Australian Army unit colour patches

{{about|the Australian system of colour patches||Formation patch}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} [[File:Marchers in WWII Australian uniforms, wearing the colour patch of the 2-8th Battalion - 070425 Anzac Day March, Adelaide St, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.jpg|thumb|380px|Marchers in World War II Australian uniforms, wearing the colour patch of the 2/8th Battalion. ANZAC Day Parade in Brisbane, Queensland, 25 April 2007. This colour patch was based on that of the 8th Battalion, 1st AIF, with grey trim to distinguish it as the colour patch of a unit of the 2nd AIF.]]

'''Unit colour patches''' (or simply known as '''colour patches''')<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.army.gov.au/ahu/images/Colour_Patches/Colour_Patches_index.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050719175656/http://www.army.gov.au/ahu/images/Colour_Patches/Colour_Patches_index.htm|title=Colour Patches|archive-date=19 July 2005|publisher=Australian Army|access-date=23 August 2015}}</ref> are a method of identification used by the Australian Army, used to indicate which unit a soldier belongs to.

It is believed that the Australian system of colour patches is based upon the small patches of colours or tartan worn on the puggarees of the pith helmets of members of a number of British Army units during the Second Boer War, the South African War of 1899–1902.<ref name=CP>{{cite web|url=http://colourpatch.com.au/index.php?main_page=page&id=2|title=Australian Army Unit Colour Patches – A Brief History|work=colourpatch.com.au|access-date=23 August 2015}}</ref> While some modern Australian colour patches are recent creations, many date back to World War I.

[[File:60th Battalion 1st AIF Banner ANZAC Day 2019 Melbourne no. 2.png|thumb|260px|Banner representing the 60th Battalion of the 1st AIF. ANZAC Day Parade in Melbourne, Victoria, 25 April 2019. The banner design is based on the design of the 60th Battalion's unit colour patch.]]

The first approval for the use of distinctive unit colours for Australian army units came from Major General William Throsby Bridges for the 1st Division to fly flags to denote unit areas and lines in Egypt during World War I. C.E.W. Bean made the first reference to unit colour patches to be worn on the uniform, when he described Major General Bridges issuing 1st Australian Divisional Order No. 562 dated 8 March 1915, ordering that patches be worn, describing how they would look and ordering that they were to be worn on the uniform sleeve {{convert|1|inch|mm}} below the shoulder. As this was an extension of the order for the posting of the colour flags to denote headquarters and unit lines, these flags were used as the basic design for 1st Division uniform colour patches.<ref name="Glyde 1999, pp. 7–8">Glyde (1999), pp. 7–8</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/australian-imperial-force-aif-badges-1914-1918|title= The Australian Imperial Force (AIF) badges 1914–1918, 31 July 2014 by Dianne Rutherford – Colour patches|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 23 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/uniform/colourpatches_history|title=History of Australian colour patches|publisher=Australian War Memorial|access-date=11 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1= Chinn|first1= David|date= 2000|title= Valued more than any other decoration: Colour patches of the Australian army|journal= Wartime|volume= 11|pages= 30–33| name-list-style=vanc }}</ref>

In total over 300 individual patches were eventually authorized for Australian units during World War I.{{sfn|Jobson|2009|p=35}}

Since World War I, many units have used colour patches showing their relationships to units of earlier times. For example, railway operating units of both the First and Second World Wars displayed a diamond (or lozenge) shape in the purple of the engineers on a red square background. Wherever possible the features of modern colour patches also reflect relationships between current units and their antecedents from previous wars. For example, modern and historical artillery patches are red and blue, modern army aviation patches preserve the light blue background with red and blue vertical bands of their World War 1 antecedents, while modern engineer patches remain predominantly purple. Some modern units reflect that they are direct descendants of World War 1 and 2 units. For example, the 8th/7th Battalion, Royal Victoria Regiment of rural Victoria uses the white over red horizontal rectangular patch of the original 8th Battalion. The shapes, colours and embellishments of unit colour patches therefore not only identify individuals as members of units, but they can also reflect the story of the unit.

In more modern times the first known example of a colour patch worn by Australian Army personnel was that of the Australian Army Fire Service (AFS). The patch was originally designed and worn by members of the Enoggera Fire Station ({{Circa|1980}}) and consisted of a blue roundel ring around a red circle in the centre. The words "Army Fire Service" emblazoned in the blue roundel and an image of the Royal Australian Engineer 'bomb' insignia in front of two crossed fire axes in centre circle. The badge was worn on the right sleeve, and whilst initially unofficial, it was quickly adopted by all other units of the Australian Army Fire Service, including being used as insignia on the doors of AFS vehicles. Over time the patch was modified several times, with the image below depicting the second generation, where the blue outer edge stitching was changed to gold.

thumb|235px|Australian Army Fire Service shoulder patch - {{Circa|1980}}

Nowadays modern unit colour patches are approximately {{convert|40|mm|inch}} x {{convert|40|mm|inch}} in size and use a large variety of colours and shapes to distinguish the units they represent while preserving links to patterns used by related units from earlier times. Unit colour patches are currently worn on the right side of the puggaree on the slouch hat in the Australian Army.

== First AIF ==

The First Australian Imperial Force was involved in three major campaigns in distant lands, and a smaller campaign closer to home. The First AIF's first major battles were in the Gallipoli Campaign, followed by simultaneous involvement on the Western Front in France and Belgium and in the Middle East, particularly in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign. Meanwhile, Australian forces occupied German political possessions in New Guinea and on other islands of the Southern Pacific. All of these campaigns were distinct in character and made new demands upon the Australian military. The many challenges, losses and successes of the Australian military and its personnel helped forge the character of the new nation of Australia, which had only become the Federation of Australia on 1 January 1901. In the Gallipoli Campaign all Australian fighting units were formed up together on the Gallipoli Peninsula, with supply, medical and other services stretching back as far as Egypt and England. Subsequently, the First AIF was effectively split. For a new nation fighting a war so far from home this created many logistical and organisational challenges. There were many innovations in the organisation of the Australian military during this time. The alliance with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and the creation of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps and other ANZAC units were also important throughout most of World War 1.

The intent of the new unit colour patch system was initially to help with organisation and identification of individuals and units in the field. However, it became more than that, creating bonds between soldiers that contributed to the 'esprit de corps', development of loyalties and interpersonal 'mateship' among the Australians.<ref>Bou, Dennis and Dalgleish (2016)</ref><ref>Chinn (2000)</ref>

===1st Division Unit Colour Flags 1914===

The first orders for unit colours were for flags 9 inches (22.86 cm) square, divided horizontally with the battalion colour over the brigade colour. Green, red and light blue were allocated as the colours for the 1st Brigade, 2nd Brigade and 3rd Brigade respectively, while the colours for the battalions in each brigade in the order of battle were originally black, yellow, brown and white, the battalion colour to be shown over the brigade colour. The 4th Brigade, raised separately, was allocate blue as the brigade colour.<ref name="Glyde 1999, pp. 7–8"/><ref>{{cite web|url= http://armymuseumtasmania.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/No-26-AIF-Unit-Colour-Patches.pdf|title= Information Sheet No. 26: Australian Imperial Force Unit Colour Patches|publisher= Army Museum of Tasmania, Anglesea Barracks, Hobart|access-date= 14 August 2019}}</ref>

Glyde (1999)<ref>Glyde (1999), pp. 7-8</ref> does not describe writing on the battalion flags (only on the Artillery, Engineers and Medical flags), but writing designating the unit may have been displayed on some or all of the other flags.

<gallery> File:1st Brigade flag 1914 v2.png|Flag of 1st Brigade Headquarters 1914 File:1st Battalion flag 1914 v2.png|Flag of 1st Australian Infantry Battalion 1914<ref>{{cite web|url= http://armymuseumtasmania.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/No-26-AIF-Unit-Colour-Patches.pdf|title= Information Sheet No. 26: Australian Imperial Force Unit Colour Patches|publisher= Army Museum of Tasmania, Anglesea Barracks, Hobart|access-date= 14 August 2019}}</ref> File:Divisional Artillery 1st Brigade flag.png|Flag of 1st Brigade Divisional Artillery File:Divisional Light Horse Regiment flag.png|Flag of Divisional Light Horse Regiment </gallery>

===Division unit colour patches===

Divisional Order 81 decreed a rectangular patch on the upper sleeve of the uniform {{convert|1.25|inch|mm}} by {{convert|2.75|inch|mm}}. Engineers were ordered to change the colour of their uniform patch from khaki to purple so that it was more visible when worn against the khaki sleeve of the uniform. Artillery were ordered to adopt diagonally divided red over blue patches. As further divisions created colour patches for their uniforms, the shape of the patch indicated the division.<ref name="Glyde 1999, p. 8">Glyde (1999), p. 8</ref>

* 1st Division had a horizontal rectangular patch, * 2nd Division had a diamond-shaped patch, * 3rd Division had a horizontal oval patch, * 4th Division had a circular patch (except the 4th Brigade, formed independently of 4th Division, which used a rectangle),<ref name=CP /> * 5th Division had a vertical rectangular patch, and * 6th Division had vertical oval patches. The 6th Division was raised in response to a request from the British Government to the Australian Government in February 1917, but was disbanded in September of the same year to provide reinforcements to other divisions. Therefore, the 6th Division did not see active service as a formation.<ref>Bou, Dennis and Dalgleish (2016), p. 15.</ref><ref>Likeman (2014), Ch. 13</ref> * Australian Mounted Division battle units had triangular patches or horizontal rectangular patches, with the colours bisected diagonally, while some of their support units had vertical rectangular patches.

<gallery> File:1st Aust Divisional Engineers.png|1st Australian Divisional Engineers File:2nd Machine Gun Battalion AIF Unit Colour Patch.png|2nd Machine Gun Battalion (part of 2nd Division) File:AUSTRALIAN ENGINEERS (SIGNAL SERVICE) 5th Aust. Divisional Signal Company 1916-1919.png|5th Australian Divisional Signal Company (Australian Engineers Signal Service) 1916–1919<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C352009|title= Colour patch : 5 Divisional Signal Company, AIF|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 12 August 2019}}</ref> </gallery>

===Infantry Brigades and Battalions===

Each Infantry Brigade within each Division was assigned a colour and the Brigade HQ colour patches were the Divisional shape in the Brigade colour. Each Battalion in each Brigade was then assigned a colour, and the patch was split horizontally with the Battalion colour across the top of the field and the Brigade colour across the bottom of the field.{{sfn|Bean|1941|pp=968–968g}}

On 16 March 1915 the second battalion of each infantry brigade was ordered to change their battalion colour from yellow to purple.<ref name="Glyde 1999, p. 8"/> One consequence was that it became practical for the 8th Brigade to use yellow as the brigade colour. The 14th Battalion and later the 46th Battalion retained yellow.

Light Horse, Artillery, Engineer and Medical units were also allocated colour patches. Light Trench Mortar Batteries were manned by infantrymen, and so showed the colour patches of the infantry brigades over the blue "bursting bomb", whereas medium and heavy trench mortar batteries were manned by artillery gunners and so showed the red and blue patch of their artillery brigade over the "bursting bomb".<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/~rmallett/Artillery.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091112033554/http://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/~rmallett/Artillery.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 12 November 2009| title = Artillery| publisher = Australian Defence Force Academy|access-date=14 April 2019}}</ref> Light Horse patches were divided diagonally.

<gallery> File:9th Bn 3rd Brigade 1st Division 1st AIF.png|1st Division, 3rd Brigade, 9th Battalion<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C351492|title= Colour patch : 9 Infantry Battalion, AIF|publisher=Australian War Memorial|access-date= 26 July 2019}}</ref> File:Headquarters 6th Brigade 2nd Division 1st AIF.png|2nd Division, 6th Brigade HQ<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C352098|title= Colour patch : Headquarters 6 Infantry Brigade and 6 Light Trench Mortar Battery, AIF|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 26 July 2019}}</ref> </gallery>

==New Zealand Units==

Units of the Army of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in the First World War displayed unit colour patches worn in the centre of the back of the uniform jacket, immediately below the collar.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/new-zealand-artillery|title= New Zealand Field Artillery|publisher= New Zealand History, Government of New Zealand|access-date= 3 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://nzhistory.govt.nz/war/infantry-units|title= Infantry Units|publisher= New Zealand History, Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Government of New Zealand. Updated 22 March 2017|access-date= 3 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/major-general-andrew-russell-inspecting-otago-infantry-soldiers-1918|title= 'Otago infantry soldiers, 1918'|publisher= Ministry for Culture and Heritage, Government of New Zealand, updated 17 May 2017|access-date= 4 May 2019}}</ref> The authority for the design and wearing of unit colour patches was from General Alexander Godley's orders dated 15 October 1917 No. 416.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/archivesnz/26832636149|title= NZEF Patches of the First World War – Uniforms, etc. – Patches – Distinguishing – Expeditionary Force – Issue of (R22429980)|publisher= Archives New Zealand, Government of New Zealand|access-date= 4 May 2019}}</ref>

In addition to these New Zealand colour patches, some New Zealanders attached to ANZAC formations in Egypt, on the Western Front and in Palestine, wore colour patches of I ANZAC Corps including the ANZAC Mounted Division, or II ANZAC Corps.

