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  #1  
Old 01-01-12, 08:48 AM
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Default whats this australian navy badge

hi all
does anyone know what this badge is?
does anyone have one or something like it? if so i would be interested in purchasing or trading for it
thanks
bc
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  #2  
Old 01-01-12, 10:37 AM
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Paddy Paddy is offline
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BC

I have 2 similar badges with blue enamel on them but they are WRNS Officers badges. Not sure if the Australian Navy also wore them. When I got my first one I contacted the WRNS Association and they sent me a PDF document with a few pictures and details of the badges. I have attached some of the text below and pictures of the 2 badges I have. It looks like yours could be the 3rd type described below as a prototype and therefore I would imagine is pretty rare and for a Commander in one of the Medical Branches.

"These WRNS rank brooches came into service in 1964 with the new mess dress uniform which had short sleeves. They were worn on the left
breast & made of white metal in the form of a miniature officers beret badge with the blue enamel bars below corresponding to the wearers cuff
lace. The uniform regulations describe the bars as being 'easily detachable' so they can be replaced on promotion, they are actually spot welded
together! They were not a naval stock item & were bought direct from tailors & outfitters, the original sealed pattern has survived. By 1980 a
replacement mess dress came into use which had a long sleeved jacket allowing cuff lace to be worn.

Female medical officers wore the same mess uniform but as they held commissions in the Royal Navy the brooches were made of gil metal &
the coloured enamel bars represented the branch distinction cloth, scarlet for surgeons & orange (actually beech brown see page 1-2-1) for
dentists. A sealed pattern of this design still exists.

A third style has been seen in silver but with scarlet enamel bars instead of the blue on the WRNS brooch. This may have been a prototype
design for the medical officers that was rejected because it did not differentiate between the two types of service. However the enamel looks
more like it is representing the lace, not the distinction cloth & may have been the prototype of a nursing officers brooch"

Paddy
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Old 02-01-12, 03:05 AM
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hi paddy
thanks for your answer.
i think you are correct on all you say and it would make sense the RAN adopted a simmilar type female rank system.
i notice that the design although simmilar are slightly different. i initially thought that this was a sweethearts badge but you have convinced me that its a rank badge. it did come with othe items belonging to a high ranking RAN nursing officer
i have seen the blue for the WRANS also and this pic is of the nursing version but have never seen the medical and dental
do they come up for sale? i would be interested in tracking down any.
bc
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Old 02-01-12, 10:00 AM
DAVID B HOWELL DAVID B HOWELL is offline
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Hi

I have sent you a PM

Happy New Year David
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