Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeffweil
American collector - need help.
Sgt uniform dated 1916
Any information about uniform or patches would be appreciated
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Hi Jeffweil,
Although this uniform is dated 1916 its use appears to be from a period after the Great War.
The upper colour patch is worn to denote the wearer's wartime unit, in this case the 59th Battalion, 15th Aust Infantry Brigade, 5th Aust Division.
The bottom red/blue colour patch is of the 4th Divisional Artillery from 1922 onwards to 1946.
With certain exceptions when AIF infantry brigades (5th to 15th) were reduced from four to three battalions during 1918, miniature colour patches denoting the wearer's previous unit were not worn during the Great War. In any case the 59th Battalion was not one of those affected.
There are in addition no oxidised copper curved AUSTRALIA titles on the shoulder straps, nor does it appear that holes are extant where they may have been removed.
So the colour patch arrangement denotes use of the jacket after 1922. In addition the artillery sergeant's badge of rank worn without the 'gun' above would place this jacket post-1 March 1925 when the appointment of lance-sergeant was introduced to the Militia artillery in Australia. Lance-sergeants of artillery did not wear a 'gun' above their chevrons.
Regards,
Keith