• 4th Australian Light Horse Brigade: Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 795, 10.8.1917. Originally raised in March 1915, comprising the 11th, 12th, and 13th Light Horse Regiments. Disbanded in July 1915 and reformed in February 1917 as part of the Imperial (later redesignated 'Australian') Mounted Division. Colour patches for all units of this brigade were initially approved by Anzac Mounted Division Letter No. 31/27 of 14.3.1917. HQ AT then granted approval for all except No. 24A on 9.6.1917, approval for 24B in lieu being given on 3.7.1917.
  • 24A. HQ 4th Aust. Light Horse Brigade: Although approved in Egypt, HQ AIF directed on 9.6.1917 that a new design would have to be submitted as this design was already in use with HQ 4th Aust. Infantry Brigade. It is understood to have been manufactured as a result of demands submitted to Ordnance but was not issued.
    • 24B. HQ 4th Aust. Light Horse Brigade, 1917 - 1919.
    • 25. 4th Aust. Light Horse Regiment, 1917 - 1919.
    • 26. 11th Aust. Light Horse Regiment, 1917 - 1919.
    • 27. 12th Aust. Light Horse Regiment, 1917 - 1919. 
      • In December 1918 the regiment requested that future supplies of this patch be manufactured in a lighter blue, however, it is unlikely that these were made as advice was received that no more indents would be submitted on Ordnance for colour patches.
• 5th Australian Light Horse Brigade : Auth. AIF Order No. 1521, 21.1.1919. Raised on 1.7.1918 from Australian and New Zealand components of the Imperial Camel Corps Brigade and was allotted to the Australian Mounted Division. In early October 1918 HQ AIF was advised by Aust. HQ, Egypt, that it was proposed to allocate the colour grey to the brigade, presumably in the rectangular format already used by existing light horse brigades. After strong recommendations from the units comprising the new brigade it was then decided to retain the triangular shape used by these units prior to their conversion from Camel Corps to Light Horse.

  The new design was approved by the GOC AIF in Egypt in December 1918 (Ref, Aust. HQ, Egypt, Memo No. 44577, 10.12.1918, AWM 10, item 4303/4/13). It should be noted that the brigade colour was worn to the front, not as shown in the Official War History. Major Treloar went to some lengths to confirm this in correspondence with former officers of the brigade's units, and advised the official historian's staff accordingly. (Ref. AWM 93, item 12/3/11).

  • 28. HQ 5th Aust. Light Horse Brigade, 1918 - 1919.
  • 29. 14th Aust. Light Horse Regiment, 1918 - 1919.
  • 30. 15th Aust. Light Horse Regiment, 1918 - 1919.
• Note: AIF Order No. 1372, 13.9.1918, notifying the formation of the 5th Light Horse Brigade authorised the raising of the 16th Aust. Light Horse Regiment. This unit was not raised, nor was a colour patch approved, despite the existence of one postwar manufactured example in the Victoria Barracks collection, and its appearance on a postwar colour patch chart entitled Regimental Colours Australian Imperial Force 1914-1919, but unacknowledged and undated. The third regiment of this brigade consisted of the le Regiment Mixte de Cavalrie Du Levant, a French colonial unit, which left the formation in October 1918.

