This is not the first badge in the
famous "Rising Sun" range. Neither is it the last. It is
just the one that the Diggers made famous.
It was never a purely Infantry
badge because it was used as a General Service badge in two World
Wars. However it is inextricably linked to the Australian
Infantryman in the same way as the Slouch hat is.
An updated version is still the
General Service badge of the Australian Army.
There were 70
Infantry Battalions in the First Australian Imperial Force but only
60 saw service in the Line.
Sub category index
That was the largest
number of Battalions Australia (population 5 million at that time)
ever put into the Field.
Because the numbers
get reused for Citizens Military Forces (Army Reserve) between wars
it is possible to have 4 or 5 units that are all numbered the same.
Therefore the Regiment name is also important.
Generally speaking
the authorities attempt to keep the Battalion linked to it's historical
geographical area. It is not always possible but it mostly happens.
It should be noted
that all the "fighting" Battalions of WW1 and WW2 wore the
AIF General Service badge (the Rising Sun) and the badges shown here
are for Battalions of the pre war and between war eras.
It should also be
noted that since 1948 all Regular Army Battalions have been part of
the Royal Australian Regiment and do not have individual badges as
they wear the Regiment Badge.
Army Reserve
Battalions still have individual badges.