<gallery> File:Auckland New Zealand Field Artillery.png|Auckland New Zealand Field Artillery File:Headquarters New Zealand Rifle Brigade.png|Headquarters New Zealand (Rifles) Brigade (1916) File:New_Zealand_Machine_Gun_Squadron.png|New Zealand Machine Gun Squadron File:New Zealand Army Service Corps in Egypt.png|New Zealand Army Service Corps in Egypt </gallery>

<!-- ====Wearing unit colour patches in the "cancelled" orientation====

When 'sister' battalions were created, cadres of experienced soldiers from veteran battalions were transferred when the newly raised battalions reached Egypt or France. In the case of battalions of the 14th and 15th Brigades, the colour patch adopted by the newly raised battalions was that of the experienced battalion rotated and worn vertically. When raised in Egypt in February 1916 the 60th became the 'sister battalion (or 'pup battalion'), of the 8th Battalion of the 1st AIF. This relationship was represented ceremonially by the 60th wearing the unit colours of the 8th, albeit rotated 90 degrees to stand upended on the sleeve.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51500|title= 60th Australian Infantry Battalion|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 5 June 2019}}</ref>

<gallery> File:12th Battalion unit colour patch horizontal.png|12th Battalion unit colour patch File:12th Battalion cancelled unit colour patch vertical.png|12th Battalion unit colour patch in the "cancelled" vertical orientation File:52nd Battalion unit colur patch.png|52nd Battalion unit colour patch </gallery>

{| class="wikitable" | [[File:Statue shrine of Remembrance Don't forget me, Cobber.jpg|thumb|550px|The colour patch system originated from a system of flags and cloth colour patches to identify units and their members in camp,<ref>Glyde (1999), pp. 7–8</ref> the patch on the left sleeve was displayed in the definitive orientation, as if it were flying from a staff showing the obverse side of a flag.<ref>Chinn (2000)</ref><ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/australian-imperial-force-aif-badges-1914-1918|title =The Australian Imperial Force (AIF) badges 1914–1918, 31 July 2014 by Dianne Rutherford|publisher=Australian War Memorial|access-date=6 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/0-cat-index-col_patch.htm|title= Colour (shoulder) patches of the First AIF and the 2nd AIF - Left & right handed colour patches|publisher= Digger History|access-date= 22 August 2019}}</ref> The statue commemorates the Attack at Fromelles carried out by the 5th Division (8th, 14th and 15th Brigades) on the night of 19/20 July 1916<ref>{{cite web|url= http://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/history/conflicts/australians-western-front/australian-remembrance-trail/vc-corner-australian|title= VC Corner Australian Cemetery and Memorial—Fromelles, France|publisher= Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)|access-date= 6 May 2019}}</ref>, with Elliott commanding the 15th Brigade during the attack. The attack at Fromelles was ill-conceived and, despite Australian officers including Elliott objecting, went ahead with the highest loss of life in one night in modern Australian history. The statue depicts Sergeant Simon Fraser of the 57th Battalion carrying to safety an unknown wounded member of the 60th Battalion after the battle.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shrine.org.au/Exhibitions/The-Shrine-Collection/Cobbers|title= Cobbers 2008 by Peter Corlett|publisher=Shrine of Remembrance|access-date=7 January 2019}}</ref> Simon Fraser was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant but was killed in action at Second Battle of Bullecourt on 11 May 1917.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4033794|title=NAA: B2455, Fraser S|publisher=National Archives of Australia|access-date= 6 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=103866|title=The AIF Project – Simon Fraser|publisher= University of New South Wales|access-date= 12 January 2019}}</ref>]] |}

===Artillery of the First AIF===

Sources:<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/~rmallett/Artillery.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091112033554/http://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/~rmallett/Artillery.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 12 November 2009|title = Artillery| publisher = Australian Defence Force Academy|access-date=14 April 2019}}</ref><ref>Bou, Dennis and Dalgleish (2016), pp. 24–27.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/afc.htm|title = Patches of HQ AIF, the Australian Flying Corps, Light Horse & others, Plates 3 and 14|publisher = diggerhistory|access-date=8 December 2018}}</ref>

<gallery> File:1st Siege Artillery Brigade.png|1st Siege Artillery Brigade, April 1915 and 36th Heavy Artillery Brigade, April 1915 File:Siege Battery Ammunition Columns.png|1st Siege Battery Ammunition Column, 1st Siege Artillery Brigade, March 1918 and 2nd Siege Battery Ammunition Column, 1st Siege Artillery Brigade, March 1918 </gallery>

<gallery> File:Headquarters 2nd Light Horse Brigade.png|2nd Light Horse Brigade HQ File:5th Light Horse Regiment v2.png|5th Light Horse Regiment<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C261473|title = Colour patch : 5 Light Horse Regiment, AIF|publisher = Australian War Memorial|access-date = 14 April 2020}}</ref> File:6th Light Horse Regiment v2.png|6th Light Horse Regiment </gallery>

Although orders required that unit colour patches should replace other indications of belonging to a unit, such as shoulder badges, sometimes both were still worn until late in the war.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/blog/australian-imperial-force-aif-badges-1914-1918|title= The Australian Imperial Force (AIF) badges 1914–1918, 31 July 2014 by Dianne Rutherford – Colour patches|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 23 March 2019}}</ref>

===Australian Army ANZAC "A" Badge===

thumb|235px

The ANZAC A badge was an insignia authorised by Lieutenant General Birdwood in November 1917 to be worn over the unit colour patch by individuals who served in 1915 as part of ANZAC Corps, 1st AIF, on the Gallipoli Peninsula.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/history/conflicts/gallipoli-and-anzacs/gallipoli-and-anzacs/why-did-anzacs-land-gallipoli/who-were-0|title= Gallipoli and the Anzacs|publisher= Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)|access-date= 6 September 2019}}</ref> Later orders from Birdwood also authorised the badge for those people who served during the Gallipoli Campaign on the islands of Lemnos, Imbros and Tenedos, on the communication lines in Egypt, and on the transport ships and hospital ships standing off the peninsula. The authorised badge was brass but sometimes an embroidered version was worn.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/anzac/badge.htm|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060220184052/http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/anzac/badge.htm|url-status= dead|archive-date= 20 February 2006|title= ANZAC badge "A"|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date=3 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C163620|title= Colour patch with ANZAC 'A' : Corporal L W A Breguet, 1st Division Signals|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date=18 May 2019}}</ref>

== Citizen Military Forces ==

===Infantry===

[[File:AWM C41466 VX141784 Corporal Albert Donald Bassett.jpg|thumb|220px|Corporal Albert Donald Bassett DCM, wearing the colour patch of the 60th Battalion. Bassett was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal as a member of the amalgamated 57th/60th Battalion, for his actions during a prolonged Japanese assault on Bougainville Island in 1945.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C41466|title=VX141784 Corporal Albert Donald Bassett DCM, AIF.|publisher=Australian War Memorial|access-date=3 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=544277&c=WW2#R|title=Bassett, Albert Donald|publisher=Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)|access-date=3 April 2019}}</ref>]]

At the end of World War 1 most Australian army units were disbanded. However, in May 1921 a reorganisation of Australia's part-time military forces led to the creation of the Citizen Military Force (CMF, or Militia). The units of the CMF were created upon the geographical locations of the World War 1 units, which enabled the perpetuation of the battle honours, numerical designations and colour patches of the 1st AIF. Many of these units were in continuous existence until the end of World War 2, a small number were disbanded, while others went through various temporary or permanent amalgamations with other units with similar roles located in nearby towns and suburbs or sharing history with each other. Yet others can be traced in lineage to units still in existence.

Military Order 206/21 in 1921 authorised the use of unit colour patches for the Citizen Military Forces.{{sfn|Grey|2008|p=}} As this new organisation was based on the AIF, this order granted authority to the Citizen Military Forces to wear Regimental colour patches similar to those worn by corresponding units of the AIF. It also allowed for ex-members of the AIF serving in Citizen Military Forces to wear a miniature colour patch of the last AIF unit in which they served, worn above their current CMF colour patch.{{sfn|Grey|2008|p=}}

As an example of amalgamation, the 57th Battalion and the 60th Battalion, both formed in Melbourne's northern suburbs, amalgamated in 1930 to become the 57th/60th Australian Infantry Battalion. They retained the 57th/60th designation until demobilisation in 1946. Soon after Japan joined the war the unit adopted the colour patch of the 57th Battalion, the patch of the amalgamated unit higher in the order of battle. Similarly, amalgamations created the 12th/40th, the 14th/32nd, the 29th/46th, the 37th/52nd and the 58th/59th Australian Infantry Battalions.

The 12th Battalion, initially raised in 1914 from Tasmania, was also disbanded after World War 1 but re-raised in 1921. In 1936 it was amalgamated with the 50th Battalion becoming the 12th/50th Battalion and retaining the unit colour patch of the 12th Battalion. The 12th/50th served during World War 2 in a garrison role in the Northern Territory. In May 1945 before the end of the war the 12th/50th amalgamated with the 40th Battalion which was raised in 1914 from Tasmania and South Australia and was based at the time of amalgamation in Hobart, Tasmania. The 12th/40th Battalion still exists as the Royal Tasmania Regiment and retains the lineage and the unit colour patch of the original 12th Battalion of World War 1.

===Light Horse===

In 1921 the Light Horse was broadly organised into two divisions, each comprising three brigades of horse. Over the following two decades these regiments gradually became mechanised and armoured.<ref>Palazzo (2001), pp. 170-171</ref> They were also frequently renamed as their roles changed, usually correlating with the issue of new vehicles. They were often transferred between different brigades and divisions and they were also assigned or unassigned to various affiliations with other regiments.<ref>Glyde (1999), pp. 71-74, Plates 21 and 22</ref> Further details about the mechanisation and organisational development of these units can be found in the section below on armoured units of the 2nd AIF.

thumb|160px|Headquarters 1st Cavalry Brigade 1921-1942, Headquarters 1st Aust Motor Brigade 1942-1943 thumb|160px|Headquarters 2nd Cavalry Brigade 1921-1942, Headquarters 2nd Aust Motor Brigade 1942-1943 thumb|160px|Headquarters 4th Cavalry Brigade 1921-1942, Headquarters 4th Aust Motor Brigade 1942 thumb|160px|2nd Light Horse Regiment 1921-1930 and 1940-1941, 2nd/14th Light Horse Regiment 1930-1940, Northern Command Reconnaissance Regiment 1941-1942, 2nd Reconnaissance Battalion 1942 thumb|160px|23rd Light Horse Regiment 1921-1930, 18th/23rd Light Horse Regiment 1930-1936, 23rd Reconnaissance Company 1941-1942

==Permanent Military Forces after 1921==

thumb|160px|Royal Australian Engineers 1921–1943 thumb|180px|Royal Australian Field Artillery 1921–1927, and Royal Australian Artillery (Field) 1927–1942 thumb|160px|Australian Army Medical Corps (Permanent) 1921–1942

== Second Australian Imperial Force ==

With the raising of the all volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force for overseas service during the early stages of World War 2, the concept of the unit colour patch was continued. A grey background of the same shape as the divisional patch denoted a unit as being of the Second AIF. Superimposed over the grey background were the colour patches of the units with the same number designations as those of the 1st AIF to which they were geographically related.<ref name=CP/> For example, at the beginning of World War 2 the all volunteer 2/12th and 2/40th Battalions were raised. They were distinct from the 12th/40th Battalion of the Militia, but the 2/12th displayed the unit colour patch of the original 12th over the grey background in the shape of the 6th Division patch while the 2/40th Battalion displayed the unit colour patch of the original 40th over the grey background and shape of the 8th Division. The 2/12th and 2/40th were disbanded after World War 2.

Colour patches of World War II were generally smaller than those of World War I, with the World War II square patch {{convert|38|mm|inch}} long on the sides, with an additional {{convert|5|mm|inch|adj=on}} grey border if the colour patch had been used by the 1st AIF.<ref name=CP/> New shapes were used, for example many five-sided and six-sided shapes including the tank-shaped patches of some armoured units, the T-shaped patches instituted for units of the 9th Division in late 1942 representing their key role in the 1942 Siege of Tobruk, the double-diamond of the commandos and independent companies, and the 11th Division arrowheads. Some representations of Australian birds and mammals began to appear. Over 800 separate patches were authorised during World War 2.{{sfn|Jobson|2009|p=35}}

====New shapes for unit colour patches and their designs during WW2====

File:Headquarters 11th Australian Division.png|Headquarters 11th Australian Division File:Support Group Headquarters 1st Aust Armoured Division 1942.png|Support Group, Headquarters 1st Aust Armoured Division 1942 File:2 8th Australian Armoured Regiment, 1943-1944.png|2/8th Australian Armoured Regiment 1943-1944 File:Mountain Batteries Royal Australian Artillery 1945-1946.png|Mountain Batteries Royal Australian Artillery 1945-1946

====Namesakes of the 1st and 2nd AIF==== Below are colour patches of the 17th Battalion, originally of the 2nd Division in the 1st AIF. One of these patches shows the ANZAC "A" Badge, which was usually brass, worn by those members of the battalion who served at Gallipoli in 1915. During World War 2 the 17th Battalion was a militia unit that served in Australia in garrison roles around Sydney. The 2/17th was an all volunteer unit raised within the 7th Division of the 2nd AIF for service overseas. The first colour patch of the 2/17th Battalion displayed the original diamond–shaped (or lozenge–shaped) colour patch of the 17th Battalion reduced in size and superimposed over the grey diamond shaped patch of the 7th Division. Once in the Middle East the 2/17th was transferred to the command of the 9th Division and as a result participated in the Siege of Tobruk. In 1942 authority was given for the T-shaped colour patch to replace the original colour patches for 9th Division units that participated in the siege. The T-shaped colour patch below was the 2/17th's Siege of Tobruk patch, with green for the 20th Aust Infantry Brigade, white for the battalion third in the order of battle for the brigade, and grey trim for the 2nd AIF.

