RAAC White Metal Rising Sun Badges.

[Lancer 17]

G'day all

Over a period there has been on going discussion on white metal rising sun badges.

Last night I was re reading part of the 2010 edition of Ironsides, The Journal of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps. In a discussion relating to the banning of the wearing of berets in the Australian Army I came across a letter from Brig R.J.H. Noble, DSC, CSC, Head of Corps, addressed to the then Chief of Army Lt. Gen. Ken Gillespie AO, DSC, CSM. This letter states in part that,
"the black beret was formally adopted as the Corps order of dress on 3 Aug 1944 or March 1945 (depending on which source you quote)".

The letter quotes in part a letter from General Hopkins that deals with the black beret and its predecessor the khaki beret.

In part Gen Hopkins letter states

"(b) The black beret is the traditional head-dress of the Royal Armoured Corps and it is desirable that Aust Armd Corps be similarly dressed."

"The black beret was strictly Royal Tank Corps and NOT Royal Amd Corps. however the change from khaki to black beret was approved by the CGS (Lt. Gen. J Northcott) on 3 Aug 1944."

It further states
"Shortly afterwards, the Commander, 4 Aust Armd Bde (Brigadier D Macarthur Onslow) recommended that a chromium plated Commonwealth hat badge be worn by Armoured Corps Personnel on the black beret instead of the ordinary copper oxydised badge. This, he said, would give the Corps a distinctive badge which would also serve as a link with the other Armd Corps of the British Commonwealth forces which all wore a silvered badge. It would greatly foster esprit-de-corps and could be done in 4 Armd bde Workshops without cost. Whatever the the deciding factor, the proposal was approved in February 1945."

I hope that this helps to establish when the white metal rising sun was introduced. The badge would have been the Kings Crown version with the Australian Commonwealth Military Forces on the 3 scrolls. These would have or may have been made up in the workshops. The die struck white metal rising suns that I have, have the later Australian Military Forces on the scrolls and have the Kings Crown. I have one marked K.G. Luke Melb and Amor Sydney.These were introduced C1948 and replaced by the Corps badges c1954.

Regards

Phil.

[badgecollector]

thanks Phil
good info.
my thoughts would be that the standard issue copper or brass rising sun would have been chrome plated in the work shops in the early days but once permission was granted the orders for the badge would have been sent to the manufacturers eg Lukes
well done again
bc

[slick_mick]

Hi Phil,

The 1st Armoured Regiment wore the chrome RSB for a number of years from 1949 until 1954 (from memory) when they got their current regimental badge.

The Rising Sun badge was also worn by units such as the 6th NSW Mounted Rifles though whether they wore the chrome or normal brass badge is still to be determined. They only received their own badge around 1956.

Still trying to work out if any other RAAC units wore the Rising Sun Badge from 1949 to 1953. Some regiments such as 2/14 QMI wore a 2nd Light Horse 1930-42 period badge during that period.

I think 7th/21st Australian Horse may also have worn the chrome RSB before it got it's own badge.

Mick

[Lancer 17]

G'day Mick & BC

I thought that this was too good a piece of info to go unrecorded.

Does any one have one of the Chrome plated badges, I only have the 2 die struck white metal issues as above. I dont have a QEC rising sun that is white metal.

Cossum shows the 1st Armoured Regt with a Kings crown in the 1948 to 53 period in white metal. Does any one know when this was issued ? The Royal Australian Armoured Corps is only shown with a QEC.

Regards

Phil.

[slick_mick]

Hi Phil,

The 1st Armoured Regiment only had KC collars from 1949 to 1953 which would have been worn with the Rising Sun Badge. Their regimental badge was issued in 1954.

The RAAC corps badge has versions with both a King's Crown and later a Queen's Crown.

If you have any more questions, let me know.

Mick

[kingsley]

Here are a couple of chromed badges that I have had for many years (not recent copies). The chrome finish is not really good quality. The hat badge is marked Arendsen Melbourne which was a WW2 manufacturer, so it could very well be an Armoured Corps badge.

[slick_mick]

The one I have is a nice Australian Military Forces one.

I can show you when I see you next.

Mick

[Lancer 17]

Thanks Kingsley

That at least prooves that Chrome plated Aust Comm Mil Forces type does exist, so we can all add this to our wants list now.

Cheers

Phil.

[Lancer 17]

This post is just to bring the tread to the top as part of an on going discussion Re Wm Rising Sun badges which is currently in the Aust Cav section

23 Jan. Why did I go to the bother to post this, not happy Jan !!

Regards

Phil.

[Lancer 17]

Hi Guys

Ive put another post on this one to the top having regard to the recent discussion on White Metal Rising Suns.

Regards

Phil.

[Light-Horse]

Here are pictures of some of the white metal A.C.M.F. badges I have. The first is a K.G.Luke Melbourne, second is a Stokes and sons Melb.

[Light-Horse]

in the book-

Australian Army Badges
A Collectors Reference Guide
Part 2
1900-1930
J.K.Cossum

badge number 3, page 7,

Australian Commonwealth Military Forces (General Service Badge)

Height: Hat badge 43mm
Collar badge 31mm
Finishes: Brass, Copper, Whitemetal, Oxidised.

*A small number of hallmarked sterling silver badges were issued-




So it seems that whitemetal rising sun badges have existed since before WWI.

[MartinRF]

...here is a white-metal, WW1 period, British-made unmarked General Service collar...was this worn by the AANS?...were British makers producing badges during WW2?...(8{

20220112_094524~2.jpg

20220112_094627~2.jpg

[badgecollector]

nice badge but i dont think nurses wore collar badges
does look british made so prabably WW1
i have one also
bc

Originally Posted by MartinRF

...here is a white-metal, WW1 period, British-made unmarked General Service collar...was this worn by the AANS?...were British makers producing badges during WW2?...(8{

Attachment 262728

Attachment 262729

[Home Guard]

All of my Australian Nurses throat badges are pin back. I would think it might be difficult to fit one with lugs, but can't say for sure.

Terry