WW1 or WW2 color patch and what is it?
 

WW1 or WW2 color patch and what is it?

Cheers

Its a WW2 patch.

Can't ID it though as I don't have a copy of Keith's book in front of me at present.

Mick

To be quite honest I don't think you will find it in the book. I do list an unidentified one that is red/yellow/mid green (No 1686) and is in the JA Ryan Collection at the AWM.

I also have a photograph which appears to have a similar patch to No 1686, being worn on a KD shirt of all things, by a member of a gun-mounting party at Newcastle in early 1942. Impossible of course to identify the colours but in the same format as your photo.

Is it a British photo or post card, if so it might be an unidentified Australforce patch.

Keith

Here is a photo of the back , it is on Ebay ATM and listed as WW1 so this is the reason I have asked the question.

Cheers

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/WW1-DIGGE....c100033.m2042

Hi Jack, I'd be more inclined to think of it as a WW2 photo. It appears to be a grey background sewn behind the other portion of the patch. I may be incorrect.

To a Pom, the rather bilious colour combination of red/yellow/green is unique to the Second World War RE Chemical Warfare Groups. I believe the same colours were used in the Fist World War. I'm sure there was an Australian Chemical Warfare establishment in the Second World War. Mike

http://www.ww2places.qld.gov.au/places/?id=730

Good point Mike and it is a possibility. However our chemical warfare units and establishments were granted a distinctive purple patch in 1943 and it is unlikely they wore any previous to this because they were trying for permission to wear the LHQ Troops engineer patch at the end of 1942.

The circle tended to distinguish 4 Aust Div and early war 9 Aust Div, neither of which had CW units directly under comd. I am wondering if the inner circle is simply chocolate, with a yellow or sky blue strip, and whether perhaps it was for 2/11 Aust Fd Amb raised in the UK in 1940.

Another alternative might be 3/14 Aust Fd Amb but a photo I have of a member of this unit shows him wearing just the 4 Aust Div AAMC chocolate circle with grey background. Nice to know there are still some surprises out there to keep the interest going.

Keith

Keith,

"Our chemical warfare units and establishments were granted a distinctive purple patch in 1943...."

Is this the six sided plain purple patch - same design as RAE Docks Group but rotated 90 degrees?

Mike

That's the one Mike.
Keith