<gallery> File:17th_Bn_5th_Brigade_2nd_Division_1st_AIF.png|17th Battalion unit colour patch 1914-1919 and 1921-1944<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C352089|title= Colour patch : 17 Infantry Battalion, AIF|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 3 May 2019}}</ref> File:17th Battalion 1st AIF ANZAC A Badge.png|17th Battalion 1st AIF 1914-1919, with ANZAC "A" Badge File:2-17th Battalion 2nd AIF v2.png|2/17th Battalion 1940-1942 File:2-17th Battalion 2nd AIF Tobruk.png|2/17th Battalion 1942-1946, in Siege of Tobruk T-shape<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C963365|title= 2/17 Inf Bn AIF colour patches: Corporal E C Peddell, 2/17 Battalion|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date=3 May 2019}}</ref> </gallery>

Of the thirty two Militia infantry battalions that served during World War 2, twenty nine became 2nd AIF units when 65% of their number enlisted as individuals in the AIF. Many of these units saw action in Borneo and in the South West Pacific, including Timor, New Guinea, New Britain and Bougainville. The 57th/60th for example served in New Guinea and Bougainville. When these units joined the AIF they did not change their colour patch (in most cases, except for the 37th/52nd and the 61st). In other words, most did not adopt the grey background used by newly raised 2nd AIF units such as the 2/12th, 2/17th and 2/40th, but retained the patch they used when they had been Militia units (which they had inherited directly from World War 1 units). However, individuals who enlisted in the AIF were entitled to wear the grey AIF trim. If battalions preserved the colour patch from the First AIF, this also meant that the colour patches of units that had transferred to the AIF from the Militia usually did not reflect the shape of the patch for the division to which they had been assigned as part of the Second AIF.

thumb|160px|24th Aust Infantry Battalion, with the full sized colour patch of the 24th Battalion of the 1st AIF but with grey trim indicating being worn by 2nd AIF troops. thumb|160px|2/24th Aust Infantry Battalion 1940-1942, as issued and worn in the Middle East, with miniature colour patch of the 24th Battalion of the 1st AIF on the larger background of the 7th Aust Division. thumb|160px|2/24th Aust Infantry Battalion, Siege of Tobruk pattern, 1942-1946

The 24th Aust Infantry Battalion and the 2/24th Aust Infantry Battalion were among a very few, possibly the only, namesake battalions that served in the same campaign during World War 2. The 24th Battalion was attached to the 7th Aust Division for its deployment during Operation Postern at Lae and Nadzab on the north coast of New Guinea in 1943, while the 2/24th Battalion fought in the same campaign attached to the 9th Aust Division.<ref>Bradley (2019), pp. 167, 192, 266-267</ref> Similarly to the 2/17th Battalion, the 2/24th had originally been raised in the 7th Division of the 2nd AIF. The first pattern of its colour patch, prior to the Siege of Tobruk pattern, was a miniature of that of the 24th Battalion in the diamond (lozenge) shape of the 2nd Division of the 1st AIF, superimposed over the full sized grey diamond of the 7th Division of the 2nd AIF. The 26th Brigade including the 2/24th was transferred to the 9th Aust Division of the 2nd AIF in February 1941, while serving in the Middle East, and was serving with the 9th Aust Division at the Siege of Tobruk.

{| class="wikitable" | thumb|160px|2nd Australian Special Hospital 1940, 2/2nd Australian General Hospital 1940–1946 | thumb|160px|Headquarters 21st Australian Infantry Brigade | thumb|160px|Headquarters 7th Australian Infantry Division | thumb|160px|Headquarters 6th Australian Infantry Division | thumb|140px|Headquarters 2nd Australian Corps 1942–1945 |}

{| class="wikitable" | [[File:No. 105 (Adelaide) Military Hospital 1942-1946.png|thumb|140px|Major Brown later served with No. 105 (Adelaide) Military Hospital<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C79862|title= Adelaide, South Australia. 1944-09-12. Matron SFX1491 Major M.I. Brown, 105th (Adelaide) Military Hospital|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 18 May 2019}}</ref>]] | [[File:6th Australian Infantry Division Headquarters on a slouch hat puggaree JES Stephens.png|thumb|600px|Colour patch of Headquarters 6th Australian Infantry Division on a seven-fold puggaree from an Australian slouch hat, as worn by Major General J.E.S. Stephens. Note the variant rectangular white inset<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C82749|title= Suain Plantation, New Guinea. 1944-12-10. Major-General J.E.S. Stevens, General Officer Commanding 6 Division examining patrol reports|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 18 May 2019}}</ref>]] |- | thumb|145px|6th Aust Division TAC (tactical) formation sign, or vehicle sign, kangaroo and boomerang<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/tac/ww2.htm|title= Tac Signs or Formations Signs of WW2, Army|publisher= Digger History|access-date= 18 August 2019}}</ref> | |}

===Armies, Corps, Headquarters===

For orders of battle and chains of command between armies, corps, headquarters and the divisions, see Structure of the Australian Army during World War II.

Sources:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/amf21-49.htm|title=Colour Patches Australian Military Forces 1921–1949|publisher=Digger History|access-date=1 April 2019}}</ref>

====Armies and Corps====

File:Headquarters First Australian Army 1942-1946.png|Headquarters First Australian Army 1942-1946 File:Headquarters 3rd Australian Corps 1942-1944.png|Headquarters 3rd Australian Corps 1942-1944

File:Administrative Headquarters Australian Imperial Force 1939-1942; Headquarters Australian Imperial Force (Middle East) 1941-1943; Headquarters Australian Beach Groups 1944-1945 v2.png|Administrative Headquarters Australian Imperial Force 1939-1942; Headquarters Australian Imperial Force (Middle East) 1941-1943; Headquarters Australian Beach Groups 1944-1945 File:Headquarters Australian Overseas Base Sub-Area 1940-1941, Headquarters Australian Base and L of C Units 1941, Headquarters AIF (Middle East) Base Area 1941-1943 v2.png|Headquarters Australian Overseas Base Sub-Area 1940-1941; Headquarters Australian Base and Line of Communication Units, 1941; Headquarters AIF (Middle East) Base Area 1941-1943

===Armour===

====Armoured Divisions==== File:Headquarters 1st Aust Armoured Division 1941-1943.png|Headquarters 1st Aust Armoured Division 1941-1943 File:HQ 2nd Cavalry Division 1921-1942 - Headquarters 2nd Australian Motor Division 1942.png|HQ 2nd Cavalry Division 1921-1942, Headquarters 2nd Australian Motor Division 1942

====Armoured Brigades====

The Australian armoured brigades were allocated a colour patch of a particular shape, which was also usually allocated to the regiments or battalions within each brigade (unless they had inherited a different one). The colours of each regiment (or battalion) usually included the brigade colour and a regimental colour that followed an order of battle pattern as for the infantry. However, armoured units were detached and attached regularly to different brigades and divisions, as required by the contingencies of the war. The technology of armoured vehicles was developing rapidly during World War 2 and as units acquired vehicles with different capabilities they were attached to the formations that required those technologies. Therefore armoured units often did not remain in the same brigades. Accordingly in many cases the colour patches and even the names of armoured units changed as the technological nature of the unit changed and as they were transferred between different formations.

File:Headquarters 1st Aust Armoured Brigade 1941-1944.png|Headquarters 1st Aust Armoured Brigade 1941-1944

====Armoured Regiments and Battalions====

File:2nd Aust Army Tank Battalion 1942-1944.png|2nd Aust Army Tank Battalion 1942-1944<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1278305|title= Colour patch : 2nd Australian Army Tank Battalion|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 7 July 2019}}</ref> File:2 7th Aust Armoured Regiment 1941-1944.png|2/7th Aust Armoured Regiment 1941-1944<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C318209|title= Officer's battle dress blouse : 2/7 Armoured Regiment|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 16 December 2019}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" | [[File:12th Aust Armoured Regiment 1942-1943 v2.png|thumb|150px|Unit colour patch of the 12th Aust Armoured Regiment, May 1942 to February 1943]] | [[File:12th Armoured Regiment 1942-1943 Craftsmen.jpg|thumb|500px|SX23522 Craftsman Leslie Hubert Golder, SX23515 Craftsman Ernest Herbert Tschirpig and SX23510 Craftsman Reginald Bruce Rogers (left to right), who were all born in South Australia and who had all enlisted at Gherang, Victoria. Each is wearing the unit colour patch of the 12th Aust Armoured Regiment (right sleeve reverse orientation with AIF trim) and displays a Drivers Proficiency Badge beneath.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1237658|title= Studio portrait of three members of the 12th Armoured Regiment|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 19 October 2019}}</ref>]] |- | [[File:TAC vehicle sign 2nd Aust Armoured Division 1942-1943.png|thumb|150px|TAC (tactical) vehicle formation sign, the scorpion, of 2nd Aust Armoured Division, to which the 12th Aust Armoured Regiment belonged<ref>{{cite web|url = http://jeepdraw.com/Australian_Tac_Signs.html|title = Australian Tactical Signs: Australian Vehicle Markings Part 1|publisher = Jeep Draw|access-date = 20 October 2019}}</ref>]] | [[File:Stuart M3 Light Tank Broadmeadows Victoria September 1941.jpg|thumb|500px|Stuart M3 Light Tank in Broadmeadows, Victoria, Australia, September 1941. One of the tank models driven by the 12th Aust Armoured Regiment. Image is a frame from a recruiting film of the time.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C268349|title= Broadmeadows, Victoria. One of the first American Stuart M3 light training tanks to arrive in Australia|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 20 October 2019}}</ref>]] |}

===Royal Australian Artillery of the Second AIF===

Sources<ref>Glyde (1999), Plates 45-48</ref><ref>The Sun (1945), p. 9</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2658860|title = AWM52 4/1/5 - Royal Australian Artillery Headquarters, 1 Australian Corps, 2nd AIF (Australian Imperial Force) and CMF (Citizen Military Forces) unit war diaries, 1939-45 War|publisher = Australian War Memorial|access-date = 25 April 2020}}</ref>

During World War II, units of the Royal Australian Artillery, similarly to Australian armoured units during World War II but quite unlike artillery units during World War I, served in disperse locations. They were usually attached to mobile armoured or infantry formations, or to static air bases, coastal defences including defending against the air raids on Darwin, or other fortress locations. Since they were posted both in overseas war zones and in Australia, units nominally serving within the same artillery formation (and therefore wearing the same colour patch) could be serving at the same time in locations as far apart geographically as different Australian states and territories, or different countries.

====Corps and Headquarters Artillery====

File:Royal Australian Artillery 2nd Australian Corps 1942-1945.png|Headquarters troops, Royal Australian Artillery 2nd Australian Corps 1942-1945. As of 20 July 1943, attached from the 9th Division were 2/7th Aust Field Regiment, 2/8th Aust Field Regiment, 2/3rd Aust Tank Attack Regiment, 2/4th Aust Light Anti Aircraft Regiment. Attached from the 6th Division were 2/2nd Aust Field Regiment and 2/3rd Aust Field Regiment. 3rd Aust Survey Battery.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2658873|title = AWM52 4/1/6 - Royal Australian Artillery Headquarters, 2 Australian Corps, 2nd AIF (Australian Imperial Force) and CMF (Citizen Military Forces) unit war diaries, 1939-45 War|publisher = Australian War Memorial|access-date = 30 April 2020}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" | thumb|270px|Headquarters Royal Australian Artillery 1st Australian Corps 1940-1945.<ref>Wilmot (1941), p. 379</ref> | [[File:Studio portrait of NX50077 Sergeant Robert William Willson 2 17 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery.jpg|thumb|350px|NX50077 Sergeant Robert William Willson of 2/17th Aust Light Anti-Aircraft Battery wearing unit colour patch of RAA 1st Aust Corps with a metal RAA badge above the chevrons<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1202759|title = Studio portrait of NX50077 Sergeant (Sgt) Robert William Willson, 2/17 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery RAA|publisher = Australian War Memorial|access-date = 9 April 2020}}</ref>]] |- | thumb|446px|25-pounder guns from the Australian 2/11th Field Regiment at practice in the Darwin area, 28 June 1943 | [[File:2_11th_Field_Regiment_Shrine_plaque.jpg|thumb|540px|2/11th Field Regiment of 1st Aust Corps, commemorative plaque at the Shrine of Remembrance, Melbourne]] |- |}

