All the shoulder titles from this period are scarce. This one is 55/Collingwood. Most of the 1912-18 compulsory training militia badges were from Victoria whose regiments apparently competed with each other to have privately funded badges struck. Some regiments continued to wear their earlier 1903-12 regimental badges as most did not have a number on the badge. Most of the rest of the Australian Infantry regiments (numbered from 1 to 95 ) were content with government issue brass numerals worn on the front of the slouch hat and rising sun hat and collar badges. I have a picture of my father wearing a 32 numeral and have tried for years to find one. Some numbers were reserve and never raised so there is not a complete set numbered up to 95. I only have two or three of them.
I replied to a discussion on the Forum last year about the collar badge, which is a stag/Collingwood. Someone thought it was related to the Naval Division. It is still in the Forum archives somewhere.
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