Any info on Anzac "A" badges
 

Can anyone give me some information on the Anzac "A" shoulder badges? I have had a couple in my collection for some time, that I am sure are correct.....I have seen others that were very dodgy, having only one lug, etc, some with the appearance of having been cut from a Royal Artillery shoulder title......which measure 20mm in height. I have just come across one that looks pretty good, has the two lugs and so on, but it only measures 15mm in height. I have a feeling that I read somewhere about there being a smaller "A" that was correct. Is this likely? Any information on these badges would be appreciated.

I can post photos if they would be helpful.

Donny B.

Anzac "A" badge
 

G'day All,

Since posting my request for information on the varying sizes of Anzac "A" shoulder patch badges I have done a little research of my own and discovered that they do indeed come in different sizes and types. The following extract from "Distinguishing Collour Patches of the Australian Military Forces 1915 - 1951, A Reference Guide" by Keith Glyde, may be of interest to those of you out there who, like me, are not a full bottle on such things.

"The letter "A" was initially supplied at public expense vide AIFO 937. Its size was approved as 1 inch high by AIF Order No. 994, 30.11.1917, then was modified by AIF Order No. 1012 of 11.12.1917 to state that it should be 3/4 inch high, and of brass. In practice examples range in size from 1/2 inch to 1 inch and appear in a variety of materials other than brass. Curiously the official history makes no mention of brass, referring instead to "...an 'A' embroided in gold." (Bean, Volume YI, p. 5.) a point also made in the history of the 5th Battalion (Esprit De Corps; The History of the Victorian Scottish Regiment and the 5th Infantry Battalion, Speed (ed.), p. 90." ......and those men who had served on Gallipoli had a golden "A" for Anzac embroided on their shoulder patches." It is believed that the "A" embroided in gold bullion wire was the result of private purchases, either by individuals or on a unit basis. Examples in gold silk thread and hand woven brass wire also exist however brass letters are the most common of the examples noted to date."


I believe that The Australian War Memorial has a variety of types and sizes in its collection including examples of embroided ones.

Donny B.

Hi everyone,

I thought I'd add a couple of pics of some of my Anzac A badges and patches that I've picked up over the years, mainly found mixed in with other odds and sods. Unfortunately the 10th Battn patch was torn when it was being removed from an old mates badge board (I still haven't forgiven him!!)

I wouldn't consider myself a serious badge collector, but do keep my eye out for something different. I mainly collect WW1 uniforms/equipment/photos, but have still managed to piece together a modest assortment of badges over the years.

I hope you enjoy

Regards,

Dan

ANZAC - A ...
 

The "A" can vary in size...I have a matched pair - original to a 5 Bde HQ Sgt's tunic (got a fair idea just who he was as there were only ever six substantive-ranked Sgts in the 5th Bde HQ and just one of those had four overseas years of service, starting in 1915 ) - two other examples of differing sizes, in gilding metal, and a further single one that is in an oxidised finish...(8{

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Love the collection of patches :eek:

Rob

The tunic is magnificent :eek::D

ANZAC - A ...
 

...off-topic, I know, but these came with the tunic - clearly not all breeches issues to dismounted A.I.F. personnel were made of Bedford-cord, nor had laces with eyelets and thigh re-enforcements, nor were high-backed with a rear tie buckle...(8{
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Great pair of pants nicely marked .

Did you get the tunic and pants in the UK?

Rob

hi Donny
from one officers badges from pre and WW1
https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...ad.php?t=81731

3 different sizes
20mm, 18mm, 15mm

cheers
bc

Yes, of the eight (8) A.I.F. tunics that I have managed to secure over the years - two KD (one Australian-made OR's, one Egyptian-made Officer's), two OR's Australian-made CP, two OR's British-made CP, one Officer's British-made SD, one OR's British-made private purchase CP - only the three came directly out of Australia as trades...all of six pairs of breeches, also a hospital blues walking out tunic, two great coats, two shirts and several pairs of (darned) socks all came from searching here in the UK...from research in to the 1919 Nominal Roll, it appears to me that up to 6%+ of the A.I.F. took discharge in the UK rather than return to Australia - presumably because they were British born migrants with UK jobs/marriages already arranged...their clothing remained with them upon their discharge...(8{

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Well you have done very well with that little hoard :) , If you find time any chance of seeing the others including the blues ?? Any slouch hats or sd caps??

Thanks Rob

ANZAC - A ...
 

Here are a few more images of some of my finds...(8{

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Thanks for posting pictures I am envious of the collection and very good finds I must say especially the hospital uniforms :eek:

ANZAC - A ...
 

The hospital-blue walking out tunic is the only example I have ever seen, in over 30 years, coming on to the market - a blues greatcoat and waistcoat were offered to me years ago, but at stupid prices...the IWM has one on recent display, but it is in mint/unissued condition (pictured)...the pyjamas were quite a find - the dealer told me that they were American issue but I found a broad arrow/1917 inked on to the bottoms...these items would all have been regularly boiled clean within an inch of their life, then burnt after no further use was capable...the OR's KD tunic I believe could be from the 13th LH, which served in the Mounted Brigade...btw, I collect equipment, too...(8{
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