Unknown POC title.

[kingsley]

RS is Remount Service (as conducted by Banjo Paterson in Palestine)
RT (whether Australian or not) would probably be Radio Telegraphy. Any other theories?

[fairlie63]

Thanks kingsley, Remount Service sounds right.

[vigilans]

Hi Keith, just to get this right, I find it intriguing and I am just trying to get the timeline right and work out whether or not these titles were worn overseas during WW1.
Those large titles - AASC AAOC AAVC AAMC AAPC RAGA and RAFA were all authorised and issued in 1912 (artillery) and 1917 as per the Parkes contract, is there any WW1 photographic records that you know of showing troops wearing these titles, or were they not issued to troops serving overseas??
I have attached an image of the titles in question, The RAFA, AAMC and YMCA are Stokes the others unnamed (Parkes?); they are all approximately 15 mm high except the Artillery titles at 14 mm and in brass. The large RAE titles I have are nearly 18mm high.

Originally Posted by fairlie63

Thanks Geoff.

The RAFA and RAGA in brass were manufactured from 1912, Parkes and Stokes respectively if I recall correctly, and issued until at least the end of 1916 when the scales of issue for uniform items for the Permanent Force were altered to brass oxidised badges and titles by MO 578/1916 of 16 December 1916. Parkes were awarded the contract for RAFA, RAGA, RAE, AASC, and AAMC in oxidised copper in May 1917, the entry is in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette -

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/232453811

So that MO also shows the titles for RAE, AASC, and AAMC changing to brass oxidised. I think this must be a bit of a typo and that copper oxidised was meant. Sorry I can't photograph it, the bound book I have for Jul-Dec 1916 is buggered and I can't open it enough without splitting it apart more than it already is.

What did RS and RT stand for?

Keith

[fairlie63]

Hi Geoff, as far as I know these titles weren't worn overseas by the AIF, they were for the Permanent Forces serving in Australia and worn throughout the war. I haven't found an authorisation for the AAVC title yet, if I get a chance I'll look at Price List of Clothing 1915-16 which may show it at that early stage.

The AAPC title was for those on fulltime duty during the war. I suppose YMCA may have been worn abroad by the representatives of that organization.

In fact even though they were abolished in 1921 I note RAA and AASC titles being worn at least in 1928 by the Permanent Forces.

The AAOC title might be post 1930 seeing as its not in Priced List of Clothing 1918-19.

I've seen a couple of different RAE titles in the past, don't know what period is which with them.

Keith

[vigilans]

Thanks Kieth and nice group of titles there!