5 Aust Mech Eqpt Coy Routine Order Part 1 No 3 of 15 July 1944, para 24, directed that all 5 Aust Indep Fd Sqn colour patches were to be removed. Miniatures could be worn.
It is possible that no full size colour patches were allotted pending posting of the new unit to its intended formation. If the unit was then allotted for overseas deployment prior to a colour patch being issued the service dress would have been withdrawn into Kit Stores as is and would have remained in this condition. On returning to Aust for leave, etc, the bloke would have been issued a couple of sets of SD straight from stores and the new colour patch would have had to be sewn to the new SD.
He may not have seen this SD jacket again until the unit was disbanded or he was reposted, and his kit was recovered from the Kit Store in which it was deposited.
Regards,
Keith (Glyde)
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