====Divisional Artillery - Armoured Divisions====

File:Unit colour patch Royal Australian Artillery 1 Aust Armoured Division 1943.png|Royal Australian Artillery 1st Aust Armoured Division<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1221981|title= Unit colour patch Royal Australian Artillery 1 Australian Armoured Division|publisher = Australian War Memorial|access-date= 18 November 2019}}</ref>, including 16th Aust Field Regiment (from mid-1943), 108th Aust Anti Tank Regiment, 112th Aust Anti Tank Regiment<ref>{{cite web|url = http://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/ww2/display/92365-16th-australian-field-regiment|title = 16th Australian Field Regiment|publisher = Monument Australia|access-date = 10 April 2020}}</ref>

====Divisional Artillery - Infantry Divisions====

File:13th Australian Field Regiment (AIF) v2.png|Royal Australian Artillery 4th Aust Infantry Division 1926-1942, including 2nd Aust Medium Regiment, 10th Aust Field Regiment, 15th Aust Field Regiment, 7th Aust Anti Tank Regiment, 107th Aust Anti-Tank Regiment, 109th Aust Anti-Tank Regiment, 2nd Survey Regiment, 4th Aust Division Artillery Training School<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C2658920?image=1|title = 2nd AIF (Australian Imperial Force) and CMF (Citizen Military Forces) unit war diaries, 1939-45 War, AWM52 4/1/11 - Royal Australian Artillery Headquarters 4 Australian Division|publisher = Australian War Memorial|access-date = 30 April 2020}}</ref> 13th Aust Field Regiment<ref>{{cite web|url = https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C332431|title = Nuriootpa, SA. Studio portrait of S11440 Private Elliot Lawrence Cundy, 13th Australian Field Regiment.|publisher=Australian War Memorial|access-date=8 April 2019}}</ref> File:2 8th Australian Field Regiment RAA 9th Division 1942-1946.png|2/8th Aust Field Regiment 1942-1946

====Non-Divisional Artillery and Artillery of Fixed Defences====

File:16th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, 1942-1943.png|16th Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery, 1942-mid 1943

===Royal Australian Engineers===

Sources<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/engrs.htm|title= Colour Patches of Engineers (cont'd) and Signals AMF & AIF|publisher= Digger History|access-date=2 July 2019}}</ref>

====Engineers====

<gallery> File:Royal Australian Engineers 1st Australian Infantry Division.png|Royal Australian Engineers 1st Australian Infantry Division </gallery>

===Infantry of the 2nd AIF===

Sources<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/2aif.htm|title= Infantry Battalions of the Second Australian Imperial Force|publisher= Digger History|access-date=24 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/infantry.htm|title = Australian Infantry 2nd AIF and AMF|publisher = Digger History|access-date=24 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/amf21-49.htm|title = Australian Military Forces 1921-1949|publisher = Digger History|access-date=24 April 2019}}</ref><ref>The Sun (1945), pp. 5, 11-15</ref>

====Infantry Divisions==== <gallery> File:1st_Division_1st_AIF_formation_colour_patch.png|1st Division 1921-1942, 1st Australian Infantry Division 1942-1945 File:7th aus inf div.svg|7th Australian Infantry Division 1940-1946<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C986139|title = Colour patch of Headquarters 7th Australian Division : Major General G A Vasey|publisher = Australian War Memorial|access-date = 22 April 2020}}</ref> </gallery>

====Infantry Brigades==== <gallery> File:Headquarters 1st Brigade 1st Division 1st AIF.png|1st Brigade 1921-1945 </gallery>

====Infantry Battalions====

This section shows an image of a deceased Aboriginal person.

<gallery> File:3rd Bn 1st Brigade 1st Division 1st AIF.png|3rd Battalion 1921–1943 File:2-3rd Bn 6th Div 2nd AIF.png|2/3rd Battalion 1939–1946 File:2 19 Battalion colour patch.png|2/19th Battalion 1940–1942, captured with the 8th Aust Division in the Malayan campaign and the Battle of Singapore in late 1941 and early 1942<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1207225|title= 2/19th Battalion, AIF|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 27 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C984579|title= Colour patches : Private S E Cameron, 2/19 Battalion. Worn by NX52530 Staff Sergeant Samuel Edward Cameron of 2/19 Battalion|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 28 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C244929|title= Colour Patch : 2/19 Australian Infantry Battalion, Sandakan Prisoner of War Camp|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 29 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/ww2.htm|title= Assorted colour patches from WW2|publisher= Digger History|access-date= 5 October 2019}}</ref> </gallery>

The 2/19th Australian Infantry Battalion fought during the loss of the 8th Australian Infantry Division in Malaya and Singapore. The 2/19th suffered more casualties than any other Australian unit in World War 2.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U56062|title= 2/19th Australian Infantry Battalion|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 27 September 2019}}</ref>

The 2/19th was formed west of Sydney as part of the 8th Division on 15 July 1940. They embarked from Sydney for Singapore aboard the HMT Queen Mary on 2 February 1941, disembarking on 18 February.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4890154|title= Bucknell, Herbert Graham: Service Number NX35579, p. 3 of 6|publisher= National Archives of Australia|access-date= 27 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4841205|title= Anderson, Charles Groves Wright: Service Number NX12595, p. 11 of 25|publisher= National Archives of Australia|access-date= 27 September 2019}}</ref> Immediately upon arrival they were deployed to Malaya. On 3 October 1941 they moved to Jemaluang on the east coast to prepare defensive positions in preparation for Japan's expected involvement in World War 2. Elements of the 2/19th first saw action on 7 January 1942. They were subsequently involved as a battalion in delaying actions during the withdrawal from Malaya to Singapore at Muar and other places, but suffered severe casualties. Their remainder were captured along with all Australian and other allied forces.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U56062|title= 2/19th Australian Infantry Battalion|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 27 September 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.rnswr.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/THE-SECOND-WORLD-WAR.pdf|title=The Second World War, 1939 – 1945: 2/19th Australian Infantry Battalion AIF|publisher= 1/19 RNSWR Association|access-date= 30 September 2019}}</ref>

The losses to Australia of the Fall of Singapore were epitomised by the Bucknell brothers. NX35579 Herbert Graham Bucknell and NX31452 George Vincent Bucknell were both members of B Company of the 2/19th Battalion. They were born in Fiji and moved to Australia in 1933, settling as farmers in West Wyalong, New South Wales. Herbert Bucknell (born in 1910) enlisted on 22 June 1940 at West Wyalong. He was reported missing on 11 February 1942. His status as Killed in Action was not confirmed until 23 June 1945, up to which time he was officially believed to have been taken Prisoner of War.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4890154|title= Bucknell, Herbert Graham: Service Number NX35579, pp. 4 and 6 of 6|publisher= National Archives of Australia|access-date= 28 September 2019}}</ref> George Bucknell (born 1913) enlisted on 30 May 1940, also at West Wyalong. He was Wounded in Action on 19 January 1942, reported missing on 16 February 1942 and confirmed on 14 July 1943 to have been taken Prisoner of War. On 17 September 1945 he was "recovered from the Japanese at Fukuoka" and returned via Manilla to Sydney on 13 October 1945 where he underwent extensive hospitalisations.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4859013|title= Bucknell, George Vincent: Service Number NX31452, p. 8 and 9 of 11|publisher= National Archives of Australia|access-date= 28 September 2019}}</ref>

On 24 February 1942, Donald Geoffrey Bucknell, brother of Herbert and George, was killed in a farming accident at West Wyalong when a horse team bolted. A poignant letter dated 1 March 1942 from Donald's wife (who signed the letter Mrs. D.G. Bucknell) was addressed to the Army asking that Herbert and George be advised of the death of their brother.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4859013|title= Bucknell, George Vincent: Service Number NX31452, pp. 5 and 11 of 11|publisher= National Archives of Australia|access-date= 28 September 2019}}</ref>

Based on these dates, until the end of the war when George Bucknell was repatriated none of the brothers would have known what had happened to any of the others.

The losses to the 2/19th were extensive. There were 677 killed, some of whom were included among the 150 wounded Australian and Indian soldiers and their carers who were murdered by the Japanese in the Parit Sulong Massacre. There were 1,162 of the 2/19th who went missing or were taken Prisoner of War.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U56062|title= 2/19th Australian Infantry Battalion|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 27 September 2019}}</ref>

The Commanding Officer of the 2/19th, NX12595 Lieutenant Colonel Charles Anderson, was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery, leadership and disregard for his own safety during his organisation from 18 to 22 January 1942 of the fighting withdrawal from Malaya towards Singapore. He lead some assaults himself. He was captured on 15 February 1942 at Singapore and served out the remainder of the war as a Prisoner of War. Anderson was "recovered from the Japanese at Siam" on 4 October 1945 and was repatriated to New South Wales.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=4841205|title= Anderson, Charles Groves Wright: Service Number NX12595, pp. 7, 13 and 14 of 25|publisher= National Archives of Australia|access-date= 27 September 2019}}</ref> Anderson was born in South Africa and had received the Military Cross for actions as a member of the King's African Rifles fighting against Germany in the East African campaign during World War 1.

{| class="wikitable" | [[File:2 19th Battalion puggaree.png|thumb|600px|Unit colour patch of the 2/19th Aust Infantry Battalion on the 8-fold puggaree of a slouch hat<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C202446|title= Manila, Philippines. 1945-10-06. Australian ex Prisoners of War en–route from Japan|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 1 October 2019}}</ref>]] | [[File:NX34225_LIEUTENANT_BAYLISS_2_19th_Aust_Infantry_Battalion.jpg|thumb|250px|NX34225 Lieut C.R. Bayliss of the 2/19th Aust Infantry Battalion being transported to the Aust Hospital Ship MS Wanganella by United States Navy Submarine Chaser 648, after repatriation from Batu Lintang PoW camp, Sarawak, Borneo<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C202446|title= Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo. 1945-09-13. Kuching Force. NX34225 Lieutenant C. R. Bayliss (Lindfield NSW)|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 1 October 2019}}</ref>]] |}

{| class="wikitable" | thumb|160px|TAC (tactical) sign, or formation vehicle sign (an emu over a boomerang), for Headquarters 8th Aust Division 1940-1942<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/tac/ww2.htm|title= Tac Signs or Formations Signs of WW2, Army|publisher= Digger History|access-date= 18 August 2019}}</ref> | thumb|666px|Seremban, Malaya, August 1941. Members of 'B' Company, 2/19th Battalion, at the Negri Sembilan Cricket Club<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C294339?image=1|title= Seremban, Malaya, August 1941. Members of `B' Company, 2/19th Battalion, at the Negri Sembilan Cricket Club|access-date= 27 September 2019}}</ref> |}

<gallery> File:27th Bn 7th Brigade 2nd Division 1st AIF.png|27th Battalion 1921–1946 File:2-27th_Battalion_2nd_AIF_v2.png|2/27th Battalion April to October 1940 File:2 27th Battalion 1940-1942 7th Div v2.png|2/27th Battalion October 1940–1946 </gallery>

{| class="wikitable" | [[File:39th Battalion AIF Unit Colour Patch.png|thumb|160px|39th Battalion 1921–1943. "Why he disbanded us and not another battalion I don’t know. Neither does anybody else. And we were disbanded having only lasted twenty months."<ref>{{cite web|url= http://australiansatwarfilmarchive.unsw.edu.au/archive/230-donald-daniels?destination=aXRlbXNfcGVyX3BhZ2Uma2V5d29yZHM9Mzl0aCZvcD1TZWFyY2gmZm9ybV9idWlsZF9pZD1mb3JtLXVkZ2ZuZGJpay1yT2lNczBZTHJHZ3VPNGU2YXZkSWE5M245aXlVX1A2ejAmZm9ybV9pZD1zZWFyY2hfYmxvY2tfZm9ybQ|title= Donald Daniels Archive number 230|publisher= Australians at War Film Archive, University of New South Wales|access-date=8 May 2019}}</ref>]] |}

<gallery> File:60th_Battalion_AIF_Unit_Colour_Patch.PNG|60th Battalion 1921-1942. From 1930 until early in 1942, members of the 57th/60th Battalion were authorised to wear the patch of either the 57th or the 60th Battalion, depending on the origins of the individual, even though in 1930 the colour patch of the 57th had become the official version. The Regimental Colour (flag) of the 60th was also still officially in use during this time.<ref>Corfield (1991), p. 20</ref> File:1st Australian Parachute Battalion 1943-1946 v4.png|1st Australian Parachute Battalion 1943–1946<ref>{{cite web|url= https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/59549a2d90751a320cab6771|title= Patches - 1st Australian Parachute Battalion|publisher = Museums Victoria, Government of Victoria|access-date=14 April 2019}}</ref> </gallery>