• Allotted in 1914 on the basis of one light horse regiment per infantry division, modified in March 1916 to one squadron only. Divisional squadrons were concentrated into corps mounted regiments, one per Army Corps, in July 1916. No mounted regiment or squadron was raised for the 3rd Aust. Division.
  • 31A. 4th Aust. Light Horse Regiment, 1915 - 1917: Auth. 1st Aust. Div. Order No. 562, 8.3.1915. Superseded by No. 25 in August 1917.
  • 31B. 2nd ANZAC Mounted Regiment, 1916 - 1918; and
    • XXII Corps Mounted Regiment, 1918: Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 179, 25.7.1916. AIF personnel of this unit were absorbed by the 13th Aust. Light Horse Regiment in December 1918.
• Note: The 4th Aust. L.H. Regt. was raised in 1914 as the divisional regiment of 1st Aust. Division. In early 1916 'B', and later 'D' (see note 42 below) Squadron formed 2nd ANZAC Mounted Regiment in France, the third squadron of this unit being provided by the Otago Mounted Rifles (NZ). Both regiments retained the same patch until the 4th Light Horse Regiment in Egypt was brought up to strength and allotted to 4th Light Horse Brigade in February 1917. It will be noted that a proportion of personnel of both these regiments wore this patch with the red to the front instead of white as authorised.
  • Note 42. Raising authorised on 11.3.1916. At that point a light horse regiment comprised only three squadrons. 'D' Squadron was initially raised to replace 'B' Squadron when that sub-unit became Corps Troops in France,. but subsequently also joined 2nd ANZAC Mounted Regiment in May 1916. The 4th Aust. Light Horse Regiment continued to operate in Egypt with two squadrons only until a new 'B' Squadron was raised in February 1917.
• 32A. 13th Aust. Light Horse Regiment, 1915 - 1916; 
  • 1st ANZAC Mounted Regiment, 1916 - 1918; 
  • Australian Corps Mounted Regiment, 1918 - 1919: Auth. 2nd Aust. Div. Instruction, para. 2, 3.8.1915. Raised initially as part of the 4th Light Horse Brigade but on the disbandment of that formation in July 1915 it was re-allotted to the 2nd Division. In March 1916 it was split up, 'A' Squadron remaining with the 2nd Division, 'B' and 'C' Squadrons being allotted to the 4th and 5th Divisions respectively. It was concentrated again as I ANZAC Mounted Regiment in July 1916.
• 32B. 1st ANZAC Mounted Regiment: Auth. AIF Order No. 179, 25.7.1916. This order states that the 13th Light Horse Regiment was to continue to wear its old patch, and the accompanying drawing showing white to the front is possibly the result of the failure of many AIF Orders to differentiate between left and right arm patches.
• 33. 11th Aust. Light Horse Regiment, 1916 - 1917: Auth. HQ Aust and NZ Forces CM No. 17, 25.2.1916. Raised in March 1915 but in July was absorbed by the 2nd, 5th, and 9th Light Horse Regiments to form the fourth squadron in each of those regiments. Reformed in February 1916 as the divisional regiment of the 4th Division, but was  replaced in this role by 'B' Squadron, 13th Aust. Light Horse Regiment, in March 1916. Allotted to 4th Light Horse Brigade in February 1917 and this patch was superseded by No. 26.
• 34. 12th Aust. Light Horse Regiment, 1916 - 1917 : Auth. HQ Aust and NZ Forces CM No. 17, 25.2.1916. Raised in March 1915 but in July 1915 was absorbed by squadrons into the 1st, 6th, and 7th Light Horse Regiments. Reformed in February 1916 as the mounted regiment of the 5th Division, but was replaced in this role in March 1916 by 'C' Squadron, 13th Aust. Light Horse Regiment. Served in an independent role until it was allotted to the 4th Light Horse Brigade in February 1917. This patch was superseded by No. 27.

• 35. 1st Australian Battalion, Imperial Camel Corps Brigade, 1916 - 1918: Ref, "Distinguishing Marks and Badges AIF", undated but submitted for drafting on 14.3.1916, and line drawings under cover of AIF Admin HQ Memo No. 26144, 31.10.1916. Appears in these references as a 2 inch equilateral triangle.
• 36. 3rd Australian Battalion, Imperial Camel Corps Brigade, 1917 - 1918:
• 37. 4th Anzac Battalion, Imperial Camel Corps Brigade, 1917 - 1918:
  • Note: The details for No's 36 and 37 have been extracted from Sand, Sweat and Camels; The Australian Companies of the Imperial Camel Corps, by Brigadier G.F. Langley, formerly the CO of the 1st Camel Battalion and its successor, the 14th Light Horse Regiment. Further reference has been provided by Thomas and Lord, New Zealand Army Distinguishing Patches 1911-1991, Part One, p.29, based on a 1917 Imperial Camel Corps Christmas card held in the New Zealand National Archives Collection. The 4th Battalion comprised two companies of New Zealanders and two of Australians, while the 2nd Battalion, which the quoted NZ reference has identified as wearing a black triangle, was formed of British personnel. The brigade also included, in addition to the Australian Camel Field Ambulance, the Hong Kong Singapore Mountain Battery RGA, 10th Field Troop RE, and 26th (1st/3rd Scottish Horse) Squadron, Machine Gun Corps.

