"At a mile distant their thousand hooves were stuttering thunder, coming at a rate that frightened a man - they were an awe inspiring sight, galloping through the red haze - knee to knee and horse to horse - the dying sun glinting on bayonet points..." Trooper Ion Idriess
The Australian Light Horse Studies Centre aims to present an accurate history of early Australian military developments from 1899 to 1920.
WARNING: This site contains: names, information and images of deceased people; and, language which may be considered inappropriate today.
Chevrons for service overseas, page 3 Topic: AIF - Badges
As the Great War dragged on into its fifth year, recognition of service amongst the members of the AIF became more important to the individuals. The men with the longer service wanted to be recognised as such and readily distinguishable from a group of soldiers. Those with service dating back to the commencement of the war also wanted special treatment. To resolve all these competing wishes, AIF Headquarters issued a lengthy instruction regarding the implementation of the policy regarding chevrons for service overseas.
Citation: Chevrons for service overseas, page 2 Topic: AIF - Badges
As the Great War dragged on into its fifth year, recognition of service amongst the members of the AIF became more important to the individuals. The men with the longer service wanted to be recognised as such and readily distinguishable from a group of soldiers. Those with service dating back to the commencement of the war also wanted special treatment. To resolve all these competing wishes, AIF Headquarters issued a lengthy instruction regarding the implementation of the policy regarding chevrons for service overseas.
Chevrons for service overseas, page 1 Topic: AIF - Badges
As the Great War dragged on into its fifth year, recognition of service amongst the members of the AIF became more important to the individuals. The men with the longer service wanted to be recognised as such and readily distinguishable from a group of soldiers. Those with service dating back to the commencement of the war also wanted special treatment. To resolve all these competing wishes, AIF Headquarters issued a lengthy instruction regarding the implementation of the policy regarding chevrons for service overseas.
Two different service chevrons were created. The red chevron denotes service before 31 December 1914 and the blue chevrons denote service from 1 January 1915.
AIF Orders regarding the Anzac "A" Badge Topic: AIF - Badges
Routine Orders of the Light Horse in January produced a list of men with the aim of gazetting of all those men who were qualified to wear the "A" Anzac Badge in the prescribed manner.
Light Horse Medal Set Illustrating the Anzac "A" Badge
The authority for this action came from AIF Order 937, 6 November 1917.
AIF Order 937
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
It was seen that the description was too limiting as many men were exposed to similar dangers when assisting the troops at Anzac. Men who were involved in supply or medical work and other hazardous activities required to support the men at Gallipoli itself. In response AIF Order 1084, 25 January 1918 was issued to widen the scope of men entitled to wear the Anzac "A" Badge.
AIF Order 1084
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
At the same time, a certain amount of confusion as to whom would qualify arose. For example: If a person was a reinforcement and landed at Lemnos on 4 December 1915 but was not taken on strength till 28 December 1915, would he be entitled to wear the Anzac "A" badge? Or if an unattached soldier was by way of circumstances forced to remain at Gallipoli for a day until the night ferry was able to remove him, would he be entitled to wear the badge? These questions received clarification with the publication of AIF Order 1068, 18 January 1918.
AIF Order 1068
[Click on page for a larger print version.]
In essence, a person had to be on the nominal roll of a formation in service at Gallipoli or the surrounding islands, or involved in supply and communications work. While this broadened the scope of the badge, it also restricted its use to the nominal roll of the formation.
9th LHR Routine Order No 851, 22 January 1918 Topic: AIF - Badges
Apart from the War Diary which presents a reflected view of Regimental history, one of the best sources of understanding the immediate challenges facing a regiment is to be found in the Routine Orders. They are a wealth of detail.
9th LHR Routine Order No 851, 22 January 1918, p. 3.
[Click on page for a larger version.]
9th LHR Routine Order No 851, 22 January 1918, p. 4.
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This particular Routine Order is important in that it lists all the surviving Gallipoli veterans in the 9th LHR. By gazetting them in this manner, it allowed the men to wear the "A" badge in the middle of their regimental colour patch. This is illustrated in the picture below.
Light Horse Officer with Anzac "A" and 1914 Leave Rosette
JK Cossum, Australian Army Badeges, Sandy Bay, Tasmania, 1997, p. 57.
The men wore the "A" with great pride and jealously guarded their right to wear it. During the 20's and 30's, there are many letters from the various RSL branches seeking information about a particular ex-serviceman and his right to wear the "A".
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