New Books: Vol 2 Metal Uniform Embellishments of the Australian Army ('QEII' Series)
 

Hi All,

Yesterday, we received the pre-production proofs of Volume 2 in our pictorial reference series.

As most of you would already know, Vol 1 of our work covered metal uniform insignia used by Corps and Schools (and approved Philanthropic Organisations) of the Australian Army, from 1953 to the present (i.e. the 'QEII' series of insignia).

Many of you have been keen to see us finish the 2nd Volume, because it covers the insignia used by Units and Regiments of the Australian Army during that same ('QEII') era.

The 2nd Volume is a little heavier than the 1st Volume, because it runs to just over 300 pages (Vs Vol1;s 236 pages). Nevertheless, we hope we've done justice to the subject of (metal) Regimental insignia within those pages.

As we did in the 1st Vol, we have documented known 'Army procured/issued' items on pages with blue coloured headings. Meanwhile, at the back of the book, 'Rogues', 'Repros', 'Regi-Shop' and 'Rejected pattern items' (i.e. 'the 4R's') are shown on pages with orange or 'salmon' coloured headings. We hope that information on some wonderful trial pattern insignia (e.g. 6th Aviation Regiment hat badge with red instead of black background enamel), will be of interest to Readers? So, your comments (and any additional info on variants) will be very welcome.

Our plan is to launch Vol 2 at the Brisbane Militaria Fair on the weekend of the 15/16th of July. Pre-orders for the book can be taken by contacting Arthur Butler or myself on the email addresses shown on the title page of Vol1, or by searching for the listing on eBay (and soon on Amazon).

All 'Pre-orders' will be dispatched first (of course). For those who want numbered and signed 1st Edition copies of Vol 2, those will be made available while they last. If you are looking for matching numbers for your copy of Vol 1, please get in touch with me through this message Board or via either the blog site:

• charliebravobooks.com or
• colourpatch.com.au or
• bpcmilitaria.com.au

(as many of you do from time to time).

If you want a 2nd (Revised) Edition of Volume 1 to be sent with any order for a purchase of Vol2, that can be arranged as well.

In the meantime... I'll now do my best to attach a few colour images taken of one of the manuscript production proofs.

Questions are also welcome (of course)

Regards

Mark

Looks a very good publication - quick question...I thought that JTAC badge was only worn by RAAF JTACs?

Mick

Mark, sounds good, will email you.

Mick, what do the JTACs of 1 Air Ground Ops Bty wear?

Keith

No idea mate - but I was always under the assumption it was the RAAF that wore that badge in the book.

Mick

We put the JTAC items in the 2nd Volume, on the basis that as a Special Forces item, we knew that many collectors would be interested in knowing more about them.

Canberra has yet to confirm whether they are only worn by RAAF personnel (who instruct and qualify Army personnel), or whether The Army's qualified JTAC's wear these items as well. Personally, I believe the answer is yes... but time will tell.

Once we get an answer from Canberra and either way it may turn out... SF collectors need to know that we are aware of the badge... otherwise the book could simply look 'incomplete'. So, the JTAC badge may end up being in the SF section of Vol 2, merely for disambiguation, if that is all that ends up being required.

Regards
Mark

Mark

My copy of Volume 2 arrived today.

Four hours later I have finally put it down. Even though I have been a collector for over 40 years I was amazed at the information you have been able to collate into this document and especially the information that was new to me.

It is a credit to you and Arthur and I would recommend it to any collector as a "must have".

On a side note, I have one of the Melbourne University Regiment "armoured" badges your refer to on page 140 that I would be willing to make available to you for photographing if you ever contemplate an update.

Again, well done.

Dennis

Totally agree with Dennis's assessment, well done Mark and Arthur.

Damn, just as I thought my 1964-96 metal titles collection was nearly complete you tell me that Aviation have their own regimental titles now.

Cheers, Keith

Thanks for your support (as always Keith).

BTW: if you contact Arthur, you'll find that he has the 1 Aviation Rgt metal titles on his BPC Militaria site.

