Australian Army unit colour patches

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.

[2] While some modern Australian colour patches are recent creations, many date back to World War I.

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.

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.

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 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.

Unit colour patches are currently worn on the right side of the puggaree on the slouch hat in the Australian Army.

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".

[21][22][23] The authority for the design and wearing of unit colour patches was from General Alexander Godley's orders dated 15 October 1917 No.