Quote:
Originally Posted by fearnaught
Hi, the fact that Gifford was made a sergeant in the AMF raises a couple of questions. One why is he wearing curved titles, I thought this was the prerogative of the AIF? Two if he was part of the AMF why is he wearing the motor transport flash? could it be another flash specific to the tank crew, just musing, Mike
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Mike
The men returned home for whatever reason would have been loath to give up any indication of their service abroad, nor does it seem that they were required to. Gifford for instance, although allotted as a reinforcement to the 43rd Battalion, didn't have any service in France but his colour patches and titles immediately established him as a former AIF man and volunteer. No doubt it at least saved him from white feathers and opened a few doors.
Amongst the photos at SLSA I noticed a bloke wearing what appeared to be a miniature 10 Bn colour patch in his return home photo. When I checked he had also been allotted to that bn but had never joined them, being sent home medically unfit. I also have a photo of an AASC bloke, taken in October 1915 3 days after his discharge in Victoria as medically unfit, wearing a colour patch - this bloke's unit had never been allotted a colour patch and was disbanded early in 1916.
Also of interest in the SLSA collection was a photo of a bloke from 1 Aust Pnr Bn wearing an A on his patch after he came home. He didn't join up until 1916 and was sent home medically unfit after shell shock or something similar. He certainly wasn't entitled to it.
So much of the problem was related to a 1/. a lack of knowledge by the military authorities at home as to what should have been, or was being worn; 2/. a natural reluctance to tell men who had served abroad to remove the badges that distinguished them from those who stayed home; 3/. concern that to do so would lead to unwelcome media attention that might have upset the already faltering recruiting process.
The other thing of course was that blokes, before they went away, and after they returned, doled themselves up to the max for their photos, which is why we see so many photos of men with militia collar badges, intricately woven lanyards, open collars, ties, hats at every angle, and wholly unofficial trade or proficiency badges, etc.
Keith