grandfather I am happy to help, just send me a Personal Mail (PM) by clicking on my avatar and selecting send PM.

Cheers Dean

Artillery Arm Badges worn on collar c.1915
 

Hi, Here is the photo. It shows the artillery arm badges clearly worn on the collar. The emu plume I am not sure about and I would presume that the hat badge was the 1913-1942 artillery badge as this would have matched the collars more that the RRAA cypher badge.But I am guessing. This photo was taken prior to Grandad leaving for Egypt in late 1915. From there he went to the Western Front in early 1916. He was in the 1 Div Field Artillery on 18pdr field guns. He was at Pozieres, The Somme, Bapaume, Albert, Ypres, Westhoek Ridge and Passchendaele where he copped a bad dose of mustard gas that put him out of the war until October 1918. The second photo shows him in early 1918 whilst at Sutton Veny in England recuperating. All these shots show Rising Suns. The next photo is his recruit course at Redbank near Brisbane in early 1915 and a shot of the 18 pdrs they trained on. The last photo shows his battery hauling a gun through the mud at Westhoek Ridge in late 1917. On the back of this photo is the comment "5hrs after this photo was taken there were only 5 of us left." He was repatriated in July 1919 as a TPI with gun deafness and poor eyesight because of the gas. He then drove the first car from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast in 1919 where he set up the Soldiers Garage in Nambour and sold Plymouths, Dodges and Studebakers until he retired in 1966. He died in 1986 at the age of 92.

What wonderful photos and a great family history. Thanks for posting them.

"Only five of us left".....at a quick glance it seems to me that there must be about thirty two people in that photograph...........

I Man

Thanks for sharing the splendid pictures Dave. The artillery collars are very distinct indeed and one more informed than me will comment further on these. I think the hauling the guns photo is poignant of that struggle, what a wonderful story of his survival. You can be very proud, cheers Dean.

Dave

Great photos and story, thanks for posting the info.

Regards

Phil.

Thanks Dave.

fantastic photos. Would like to hear further from any experts re these.