====Two highly honoured infantrymen====

{| class="wikitable" | [[File:Reg_Saunders_with_Tom_Derrick_1944.jpg|thumb|350px|VX12843 (later 337678) Lieutenant Reg Saunders MBE (left of picture),<ref name=AWM>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/people/302.asp|title=Captain Reginald Walter (Reg) Saunders, MBE|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 21 July 2009}}</ref> member of the 2/7th Battalion, the first officer of Aboriginal descent in the Australian Army, with SX7964 Lieutenant Tom Derrick VC DCM, member of the 2/48th Battalion. In 1944 they both completed officer training as members of the same training squad, and were awarded commissions on the day of this photograph being taken. Unit colour patches are displayed on the upper sleeves and on Saunders' puggaree. Saunders was of Gunditjmara descent,<ref>Grant (2016)</ref> born on the Framlingham Aboriginal Reserve in western Victoria. He initially served in the 6th Division campaigns in North Africa, Greece and Crete, before later fighting in the Aitape-Wewak campaign in New Guinea. He went on to serve in Korea as Officer Commanding C Company with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, including in the important Battle of Kapyong on 22 to 25 April 1951. In 1971 Saunders was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (Civil Division) for service to the Aboriginal community. Saunders' brother VX18629 Harry Saunders served in 9 Platoon, 2/14th Battalion in the Kokoda Track campaign (Killed in Action on 29 November 1942).<ref>Cadzow and Jebb (2019), pp. 284-294.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1697924|title= Roll of Honour, Harry Saunders|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 29 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C20699|title=Group portrait of 9 Platoon, A Company, 2/14th Infantry Battalion on the Kokoda Trail|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date=29 June 2019}}</ref> Derrick was born in Adelaide, South Australia. He served with the 9th Division initially in North Africa, fighting in the Siege of Tobruk and the First and Second Battles of El Alamein. He earned the Victoria Cross during the Battle of Sattelberg in New Guinea. After being commissioned he continued to serve with the 2/48th Battalion and embarked for Tarakan Island in Borneo, where he was Killed in Action on 24 May 1945.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=671466&c=WW2|title= Derrick, Thomas Currie|publisher= Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)|access-date=25 April 2019}}</ref>]] | thumb|160px|2/7th Battalion | thumb|160px|2/48th Battalion, Siege of Tobruk design | [[File:Royal Australian Infantry shoulder tape v2.png|thumb|250px|Royal Australian Infantry battledress flash worn sewn to the upper sleeve, as worn at the time of Australia's involvement in the Korean War and the Battle of Kapyong<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C992910|title= Sleeve insignia: Captain W J Rowlinson, Royal Australian Infantry|publisher=Australian War Memorial|access-date=27 May 2019}}</ref>]] |}

====Infantry Machine Gun Battalions====

{| class="wikitable" | [[File:2 1st Machine Gun Battalion 2nd AIF.png|thumb|180px|2/1st Machine Gun Battalion, formed within the 6th Division, later transferred to the 7th Division]] | |- | [[File:2 3rd Machine Gun Battalion 2nd AIF.png|thumb|180px|2/3rd Machine Gun Battalion, 7th Division, mostly captured in the Battle of Java (1942), but reformed later in 1942 from a core cadre that had avoided capture.]] | thumb|400px|2/3rd Aust Machine Gun Battalion final parade, at Wewak Point in New Guinea, October 1945. Award recipients displaying colour patches on their puggarees. |}

<gallery> File:19th Machine Gun Battalion 1942-1944 v2.png|19th Aust Machine Gun Battalion, 1942-1944. Formerly 19th Light Horse Regiment and 19th Aust Machine Gun Regiment 1941-1942, but transferred to the Aust Infantry in August 1942 as the 19th Aust Machine Gun Battalion of the 23rd Brigade, serving in anti-aircraft roles around Darwin<ref>{{cite web|url = https://monumentaustralia.org.au/themes/conflict/ww2/display/99160-19th-machine-gun-battalion|title = 19th Machine Gun Battalion|publisher = Monument Australia|access-date = 7 April 2020}}</ref><ref>The Sun (1945), p.8</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/amf21-49.htm|title = Australian Military Forces 1921 - 1949|publisher = DiggerHistory|access-date = 12 April 2020}}</ref><ref>Curkpatrick (1990)</ref> </gallery>

The 1st, 14th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 25th and 26th Light Horse Regiments were also converted to machine gun regiments either before World War 2 or early during the war, but they remained with the Armoured Corps. The 1st was disbanded in 1942, while the others were all subsequently converted to cavalry or motor regiments before also being disbanded before the end of the war.

===Commandos=== Sources:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://commando.org.au/|title=Australian Commando Association|access-date=30 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/amf21-49.htm|title=Colour Patches Australian Military Forces 1921–1949|publisher=Digger History|access-date=1 April 2019}}</ref><ref>Glyde (1999), Plate 45</ref>

====Commando Squadrons====

Initially formed as Independent Companies (some remained so while others were placed under the command of regiments), the Commando Squadrons had a higher proportion of officers and included more members on strength than infantry rifle companies.

<gallery> File:2 1st Independent Coy UCP.svg|1st Independent Commando Company, 1941-1942. The majority of the 2/1st were captured on land or at sea escaping from New Britain and went down with the ''Montevideo Maru'' when it was sunk by the {{USS|Sturgeon|SS-187|6}}. File:2 2nd Independent Coy UCP.svg|2/2nd Commando Squadron, Sparrow Force, Timor. The 2/2nd continued to harass the Japanese after the fall of Sparrow Force and the occupation of Timor by the Japanese. They were reinforced by the 2/4th Commando Squadron and recruited local and Portuguese fighters with logistical support from Major General J.E.S. Stevens of Northern Territory Force,<ref>Lithgow (1992), pp. 89-90</ref><ref>Cleary (2010), Ch. 17</ref> but were eventually evacuated from Timor after about 1 year of guerrilla fighting. </gallery>

====Commando Regiments and their predecessors====

<gallery> File:2 6th Aust Cavalry (Commando) Regiment 1944-1946.png|6th Aust Divisional Reconnaissance Regiment 1939-1940; 6th Aust Divisional Cavalry Regiment 1940-1942; 2/6th Aust Cavalry Regiment 1942-1944; 2/6th Aust Cavalry (Commando) Regiment 1944-1946, administrative headquarters for the 2/7th, 2/9th and 2/10th Commando Squadrons. The 2/6th displayed the unit colour patch colours brown, red and green in the reverse order to all other cavalry units.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/amf21-49.htm|title= Colour Patches Australian Military Forces 1921-1949, Plate 23|publisher= Digger History|access-date= 1 April 2019}}</ref> File:7th Aust Divisional Cavalry Regiment 1940-1942.png|7th Aust Divisional Cavalry Regiment 1940-1942; 2/7th Aust Cavalry Regiment 1942-1943. File:2 7 Cav Cdo Regt Unit Colour Patch 3.svg|2/7th Cavalry Commando Regiment 1943-1946 arising from 2/7th Aust Cavalry Regiment, administrative headquarters for the 2/3rd, 2/5th and 2/6th Commando Squadrons. File:8th Aust Divisional Cavalry Regiment 1940-1941 (redesignated 9th Aust Divisional Cavalry Regiment in April 1941).png|8th Aust Divisional Cavalry Regiment 1940-1941 (redesignated 9th Aust Divisional Cavalry Regiment in April 1941) File:9th Aust Divisional Cavalry Regiment 1941-1942.png|9th Aust Divisional Cavalry Regiment 1941-1942 formed originally from the 8th Australian Infantry Division. File:2 9th Cavalry (Commando) Regiment.png|2/9th Aust Cavalry Regiment 1942-1944; 2/9th Aust Cavalry (Commando) Regiment 1944-1946, administrative headquarters for the 2/4th, 2/11th and 2/12th Commando Squadrons. </gallery>

====Independent Companies in Australia====

Sources<ref>Glyde (1999), Plate 45</ref>

<gallery> File:North Australia Observer Unit 1942-1943 v2.png|North Australia Observer Unit 1942-1943 File:North Australia Observer Unit 1942-1945, issued 1943 v2.png|North Australia Observer Unit 1942-1945, issued 1943 </gallery>

===Pioneers===

Sources<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/2aif.htm|title= Infantry Battalions of the Second Australian Imperial Force - Pioneer Battalions|publisher= Digger History|access-date=8 December 2018}}</ref>

<gallery> File:2 3rd Pioneer Battalion 2nd AIF.png|2/3rd Pioneer Battalion, 1940-1946<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1073388|title = Winter service dress tunic : Corporal N A Gahan, 2/3 Pioneer Battalion|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 1 October 2019}}</ref> </gallery>

===Signals===

{| class="wikitable" | thumb|350px | New Guinea Air Warning Wireless Company 1944-1945, as worn by NX193316 Corporal Richard Gordon Webb<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C203383|title= 1945-08. Portrait of Corporal R.G. Webb, Member of New Guinea Air Warning Wireless Company|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 11 May 2019}}</ref> and N38062 Signalman Arthur Allan Asquith<ref>{{cite web|url= http://australiansatwarfilmarchive.unsw.edu.au/archive/206-edward-asquith#|title= Edward Asquith, Australians at War Film Archive, Archive no. 206|publisher= University of New South Wales|access-date= 6 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=304843&c=WW2|title = N38062 Asquith, Arthur Allan|publisher = Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)|access-date = 24 April 2020}}</ref> |- | thumb|450px | Radio transmitter and receiver, make AWA, model Teleradio 3BZ, used by spotters of the New Guinea Air Warning Wireless Company. Museum collection displaying the unit colour patch.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C203366|title=Radio transmitter and receiver 3BZ used by spotters of the New Guinea Air Warning Wireless |publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 11 May 2019}}</ref> The radio was heavy and required a squad to move it through the jungle, although it was run by lone operators concealed in isolation. Note the map of Papua New Guinea on the wall. |- | thumb|400px | NX193316 Corporal R.G. Webb, in August 1945, who had been a member of New Guinea Air Warning Wireless Company.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=5591621|title= NAA: B883, NX193316 Webb, Richard Gordon|publisher= National Archives of Australia|access-date= 11 May 2019}}</ref> Displaying the miniature NGAWW Company unit colour patch above that of probably an Australian Corps of Signals colour patch shown in right-sleeve reverse with 2nd AIF grey trim. NGAWW had been disbanded earlier in 1945 and its members had been posted as signallers to other units. It was common practice for those transferred to a different unit to wear a miniature of their original unit colour patch above a full-sized version of their new patch.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/miniature.htm|title=Miniature Colour Patches & Combination Patches|publisher= Digger History |access-date =4 November 2019}}</ref><ref>Department of Defence (Army Office) (1993), p. 24-2</ref> |- | thumb|300px | Australian Corps of Signals 1944–1948, Royal Australian Corps of Signals 1948–1951, shown in left-sleeve obverse with 2nd AIF grey trim.<ref>Department of Defence (Army Office) (1993), p. 23-5</ref> |}

===Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers===

<gallery> File:AEME 6th Aust Division 1943.png|Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 6th Aust Infantry Division 1943 File:Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 2 9th Aust Armoured Regiment Workshop 1944-1945.png|Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 2/9th Aust Armoured Regiment Workshop 1944-1945 </gallery>

====Salvage Units====

Source<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/provost_units.htm|title= Provost Units (cont'd) and other assorted AIF Units & services|publisher= Digger History, Plate 63|access-date= 11 August 2019}}</ref>

<gallery> File:3rd Aust Corps Salvage Unit.png|3rd Aust Corps Salvage Unit File:Salvage Units New South Wales Line of Communication Area.png|Salvage Units New South Wales Line of Communication Area </gallery>

===Provost (Military Police)===

====Provost - Headquarters units==== <gallery> File:2nd Australian Corps Provost Company 1942-1945.png|2nd Australian Corps Provost Company 1942-1945<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1278306|title= Colour patch : 2nd Australian Corps Provost Company|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 5 August 2019}}</ref> </gallery>

====Provost - Divisional units==== <gallery> File:1st Australian Armoured Brigade Provost Platoon.png|1st Aust Armoured Brigade Provost Platoon </gallery>

===Intelligence=== <gallery> File:Allied Geographical Section (AMF Component) 1943-1946 v2.png|Allied Geographical Section (AMF Component), Intelligence Services 1943-1946<ref>The Sun (1945), p.6</ref> File:Air Liaison Units 1945-1949.png|Air Liaison Units 1945-1949 </gallery>

===Schools, Training, Education===

Sources<ref>Glyde (1999), Plates 64 and 65</ref><ref>Department of Defence (Army Office) (1993), p. 26-1</ref>

<gallery> File:Army Headquarters Schools 1942.png|Army Headquarters Schools 1942 </gallery>

===Postal Services===

<gallery> File:1st Aust Division Postal Unit 1941-1943.png|1st Aust Division Postal Unit 1941-1943 File:8th Aust Division Postal Unit 1941-1945.png|8th Aust Division Postal Unit 1941-1945 </gallery>

Newcastle Covering Force Postal Unit was formed in March 1942, was later redesignated 10th Aust Division Postal Unit from April to September 1942, but was not issued a planned vertical oval colour patch before it was disbanded.

