4th Australian Armoured Brigade

• 538. HQ 4th Aust. Armoured Brigade, 1943-1946: Auth. GRO 310/1943, 16.4.1943, and GRO 32/1945, 19.1.1945.95 Raised in February 1943 by redesignation of HQ 6th Aust. Armoured Brigade and disbanded in March 1946.
  • This GRO showed an incorrect internal measurement for this patch and was corrected by an amendment notified by GRO 54/1945, 9.2.1945.
• 539. HQ 4th Aust. Armoured Brigade: Auth. GRO 388/1944, 20.10.1944. See the
  Note at the end of this section. There is no evidence of issue.
• 540. Unidentified: A number of examples of this patch, including a definite
  reproduction, are known to exist.
• 541. 1st Aust. Army Tank Battalion, 1943; 
  • 1st Aust. Tank Battalion, 1943-1944; 
  • 1st Aust. Armoured Regiment, 1944-1945: Auth. GRO 468/1943, 18.6.1943. This
    patch was -originally approved for the 2/9th Aust. Armoured Regiment vide GRO
    310/1943 but it had been issued to 1st Army Tank Battalion in error in March 1943
    and was retained by them. Superseded by No. 543 in early 1945.
• 542. 1st Aust. Armoured Regiment: Auth. GRO 388/1944, 20.10.1944. See the Note at
  the end of this section. There is no evidence of issue.
• 543. 1st Aust. Armoured Regiment, 1945-1946: Auth. GRO 32/1945, 19.1.1945.
  Disbanded in March 1946.
• 544. 2/4th Aust. Armoured Regiment: Auth. GRO 388/1944, 20.10.1944, and notified
  in Unit Routine Orders Part I on 22.11.1944. See the Note at the end of this section.
• 545. 2/4th Aust. Armoured Regiment, 1945-1946: Auth. GRO 32/1945, 19.1.1945.
  Disbanded in January 1946.
• 546. 2/5th Aust. Armoured Regiment, 1945: Auth. GRO 32/1945, 19.1.1945.
  Disbanded in October 1945.
• 547. 2/6th Aust. Armoured Regiment, 1943-1945: Auth. GRO 310/1943, 16.4.1943,
  and GRO 32/1945, 19.1.1945. Transferred to 1st Armoured Brigade Group in March
  1944, became independent in October 1944 and rejoined 4th Armoured Brigade in
  July 1945. Disbanded in November 1945.
• 548. 2/9th Aust. Armoured Regiment, 1943-1945: Auth. GRO 468/1943, 18.6.1943.
  This patch was originally approved for 1st Aust. Army Tank Battalion vide GRO
  310/1943 but was issued to 2/9th Aust. Armoured Regiment in lieu on 11.3.1943.( Waltzing Matildas, Peter Donovan, p.57.) Superseded by No. 549 in early 1945.
• 549. 2/9th Aust. Armoured Regiment, 1945-1946: Auth. GRO 32/1945, 19.1.1945.
  Disbanded in January 1946.

• 550. 2/1st Aust. Armoured Brigade Reconnaissance Squadron, 1944-1945: Auth.
  GRO 67/1944, 25.2.1944, and GRO 424/1944, 17.11.1944. Superseded by No. 551
  in January 1945. Raised in September 1943 from Headquarters Squadron, HQ 1st
  Aust. Armoured Division and allotted to 1st Aust. Armoured Brigade Group.
  Transferred to 4th Aust. Armoured Brigade in September 1944.
• 551. 2/1st Aust. Armoured Brigade Reconnaissance Squadron, 1945: Auth. GRO
  32/1945, 19.1.1945. Reorganized as an Armoured Squadron (Special Equipments) in
  January 1945 although it retained its original designation. Disbanded in September
  1945.
• 552. 2/1st Aust. Armoured Brigade Reconnaissance Squadron: Error in manufacture, J.A. Ryan Collection, AWM.
• 553. 1st Aust. Amphibious Armoured Squadron: Auth. GRO 424/1944, 17.11.1944. Raising of this unit commenced in November 1944 but was suspended almost immediately and did not recommence until February 1945. It is unlikely that this colour patch was ever manufactured, as under recently promulgated instructions for the supply of colour patches (GRO 0.399/1944, 3.11.1944, 'Colour Patches - Method of Requisition and Provision') the unit itself was responsible for indenting for its initial requirements, which would not have been possible when formation was suspended.
• 554. 1st Aust. Amphibious Armoured Squadron: Manufactured in NSW for this unit in early February 1945 but not approved or issued. Example, Victoria Barracks Collection.
• 555. 1st Aust. Amphibious Armoured Squadron, 1945: Auth. GRO 72/1945, 23.2.1945. Disbanded in October 1945.

• 556. HQ 6th Aust. Armoured Brigade, 1942-1943: Auth. GRO 301/1942, 7.8.1942. Raised in June 1942 as part of 2nd Aust. Motor Division by redesignation of HQ 6th Aust. Motor Brigade, and was redesignated HQ 4th Aust. Armoured Brigade in February 1943.
• 557. 12th Aust. Armoured Regiment, 1942-1943: Auth. GRO 301/1942, 7.8.1942. Raised in June 1942 by redesignation of l8th Aust. Motor Regiment, disbanded in June 1943.
• 558. 12th Aust. Armoured Regiment: Error, NSW manufacture.
• 559. 13th Aust. Armoured Regiment, 1942-1944: Auth. GRO 301/1942, 7.8.1942. Raised by redesignation of the, 13th Aust. Motor Regiment in June 1942. Transferred to the 2nd Armoured Brigade in February 1943 and was disbanded in March 1944.
• 560. 13th Aust. Armoured Regiment: Error, NSW manufacture.

