Hi Joe,
I think Bill A has previously raised this question, same colour patches.
The top colour patch is for Aust Army Service Corps units allotted to 1 Aust Corps 1940-1946 and for a time in the Middle East was worn in a variety of positions, point down, point to front, etc, to denote individual AASC units in that formation.
However, for a brief period in 1940 this patch was also worn by 1 Aust Corps Signals, possibly with a slightly different shade of blue. It was replaced in February 1940 but no doubt by the time replacement stocks were available some sub-units had proceeded abroad and wore it for an extended period. There is no reason however to assume that it was still being worn by the time this unit had returned to Australia in 1942.
The second colour patch was the standard Aust Corps of Signals design approved for all signals units in late 1944 regardless of formation identity. Replacement was not immediate but priority of issue was to units which did not have an authorised Signals patch, and to new reinforcements joining signals units. 1st Canadian Special Wireless Group would have fallen into the former category.
I am not certain why the Group would have also been issued a colour patch for the AASC, particularly given that this patch was also superseded by a standard patch for all AASC units in February 1945.
Do you have photos of both patches in wear?
Cheers, Keith
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