===Pay Offices, Cash Offices===

<gallery> File:Second Aust Army Command Pay Office 1942-1943.png|Second Aust Army Command Pay Office 1942-1943 File:3rd Aust Corps Field Cash Office 1942-1943.png|3rd Aust Corps Field Cash Office 1942-1943 </gallery>

===Support===

<gallery> File:Australian Army Catering Corps 1943-1945.png|Australian Army Catering Corps 1943-1945 File:AIF (Middle East) Movement and Transportation Group 1942, AIF (Middle East) Movement Control 1 2 Group 1942, AIF (Middle East) Port Detachment 1942-1943.png|AIF (Middle East) Movement and Transportation Group 1942, AIF (Middle East) Movement Control 1/2 Group 1942, AIF (Middle East) Port Detachment 1942-1943 </gallery>

===Australian Army Ordnance Corps===

Sources<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/asstd.htm|title= Assorted Units of the AMF & 2nd AIF|publisher= Digger History|access-date= 31 July 2019}}</ref><ref>The Sun (1945), p. 16</ref>

====AAOC Headquarter Units====

<gallery> File:AAOC 1st Aust Corps 1939-1943.png|Australian Army Ordnance Corps 1st Aust Corps 1939-1943<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1221479|title= Australian Army Ordnance Corps, 1 Australian Corps colour patch|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 30 July 2019}}</ref> File:AAOC 7th Aust Division 1940-1943.png|Australian Army Ordnance Corps 7th Aust Division 1940-1943 </gallery>

====AAOC Troops====

<gallery> File:Australian Army Ordnance Corps (Permanent) 1928-1942, Australian Army Ordnance Corps (Field Units), 1942-1945.png|Australian Army Ordnance Corps (Permanent) 1928-1942, Australian Army Ordnance Corps (Field Units) 1942-1945 </gallery>

===Australian Army Service Corps===

====AASC Headquarter Troops====

<gallery> File:Australian Army Service Corps Troops - Headquarters First Australian Army 1942-1946.png|Australian Army Service Corps Troops - Headquarters First Australian Army 1942-1946 File:3rd Australian Corps Troops - Australian Army Service Corps.png|3rd Australian Corps Troops, Australian Army Service Corps File:1st Aust Corps Troops Ammunition Company 1940-1942 Middle East, A Section, 2 4th Aust Motor Ambulance Convoy Transport Wing 1942-1943 Middle East.png|1st Aust Corps Troops Ammunition Company 1940-1942 (Middle East), A Section 2/4th Aust Motor Ambulance Convoy Transport Wing 1942-1943 (Middle East) File:1st Aust Anti-Aircraft Brigade Company AASC 1940-1942.png|Australian Army Service Corps 1st Aust Anti-Aircraft Brigade Company 1940-1942 </gallery>

====AASC Divisional Units====

<gallery> File:Australian Army Service Corps 1st Australian Division.png|Australian Army Service Corps 1st Australian Division File:Australian Army Service Corps 9th Australian Division 1940-1942.png|Australian Army Service Corps 9th Australian Division 1940-1942 File:Australian Army Service Corps 9th Australian Division 1942-1945.png|Australian Army Service Corps 9th Australian Division 1942-1945<ref>{{cite web|url= http://victoriancollections.net.au/items/4f72a8aa97f83e0308602f7e|title= Hat, Felt WW2|publisher= Victorian Collections, Frankston RSL Sub-Branch|access-date= 6 August 2019}}</ref> </gallery>

====AASC Non-Divisional Troops====

<gallery> File:Australian Army Service Corps Details 1925-1930 and 1940-1942.png|Non-Divisional Units Australian Army Service Corps (Militia) Eastern Command 1940-1942 </gallery>

====Motor Transport====

<gallery> File:Victoria Line of Communication Area Motor Transport Units AASC 1942-1945 v2.png|Victoria Line of Communication Area Motor Transport Units Australian Army Service Corps 1942-1945 </gallery>

====Fuel Supplies====

<gallery> File:Tasmania Line of Communication Area Bulk Issue Petrol and Oil Depots AASC 1942-1945 BIPOD.png|Tasmania Line of Communication Area Bulk Issue Petrol and Oil Depots AASC 1942-1945 </gallery>

====Horse Transport====

<gallery> File:Queensland Line of Communication Area Horse Transport and Remount Units AASC, 1942-1945.png|Queensland Line of Communication Area Horse Transport and Remount Units Australian Army Service Corps 1942-1945 </gallery>

===Medical Units===

Sources<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/aasc.htm|title= AMF & 2nd AIF Service Corps, Medical and Hospital Units|publisher= Digger History|access-date= 8 January 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/asstd.htm|title= Assorted Units of the AMF & 2nd AIF|publisher= Digger History|access-date=8 January 2019}}</ref>

====Medical Units attached to Formations====

File:Australian Army Medical Corps 3rd Australian Corps 1942-1944 AIF Troops.png|Australian Army Medical Corps 3rd Australian Corps 1942-1944 AIF Troops<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1131121|title= 3rd Australian Corps, AAMC colour patch : Captain R H Kenny, Australian Army Medical Corps Field Ambulance|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 6 August 2019}}</ref> File:Australian Army Medical Corps 8th Australian Division 1940-1945.png|Australian Army Medical Corps 8th Australian Division 1940-1945 File:Australian Army Medical Corps Land Headquarters Units 1942-1945.png|Australian Army Medical Corps Land Headquarters Units 1942-1945 File:Australian Army Medical Corps Queensland Line of Communication Area 1942-1945.png|Australian Army Medical Corps Queensland Line of Communication Area 1942-1945

====Australian Army Medical Women's Service====

{| class="wikitable" | [[File:Australian Army Medical Women's Service v2.png|thumb|180px|Australian Army Medical Women's Service, 1943-1944, sewn onto khaki, worn beneath the unit colour patch,<ref>{{cite web|url = http://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/1695182|title = Uniform - Australian Army Medical Women's Service, World War II, 1943-1944|publisher = Museums Victoria Collections|access-date = 29 March 2020}}</ref> as worn by NFX200662 Private Jean Kennedy<ref>{{cite web|url = http://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=289858&c=WW2#R|title = Kennedy, Jean|publisher = Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)|access-date = 4 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://australiandressregister.org/garment/488/|title = Australian Army Medical Women's Service (AAMWS) jacket worn by Jean Kennedy|publisher = Australian Dress Register|access-date = 4 April 2020}}</ref>]] | thumb|180px|Australian Army Medical Women's Service, a white badge with Geneva Cross, grey trim of overseas personnel, worn on the pocket of a blue linen dress | [[File:Australian Army Medical Women's Service linen dress v2.png|thumb|180px|Australian Army Medical Women's Service in Australia<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/33501|title = Join the Australian Army Medical Women's Service|publisher = Imperial War Museum|access-date = 29 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C202446|title= Manila, Philippines. 1945-10-06. Australian ex Prisoners of War en–route from Japan|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 1 October 2019}}</ref>]] | thumb|240px|Australian Army Medical Women's Service embroidered epaulette title 1944-1946 |}

====AAMC Non-Divisional Personnel====

{| class="wikitable" | [[File:Details AAMC (Militia) 1925-1940, Non-Divisional Units AAMC 1940-1942.png|thumb|200px|Details Australian Army Medical Corps (Militia) 1925-1940, Non-Divisional Units of the Australian Army Medical Corps, issued between 1940 and 1942 before the approval of separate colour patches for each hospital and other medical unit.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1131119|title= Colour patch : Captain R H Kenny, Australian Army Medical Corps|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 6 August 2019}}</ref>]] | [[File:V84136 Warrant Officer Class 1 Mervyn Augustus Westrend.jpg|thumb|600px|V84136 Warrant Officer Class 1 Mervyn Augustus Westrend, Regimental Sergeant Major of No. 115 Australian General Hospital, in August 1942 at Heidelberg, Victoria.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C9802|title = Heidelberg, Australia, 1942-08. V84136 WO 1 Mervyn Augustus Westrend, Regimental-Sergeant-Major on No. 115 Australian General Hospital|publisher = Australian War Memorial|access-date = 12 April 2020}}</ref> During World War 1 Westrend, service number 4912, served first with the 8th Battalion and was then transferred to the 23rd Battalion. Less than four weeks after disembarking in France with the 23rd, Westrend was wounded in action (shrapnel wound, arm). After discharge from hospital he served in various service roles in England and France. In July 1919 he embarked for Australia with the rank of Temporary Sergeant.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8381938|title = Westrend, Mervyn Augustus : Service Number - 4912, page 5 of 33|publisher = National Archives of Australia|access-date = 21 April 2020}}</ref>]] |}

====Ambulance Trains (AAMC Staffs) in Australia====

File:Australian Army Medical Corps Staffs, Northern Territory Ambulance Train 1942-1944.png|Australian Army Medical Corps Staffs, Northern Territory Ambulance Train 1942-1944

====Hospital Ships====

File:3rd Australian Hospital Ship ‘Centaur’ 1943 v2.png|3rd Australian Hospital Ship ‘Centaur’ 1943

====Hospitals====

{| class="wikitable" | [[File:Nurses of 2 2nd Australian General Hospital in an operating theatre.png|thumb|600px|Nurses of 2/2nd Australian General Hospital wearing helmets and breathing apparatus, in an operating theatre during a World War 2 air raid in England<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C257182|title= England. Nurses of 2/2ND Australian General Horpital in an operating theatre equipped with helmets and breathing apparatus during an air raid|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 16 June 2019}}</ref>]] |- | [[File:2_2nd Australian General Hospital 1940-1946 on a slouch hat puggaree v3.png|thumb|700px|Unit colour patch of the 2/2nd Australian General Hospital 1940-1946, sewn onto a 7-fold puggaree from an Australian Army slouch hat .<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C322723|title= Khaki cotton puggaree : Sergeant W S Osborne-White, 2/2 Australian General Hospital|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 16 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://victoriancollections.net.au/items/5add4a8e21ea6b08b8ef4c85|title= Hat from 2/2nd Aust General Hospital WW2, collection of Ringwood Returned and Services League|publisher= Museums Victoria|access-date= 18 June 2019}}</ref>]] |}

Inconsistencies were sometimes apparent between the approved designs and the manufacture of colour patches during World War 2. Instances of this were quite common with patches for signals, armour and cavalry, which included inconsistencies and errors in both colour and shape. Another example involving patches for medical units was the choice of green colouration for the colour patches of the 2/1st Australian General Hospital.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/aasc.htm|title= Australian Army Medical Corps, Colour Plate No. 53|publisher= diggerhistory|access-date=17 June 2019}}</ref>

<gallery> File:2 1st Australian General Hospital 1940-1945 as per drawings.png|2/1st Australian General Hospital 1940-1945 with mid-green band as per Master General of Ordnance line drawings File:2 1st Australian General Hospital 1940-1945 as per CCF manufacture v2.png|2/1st Australian General Hospital 1940-1945 with dark green band as per Commonwealth Clothing Factory manufacture File:2 1st Australian General Hospital 1940-1945 as per Western Australian manufacture v2.png|2/1st Australian General Hospital 1940-1945 with light green band as per Western Australian manufacture </gallery>

{| class="wikitable" | [[File:8th Australian Special Hospital 1940-1943, 2 8th Australian General Hospital 1943-1945 v2.png|thumb|252px|8th Australian Special Hospital 1940-1943, 2/8th Australian General Hospital 1943-1945. Served at Kangaroo Point, Queensland, then with the 7th Aust Division at Lae, New Guinea, and finally at Jacquinot Bay on New Britain until the end of the war, at which time they began to receive repatriated allied prisoners of war from the former Japanese stronghold at Rabaul<ref>{{cite web|url = http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6085826|title = VFX128592 Alice Isabel Vigor, page 8 of 8|publisher = National Archives of Australia|access-date = 30 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.ww2places.qld.gov.au/place?id=813|title = 112th & 2/8th (2nd AIF) Army General Hospitals and 126th Army Special Hospital|publisher = Queensland Government|access-date = 30 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C79599?image=1|title = New Britain. 1945-03-20. An advance party of members of the Army Nursing Service arrive with NFX 268 Matron M.O. Wheeler, 2/8th General Hospital|publisher = Australian War Memorial|access-date = 30 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C71720|title = Jacquinot Bay, New Britain, 1945-08-18. 2/8th General Hospital members leaving the hospital chapel, St Luke's Church of England, after the peace thanksgiving service|publisher = Australian War Memorial|access-date = 3 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C72743|title = Jacquinot Bay, New Britain. 1945-09-07. After the Japanese surrender|publisher = Australian War Memorial|access-date = 3 April 2020}}</ref>]] | [[File:2 8th Australian General Hospital 1943-1945 AAWMS Badge 1st Lieutenant Sleeve v3.png|thumb|375px|Khaki battledress sleeve showing cloth 1st Lieutenant's shoulder officer rank insignia with cherry red trim of the Medical Corps<ref>{{cite web|url = http://gradiamilitaryinsignia.com/british-cloth-badges/1105-ww2-ramc-captains-pips.html|title = WW2 R.A.M.C Captains Pips|publisher = Gradia Military Insignia|access-date = 3 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:World_War_II_British_battledress_rank_insignia_colors.png&oldid=330267481|title = World War II British battledress rank insignia colors|publisher = Wikimedia Commons the free media repository|author = Wikimedia Commons|year = 2018|access-date = 3 April 2020}}</ref>, the metal Australia flash, unit colour patch of the 2/8th Australian General Hospital 1943-1945, and red Geneva Cross badge of the Australian Army Medical Women's Service. As worn by VFX138512 Lieutenant Nyree Allen.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/1695182|title= Alice Isabel Vigor - World War II|publisher= Museums Victoria|access-date= 29 March 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C80225|title = Ingleburn, New South Wales, Australia. 1944-09-15. Private E. Reilly, assisted by Corporal E. Lloyd, of the Australian Army Medical Women's Service|publisher = Australian War Memorial|access-date = 3 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C63058|title = Camp Pell, Victoria, Australia. 1944-09-06. Members of the Australian Army Medical Women's Service|publisher = Australian War Memorial|access-date = 3 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=541091&c=WW2#R|title = Allen, Nyree Hollins|publisher = Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)|access-date = 4 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://australiandressregister.org/garment/488/|title = Australian Army Medical Women's Service (AAMWS) jacket worn by Jean Kennedy|publisher = Australian Dress Register|access-date = 4 April 2020}}</ref>]] |}