• 561. 14th Aust. Armoured Regiment, 1942-1943: Auth. GRO 301/1942, 7.8.1942. Raised in July 1942 by redesignation of the 104th Aust. Motor Regiment and was disbanded in May 1943. 104th Aust. Motor Regiment had originally been raised in May 1941 as 4th Armoured Regiment by expansion of 'C' Squadron, 17th Light Horse (Machine Gun) Regiment, and had been reorganized as a motor regiment in March 1942. It has not been possible to determine what colour patch, if any, was worn by the original 4th Armoured Regiment and 104th Motor Regiment.

• 562. 3rd Aust. Reconnaissance Squadron, 1942-1943: Auth. GRO 301/1942, 7.8.1942.
  Raised in June 1942 by redesignation of the 3rd Aust. Motor Regiment, although the new unit also remained part of the Aust. Light Horse and did not transfer to the Aust. Armoured Corps. Disbanded in June 1943.

• 6th Aust. Armoured Car Regiment: See AUST. LIGHT HORSE, No. 452.

• 563. 2/11th Aust. Armoured Car Regiment, 1941-1944: Ref. AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 14520, 7.3.1941. Raised in July 1941 as part of 1st Aust. Armoured Division. Transferred to the 2nd Aust. Division in September 1943 and was disbanded on 24.3.1944.

• 564. 12th Aust. Armoured Car Regiment, 1943-1944: Auth. GRO 165/1943, 19.2.1943.
  Raised in October 1942 by redesignation of 12th Aust. Motor Regiment and was disbanded in March 1944. Allotted to the 3rd Aust. Armoured Division.

• 565. 12th Aust. Armoured Car Regiment: Error, Queensland manufacture.

• 566. 12th Aust. Armoured Car Regiment: Error, NSW manufacture.

• 567. 1st Aust. Armoured Car Squadron, 1946-1949: Auth. GRO 88/1946, 22.3.1946.
  Raised in January 1946 from volunteers of the 4th Aust. Armoured Brigade for service with the Australian Component, BCOF, Japan. Formed the nucleus of the existing 1st Armoured Regiment RAAC in July 1949. For some reason this colour patch was not listed for retention by AHQ Memo B30641 of 18.9.1946, and all stocks held in Australia were submitted for disposal in early 1947.

• 568. 1st Aust. Armoured Car Squadron: Error, CCF manufacture.

• - War Office Tank Trials Detachment, 1944-1945: Comprised personnel drawn from units of 4th Aust. Armoured Brigade, who continued to wear the colour patch of their own unit while on attachment.

Note: The colour patch system approved for units of 4th Aust. Armoured Brigade in October and November 1944 following the reduction and reorganization of the Australian Armoured Corps. (Refers specifically to No's 512B, 520B, 539, 542, and 544.) In each case the responsibility for obtaining these new designs rested with the individual units, and from an examination of the existing regimental histories there appears to be no evidence that these colour patches were actually produced or issued. 'Me 2/9th Armoured Regiment is noted to have retained No. 548 at least until the end of February 1945, and although the new colour patch for 2/4th Aust. Armoured Regiment was promulgated in its own Routine Orders Pt I in November 1944, the unit was serving overseas at the time and does not appear to have worn it. This situation may be partially the result of some indecision relating to these designs at LHQ; in November 1944, immediately following the approvals for the final designs in this scheme, the CGS indicated that it was now preferable if these units reverted to the original rhomboidal shape used by 4th Armoured Brigade. On 21.11.1944, the DOS, when informing the C-in-C AMF of the matter, stated that the only objection to the designs submitted with this proposal was that the colours did not conform to the original light horse colour scheme in that the brigade colour was not to the front.

DOS Memo B78079, 21.11.1944. Army (MGO Registry) File 61/03/150, relating to early drafts of the instructions eventually promulgated as GRO 60/1945 in February 1945.

This would appear to have been of little consequence however and the new scheme was approved in early January 1945. It is possible that the Commander 4th Aust. Armoured Brigade, being the senior formation commander in the Corps, was involved in any discussion relating to the change, and was therefore in a position to advise his unit commanders that there was no haste in applying GRO No's 388 and 424 of 1944. There is certainly no reference made to them in AWM 54, items 89/3/5 and 89/3/6, which constitute Appendix 'B' to the 4th Aust. Armoured Brigade War History and show colour patches and vehicle markings used by units of the brigade between 1943 and 1946. All actual examples of No's 539, 542, and 544 noted to date by the author have been reproductions.

• 569-572. Reserved. 

Prior to 1936 the Citizen Force artillery was organized into two separate branches, the Australian Field Artillery and the Australian Garrison Artillery (Coast, Medium, Anti Aircraft and Survey). In January 1936 they were amalgamated as the Royal Australian Artillery (Militia). The RAA(M) amalgamated with the RAA Regiment in 1949 to form the Royal Australian Artillery, now the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery.

Note: The designation of 'brigade' to represent a grouping of batteries continued in use in the PMF and CMF for the field and garrison (including medium and anti-aircraft units) branches until 1941, when field and medium brigades, and survey companies, were reorganized as 'regiments'. 2nd AIF artillery was organized on a regimental basis from 1939, however the term 'brigade' persisted in use with both the anti-aircraft and coast branches of the RAA until late in 1942. All anti-tank units of the RAA were redesignated tank attack units on 26.3.1943.

Divisional Artillery

Comprised HQ divisional artillery; field regiments; anti-tank regiments; tank attack batteries; HQ LAA regiments; LAA batteries; LAA batteries (airborne); survey batteries. The number and type of units differed between a standard division of 1921-1939, and 1939-1945, a jungle division of 1943-1945, an armoured division of 1941-1942, 1942-1943, and mid 1943, and a cavalry or motor division of 1921-1943.

• 573. 1st Divisional Artillery, 1921-1942; 

  • RAA 1st Aust. Division, 1942-1945: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 111, 1922.

• 574. 2nd Divisional Artillery, 1921-1942, 

  • RAA 2nd Aust. Division, 1942-1944: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 111, 1922.

