Australian Medical Corps Shoulder Titles

[derekx]

Can anyone shed some light on the early Aust medical corps shoulder titles? There's the AAMC one from 1930-49 (I think), but I've also seen an AMC one and an AMC over a curved AUSTRALIA title.
Regards, Derek

[geluveld]

I just noticed this thread

About a year ago I dug up a AMC title near Dikkebus (Ieper) where a hospital was based during 1915 to about half 1918.
At first I thought I found a damaged RAMC title, but the construction was different than an Other Ranks Imperial RAMC title, and (however a bit bent) it didn't showed any damage from the R being broken off.

So I presume it's definately possible that AMC titles were worn overseas during the 14-18 period, as the one I dug up certainly dates back from that period.

Would love to see some more info on this title...

cheers

Ramses

[vigilans]

To the best of my knowledge this is the run down…….

AMC over AC (oval shaped) Army medical corps Australian Commonwealth... Boer War 1899-1902

Small AMC over AUSTRALIA .....(separate titles) is early WW1 pre 1916 when the introduction of colour patches, superseded the metal titles

Large AMC .....c1900-1918, 1930???

AAMC ......Australian army medical corps c1919-1942 maybe also post war up to ‘53

RAAMC .....post 1953 in anodised aluminium

Cheers
Vigilans

[geluveld]

Vigilans

Thanks very much for the answer, which is very helpfull.
The one I found near the hospital seems to be one of that small variant, so a separate title next to the Australia one.

Cheers

Ramses

[derekx]

Many thanks for the info Vigilans, I've been out of the loop for some time and am now back into it!
Kind regards, derekx

[Milmed]

Hi,
Just thought I would post pics of my latest title (AMC) in brass and one I have had for a while, the earlier Boer War period (AMC over AC) in bronze.

Both found locally in South Africa
Regards
Steven

[Donny B.]

Very nice, indeed!

Thanks for posting and livening up an old thread.

Donny B,.

[derekx]

Very nice! I don't think I've ever seen another of those Boer war ones.
Attached are a few variations of the AAMC and AMC titles, together with the AAMWS (Aust Army Medical Womens Service). The group with the AMC and Anzac 'A' cachet was purchased as a lot from the UK, which was offered together with a large AAMC hat badge. Unfortunately i wasn't able to find out who they originally belonged to.
regards, Derek

[Chrisr]

Originally Posted by vigilans

To the best of my knowledge this is the run down…….

RAAMC .....post 1953 in anodised aluminium

The anodized aluminum titles for the RAAMC were not introduced until the mid 1970's. No metal titles were worn after WW2, only cloth shoulder titles white on maroon.

Regards
Chris

[slick_mick]

Hi Chris,

Were any metal titles worn by the RAAMC during the 1960s? I would have thought the RAAMC would have received theirs during the 1960s.

Mick

[Chrisr]

Mick,

To the best of my knowledge there were no metals titles worn by any Corps/Regiment, other than the "Australia" for overseas service during the 1950's and 1960's. I never saw any being worn on any of the uniforms. We didn't wear titles on the poly uniform, just the lanyard. The metal titles (anodized) were introduced in the mid 1970's.

Regards
Chris

[kingsley]

Thanks for posting all those excellent titles. There is yet another variant, apparently worn about 1920. This is an AAMC brass title of a larger size than the later more common type. It conforms to the Engrs who also had larger pattern titles in the very early period.(AE and RAE).
A few years ago I found a cap ribbon for the sennet hat with "Australian Army Medical Corps". Quite an unusual item.

[kingsley]

Here is a scan of the two sizes of AAMC title. Apologies for their poor quality. The earlier one is 55mm long and 17mm high, the more common smaller size is 50mm long and 15mm high.
I have a photo of a family member about 1908 wearing the kings' crown AAMC hat badge, never seen any photo of the cap tally being worn.

[kingsley]

Sorry for the last, better quality this time.

[derekx]

Thanks Kingsley, nice pics.
I thought it was only the Navy, or Naval Infantry, who wore sennet hats. I can't think of any instance where medical corps soldiers would have been posted to a ship's company. Nor would a soldier want to be seen wearing a "boater". Certainly an interesting item.