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Old 24-07-21, 09:50 AM
fromelles fromelles is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MartinRF View Post
...however, it should be noted that the AIF was not merely an overseas copy of the domestic AMF...
The possibility of participating in a war on foreign soil wasn't something that caught Australia by surprise, Standing Orders for Mobilization were about from well before the war. The fact that the Defence Act restricted the Citizen Forces of the AMF from serving outside Australia was the reason for the creation of the AIF. The structure of the Units of the AIF was based the Citizen Forces of the AMF, the authority being the Australian War Establishments (1912) and with it its rank structure and with the actual description of the badges from the Standing Orders for Dress and Clothing (1912).

A lack of descriptions (in the AIF Orders) of Rank/Proficiency/Trade badges to be used in the AIF is not evidence they weren't authorised for use, but evidence that they didn't require promulgating in the first place? For example, there are descriptions of badges (and how it's to be worn) when the ranks of WO Class I and WO Class II were created (1 March 1916), but nothing in AIF Order for Corporal, Sergeant or Lieutenant etc.

I don't believe the wearing of trade or proficiency badges was done without approval, even if not specifically written up in the AIF Orders, it was brought straight across from the AMF. When the practice of wearing unapproved items of dress was brought to notice of the authorities (see attached) it would be addressed: A good example is the embroidered 'AUSTRALIA'. Another example is the unauthorised wearing of the corps letters and numerals after the introduction of colour patches. There are at least two occasions in which the AIF Orders state that the titles must no longer be worn. However there is plenty of photographic evidence of patches and titles being worn together by troops returning in Australia as late as 1919/20 ... wherever there are rules there are those willing to flaunt them.

There is no doubt that there are certain trade/proficiency badges that aren't mentioned in the Standing Orders for Dress of the AMF, nor mentioned anywhere else (or at least haven't been brought to light) within Australian service, there is plenty of photographic evidence of badges being worn that there is no mention of (eg Scout badge and Pipers badge). Whether these badges were worn with the Unit's blessing or was the decision of the individual is unknown.

Dan
Attached Images
File Type: jpg AIF Order 384:16.jpg (60.8 KB, 12 views)
File Type: jpg AIF Order 476:17.jpg (57.3 KB, 10 views)
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