[Lancer 17]

Hello all

Well I made it to the Sigs Museum this week and have looked up the "Book of Words"

Again I'm quoting from Signals and Signallers Badges in the Australian Army 1870 to 2006 by Major Graham Donley RFD (Ret'd). This is a manuscript in limited edition and has not been published generally, a copy is held by the museum's library. This states in parts.

"The flags actually used by the Australian Army Signals were:
1 Dark blue, for use against a light background.
2 White, with a central blue stripe down its length (said to differentiate it from a white flag of surrender) for use against a dark background"

"They could be used individually to send Morse code or jointly in like pairs for Semaphore. The dark blue and white flags were not to be used as a pair."

REFERENCE: Training Manual - Signals, 1907, Page 9.".


Chapter 2 is wholly about Signalling Badges and provides information in regard to Pre Federation (ie pre 1901) , Colonial forces as well as the Australian Army.

"Signallers.
This is the trade quoted in the relevant references.
The badge to indicate qualified Signaller of All Arms was the crossed flags.
Assistant instructors in Signals also wore it over their chevrons. Chevrons were worn on the right upper arm only during this period.
The shape of the flags changed slightly over the years, but the badge remained easily identifiable for what it was.
The metal crossed flags badges were 1 13/16 inches (4.6CM) high and the cloth type 2 3/8 inches, (5.6CM) high."

"From 1902 to circa 1905, they were produced in:

1 Embroidered silver and embroidered silk for the New Slouth Wales Lancers.
2 Embroidered gold on green, worsted yellow on green and worsted red on khaki for the 1st Australian Horse.
3 Silk for the New South Wales Mounted Rifles.
4 Worsted and silk for the New South Wales Artillery.
5 Worsted and gold for the New South Wales Engineers.
6 Silk for the New South Wales Infantry Regiments.
7 Silk for the 18th Light Horse (West Australian Mounted Infantry)
8 Gold embroidered for the Royal Australian Artillery, and
9 Silver embroidered or worsted for the West Australian Infantry."

"Reference: Various Government Gazettes."

"In 1906, they were produced in in gold or silver bullion wire with the flags in blue, and white with a central blue stripe and shaped as per the metal badge."

"A signaller, if a Colour Sergeant wore the signallers badge on the left arm, as the Colour Sergeants badge comprising crossed flags was worn on the right arm.
Reference: Standing Orders for Dress and Clothing Military Forces of the Commonwealth, Part 111, 1906"

"In 1907, white and yellow worsted crossed flags badges appeared."

"There also exists a very attractive badge of this shape, but in brass and blue and white enamel. No official references can be located for this badge, which may have been privately purchased by those who wore them."

"The example that I have studied is of the same general dimensions (as the metal badge) but there is a different angle in the crossed poles and two of the four fixing lugs do not match."


So there you have it, I hope that this helps.

Regards


Phil.