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Australian SAS Badges
There has been some confusion over the badges worn by the Australian SAS on the forum. To clarify the matter, and in the interests of collectors not spending money on fake badges the unit has worn three style of badges since inception in 1957.
When it was raised on 10 June 1957 as the 1st Special Air Service Company, (Royal Australian Infantry) the unit wore the brass Royal Australian Infantry Corps badge (shown below) on a red beret. On 14 Nov 1960 it was re-designated 1st Special Air Service Company, The Royal Australian Regiment and changed to the RAR brass badge (shown below). On being expanded to regimental status on 4 Sep 1964 as The Special Air Service Regiment, they adopted the "sandy" beret and the a/a lugged badge (shown below). With regard to provenance the lugged badge below was issued to me in late 1967. The second badge has a slide with the maker's mark J.R. GAUNT B'HAM which I purchased from the regimental Q store in the mid 1970's. The Regiment still wears the a/a badge but I don't know who the current maker is. Don't be fooled into buying a fake brass or bi-metal badge with claims that the Australian SASR originally wore these styles of SAS badge - this is incorrect. Regards Chris Last edited by Chrisr; 27-01-09 at 03:22 AM. |
#2
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Thanks Chris - might be worthwhile for the admins making this into a "sticky".
Mick |
#3
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Quote:
no confusion here. your explanation is very precise and i totally agree with you. sometimes as collectors we hear what we want to hear about an item, "from a mates mate who was there" etc without actually approaching the issue clearly. ive done it myself bc |
#4
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Hi All,
Unknownsoldier has PM'd with a question of clarification re non infantryman in the unit. It is a good point of clarification for those who collect berets. This is what I replied: In the 1960's " [I]the unit members of 152 Signal squadron who had qualified on the cadre or selection course wore the RA Sigs badge on the sandy beret. This was the same for all non-infantrymen in the unit, eg RAASC in Base Squadron wore the RAASC badge on the sandy beret and RAEME wore RAEME badges. ( I might add they also wore all their own Corps accoutrements ie. cloth shoulder title on the battle dress blouse, lanyard, buttons etc.) ... In the early 1980's the unit became non-corps, although they still retained the infantry white lettering on red shoulder title "Special Air Service Regiment" on the battle dress blouse until it went out of service in the 1990's. By this time everyone in the unit wore the SAS badge. Those who had passed the selection course (or old cadre course) wore the sandy beret, those who had not done the course, mostly support members, wore the general service dark blue beret and were known as "blackhats" but they also wore the SAS badge." Thank you for the question Tom. Cheers Chris Last edited by Chrisr; 28-01-09 at 12:29 AM. |
#5
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Hi Chris,
I'm going to re-activate this for some work that I am doing on British Army A/A badges. Chris, do you know why the lugged badge was originally used in the beret instead of a slider attired version - I'm assuming that the Australian SAS did not use this badge in the forage cap. By the way, your lugged badge looks like it was made by Gaunt. Regards Chris |
#6
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Scarcity of RAIC capbadge
Gentlemen,
the Royal Australian Infantry Corps capbadge in the 1st pic. Is it scarce and what sort of price should one look to paying for one? Many thanks Jon |
#7
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It's a common badge - I wouldn't pay more than AUD$15-20 for one.
Mick
__________________
Looking for Australian military books? Regimental Books - Australian Unit History specialists Chasing militaria? I recommend: Militaria Online - Australian Militaria Sales |
#8
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Roger that Mick.
Cheers |
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