• 575. 3rd Divisional Artillery, 1921-1942; 

  • RAA 3rd Aust. Division, 1942-1945: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 111, 1922.

• 576. 4th Divisional Artillery, 1921-1942; 

  • RAA 4th Aust. Division, 1942-1944: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 111, 1922.

• 577. (a) 5th Divisional Artillery, 1921-1939: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 111, 1922. Worn by
  field artillery brigades allotted to 11th Mixed Brigade, and Field Troops, 5th and 6th
  Military Districts, and included HQ divisional artillery from 1925.

  • (b) RAA Northern Command, 1939-1942; 

    • RAA 5th Aust. Division, 1942-1945:

  • (c) RAA Western Command, 1939-1942: Absorbed into RAA 4th Aust. Division
    in April 1942. In response to a query from HQ Western Command in relation to a
    colour patch for the 9th Anti-Tank Regiment, AHQ advised in April 1941 that no
    colour patch had yet been designed for anti-tank regiments, RAA. A former original
    member of this unit has advised that No. 577 was eventually worn prior to becoming
    109th Aust. Anti-Tank Regiment and part of the 4th Division.

  • (d) 6th Field Brigade RAA(M), 1939-1941; 

    • 6th Aust. Field Regiment, 1941-1944: Requests made by this unit in May 1926 and June 1938 for permission to wear the patch of the 6th (Army) Brigade AFA, (No. 55), were refused.

  • (e) 10th Anti-Tank Regiment, 1941-1942; 

    • 110th Aust. Anti-Tank Regiment, 1942-1943; 

    • 110th Aust. Tank Attack Regiment, 1943; 

  • 37th and 38th Aust. Tank Attack Batteries, 1943: Disbanded and reorganized into AA units, July/Oct. 1943.

• 578. RAA 6th Aust. Division, 1939-1946: Ref. MGO Branch Line Drawings, p.5. The history of the 2/3rd Aust. Field Regiment records that these patches were first issued to this unit on 10th February, 1940.

• 579. RAA 7th Aust. Division, 1940-1946: Ref. MGO Branch Line Drawings, p.5.

• 580. RAA 8th Aust. Division, 1940-1945: Ref. MGO Branch Line Drawings, p.5. The bulk of the divisional artillery was captured in Singapore in February 1942, this colour patch being retained in Australia until early 1943 by the 2/14th Aust. Field Regiment and 14th Battery, 2/4th Aust. Anti-Tank Regiment.

• 581. 2/14th Aust. Field Regiment, 1943-1946: Ref. 2/14th Aust. Field Regiment Association. This colour patch was adopted by the regiment in February/March 1943, following its movement from Darwin, NT, to Loftus Camp, NSW. The then CO, Lt-Col. R.B. Hone, directed that a perpendicular 'break' would be inserted in the colour patch to signify the regiment's separation from the 8th Division, vowing that it would be removed when the members of that division were liberated from captivity and the division reformed. It also served the purpose of distinguishing the regiment from AIF members of artillery units of the 3rd Aust. Division, whose colour patch was identical to that of RAA 8th Aust. Division. Apparently entirely unofficial it was nevertheless worn until the unit was disbanded in January 1946.

• 582. RAA 9th Aust. Division, 1940-1942: Ref. To Benghazi: Long, Appx 4. Superseded by No's 584 to 588 inclusive in December 1942.

• 583. RAA 9th Aust. Division: Ref. RAA Historical Society of WA. Former Western Australian members of the 2/7th Aust. Field Regiment have stated that their colour patches were worn in this manner when they were first issued.

• 584. HQ RAA 9th Aust. Division, 1942-1946: Auth. GRO 225/1943, 12.3.1943. Raised in October 1940 by redesignation of HQ 1st Aust. Corps Medium Artillery.

• 585. 2/7th Aust. Field Regiment, 1942-1946: Auth. GRO 225/1943, 12.3.1943. Formerly 2/7th Aust. Army Field Regiment.

• 586. 2/8th Aust. Field Regiment, 1942-1946: Auth. GRO 225/1943, 12.3.1943. Formerly 2/8th Aust. Army Field Regiment.

• 587. 2/12th Aust. Field Regiment, 1942-1946: Auth. GRO 225/1943, 12.3.1943. Raised in October 1940 by redesignation of 2/2nd Aust. Medium Regiment.

• 588. 2/3rd Aust. Anti-Tank Regiment, 1942-1943; 

  • 2/3rd Aust. Tank Attack Regiment, 1943-1945: Auth. GRO 225/1943, 12.3.1943.

• 589. 2/4th Aust. Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, 1942-1945: Auth. GRO 225/1943, 12.3.1943. Raised on 5.1.1942 from personnel of the 2/1st and 2/3rd Aust. LAA Regiments, 2/2nd Aust. HAA Regiment and 26th Aust. Anti-Tank Company.

  • - RAA 10th Aust. Division, 1942: No colour patch was approved for artillery units of this division, the majority of them continuing to wear No. 573.

  • - RAA 11th Aust. Division, 1943-1945: Units under command of this division continued to wear the colour patch of the previous formation to which they had belonged. Original personnel of HQ divisional artillery are believed to have retained No. 578, having been raised by redesignation of HQ RAA 6th Aust. Division in August 1943. Requests were made to LHQ in February, October and December of 1944 for a patch to be allotted to HQ RAA 11th Aust. Division but they were unsuccessful.

  • RAA 12th Aust. Division, 1942-1944: Units under command of this division continued to wear the colour patch of the previous formation to which they had belonged, or in the case of anti-aircraft units, the patch of their particular branch. Original members of HQ RAA 12th Aust. Division wore No. 578, having been raised in April 1942 as HQ RAA NT Force by redesignation of HQ RAA 6th Aust. Division.

