Australian badge and insignia identification wanted - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

pukman · #1 25-05-13, 01:48 AM

Hi guys.

I found this great photo in my local antique shop today, and even better the dealer gave this one to me free .As it is here in New Zealand its quite a possibility that this guy might be a NZer serving in the A.I.F .I'm thinking its WW1.

I would like to find out more about the badge the guy is wearing on the front of the pugaree .I see he also has the rising sun badges on his collar and side of slouch. I would also like to know about the insignia he wears on his shoulders.
This sergeant is called ''Joe'' ,photographer Jas Claudlu ?,182 Pitt Str,Sydney,possibly a service number 10362 on back

Cheers Iain

slick_mick · #2 25-05-13, 02:19 AM

Hi Iain,

Not a NZ badge I'm afraid.

Looks to me like an unofficial collar badge of the 6th Light Horse Regiment AIF (World War 1 - photo probably taken in 1918).

I'd be interested in a high res copy of this picture if at all possible for the RAAC History and Heritage Project - I'm trying to collect pictures that show unofficial insignia and badges being worn.

He is also wearing AUSTRALIA shoulder titles plus an ANZAC 'A' on his colour patch and has a 1918 leave rosette.

ANZAC rosettes were given to men returning on this special leave (they had been granted a special six month leave for having enlisted in 1914) to wear on each sleeve so that members of the Australian public would recognise their previous early service and not accuse able bodied men of shirking service when recruits were still being sought to bolster the badly depleted fighting units of the AIF.

Hope this what your after.

Mick

slick_mick · #3 25-05-13, 02:21 AM

I'd say this is the badge being worn.

Mick

pukman · #4 25-05-13, 02:36 AM

Thanks for that. That's great news .I was alluding to that he could be a New Zealander that served in the A.I.F as it was found over here and these things seem to fall pretty close to the tree. I'll will send you a PM and we can go from there in regards to hi res photo .

Cheers Iain

slick_mick · #5 25-05-13, 02:38 AM

No worries.

I also tried the find out who he is but no luck searching the National Archives so far.

Shame the ADFA database is not available at the moment.

Mick