However, no such luck with the 5th or 6th Aviation titles I'm afraid. We do have a request in for them, but thus far, we've only had access to the 1 Av.

Last but not least... I have not yet queried Canberra about the new Aviation Corps titles which have already been seen in circulation. They read "AAVN". I'll take a pic of one of those and post it here for comment. They don't look quite as well made (to me) as the new 1AVN titles... so I'm not sure if they are suspect, or just from a different manufacturer.

Regards

Mark

Thanks Dennis,

You Sir, are a Gentleman and a Scholar (and there are very few of us left :)

I would be very glad to measure and photograph the MUR Armoured items you mention. We will be doing research for the next Volume and (updates for the others of course) in the year ahead. I'll email you (or pm you here) when I know what our travel plans will be:)

In the interim, thanks very much for your feedback and for your offer... both are greatly appreciated.

Regards
Mark

OK All,

As promised, here is a pic of the new 1st Aviation Regiment metal title (discussed earlier) and images of the AAVN title which is supposed to be a new/revised Aviation Corps title.

As I said above, Canberra has not confirmed or denied that one yet, so the Jury is definitely out on the AAVN. In addition, the manufacturing quality is not what I would expect... as can be seen with the level of detail shown on the 1 Av title next to the AAVN pair.

Everyone's comments would be very welcome (of course)?

Regards and happy collecting to you all
Mark

Further to my earlier post on the new Aviation Regiment titles, here's a link to Arthur's listing of the 1 Aviation Regiment title on eBay:

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1-AVN-REG...cAAOSwlXhZaIEe

Arthur is also at the Militaria Fair at the Ipswich Show Grounds today... so you could talk to him about the new 1Av title there as well.

Regards to All
Mark

hi mark
had the opportunity to have a quick look through your book last night and am most impressed.
a few questions jumped out at me regarding some of the items, so I hope you don't mind answering one or 2 here?
on page 60 you show a pic of the Australian Horse set. there is a metal title AH with a brooch fitting. can you confirm this is Australian Horse or indeed military? you make mention of the hat and collar badge specifications but I don't think you included the title?
many years ago I had the opportunity to visit Stokes and there was a big pile of these badges never issued/sent. I immediately assumed Australian horse but was told it was actually a cape badge for the nurses at Austin Hospital. they said they would never issue a military badge/title with a brooch fitting and that brooch fittings for nurses badges was the norm.
would love to hear your thoughts
bc

You may well be right. The Australian Army insignia design specs that we have for that period (MGO/Aust 991) and Appendix 34 and 34A (for The Australian Horse), certainly do not show details for that shoulder title design... and that's not a good sign. Nevertheless, the Army's records can be hellishly difficult to get in a full 'complete' state at times... so caution is always needed when sorting record 'gaps', to form a basis to conclusively ruling an item either 'in' or 'out'.

As we do further research on Volume 3, we will be following up a long list of research questions with Canberra. Certainly, it will be good to get to the bottom of this item (and quite a few others).

So, once we get the records needed to rule items either in or out (and this one looks like it will probably be ruled 'out'... given on your direct knowledge of the item), then the 'AH' title may be included in future Editions (in the orange section at the back of the book), 'for disambiguation purposes' only. That will be a good thing in its own right of course.

Regards and thanks for your feedback, it is appreciated. That's something we always like to formally acknowledge as the Editions progress over the years, as we have with many people who've offered reliable/testable information over the last 15 years:)
Mark

Hi All,

Here are two images of a new hat badge which has been seen in circulation. As can be seen from the images, the hat badge is Maker's Marked PLATATAC. Matching collars for this particular maker's marked set, have NOT yet been seen. However, the original (Unit Procured) items ARE known to have been made in a small number of hat and collar sets for wear on mess dress (and those were first seen seen approximately 18 months ago).

No... we don't think they are official issue. Nevertheless, the initial small run of (private purchase) items, now seems to have been remade. That (at least) implies a larger production run this time around?

Any thoughts?

Mark
charliebravobooks.com

Hi Mark,

Have you asked BCD @ Platatac? He probably can supply more info to you.

Regards,

Mick