• 590. XXI Brigade A.F.A., 1921-1936; 

  • 21st Field Brigade RAA(M), 1936-1941; 

  • 21st Aust. Field Regiment and 

  • 102nd Aust. Anti-Tank Regiment, 1941-1942: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 111, 1922. These units formed part of the 1st Cavalry Division, later 1st Aust. Motor Division.

• 591. XXII Brigade A.F.A., 1921-1936; 

  • 22nd Field Brigade RAA(M), 1936-1941;

  • 22nd Aust. Field Regiment and 

  • 105th Aust. Anti-Tank Regiment, 1941-1942: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 111, 1922. These units formed part of the 2nd Cavalry Division, later 2nd Aust. Motor Division. Superseded by No. 600 in August 1942.

• 592. RAA 1st Aust. Armoured Division, 1941-1945: Ref AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 14520, 7.3.194 1, and LHQ(AG) Memo No. 82848, 21.5.1943. Supplied in 1941 but was not subsequently issued as no authority had been given at that stage to raise the divisional artillery. From March 1942, CMF artillery units were allotted to the division and a completely new set of patches was designed and issued to these units. In May 1943, in response to a request from the division for approval for further new designs for artillery units,99 the Adjutant-General advised that this patch had already been approved for, and issued to, personnel of the divisional artillery. This
  appears to have been unknown to HQ 1st Aust. Armoured Division and HQ RAA 3rd Aust. Corps at the time. It replaced all other patches then in use with artillery units of the division, and continued in use with those units which remained with 1st Aust. Armoured Brigade Group after the disbandment of the division in September 1943.

• 593. HQ RAA 1st Aust. Armoured Division: A proposed design submitted to LHQ for approval in April 1943, HQ 3rd Aust. Corps originally suggesting that this patch be used by all artillery units of the division. Although it was rejected, numerous examples were manufactured locally in Western Australia. HQ RAA 1st Aust. Armoured Division was raised in April 1943 by redesignation of HQ RAA 4th Aust. Division.

• 594. 16th Aust. Field Regiment, 1942-1943: Auth. LHQ (MGO) Memo No. 59218, 9.6.1942. Superseded by No. 592 by mid 1943. This unit had been raised as 16th Aust. Army Field Regiment for RAA Southern Command.

• 595. 108th Aust. Anti-Tank Regiment, 1942; 

  • 29th and 30th Aust. Anti-Tank Batteries, 1942-1943: Auth. LHQ (MGO) Memo No. 59218, 9.6.1942. The 108th Anti-Tank Regiment was disbanded in November 1942, forming two anti-tank batteries and one LAA battery. The 29th and 30th Aust. Tank Attack Batteries became part of the 1 12th Aust. Tank Attack Regiment in March 1943 and this patch was subsequently replaced by No. 592.

• HQ Div. RAA and 

  • 3rd Aust. Field Regiment. AA(Vic): MP 742/1, item 61/13/65. Item 61/13/92 provides detail on colour patches approved for the CMF motor and artillery regiments in June 1942.

• 596. 108th Aust. Anti-Tank Regiment: Ref. MGO Branch Line Drawings, p.29. There is no evidence that this patch was approved for, or issued to, this unit, despite the reference on page 232 of Roundshot to Rapier: Artillery in South Australia 1840-1984, David Brook, to a "...pentagonal shaped colour patch, grey backed and halved red over blue..." It is believed this refers to No. 592. Fakes exist.

• 597. RAA (Anti-Aircraft), 1st Aust. Armoured Division: This design was originally submitted in May 1942 but was not approved by LHQ simply because no LAA regiment had been allotted to the division at that stage. In November 1942 the 227th and 228th Aust. LAA Batteries were raised from personnel of the 108th and 103rd Anti-Tank Regiments respectively and allotted to this division. Large quantities of these colour patches were supplied in NSW and WA, however no official authority for their use has been located, nor has it been possible to confirm that they were worn.

• 598. RAA (Anti-Aircraft), 1st Aust. Armoured Division: NSW manufacture but no further details have been located.

• 599. 121st Aust. Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment: Ref. MGO Branch Line Drawings, p.29. There is no evidence that this colour patch was approved for or issued to this unit. HQ 121st Aust. LAA Regiment was raised in April 1943 to command the 227th and 228th Aust. LAA Batteries which already formed part of RAA 1st Aust. Armoured Division. It at no stage comprised part of Support Group as indicated by the quoted reference, and the whole unit wore No. 592. In September 1943 the regiment was disbanded, its two batteries becoming independent, while RHQ formed HQ Cairns AA Group.

• 600. RAA 2nd Aust. Motor Division, 1942-1943: Auth. GRO 301/1942, 7.8.1942. Although the division was disbanded in April 1943 this patch continued to be worn by its former artillery units until as late as September 1943.

• 601. 44th Aust. Field Battery, 1943: Manufactured in error in NSW and supplied for this
  unit while it was serving as Depot Battery, LHQ School of Artillery. Raised in February 1943 from personnel of the 22nd Aust. Field Regiment and was disbanded in August 1943, members being posted as reinforcements to the RAA (AA).

• 602. RAA 3rd Aust. Armoured Division, 1943-1944: Auth. GRO 165/1943, 19.2.1943. The division was disbanded in September 1943, however this patch was retained by the 21st/22nd Aust. Field Regiment until April 1944.

  • 18th Aust. Field Battery, 1940-1942: Formed on 22nd September 1940 from a cadre of the Darwin Mobile Force, all personnel apparently being members of the IMF. During 1942 'Y' and 'Z' Troops of this battery were to have formed the nucleus for the 23rd and 24th Aust. Field Regiments, although these units were not eventually raised. As part of Darwin Garrison Troops it is believed to have retained No. 382.

  • "M" Anti-Tank Battery, 1942-1943: Raised in early 1942 by redesignation of 41st Battery, 111th Aust. Anti-Tank Regiment, for service in 7th Military District, and wore No. 573. It was absorbed by 103rd Aust. Anti-Tank Regiment in early 1943.