• 38. 1st Aust. Divisional Cyclist Company, 1916 : Auth. HQ ANZ Forces CM No. 52, 20.4.1916. Raised in March 1916, primarily from reinforcements to the 4th Aust. Light Horse Regiment. Absorbed by 1st ANZAC Cyclist Battalion in July 1916.
• 39 2nd Aust. Divisional Cyclist Company, 1916 : Auth. HQ ANZ Forces CM No. 52, 20.4.1916. Absorbed as No. 3 Company, 2nd ANZAC Cyclist Battalion in July 1916.
  • - 3rd Aust. Divisional Cyclist Company, 1916: No colour patch approved. Raised in Australia in March 1916, absorbed by 1st ANZAC Cyclist Battalion in July 1916.
• 40. 4th Aust. Divisional Cyclist Company, 1916 : Auth. HQ ANZ Forces CM No. 52, 20.4.1916. Absorbed by 1st ANZAC Cyclist Battalion in July 1916.
• 41. 5th Aust. Divisional Cyclist Company, 1916 : Auth. HQ ANZ Forces CM No. 52, 20.4.1916. Absorbed by 1st ANZAC Cyclist Battalion in July 1916. The inset on all examples handed over to the AWM after the Great War measure I and 1/4 inches high and 3/4 inch wide.
• 42. 1st ANZAC Cyclist Battalion, 1916 - 1918; 
  • Australian Corps Cyclist Battalion, 1918 - 1919: Auth. AIF Order 179, 25.7.1916.
• 43. 2nd ANZAC Cyclist Battalion, 1916 - 1918 : Auth. AIF Order No. 179, 25.7.1916. Only one subunit, No. 3 Company (formerly the 2nd Aust. Divisional Cyclist Company) was Australian, the remainder of the battalion being drawn from the New Zealand Cyclist Corps. In January 1918 the battalion was redesignated as XXII Corps Cyclist Battalion and the Australian element was disbanded. It subsequently became the New Zealand-Cyclist Battalion. It is not certain if this patch was worn by New Zealand personnel between 1916 and 1918, however NZEF Order No. 495 dated 31.1.1918 authorised the battalion to wear a patch of identical design with I and 1/2 inch sides in lieu of 2 inches as originally approved.43

• 44. HQ 1st Aust. Divisional Artillery : Auth. I Aust. Div. Order No. 562, 8.3.1915. Cancelled on 16.3.1915, replaced by No. 45.

• 45. (a) 1st Aust. Field Artillery Brigade: Auth. 1st Aust. Div. Order No. 562, 8.3.1915.
  • (b) 1st Aust. Divisional Artillery, 1915 - 1919: Auth. I Aust. Div. Order No. 591, 16.3.1915. HQ 1st Divisional Artillery; HQ's 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 21st Field Artillery Brigades, 21st Howitzer Brigade; 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 22nd, 23rd, and 24th Batteries; 101st, 102nd, 103rd, and 116th (Howitzer) Batteries; Aust. Heavy Howitzer Battery; VIA Heavy Trench Mortar Battery; XIA, YIA, ZIA, 1st, and 2nd Medium Trench Mortar Batteries; 1st Divisional Ammunition Column; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Field Artillery Brigade, and 21st Howitzer Brigade Ammunition Columns.
• 46. 2nd Aust. Field Artillery Brigade: Auth. 1st Aust. Div. Order No. 562, 8.3.1915. Cancelled on 16.3.1915 and superseded by No. 45.
• 47A. 3rd Aust. Field Artillery Brigade: Auth. 1st Aust. Div. Order No. 562, 8.3.1915. Cancelled on 16.3.1915 and replaced by No. 45.

47B. 3rd Aust. Field Artillery Brigade Ammunition Column, 1915: Worn on the left side of the puggaree of the Wolseley pattern helmet in Egypt by members of this unit (see photograph).  It is believed that this patch indicated the wearer's arm of service, possibly predating colour patches, and was based on the scarlet hat band worn from 1912 by the artillery of the Citizen Forces in Australia. Photo courtesy Royal Australian Artillery Historical Society of Western Australia. Corporal R Nowland C Sub-section 3rd Aust Field Artillery Brigade Ammunition Column, Alexandria Egypt 4 Sep 1915