====Casualty Clearing Stations====

File:10th Australian Casualty Clearing Station 1942-1943, 110th Australian Casualty Clearing Station 1943 -1945.png|10th Australian Casualty Clearing Station 1942-1943, 110th Australian Casualty Clearing Station 1943 -1945 File:Camp Hospitals, New Guinea Line of Communication Area 1942-1945.png|Camp Hospitals, New Guinea Line of Communication Area 1942-1945 File:South Australia Line of Communication Area, Depots Medical and Veterinary Stores 1942-1945.png|South Australia Line of Communication Area, Medical, Veterinary and Dental Stores Depots 1942-1945

====Voluntary Aid Detachments with the AIF====

<gallery> File:Voluntary Aids AIF (Middle East) 1942.png|Voluntary Aid Detachments AIF (Middle East) 1942.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C248711|title = Four members of the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) attached to the 2/6th Australian General Hospital (Palestine)|publisher = Australian War Memorial|access-date = 17 April 2020}}</ref> Recognised by the Military, the Voluntary Aid Detachments were at their peak in World War I and World War II, providing first aid, nursing assistance, comforts, domestic assistance and other supports for wounded and returned soldiers.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://trove.nla.gov.au/people/752066?c=people|title= Voluntary Aid Detachments (VAD). (1914-)|publisher= National Library of Australia|access-date= 5 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/asstd.htm|title= Voluntary Aid Detachments|publisher= digger history|access-date= 5 August 2019}}</ref> It was one of only two women's services active at the outbreak of the war.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://trove.nla.gov.au/people/597790?c=people|title = Australia. Army. Australian Army Nursing Service. (1902-1948)|publisher = Trove, National Library of Australia|access-date = 17 April 2020}}</ref> As worn by VFX64863 (V13447) Private Gladys Lila Crawford.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C987001|title = Pair of colour patches : Miss G L Crawford, Voluntary Aid Detachment, AIF (Middle East)|publisher = Australian War Memorial|access-date = 17 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=471661&c=WW2#R|title = VFX64863 Crawford, Gladys Lila|publisher = Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)|access-date = 17 April 2020}}</ref> </gallery>

====Australian Army Medical Corps and Australian Army Nursing Service of the 8th Aust Division==== <gallery> File:2 13th Australian General Hospital 1941-1945 Malaya Singapore PoW Bullwinkel v2.png|140px|2/13th Australian General Hospital 1941-1945. Malaya, Singapore, Prisoners of War.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U57200|title= 2/13 Australian General Hospital|publisher = Australian War Memorial|access-date= 25 April 2019}}</ref> </gallery>

Personnel of the Australian Army Nursing Service wore the colour patch of the unit or formation headquarters to which they were posted (rather than the generic service patch).<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/asstd.htm|title= Australian Army Nursing Service|publisher= diggerhistory |access-date=25 April 2019}}</ref>

<gallery> File:2 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station Java Weary Dunlop.png|2/2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station captured on Java in March 1942. This was the unit commanded by VX259 Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Edward "Weary" Dunlop.<ref>{{cite web|url = http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=6231386|title= NAA: B883, VX259 - Dunlop, Ernest Edward|publisher= National Archives of Australia|access-date=25 April 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10676281|title= Lieutenant Colonel Ernest Edward 'Weary' Dunlop|publisher = Australian War Memorial|access-date=10 May 2019}}</ref> Dunlop and his unit were imprisoned on Java before being taken to be used as forced workers on the Thai-Burma Railway. File:Australian Army Medical Corps 8th Australian Division.png|2/12th Field Ambulance, of the 'broken 8th'. The Gull Force elements of the 2/12th were captured on Ambon, the Sparrow Force elements were captured at Koepang, Many were lost with the sinking of the Australian Hospital Ship Centaur, while some went on to active service later in the Borneo campaign (1945).<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C986786|title= 2/12 Field Ambulance, Australian Hospital Ship Centaur|publisher = Australian War Memorial|access-date=27 April 2019}}</ref> </gallery>

===Sparrow Force===

Sparrow Force was one of the forces formed to defend the islands to the north of Australia early in the war. Sparrow Force was based upon the 2/40th Battalion and was intended to defend the island of Timor from invasion. Deploying in late 1941, heavy fighting ensued after the invasion of Timor by the Japanese. The main force surrendered on 23 February 1942. However, with logistical support from 12th Division the commandos of the 2/2nd Independent Company reinforced later by the 2/4th Independent Company conducted a guerilla campaign until their withdrawal was completed in January 1943. Sparrow Force personnel like all captive members of the 8th Division were sent to labour camps across south-east Asia and Japan.

Sparrow Force comprised the 2/40th Battalion and the other units following, or elements thereof. It was representative of the makeup of the task forces created early during the war.

<gallery> File:2-40th Bn 2nd AIF.png|2/40th Australian Infantry Battalion File:2 1st Fortress Signals Sparrow Force.png|2/1st Fortress Signals, Sparrow Force </gallery>

===Garrison Battalions, PoW Camp Units, Internment Camp Units===

Sources:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/commando.htm#other-inf|title=Garrison Battalion, Prisoner-of-War and Internment Camp Units|publisher= diggerhistory|access-date= 5 May 2019}}</ref><ref>The Sun (1945), pp. 25, 27, 29</ref>

Garrison battalions were raised for full-time duty in October 1939 for fixed defence installations. Their personnel were drawn from the Class 'B' of the Militia, that is personnel between the ages of 48 and 55 who had seen war service prior to 1 September 1939. Cadres for reserve garrison battalions which were to be raised on mobilisation were created in 1940. Commands where two or more full-time duty battalions were raised had a small administrative brigade headquarters. From early on some battalions had adopted a secondary title indicating their specific role, such as Internal Security. In 1942 this was formalised and most battalions were given an appropriate secondary title. If units were raised on special establishments to guard prisoner-of-war and internment camps the restrictions to prior war service were waived. Some internment camp units included women on their establishment. Between 1939 and 1942, by which time most of the units had been formed, all Garrison Battalions were assigned the same unit colour patch (the black square on a green background square).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/patches/commando.htm#other-inf|title=Garrison Battalion, Prisoner-of-War and Internment Camp Units|publisher= diggerhistory|access-date= 5 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/576|title= 22nd Garrison Battalion (VIC/NSW) Prisoner of War Camp – "Cowra Prisoner-of-War Group"|publisher= Virtual War Memorial|access-date= 17 May 2019}}</ref>

<gallery> File:Australian Garrison Battalions 1939-1942.png|Australian Garrison Battalions 1939–1942. The first seven Garrison battalions were raised in October 1939, rising to 33 battalions plus around four individual companies by the end of the war.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://vwma.org.au/explore/units/576|title= 22nd Garrison Battalion (VIC/NSW) Prisoner of War Camp - "Cowra Prisoner-of-War Group"|publisher= Virtual War Memorial Australia|access-date=22 May 2019}}</ref> </gallery>

====Some Garrison Battalions were assigned to Brigade Headquarters====

File:2nd Australian Garrison Brigade Administrative Headquarters 1942-1944.png|2nd Australian Garrison Brigade, New South Wales, Administrative Headquarters 1942–1944

Not all garrison battalions were administered within a brigade.

====Garrison Battalions and Companies==== File:22nd Australian Garrison Battalion (Prisoner-of-War Camp) 1942-1945, Cowra Prisoner-of-War Group 1945-1947.png|22nd Australian Garrison Battalion (Prisoner of War Camp, New South Wales) 1942-1945, Cowra Prisoner of War Group 1945-1947<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/commemoration/cowra-breakout|title= Cowra breakout 75th anniversary|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 5 August 2019}}</ref>

===VDC===

{| class="wikitable" | thumb|165px | thumb|400px | thumb|400px |- | Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC) patch 1940-1945, as embroidered onto khaki cloth, intended to be sewn onto the upper sleeve of the uniform. VDC uniforms were 'bottle green' in colour. For World War 1 veterans, a miniature colour patch of a wearer's World War 1 unit was worn above the VDC colour patch. Military rank insignia were displayed.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C174391|title=Three typical volunteers, Volunteer Defence Corps|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 5 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = http://australianmilitarymedicalcollective.weebly.com/ww2-uniforms1.html|title = 1941 Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC)|publisher = Australian Military Medical Collective|access-date = 22 May 2020}}</ref> | Volunteer Defence Corps monogram 1940-1941, as printed onto a khaki cloth armband. The 'RSL' letters date from the period July 1940 to May 1941 when the VDC was formed and administered by the Returned Soldiers' League. The light blue trim indicates that the wearer held an administrative role in the VDC. The colour patch, worn in miniature, indicates that the wearer had been a member of the AIF.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RELAWM30211|title= Volunteer Defence Corps administration brassard : Dr A G Butler|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 5 November 2019}}</ref> An armband like this was worn by Dr A.G.Butler DSO VD BA MBBCh, who had been with the Australian Army Medical Corps, 1st Division, initially with the 9th Battalion. He went ashore with the ANZAC Landing, at Gaba Tepe, on the Gallipoli Peninsula on 25 April 1915.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1068069/document/5490092.PDF|title= Mediterranean Expeditionary Force: List of officers and other ranks of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps recommended for immediate reward for service in the field|publisher = Australian War Memorial|access-date = 11 November 2019}}</ref> Butler was instrumental in improving the health conditions for the allies at Gallipoli.<ref>Tyquin (1993), pp. 118-119</ref><ref>Tyquin (2012), p. 98</ref> He subsequently served on the Western Front and later became an eminent war historian.<ref>Butler (1930)</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3175931|title= NAA: B2455 Butler, Arthur Graham|publisher= National Archives of Australia|access-date= 8 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last1= Lewis|first1= M.J.|last2= Leeder|first2= S.R.|date= 2015|title= Public health at Anzac Cove|url= http://www.mja.com.au/journal/2015/202/7/public-health-anzac-cove|journal= Medical Journal of Australia|volume=202|issue= 7|pages= 384-385|doi= 10.5694/mja15.00290|access-date= 21 October 2019|doi-access= free}}</ref> | Khaki cotton drill Volunteer Defence Corps armband bearing the miniature colour patch of 56th Battalion, 1st AIF and purple trim of a Section Leader. As worn during World War 2 by 2966 Private Thomas Harold Ransley. The colour patch is in right side reverse because these armbands (brassards) were worn on the right sleeve.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1029726|title= Khaki cotton drill Volunteer Defence Corps brassard bearing the miniature colour patch of 56 Battalion|publisher= Australian War Memorial|access-date= 5 November 2019}}</ref> Ransley was gassed in France on 18 April 1918 while fighting with the 56th Battalion which was serving along with the rest of the 5th Division holding the Allied line around Corbie, north of Villers-Bretonneux, during the Spring Offensive. Ransley was medically evacuated to Reading Hospital in England where he remained until war's end. He embarked from England for Australia in February 1919.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=8027085|title= NAA: B2455, RANSLEY Thomas Harold : Service Number - 2966|publisher= National Archives of Australia|access-date= 5 November 2019}}</ref> |}

== New Patches 1945-1949 ==

Sources<ref>The Sun (1945), pp. 4 and 26</ref><ref>Glyde (1999), plates 65b and 66</ref>

{| class="wikitable" |+ Infantry of Japan Occupation Force |- | thumb|180px|Headquarters 34th Aust Infantry Brigade Japan Occupation Force 1945-1948 | thumb|180px|67th Aust Infantry Battalion Japan Occupation Force 1945-1948 |- |}

thumb|190px|1st Aust Armoured Car Squadron 1946-1949 thumb|180px|Royal Australian Artillery (Field) 1945-1949 thumb|180px|Royal Australian Engineers 1945-1949 thumb|180px|Australian Corps of Signals 1944-1948, Royal Australian Corps of Signals 1948-1951 thumb|180px|Australian Army Transportation Corps 1945-1947 thumb|180px|Australian War Graves Service 1945-1949

== Modern usage ==

A new system was introduced in 1987 known as Series I and Series II colour patches.<ref>Blackwell (2008)</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.gov.au/ASOD/documents/ASODP06/01.pdf |title=Unit Colour Patch System |work=Army Standing Orders for Dress: Volume 2: Part 6: Chapter 1 |publisher=Australian Army |archive-date=2 August 2008 |access-date=23 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802153127/http://www.army.gov.au/ASOD/documents/ASODP06/01.pdf }}</ref> The Series I range are known as the 'Heritage' patches and are the pre-1949 patches maintained in a register with the Series I 'Extended'. The Series II range includes new patch designs introduced during the 1990s. Both are used in the Australian Army due to some units tracing their lineage to First AIF and Second AIF units. The register also includes the patches for the Royal Australian Navy and Royal Australian Air Force.<ref name=CP /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.army.gov.au/ASOD/documents/ASODP06/03.pdf |title=Unit Colour Patch Register |work=Army Standing Orders for Dress: Volume 2: Part 6: Chapter 3 |publisher=Australian Army |archive-date=August 2, 2008 |access-date=23 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080802155233/http://www.army.gov.au/ASOD/documents/ASODP06/03.pdf }}</ref>