  • Artillery Signal Troops RAA, 1945: The establishment of these units was approved in March 1945 and five such troops were raised in June 1945 from RAA and Aust. Corps of Signals personnel to provide an additional signals element for divisional artillery. No colour patch was specifically approved for these units and it is assumed that No. 1632 (Headquarters, Divisional Artillery) was that intended for wear. A former member of 2nd Aust. Artillery Signal Troop RAA, attached to the 7th Aust. Division, has advised however that the members of this unit continued to wear the patches of the units to which they had previously belonged.

• 603. Reserved.

• 604. RAA 1st Aust. Corps, 1940-1945: Auth. Colour patch chart promulgated with
  AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 70030, 21.10.1940.

  • - 1st Aust. Anti-Aircraft Brigade, 1940-1942: Units serving with this brigade were
    part of RAA 1st Aust. Corps and wore No. 604. In early 1942 this brigade returned to
    Australia and was dispersed to operational areas, brigade headquarters becoming HQ
    AA Defences, NSW L of C Area. In June 1943 the MGRA advised that continued use
    of this colour patch by former units of the brigade was unauthorised.

• 605. RAA 2nd Aust. Corps, 1942-1945: Auth. GRO 206/1942, 17.7.1942.

• 606. RAA 3rd Aust. Corps, 1942-1945: Auth. GRO 206/1942, 17.7.1942.

• 607. RAA New Guinea Force, 1942-1945: Auth. GRO 370/1942, 4.9.1942. At this point
  only 156th Aust. LAA Battery has been confirmed as wearing this patch, although it is
  unlikely that it was the only unit. See also remarks relating to Heavy Batteries (Coast),
  Moresby Coast Artillery.

  • - RAA Northern Territory Force: See RA-A 12th Aust. Division.

• 608. 1st Aust. Mountain Battery, 1942-1944; 

  • 1st Aust. Mountain Battery (Mechanized), 1944-1946: Ref. 1st Aust. Mountain Battery (AIF) Association. The unit believes that approval was given through HQ 1st Aust. Corps, and this patch was issued in September 1942. The battery converted to a parachute role in mid 1944.

• 609. (a) Medium Artillery Brigades A.G.A., 1925-1936; 

  • Medium Brigades, RAAM, 1936-1941; 

  • Medium Regiments, RAA(M), 1941-1942: Auth. AAO 442/1925, 26.9.1925. Raised in 1925 as the 1st and 2nd Medium Artillery Brigades, AGA.

  • (b) 2nd Aust. Medium Regiment, RAA, 1942-1943: Continued to be worn by this
    unit while it was serving as army troops with Second Aust. Army.

• 610. (a) Artillery Survey Companies A.G.A., 1925-1936; 

  • Artillery Survey Companies, RAA(M), 1936-1941; 

  • Survey Regiments, RAA(M), 1941-1942: Auth. AAO 442/1925, 26.9.1925. In August 1942 all survey regiments were disbanded, forming survey batteries (divisional troops) and flash spotting batteries (army and corps troops). Raised in 1925 as the 1st and 2nd Artillery Survey Companies, AGA.

  • (b) 4th Aust. Flash-spotting Battery, 1942-1944: Continued to be worn by this unit
    while it was allotted as army troops to Second Aust. Army.

  • - 1st Aust. Heavy Regiment, 1942-1943: Raised in September 1942 as army troops,
    comprising two batteries, each of eight 155mm guns, and wore No. 616. Disbanded in
    January 1943 to form 'M', 'N', '0', 'P' and 'Q' Aust. Heavy Batteries (Coast).

• 611. 1st Aust. Naval Bombardment Group, 1944-1945: Auth. GRO 424/1944, 17.11.1944. Initially raised in early 1943 and by late 1944 had been reorganized into two bombardment troops comprising Bombardment Liaison Officers and Shore Fire Control Parties.

Raised in mid 1943 to provide AA defence for forward areas and RAAF Advanced Operational Bases. Initial authority for the colour patches for these units was LHQ(MGO) Memo No. 20218 of 11.8.1943.

• 612. Mobile Heavy Anti-Aircraft Batteries and Headquarters, 1943-1945: Auth. GRO 672/1943, 17.9.1943. 

  • Units included: 

    • HQ Composite Anti-Aircraft Regiments; 

    • Heavy Anti-Aircraft Batteries; 

    • 141st Aust. Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery (Mobile).

• 613. Mobile Light Anti-Aircraft Batteries, 1943 -1945: Auth. GRO 672/1943, 17.9.1943.

• 614. Mobile Searchlight Batteries, 1943-1945: Auth. GRO 672/1943, 17.9.1943. For all mobile searchlight batteries and attached Heavy Searchlight Troops (Mobile) allotted to composite AA regiments or formations in the field. Mobile searchlight batteries did not generally become an integral part of the establishment of composite anti-aircraft regiments until late 1944.

• 615. Mobile Searchlight Batteries, New Guinea Force: Supplied locally in Western Australia, possibly for the 78th Aust. Mobile Searchlight Battery, however there is no evidence that they were worn.

• 616. (a) Australian Garrison Artillery, 1921-1925; 

  • Coast Batteries A.G.A., 1925-1927;

  • Heavy Batteries A.G.A., 1927-1936; 

  • Heavy Artillery, RAA(M), 1936-1941: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 111, 1922. Note: The designation 'Coast' was adopted officially on 1.1.1927 however it was in use semi-officially from December 1925. 

    • Included HQ Coast Artillery Brigades, AGA, and 

    • HQ Heavy Brigades, RAA(M).

  • (b) Heavy Artillery, Fixed Defences, 1941-1943; 

  • Coast Artillery, 1943-1945: Formed in February 1941 by a complete reorganization of PMF and CMF coast artillery units, and absorbed CASL sections of the RAE in May 1943. 