• 48. 1st Aust. Divisional Ammunition Column : Auth. I Aust. Div. Order No. 562, 8.3.1915. Cancelled on 16.3.1915 and replaced by No. 45.
• 49. 2nd Aust. Divisional Artillery, 1915 - 1919 : Auth. 2 Aust. Div. Inst., para. 2, 3.8.1915. This instruction actually refers in its opening paragraph to a single colour for HQ divisional artillery, however this appears to be in error, and No. 49 was worn. HQ 2nd Div. Arty; HQ's 4th, 5th, 6th, and 22nd FA Bdes, 22nd How. Bde; 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, l8th, 19th, 20th, 21st Btys; 104th, 105th, 106th, and 117th (How.) Btys; V2A HTM Bty; X2A, Y2A, Z2A, 3rd, and 4th MTM Btys; 2nd DAC; 4th, 5th, and 6th FA Bde, and 22nd How. Bde Amn Colms.
• 50. 3rd Aust. Divisional Artillery, 1916 - 1919 : Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 231, 26.8.1916. HQ 3rd Div. Arty; HQ's 7th, 8th, 9th, and 23rd FA Bdes, 23rd How. Bde; 25th, 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, 32nd, 33rd, 34th, 35th, and 36th Btys; 107th, 108th, 109th, and 118th (How.) Btys; V3A HTM Bty; X3A, Y3A, Z3A, 5th, and 6th MTM Btys; 3rd DAC; 7th, 8th, and 9th FA Bde, and 23rd How. Bde Amn Colms.
• 51. 4th Aust. Divisional Artillery, 1916 - 1919 : Auth. HQ ANZ Forces CM No. 17,
  25.2.1916. HQ 4th Div. Arty; HQ's 1Oth, 11th, 12th, and 24th FA Bdes, 24th How.
  Bde; 37th, 38th, 39th, 40th, 41st, 42nd, 43rd, 44th, 45th, 46th, 47th, and 48th Btys; 110th, 111th, 112th, and 119th (How.) Btys; WA HTM Bty; X4A, Y4A, Z4A, 7th, and 8th MTM Btys; 4th DAC; 10th, 11th, 12th FA, and 24th How. Bde Amn Colms.
• 52. 5th Aust. Divisional Artillery, 1916 - 1919 : Auth. HQ ANZ Forces CM No. 17, 25.2.1916. HQ 5th Div. Arty; HQ's 13th, l4th, l5th, and 25th FA Bdes, 25th How. Bde; 49th, 50th, 51st, 52nd, 53rd, 54th, 55th, 56th, 57th, 58th, 59th, and 60th Btys; 113th, 114th, 115th, and 120th (How.) Btys; V5A HTM Bty; X5A, Y5A, Z5A, 9th, and 10th MT M Btys; 5th DAC; 13th, 14th, 15th FA, and 25th How. Bde Amn Colms.
• 53. (Army) Brigades, Australian Field Artillery, 1917 - 1918 : Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 488, 3.2.1917. Replaced by No's 54 to 56 in January 1918. Worn by HQ 3rd, 6th, and 12th (Army) Bdes AFA; 7th, 8th, 9th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 45th, 46th, 47th Btys; 103rd, 106th, and 112th (How.) Btys.
• 54. 3rd (Army) Brigade, A.F.A., 1918 - 1919: Auth. ATO 1059, 8.1.1918.
• 55. 6th (Army) Brigade, A.F.A., 1918 - 1919: Auth. ATO 1059, 8.1.1918.
• 56. 12th (Army) Brigade, A.F.A., 1918 - 1919: Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 1059, 8.1.1918.
• 57. Australian and New Zealand Mounted Divisional Artillery, (see note 44 below) 1916 - 1918: Auth. Aust. and NZ Mtd Div. RO No. 1, para. 4, 18.10.1916. Originally comprised III Brigade RHA(TF), composed of the Leicestershire and Somersetshire Batteries RHA (TF), and IV Brigade RHA(TF), comprising the Inverness and Ayrshire Batteries RHA(TF). This patch was selected from a number of designs after consultation with the RHA brigade and battery commanders, who wished it to be worn on the hat or helmet. On 20.6.1917 the Leicester Battery was transferred from the division, the remaining batteries being grouped as the XVIII Brigade, RHA(TF). The XIX Brigade, RHA(TF) was allotted to the Australian Mounted Division and comprised 'A' and 'B' Batteries HAC, and the 1st/1st Nottinghamshire Battery RHA(TF). Advice has been received to the effect that 'B' Battery HAC did not wear this patch, and it seems unlikely that any of the other batteries of XIX Brigade RHA did either.
  • Note 44 The 10th Battery, Australian Field Artillery, was originally raised in August 1914 as part of the 1st Aust. Light Horse Brigade, but was disbanded in the following month, thereafter all artillery for Australian mounted formations was provided by the British Army.
• 58. 36th Aust. Heavy Artillery Group, 1917 - 1918; and 
  • 36th Aust. Heavy Artillery Brigade, 1918 - 1919: Auth. AIF Order No. 1006, 7.12.1917. Raised from personnel of the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery in May 1915 as the Australian Siege Artillery Brigade (Heavy). Subsequent reinforcements were drawn from the RAGA and the AGA. It was initially redesignated '0' Siege Brigade RGA in September 1915, No's I and 2 Siege Batteries becoming the 54th and 55th (Aust.) Siege Batteries RGA. (see note 45 below) Designated 36th (Aust.) Heavy Artillery Group RGA in early 1916. Raising of a third battery, the 338th (Aust.) Siege Battery, commenced in December 1916 however it was disbanded in August 1917. In November 1917 the group was reorganized to comprise a headquarters and the two Australian batteries (renumbered No. I and No. 2 Aust. Siege Batteries in early 1918), the 155th and 353rd Siege Batteries RGA, and the 140th and 15 1st Heavy Batteries RGA. This patch was allotted to Australian personnel and units of the group only. In February 1918 Group HQ was redesignated HQ 36th (Aust.) Heavy Artillery Brigade, RGA.
    • 45 MO 573/1915, 28.9.1915. MO 325/1916 advised of redesignation to HQ 36th (Aust.) Heavy Artillery Group and Australian Imperial Force Order 1102, 8.2.1918, to HQ 36 (Aust.) Heavy Artillery Brigade. Prior to November 1917 it was common for both batteries to be serving under command of other RGA brigades.

