Australian Army unit colour patches



Unit colour patches (or simply known as colour patches) 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. While some modern Australian colour patches are recent creations, many date back to World War I.



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 1 inch 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.

In total over 300 individual patches were eventually authorized for Australian units during World War I.

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 (c. 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.



Nowadays modern unit colour patches are approximately 40 mm x 40 mm 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.

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.

Glyde (1999) 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.

Division unit colour patches
Divisional Order 81 decreed a rectangular patch on the upper sleeve of the uniform 1.25 inch by 2.75 inch. 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.


 * 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),
 * 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.
 * 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.

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.

On 16 March 1915 the second battalion of each infantry brigade was ordered to change their battalion colour from yellow to purple. 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". Light Horse patches were divided diagonally.

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. The authority for the design and wearing of unit colour patches was from General Alexander Godley's orders dated 15 October 1917 No. 416.

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.

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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.

Artillery of the First AIF
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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.

Australian Army ANZAC "A" Badge


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. 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.

Infantry


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. 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.

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. 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. 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.



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. 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 38 mm long on the sides, with an additional 5 mm grey border if the colour patch had been used by the 1st AIF. 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.

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.

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.



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. 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.

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:

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

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 File:2 7th Aust Armoured Regiment 1941-1944.png|2/7th Aust Armoured Regiment 1941-1944

Royal Australian Artillery of the Second AIF
Sources

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.

Divisional Artillery - Armoured Divisions
File:Unit colour patch Royal Australian Artillery 1 Aust Armoured Division 1943.png|Royal Australian Artillery 1st Aust Armoured Division, including 16th Aust Field Regiment (from mid-1943), 108th Aust Anti Tank Regiment, 112th Aust Anti Tank Regiment

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 13th Aust Field Regiment 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

Infantry of the 2nd AIF
Sources

Infantry Battalions
This section shows an image of a deceased Aboriginal person.

Infantry Machine Gun Battalions
Sources

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
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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.

Independent Companies in Australia
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Pioneers
Sources

Salvage Units
Source

Schools, Training, Education
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Postal Services
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.

Australian Army Ordnance Corps
Sources

Australian Army Service Corps
Sources

Medical Units
Sources

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 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

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
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.

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

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.

Garrison Battalions, PoW Camp Units, Internment Camp Units
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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).

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

New Patches 1945-1949
Sources



Modern usage
A new system was introduced in 1987 known as Series I and Series II colour patches. 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.

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

Engineers
Sources:

File:1st Divisional Engineers.png|1st Divisional Engineers

Signals
Sources

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

Aviation
Sources:

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

Various other examples
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