    • Units included: Fixed Defences Command; 

    • HQ Heavy Artillery, 

    • L of C Area Fixed Defences; 

    • Fortress Headquarters; 

    • HQ Fire Commands; 

    • Batteries and Sections (Fixed Defences); 

    • Coast Artillery; 

    • Heavy Batteries (Coast); 

    • Special Radio Detachments; 

    • Radar Detachments. Numerous authorities exist, partly as a result of the confusion created by the continued use of No. 382 by some units and personnel. Those located include: LHQ (MGO) Memo No. 148258, 31.8.1943, relating to Heavy Artillery, NG L of C Area Fixed Defences; LHQ (MGO) Memo No. 148257, 31.8.1943, relating to HQ Brisbane Fortress; LHQ (MGO) Memo No. 189005, 29.10.1943, for Heavy Batteries (Coast); LHQ (MGO) Memo B47284, 21.7.1944, regarding Hobart Coast Artillery. The Commander, Fixed Defences, NSW, advised on 2.9.1942 that this colour patch was being worn only by CMF personnel of the heavy artillery units of his command, PMF personnel retaining No. 382. He sought approval for No. 382 to replace No. 616 entirely however it is unlikely that this was granted. Ref. AA (NSW): SP1008/1, item 415/1/831.

• 617. Heavy Artillery, New Guinea L of C Area Fixed Defences, 1943: This design was submitted to LHQ for approval in August 1943 however it appears to have already been
  in use on an unofficial basis prior to this submission. It was rejected by LHQ who
  directed that No. 616 be worn. Examples exist in the J.A. Ryan (AWM) and Victoria
  Barracks collections.

• 618. Heavy Artillery, Darwin Fixed Defences, 1940-1943; 

  • Darwin Coast Artillery, 1943-1945: Formed by expansion of the original 9th Heavy Battery, RAA Regiment, hence the retention of this colour patch which was issued to the majority of personnel, regardless of CMF or PMF status, including members of 'M' Battery, Special Coast Defence Force RAA, and 121st Heavy Battery, RAA(M), although No. 616 also existed in the latter unit. Redesignated 7th MD Fixed Defences in 1946, 7th MD RAA in February 1947, and retained as a unit of the Australian Regular Army, being redesignated 9th Coast Artillery Battery, RAA, in July 1948. Disbanded in July 1953.

• 619A. Darwin Coast Artillery: All examples are of Western Australian manufacture. It is believed that this design was submitted for approval in late 1943, but would certainly have been rejected by LHQ and there is no evidence that it was worn.

• 619B. Darwin Coast Artillery: Variation of No. 619A which appears in miniature size only. WA manufacture.

• 620. (a) 2/1st Aust. Heavy Battery, 1941-1945: Raised in July 1941 for Sparrow Force, Timor, and was captured in February 1942.

• (b) RAA (AIF) (Heavy), Robin Force, 1941-1942: Raised in May 1941 to install fixed coast defence equipment in New Caledonia for the Free French garrison.

  • Wren Force and Heron Force, 1941-1942: Formed from personnel of the 2/13th Aust. Field Regiment for a coast defence role on Nauru and Ocean Islands respectively and wore No. 604.

  • Heavy Batteries (Coast), 1942-1945: Equipped with 155mm guns and 60 inch CASL's in a mobile CA role and continued to wear No. 616. 'U' Aust. Heavy Battery was converted to a field role with 2nd Aust. Corps in late 1944 but also retained No. 616. The war diary of 'R' Aust. Heavy Battery (Coast) records that in February 1944 new colour patches were issued for heavy artillery units in the Port Moresby area vide GRO 370/1942, suggesting that this unit, and possibly 'C' Aust. Heavy Battery (Coast), wore No. 607. 

    • Note 100 R. Kidd and R. Neal, The 'Letter' Batteries, p.133. The reference to GRO 370/1942 is difficult to understand, HQ NG Force having been advised by LHQ on two separate occasions during 1943 that No. 616 was to be worn by heavy artillery units.

  • Coast Artillery Searchlight Sections, 1943-1944: Transferred from the RAE to the
    RAA on 1.5.1943 but continued to wear No. 669 until they were absorbed into the
    establishments of their affiliated coast artillery or heavy battery (coast) between June
    1943 and the end of January 1944. 'S', 'T' and U CASL Sections wore No. 616.

  • Anti-Aircraft / Coast Artillery Batteries, 1944-1945: Raised to man static batteries
    of 5.25 inch dual purpose guns. "Me 801st Aust. AA/CA Battery was raised from
    personnel of Sydney Coast Artillery and is believed to have retained No. 616, although
    these units had a primary AA role, while the 802nd and 803rd Aust. AA/CA Batteries
    were raised from anti-aircraft personnel and continued to wear No. 622.

• 621. 1st Anti-Aircraft Battery A.G.A., 1926-1936; 

  • Anti-Aircraft Batteries, RAA(M), 1936-1941; 

  • Anti-Aircraft Artillery, Fixed Defences, 1941-1943: Auth. AAO 541/1926, 2.10.1926. Additional authority includes AHQ Memo No. 22409 of 3.3.1942, and HQ AA Defences Eastern Command Memo No. 00335 of 17.3.1942, allotting this patch to 110th Aust. Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment. HQ AA Defences, NSW L of C Area, assumes that it was also to wear No. 621 and seeks confirmation in a memo dated 4.9.1942. Ref AA(NSW): SP 1008/1, item 415/1/83 1. 

  • Between 1941 and 1943 this colour patch was worn by the following types of units: 

    • HQ AA Defences, NSW L of C Area; 

    • HQ Anti-Aircraft Groups; 

    • AA Operations Rooms; 

    • HQ Anti-Aircraft Batteries (Heavy); 

    • HAA Gun Stations; 

    • HAA Regiments; 

    • HQ LAA Regiments; 

    • LAA Batteries; 

    • Anti-Aircraft and Anti-Motor Landing Craft Section, Rabaul; 

    • Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships Detachments; 

    • 1st Aust. GL Detachment.