• 59. Australian Heavy Trench Mortar Battery, 1918 - 1919 : Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 1149, 12.3.1918. Raised in March 1918 from the divisional heavy trench mortar batteries.
  
  Distinguishing Colour Patches and Badges, Trench Mortar Batteries
  
  In April 1916 trench mortar batteries were raised on the basis of one trench mortar brigade (one heavy battery and three medium batteries) per division, and one light battery per infantry brigade. Heavy and medium trench mortar batteries were part of the divisional artillery and in March 1918 were reorganized, with all the heavy batteries being absorbed into one Corps heavy trench mortar battery, while the medium batteries were reduced to two per division. Light trench mortar batteries were raised from personnel of the infantry brigade to which they were attached and initially had a non-permanent establishment, i.e. officers were seconded from their battalions for duty with the battery, while other ranks remained on the establishment of their battalion and were shown as 'on command' of the battery for the period of their attachment to it. In July 1917 other rank personnel of light TM batteries were transferred to these batteries on a permanent basis.
  
  HQ Aust. and NZ Forces CM No. 52, of 20.4.1916, and 3rd Aust. Div. Inst., paras 8 and 9, of August 1916, directed personnel of heavy and medium batteries to wear the colour patch of their respective divisional artillery. Personnel of light batteries in Egypt were directed by CM No. 52 to continue wearing the patch of the infantry battalion from which they had been drawn. 'Me first reference to the use of the infantry brigade headquarters patch by personnel of light trench mortar batteries appears to be 3rd Aust. Div. Inst., paras 8 and 9, of August 1916, although there is no evidence that this affected the other four divisions at this stage. First Aust. Division Standing Orders, 1917, Appendix IV, published in July 1917, directed light TM battery personnel of this division to wear the colour patch of their respective brigade headquarters, and the colour plates included in Volume III of the Official War History show it to be general throughout the AIF from at least this point, which conforms to the transfer of personnel from their original units to these batteries on a permanent basis at that time.
  
  AIF Order No. 787, dated 7.8.1917, approved the wearing of a grenade, in blue worsted, on the right sleeve of the service dress jacket, 1/2 inch below the unit colour patch, by members of trench mortar batteries. This was a skill-at-arms badge only, issued on the recommendation of commanding officers, and was worn only while a member was serving with a trench mortar battery. It was not an integral part of the unit colour patch as portrayed by the Official War History. First Aust. Division Standing Orders, 1917, Appendix IV, simply states that "T.M. Batteries wear a light blue grenade in addition [to the respective colour patch].", which may have led to occasional liberal interpretation of the original authority. This distinction was initially approved by a War Office Letter46 of January 1916, and would have first come to the attention of the AIF as Mediterranean Expeditionary Force GRO No. 791, dated 31.1.1916. The sole responsibility however for the approval of badges worn by Australian units rested with the GOC AIF, and it is significant that no mention of this badge is made in HQ A & NZ Forces CM No. 52 which approved distinguishing patches for trench mortar batteries of the AIR There is no particular evidence that use of the grenade commenced officially in the AIF prior to DAG AIF approval on 28.7.1917, and indeed the 3rd Aust. Div. Inst., para. 8, of August 1916, directed that members of its trench mortar batteries were to wear the letters 'T.M.' in a wreath in white worsted embroidery on the cuff of the left sleeve.
  
  
  War Office Letter 20, General No. 1145, QMG 7. British Army Proficiency Badges: Edwards and Langley, p.64. The authority quoted however by AIF Order No. 787 is GRO 1364, undated but possibly also early 1916, issued in France, not Egypt. A photograph of a badge bearing the letters 'T.M.' in a wreath, embroidered in white on khaki and possibly that approved by the 3rd Aust. Division, appears as unidentified on page 127 of British Army Proficiency Badges, the authors having been unable to locate an official British Army authority for it.