===Headquarters Formations and Divisions===

File:Land Headquarters.png|Land Headquarters

File:1st Division 1st AIF formation colour patch.png|1st Division

File:1st Brigade (Australia) Unit Colour patch.png|1st Brigade

===Royal Australian Regiment===

File:INF1004 - UCP - 4RAR.PNG|4th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment Inactive

===Infantry===

File:1-19 RNSWR UCP.svg|1st/19th Battalion, Royal New South Wales Regiment

===Armour, Cavalry, Light Horse===

File:2nd Cavalry Regiment (Australia).png|2nd Cavalry Regiment

===Artillery===

File:3rd_Field_Artillery_Brigade.png|7th Field Battery, 3rd Field Regiment, Royal Australian Artillery<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.army.gov.au/our-people/units/forces-command/2nd-division/13th-brigade/7th-field-battery-3rd-regiment-royal|title= 7th Field Battery, 3rd Regiment, Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery|publisher= Australian Army|access-date= 8 October 2019}}</ref>

===Engineers===

Sources:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://colourpatch.com.au|title=The Australian Military Patches Website|access-date=17 April 2019}}</ref>

File:1st Divisional Engineers.png|1st Divisional Engineers </gallery>

===Signals===

Sources<ref>{{cite web|url= http://colourpatch.com.au|title= The Australian Military Patches Website|publisher= colourpatch.com|access-date= 26 August 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.army.gov.au/our-people/army-order-of-battle|title= Army Order of Battle|publisher= Australian Army|access-date= 26 August 2019}}</ref>

File:108th Signal Squadron (4th Command Support Regiment).png|108th Signal Squadron (4th Command Support Regiment)

===Aviation===

Sources:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://colourpatch.com.au|title=The Australian Military Patches Website|access-date=17 April 2019}}</ref>

File:16th Brigade Aviation Headquarters v2.png|16th Aviation Brigade File:1st Aviation Regiment (modern) v2.png|1st Aviation Regiment

===Regional Force Surveillance===

{| class="wikitable" |- | thumb|320px | thumb|320px | thumb|320px |- | "Double diamond" colour patch of the Pilbara Regiment, on the red diamond of the 6th Combat Support Brigade, embroidered onto a beige background. | NORFORCE, 6th Combat Support Brigade. The "double diamond" was inherited from the Commando units and Independent Companies of World War 2, and this one in particular from North Australia Observer Unit 1942-1945. | 51st Battalion, Far North Queensland Regiment, 6th Combat Support Brigade. During World War 1 the 51st Battalion was part of the 13th Brigade. |}

===Various other examples=== <gallery> File:1st Intelligence Battalion, current pattern.png|1st Intelligence Battalion, current pattern, barracks<ref>{{cite web|url = http://colourpatch.com.au|title = The military patches website|publisher = Colourpatch.com|access-date = 4 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.army.gov.au/our-people/corps|title = Army - Our People|publisher = Australian Army|access-date = 1 April 2020}}</ref> File:2nd General Health Battalion modern.png|2nd General Health Battalion File:10 FSB unit colour patch.PNG|10th Force Support Battalion File:Australian Army Band modern.png|Australian Army Band File:Corps of Staff Cadets.png|Corps of Staff Cadets, Royal Military College, Duntroon<ref>{{cite web|url= http://colourpatch.com.au/product/corps-of-staff-cadets/|title= Corps of Staff Cadets|publisher= colourpatch.com.au|access-date= 5 August 2019}}</ref> </gallery> -->

==See also== * Formation patch – Used by the British Army to describe their unit insignia

== Notes == {{Reflist}}

== References == * {{cite book|last=Arnott|first=Geoff|title=The ANZACS of Maroondah – Lest We forget|year=2018|publisher=Croydon Historical Society|location=Croydon, Victoria|isbn=9780648361701}} * {{cite book|last=Bean|first=Charles|author-link=Charles Bean|chapter=Colour Patches of the Australian Forces|title=The Australian Imperial Force in France, 1916 |year=1941|orig-year=1929|edition=12th|series=Official History of Australia in the War of 1914–1918|volume=III|publisher=Australian War Memorial|location=Canberra, Australian Capital Territory|chapter-url=https://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1069490--1-.pdf|url=https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1069752/|pages=968–968g|oclc=220623454}} * {{cite book|last=Blackwell|first=Phillip|title=Australian Army Unit Colour Patches 1987–2008|year=2008|publisher=Australian Military History Publications, Australia|isbn=978-0-9578280-0-1}} * {{cite book |last1=Bou |first1=Jean |last2=Dennis |first2=Peter|last3=Dalgleish|first3=Paul|title=The Centenary History of Australia and the Great War, Volume 5: The Australian Imperial Force|year=2016 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=South Melbourne, Victoria |isbn=9780195576801}} * {{cite book |last=Bradley |first=Phillip|title=D-Day New Guinea: the extraordinary story of the battle for Lae and the greatest combined airborne and amphibious operation of the Pacific War|year=2019 |publisher=Allen and Unwin|location=Crows Nest, New South Wales |isbn=9781760632588}} * {{cite book |last=Butler|first=A.G.|title=The Official history of the Australian Army Medical Services in the War of 1914-1918. Vol. 1, Gallipoli, Palestine and New Guinea|year=1930 |publisher=Australian War Memorial|location=Melbourne |oclc=220879097}} * {{cite book |last1=Byrne |first1=Arthur Emmett (Lieutenant) |title=Official history of the Otago Regiment, N.Z.E.F., in the Great War, 1914–1918|year=1921 |publisher=J. Wilkie. 2nd ed. reprinted by Naval & Military Press, Uckfield, East Sussex UK, 2003|location=Dunedin, New Zealand |isbn=1843425696}} * {{cite book|last1=Cadzow|first1=Allison|last2=Jebb|first2=Mary Anne|title=Our mob served: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories of war and defending Australia|year=2019|publisher=Aboriginal Studies Press|location=Canberra, Australian Capital Territory|isbn=9780855750718}} * {{cite book|last= Cleary|first= Paul|year= 2010|title= The Men Who Came Out of the Ground: A gripping account of Australia's first commando campaign - Timor 1942|isbn = 978-0733636608|location= Sydney, New South Wales|publisher= Hachette Australia}} * {{cite book|last= Coulthart|first= Ross|year= 2012|title= The lost diggers|isbn = 978-0732294618|location= Sydney, New South Wales|publisher= Harper and Collins}} * {{cite book |last=Curkpatrick |first=Kathryn |title= Saddle to boots: a history of the 19th (Aust) Machine Gun Battalion |year=1990 |publisher=K.M. Curkpatrick |location=Clifton Hill, Victoria |isbn=0731682882}} * {{cite book|last1=Dennis|first1=Peter|last2=Grey|first2=Jeffrey|author-link2=Jeffrey Grey |last3=Morris|first3=Ewan|last4=Prior|first4=Robin|last5=Bou|first5=Jean|title=The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History|publisher=Oxford University Press Australia and New Zealand|location=Melbourne|year=2008|edition=Second|isbn= 9780195517842}} * {{cite book|author=Department of Defence (Army Office)|title=Army colour patch register, 1915-1949|year=1993|location=Canberra, Australian Capital Territory|publisher=Director of Publishing, Defence Centre|oclc=35701067}} * {{cite book|last=Glyde|first=Keith|title=Distinguishing colour patches of the Australian Military Forces 1915-1951, a reference guide|publisher=K. Glyde|location= Claremont, Tasmania|year=1999|isbn=0646366408}} * {{Cite journal |title=The fighting Gunditjmara |author=Grant, Lachlan |journal=Wartime |volume=76 |number= Spring|date=September 2016 |pages=19–24 |issn=1328-2727}} * {{cite book|last=Grey|first=Jeffrey|author-link=Jeffrey Grey |title=A Military History of Australia|edition=3rd|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Melbourne, Victoria|year=2008|isbn=978-0-521-69791-0}} * {{cite book |last=Ham |first=Paul|title=Kokoda|year=2004|publisher=Harper Collins|location=Pymble, NSW|isbn=9781741361124}} * {{cite book|last=Hopkins|first=Ronald|author-link=Ronald Hopkins |title=Australian Armour. A History of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps 1927–1972|year=1978|publisher=Australian Government Publishing Service|location=South Melbourne |isbn=978-0-642-99414-1 }} * {{Cite book|last=James|first=Richard|title=Australia's war with France: the campaign in Syria and Lebanon, 1941|year=2017|publisher=Big Sky Publishing|location=Newport, New South Wales|isbn=978-1-925520-92-7}} * {{cite book |last=Jobson |first=Christopher|title=Looking Forward, Looking Back: Customs and Traditions of the Australian Army|year=2009|publisher=Big Sky Publishing|location=Wavell Heights, Queensland|isbn=978-0-9803251-6-4}} * {{Cite journal |title=Origins and Development Royal Australian Army Dental Corps |author=Kuusk, Sven |journal=Sabretache |volume=XLVII |number=3 |date=September 2006 |pages=23–30 |oclc=60625210}} * {{cite book |last=Likeman |first=Robert|title=Australian doctors on the Western Front: France and Belgium 1916-1918: The Australian doctors at war series Volume 3|year=2014|publisher=Rosenberg Publishing|location=Kenthurst, New South Wales|isbn=9781925078121}} * {{cite book|last=Lithgow|first=Shirley|year = 1992|title= Special operations: the organisations of the Special Operations Executive in Australia and their operations against the Japanese during the Second World War. Thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Arts (Honours).|location= Canberra, Australian Capital Territory|publisher= University College, University of New South Wales, Australian Defence Force Academy|url = http://unsworks.unsw.edu.au/fapi/datastream/unsworks:43299/SOURCE02|access-date= 6 June 2019}} * {{cite book|last=MacDougall|first= A.K.|year=2015|orig-year=1934|title=John Monash: war letters of General Monash.|location=Collingwood, Victoria|publisher=Black Inc.|isbn=9781863957441}} * {{cite book|last= McCullagh|first= Catherine|title= Willingly into the fray: one hundred years of Australian Army nursing|year= 2010|publisher=Big Sky Publishing|location=Newport, New South Wales|isbn=9780980658262}} * {{cite book|last= McFarlane|first= Glenn|title= The Fair Dinkums|year= 2016|publisher=Pan MacMillan|location=Sydney, New South Wales|isbn=9781743537541}} * {{cite book|last= Milton|first= Giles|author-link = Giles Milton|title= Churchill's ministry of ungentlemanly warfare - the mavericks who plotted Hitler's defeat|year= 2016|publisher=John Murray|location=London|isbn=9781444798982}} * {{cite book|last= Palazzo|first= Albert|title= The Australian Army: a history of its organisation 1901 to 2001|year= 2001|publisher=Oxford University Press|location= South Melbourne, Victoria|isbn=9780195515077}} * {{cite book|last= Pedersen|first= Peter|title= ANZACs on the Western Front: the Australian War Memorial battlefield guide|year= 2018|publisher= John Wiley & Sons|location= Milton, Queensland|isbn= 9780730337393}} * {{cite book|last1=Prilaux|first1=Gilles|last2=Beuvin|first2=Matthieu|last3=Fiechtner|first3=Michael|last4=Fiechtner|first4=Donna|title=The Silent Soldiers Of Naours: Messages From Beneath The Somme|publisher=New Holland Publishers|location= Sydney, New South Wales|year=2017|isbn=9781742579719}} * {{cite book|last=Shaw|first=Ian W.|title= On Radji Beach|orig-year=2010 |year=2012 |publisher= Pan Macmillan Australia|location= Sydney, New South Wales|isbn=9780330404259 }} * {{cite book|author=The Sun|title=Australian army color patches & ribbons of the Second World War|year=1945 |publisher=Lawrence Kay for Pictorial Newspapers, Herald and Weekly Times|location=St. Kilda, Victoria|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-52821806|access-date=25 April 2019}} * {{cite book|last=Tyquin|first=Michael|title= Gallipoli: an Australian medical perspective|year=2012 |publisher= Big Sky Publishing|location= Newport, New South Wales|isbn=9781921941863}} * {{cite book|last=Tyquin|first=Michael B.|title= Gallipoli: the medical war: the Australian Army medical services in the Dardanelles campaign of 1915 |year=1993 |publisher= New South Wales University Press|location= Kensington, New South Wales|isbn=0868401897 }} * {{cite book|last=Wilmot|first=Chester|author-link=Chester Wilmot|title=Tobruk 1941 |orig-year=1944 |year=1993 |publisher=Penguin Books Australia |location=Ringwood, Victoria|isbn=0-14-017584-9}}

== External links == {{Commons category|Unit Colour Patches of the Australian Army}} * [http://www.diggerhistory.info/00-pages-top-level/full_index.htm Unofficial history of the Australian & New Zealand Armed Services] – Digger History

Category:Australian military insignia Category:Australian military uniforms Category:Military heraldry Category:Australian Army unit insignia