Note: During mid to late 1943 the RAA (Anti-Aircraft) Branch underwent a major reorganization which included the transfer to the RAA of all RAE AA searchlight units, and the reorganization of all HAA regiments and most of the LAA regiments into composite AA regiments. In September 1943 the following three colour patches were promulgated for the use of static anti-aircraft units, original authority being LHQ(MGO) Memo No. 20128, 11.8.1943. It should be noted that from this point in time the establishment of many static AA units comprised personnel of the VDC. These personnel wore No's 1103 to 1105 despite several attempts to allow them to wear the patch of the unit to which they were allotted for duty.

• 622. Static Heavy Anti-Aircraft Batteries and Headquarters, 1943-1945: Auth. GRO 672/1943, 17.9.1943. 

  • Worn by the following types of units: 

    • HQ AA Defences, NSW L of C Area; 

    • HQ AA Groups; 

    • AA Operations Rooms; 

    • HQ HAA Batteries (Static);

    • HAA Troops (Static); 

    • Anti-Aircraft / Coast Artillery Batteries. 

  • The majority of these units on mainland Australia were designated (Mixed), as their establishment comprised both male and female personnel.

• 623. Static Light Anti-Aircraft Units, 1943-1945: Auth. GRO 672/1943, 17.9.1943.

  • Worn by the following types of units: 

    • 112th and 114th Aust. LAA Regiments; 

    • LAA Batteries (Static); 

    • LAA Troops (Static).

Note: Although No's 622 and 623 were approved with a reduction in size to 2 inches by I 
inch and huge quantities were manufactured in this size, No. 621 was still held in Ordnance stocks and continued to be issued and worn until disbandment in 1945.

• 624. Static Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Units, 1943-1945: Auth. GRO 672/1943, 17.9.1943.

  • Worn by the following types of units: 

    • HQ Searchlight Batteries; 

    • HQ Searchlight Batteries (Mixed); 

    • Searchlight Batteries (Lower Establishment); 

    • Medium and Heavy Searchlight Troops, 1943-1944; 

    • Searchlight Troops, 1944-1945. 

      • A WA manufactured variation of this patch has been noted measuring 2 and 1/2 inches by I and 1/2 inches.

      • The 201st to 211th Aust. Searchlight Batteries (VDC) (HE), RAA, were raised entirely
        from the Volunteer Defence Corps and did not wear this patch.

  • HQ Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Regiments, 1943: These were formed on 1.5.1943 by
    redesignation of HQ AASL Battalions RAE and continued to wear No. 672, being
    disbanded and absorbed into the establishments of HQ AA Groups in September 1943.

  • Headquarters, Composite Anti-Aircraft Defences, New Guinea Force, 1942-1943:
    This was a combined Australian Military Forces and United States Army unit controlling all Australian anti-aircraft and United States coast artillery (anti-aircraft) units in New Guinea during this period, similar in function to a HQ AA Defences, L of C Area. AMF personnel posted to the establishment of this headquarters wore either No. 607, or the patch of the unit to which they had previously belonged.
    

• 625. Unidentified: NSW manufacture.

• 626. Unidentified: Example held in a private collection, U.S.A.

• 627. Unidentified: CCF manufacture and exists in left and right arm variations. Thought to have been a proposal for the Aust. Naval Bombardment Group.

• 628-629. Reserved.

In January 1936 the Citizen Force units of the Australian Engineers were granted the title 'Royal', becoming the Royal Australian Engineers (Militia). The Signal Service, Australian Engineers was granted a separate identity as the Australian Corps of Signals on January 1st, 1925.

1. LHQ, Corps and Army Troops comprised 

   1. CRE (Recce); 

   2. HQ Army Troops RAE; 

   3. HQ Corps Troops RAE; 

   4. Army Field Companies; 

   5. Army Troops Companies; 

   6. Boring Platoons; 

   7. Camouflage Units; 

   8. 1st Aust. Parachute Troop; 

   9. Corps Field Park Companies.

• 630. RAE LHQ Troops, 1942-1945: Auth. GRO 125/1943, 5.2.1943. The original order for supply was placed with the CCF on 20.9.1942, vide LHQ(DOS) Memo No. 109619, MGO Order No. 3076.

• 631. RAE First Aust. Army Troops, 1943-1945: Auth. GRO 165/1943,19.2.1943.

• - RAE Second Aust. Army Troops: Post-war ordnance holdings make reference to
  stocks of patches for CMF personnel of units allotted to this formation however it has
  not been possible to confirm if they were similar in design to No. 63 1. No other
  official reference to them has been noted.

• 632. RAE 1st Aust. Corps Troops, 1940-1945: Auth. Colour patch chart promulgated
  with AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 70030,21.10.1940.

• 633. RAE 2nd Aust. Corps Troops, 1942-1945: Auth. GRO 206/1942, 17.7.1942.

• 634. RAE 2nd Aust. Corps Troops: Variation, J.A. Ryan Collection, AWM.

• 635. RAE 3rd Aust. Corps Troops, 1942-1945: Auth. GRO 206/1942, 17.7.1942.

• 636. RAE New Guinea Force, 1942-1945: Auth. GRO 3 70/1942, 4.9.1942.

• 637. RAE Northern Territory Force; 

  • RAE 12th Aust. Division: Western Australian manufacture. There is no evidence that this colour patch was worn, units posted to this formation continuing to wear the patch of the formation to which they had previously belonged.

• 638. RAE Northern Territory Force; 

  • RAE 12th Aust. Division: NSW manufacture, no other information available.