• 60. 1st Aust. Divisional Engineers, 1915 - 1919 : Auth. 1 Aust. Div. Order 562, 8.3.1915. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Field Companies.
• 61. 2nd Aust. Divisional Engineers, 1915 - 1919 : Auth. 2 Aust. Div. Instr. para. 2, 3.8.1915. 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Field Companies.
• 62. 3rd Aust. Divisional Engineers, 1916 - 1919: Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 231, 26.8.1916. 9th, 10th and 11th Field Companies.
• 63. 4th Aust. Divisional Engineers, 1916 - 1919 Auth. HQ ANZ Forces CM No. 17, 25.2.1916. 4th, 12th, and 13th Field Companies.
• 64. 5th Aust. Divisional Engineers, 1916 - 1919 Auth. HQ ANZ Forces CM No. 17, 25.2.1916. 8th, 14th, and 15th Field Companies.
• 65. 6th Aust. Divisional Engineers, 1917 : Auth. AAG AIF Letter 15/42, 25.5.1917. Comprised the l6th and l7th Field Companies, raised in March and April respectively, and disbanded in July and September 1917 respectively.
• 66. (a) 1st Field Squadron, AE, 1916 - 1919 : Auth. Aust and NZ Mtd. Div. R.O. No. 1, para. 4, 18.10.1916. According to the Corps history, this unit was known for a period as the Anzac Field Squadron. This colour patch is not known to have been worn by NZ personnel of the squadron, even after a separate New Zealand Field Troop was raised as part of the unit in August 1917.
  • (b) Imperial Field Squadron, RE, (Australian personnel), 1917; and
  • 2nd Field Squadron, AE, 1917 - 1919 : In use from February 1917 by 3rd Field Troop AE (formerly 'C' Field Troop, 1st Field Squadron AE), and possibly the newly raised 4th Field Troop AE. The headquarters and two other troops of this squadron were originally British. Became the Australian Field Squadron on 20.6.1917 with the addition of the 5th Field Troop AE, and was redesignated 2nd Field Squadron AE in November 1917.
  • (c) 'D' Field Troop and Bridging Train, AE, 1917 - 1919 : Raised in September 1917 as 'D' Troop, a corps engineer unit under the administrative command of 1st Field Squadron AE, becoming an independent unit with change of designation in May 1918.
• 67. Field Squadrons A.E., Mounted Divisions : Ref Appendix to the Official History of Australia in the War of 1914 - 1918, Vol. 111. No official authority or reference can be located to confirm that this replaced No. 66 at any stage, nor are samples held by the AWM. A copy of the Aust. and NZ Mtd Div. RO No. I of 18.10.1916 has been sighted by this writer bearing a handwritten initialled note dated 5.11.1948 [?] stating that No. 67 was worn in lieu of No. 66 by all squadrons and troops however its author has failed to leave any evidence supporting his statement.

• 68. 1st Army Troops Company, Aust. Engineers, 1917 - 1919 : Auth., Australian Imperial Force Order 969, 9.11.1917. Raised by reorganization and re-designation of the 16th Field Company.
• 69. Australian Mining Corps, 1916; and
  • Tunnelling Companies, AE, 1916 - 1917 : Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 152, 2.6.1916. Originally created in October 1915 as a mining battalion with a headquarters and three companies. In May 1916 HQ AIF directed that in future these three companies would be employed as separate tunnelling companies (Australian Imperial Force Order 213, 3.8.1916). No's 4, 5, and 6 Aust. Tunnelling Companies were despatched from Australia but were disbanded in August 1916 to reinforce the existing companies. The 'T' shaped colour patch approved for the Corps, and later the individual companies, was universally used in varying colours and designs by tunnelling companies of most British Commonwealth forces during this period. Note: AWM 25 Item No. 89/8 contains a contemporary hand drawn sketch comprising a purple square with a yellow diagonal strip superimposed. A note advises that this patch was known to have been worn by an Australian mining unit circa 1917, however no further information to confirm this statement has been located at this point.
• 70. Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company, 1917 - 1919: Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 679, 29.5.1917. Formed in May 1916 from the headquarters of the Aust. Mining Corps. This may be the unit referred to in the Note to No. 69.
• 71. 1st Aust. Tunnelling Company, 1917 - 1919: Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 906, 12.10.1917.
• 72. 2nd Aust. Tunnelling Company, 1917 - 1919: Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 906, 12.10.1917.
• 73. 3rd Aust. Tunnelling Company, 1917 - 1919: Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 906, 12.10.1917.
• 74. 1st Anzac Topographical Section, 1917 - 1918; and
  • Australian Corps Topographical Section, 1918 - 1919: Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 818, 17.8.1917.
• 75. No. 15 (Aust.) Light Railway Operating Company, 1917 - 1918 : Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 644, 15.5.1917. Raised as No. 2 Section, Aust. Railway Troops, from members of the Victorian Government Railways and was redesignated 1st Aust L.R.O. Coy on 5.3.1918.
• 76. No. 16 (Aust.) Light Railway Operating Company, 1917 - 1918 : Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 644, 15.5.1917. Raised as No.5 Section, Aust. Railway Troops, from members of the Commonwealth Railways and was redesignated 2nd Aust. L.R.O. Coy on 5.3.1918.
• 77. No. 17 (ANZAC) Light Railway Operating Company, 1917 - 1918; and 
  • No. 17 (Aust.) L.R.O. Coy, 1918 : Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 644, 15.5.1917. Formed from the 1st ANZAC Light Railways in March 1917 and was redesignated on 1. 1. 1918 (Australian Imperial Force Order 693, 12.6.1917, and Australian Imperial Force Order 1058, 8.1.1918). Became 3rd Aust. L.R.O. Coy on 5.3.1918.
• 78. No. 35 (Aust.) Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company, 1917 - 1918 : Auth.
  Australian Imperial Force Order 644, 15.5.1917. Raised as No. 4 Section, Aust. Railway Troops, from members of the Queensland, South Australian, Tasmanian and NSW Government Railways and was redesignated 4th Aust. B.G.R.O. Coy on 5.3.1918.
• 79. No. 59 (Aust.) Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company, 1917 - 1918 : Auth.
  Australian Imperial Force Order 644, 15.5.1917. Raised as No. 3 Section, Aust. Railway Troops, from members of the Western Australian Government Railways, served briefly as 59th (Aust.)
  Company, Railway Operating Division RE, and was redesignated 5th Aust. B.G.R.O.
  Coy on 5.3.1918.
• 80. No. 60 (Aust.) Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company, 1917 - 1918 : Auth.
  Australian Imperial Force Order 644, 15.5.1917. Raised as No. I Section, Aust. Railway Troops, from members of the New South Wales Government Railways, served briefly as 60th (Aust.)
  Company, Railway Operating Division RE, and was redesignated 6th Aust. B.G.R.O. Coy on 5.3.1918.
  • Note: The five original Australian railway operating companies were initially known as 'Sections', re-designation to 'Company' occurring vide Australian Imperial Force Order 684, 5.6.1917. In February 1918 the six companies were placed under a Headquarters, Australian Railway Companies, for administrative control and were again redesignated by AIF Order 1141, 5.3.1918. The Corps historian has stated that each company began wearing brass numerals in the centre of its patch from this point, however Australian Imperial Force Order 644 is clear in its intentions and examples from the pre-March 1918 period do exist.
• 81. 1st Aust. Light Railway Operating Company, 1918 - 1919:
• 82. 2nd Aust. Light Railway Operating Company, 1918 - 1919
• 83. 3rd Aust. Light Railway Operating Company, 1918; and 
  •  3rd Aust. Light Railway (Forward) Company, 1918 - 1919:
• 84. 4th Aust. Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company, 1918 - 1919:
• 85. 5th Aust. Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company, 1918 - 1919:
• 86. 6th Aust. Broad Gauge Railway Operating Company, 1918 - 1919:
  • Note: Numerals for No's 71 to 73 were 1/2 inch high metal and No's 75 to 86 were of brass.

• 87. 1st Aust. Divisional Signal Company, 1915 - 1919 Auth. I Aust. Div. Order No. 562, 8.3.1915.
• 88. 2nd Aust. Divisional Signal Company, 1915 - 1919 : Auth. 2 Aust. Div. Instruction, para. 2, 3.8.1915. Formed from No's 3 and 4 Sections, 2nd Signal Coy; No. 2 Section, 3rd Signal Coy; 4th Signal Troop; and part of 1st Divisional Signal Coy.
• 89. 3rd Aust. Divisional Signal Company, 1916 - 1919: Auth. AEFO 231, 26.8.1916.
• 90. 4th Aust. Divisional Signal Company, 1916 - 1919: Auth. HQ Aust. and NZ Forces CM No. 17, 25.2.1916. Formed from the former No.2 Section, 2nd Signal Company, and part of HQ and No. I Section, 1st Divisional Signal Company.
• 91. 5th Aust. Divisional Signal Company, 1916 - 1919: Auth. HQ Aust. and NZ Forces CM No. 17, 25.2.1916. Formed from No. 3 Section, 3rd Signal Company, and part of HQ and No. I Section, 2nd Divisional Signal Company.
• 92. 6th Aust. Divisional Signal Company, 1917 : Auth. AAG AIF Letter No. 15/42, 25.5.1917. Restricted to a nucleus of two infantry brigade signal sections, not even rating a mention in the Corps history.