• 639. Non-divisional units, RAE(M), 1940-1942: Auth. AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 11754,
  28.2.1940, and AAO 28/1941, 28.2.1941. To be worn by full time duty details of all
  RAE(M) units other than divisional engineers, fortress engineers and anti-aircraft
  companies. It had been allotted to 2nd Workshop and Park Company vide AHQ(DOS)
  Memo 11753, 28.2.1940, and was presumably worn by most Workshop and Park
  Companies, Army Troops Companies, Eastern Command Engineer Stores Base Depot, and Southern Command Engineer Base Workshops. 8th Army Troops Company and 8th Workshop and Park Company in 6th MD are believed however to have retained No. 645 until at least 1942 when they were reorganized into 8th Aust. Army Troops Company. It was in use in NSW L of C Area in August/September 1942 by 3rd Aust. Army Troops Company, but not by 2nd Aust. Bomb Disposal Company.

1. Comprised 

   1. HQ divisional engineers, 

   2. field companies, 

   3. field squadrons, 

   4. independent field squadrons, 

   5. field park companies, 

   6. field park squadrons, 

   7. field park troops, 

   8. camouflage units.

• 640. 1st Divisional Engineers, 1921-1942; 

  • RAE 1st Aust. Division, 1942-1945: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 111, 1922.

• 641. 2nd Divisional Engineers, 1921-1942; 

  • RAE 2nd Aust. Division, 1942-1945: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 111, 1922.

• 642. 3rd Divisional Engineers, 1921-1942; 

  • RAE 3rd Aust. Division, 1942-1945: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 111, 1922.

• 643. 4th Divisional Engineers, 1921-1942; 

  • RAE, 4th Aust. Division, 1942-1945: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 111, 1922.

• 644. 16th Field Company, A.E., 1921-1922: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 111, 1922. Raised in
  Broken Hill in late 1921 as non-divisional troops attached to the 4th Division, and was
  disbanded on 30.6.1922. There is some doubt as to whether this colour patch was actually issued prior to disbandment. The 16th Field Company RAE was re-raised in 1941 in Northern Command and wore No. 645.

• 645.(a) 5th Divisional Engineers, 1921-1939: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 111, 1922. Worn by
  field engineer companies allotted to 11th Mixed Brigade, and Field Troops, 5th and 6th
  Military Districts.

  • (b) Field Engineers, Northern Command, 1939-1942; 

    • RAE 5th Aust. Division, 1942-1945:

  • (c) RAE Western Command, 1939-1942:

  • (d) 12th Aust. Field Company RAE, 1939-1944:

• 646. RAE 6th Aust. Division, 1939-1945: Ref MGO Branch Line Drawings, p.6.

• 647. RAE 7th Aust. Division, 1940-1945: Ref MGO Branch Line Drawings, p.6.

• 648. RAE 8th Aust. Division, 1940-1945: Ref. MGO Branch Line Drawings, p.6. The
  majority of the units of RAE 8th Aust. Division were captured in January/February
  1942, leaving only part of the 2/11th Aust. Field Company in Australia.

• 649. RAE 8th Aust. Division: All examples of this patch noted to date are of Western
  Australian manufacture and are unworn. There is no particular evidence that it was
  worn by the 2/11th Field Company.

• 650. RAE 9th Aust. Division, 1940-1942: Ref. To Benghazi: Long, Appx 4. Superseded
  in December 1942 by No. 651.

• 651. RAE 9th Aust. Division, 1942-1945: Auth. GRO 225/1943, 12.3.1943.

  • RAE 10th Aust. Division, 1942: No colour patch was approved for units of this division.

• 652. RAE 11th Aust. Division, 1943-1945: Auth. GRO 468/1943, 18.6.1943.

• 653. (a) 1st Field Squadron A.E., 1921-1941: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 111, 1922.

  • (b) 1st Cavalry Division Engineers, 1941-1942; 

  • RAE 1st Aust. Motor Division, 1942:

• 654. (a) 2nd Field Squadron A.E., 1921-1941: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 111, 1922.

  • (b) 2nd Cavalry Division Engineers, 1941-1942; 

  • RAE 2nd Aust. Motor Division, 1942: Superseded by No. 656 in August 1942.

    • Note: In 1938 No. 1 Troop, 1st Field Squadron, located in 1st MD as part of the 1st Cavalry Division, was redesignated No.3 Troop, 2nd Field Squadron, and allotted to the 2nd Cavalry Division. At the same time No.3 Troop, 2nd Field Squadron, located in 4th MD as part of the 2nd Cavalry Division, was redesignated No. 1 Troop, 1st Field Squadron and reallocated to the 1st Cavalry Division. There is no evidence that these units changed their colour patches as a result of this redesignation and re-allotment. In 1941 they were redesignated 'N' and 'S' Field Troops respectively and in mid 1942 were absorbed by units of their original pre-1938 formations, now motor divisions.

• 655. (a) RAE 1st Aust. Armoured Division, 1941-1943: Ref. AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 14520, 7.3.1941.

  • (b) 2/3rd Aust. Independent Field Squadron, 1943-1945:

• 656. (a) RAE 2nd Aust. Motor Division, 1942-1943: Auth. GRO 301/1942, 7.8.1942.

  • (b) 1st Aust. Field Squadron, 1943-1945:

• 657. (a) RAE, 3rd Aust. Armoured Division, 1943-1944; Auth. GRO 165/1943,19.2.1943.

  • (b) 2/4th Aust. Field Squadron, 1944-1945: Organized on an independent field squadron establishment.

• 658. RAE 3rd Aust. Armoured Division: Variation, NSW manufacture.

• 659. 5th Aust. Field Squadron, 1943-1944: 

  • 5th Aust. Mechanical Equipment Company, 1944-1945: Auth. GRO 310/1943, 16.4.1943. This unit was organized on an independent field squadron establishment, being reorganized in the new role in October 1944. Its place in 4th Aust. Armoured Brigade was taken by 2/3rd Aust. Independent Field Squadron.