• 93. Australian Corps Signal Company, 1918 - 1919 : Auth. AEFO 1149, 12.3.1918. Raised on 22.2.1918 from the Corps Heavy Artillery Signal Section, 1st and 2nd Aust. Airline Sections, and Aust. Corps Wireless Section. It has not yet been possible to confirm statements that prior to the issue of this patch, members of some 1 ANZAC Corps signal units were wearing No. 68. It replaced the existing 'K' Corps Signal Company, Royal Engineers, on formation.
  • HQ AIF Signal Section, 1919: No colour patch was allotted to this unit, personnel continuing to wear the patch of their previous unit. Australian Imperial Force Order 1636/1919 directed that NCOs and men on the establishment of the unit would wear the regulation white and blue Signal Service armlet.
• 94 Australian Cavalry Divisional Signal Squadron, 1917 - 1918 : Despite an extensive search by the Australian War Memorial when the existence of this patch first became known to them in 1939, they were unable to locate an official authority. The unit was raised in March 1917 for service in Mesopotamia with an Indian Army cavalry division. It was disbanded in June 1918, with most of its personnel transferring to the 1st Aust. Wireless Signal Squadron. Former members of the unit contacted by the AWM in 1939 were divided in their recollection of when tile patch was issued, one stating that it was issued prior to embarkation in Australia in May 1917, others that it was issued after arrival in Mesopotamia. The unit colour patch was certainly portrayed on a Christmas card issued to members of the Squadron in October 1917.
  • AWM 93, item 12/1/142
• 95. (a) 1st Signal Squadron, A.E., 1916 - 1917, 1918 - 1919; and 
  • Australian and New Zealand Mounted Division Signal Squadron, 1917 - 1918: Auth. A & NZ Mtd Div, RO No. 1, para. 4, 18.10.1916. Included the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Signal Troops, A.E.
  • 95. (b) Australian Pack Wireless Section, 1917 - 1918: Formed in November 1917 for HQ Desert Mounted Column by redesignation of 'C' Troop, Aust. and N.Z. Mounted Division Signal Squadron. Absorbed into 2nd Signal Squadron, A.E., in July 1918.
  • 95. (c) 3rd Signal Troop, A.E., 1917 - 1919: Originally part of the 1st Signal Squadron, A.E., transferring to the Imperial, later the Australian, Mounted Division Signal Squadron, R.E., in February 1917, and to 2nd Signal Squadron, A.E., in July 1918.
  • 95. (d) 2nd Signal Squadron, A.E., 1918 - 1919: Raised in July 1918 for the Australian Mounted Division by absorbing the Aust. Pack Wireless Section, No. 3 Aust. Airline Section, and the AIF Cable Section, and included No's 3, 4, and 5 Signal Troops.
• 96. 4th Signal Troop, A.E., 1917 - 1919: Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 795, 10.8.1917. Raised in February 1917 as part of the 4th Light Horse Brigade. At the time of formation, its parent divisional signal squadron was a British unit, hence the individual patch. A 4th Signal Troop had been raised in March 1915 as part of the original 4th Light Horse Brigade but was absorbed by the 2nd Divisional Signal Company in August 1915.
• 97. 5th Signal Troop, A.E., 1918 - 1919 : Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 1521, 21.1.1919. Raised in July 1918 as part of the 5th Light Horse Brigade. Possibly not issued as the divisional signal squadron was by now wholly Australian however examples do exist.
• 98A. 1st Australian Wireless Signal Squadron, 1918 - 1919: Ref. With Horse and Morse in Mesopotamia, 1927. The unit was raised in January 1916 as the 1st Pack Wireless Signal Troop, forming 'C' Troop, 1st Wireless Squadron R.E. in April 1916. The headquarters and one troop of a wireless squadron were raised in Australia in March 1916, and together with the Australian and New Zealand pack wireless troops already serving in Mesopotamia became the 1st (Australian and New Zealand) Wireless Signal Squadron on July 6th, 1916. The New Zealand troop was replaced by personnel of the disbanded Aust. Cavalry Divisional Signal Squadron in June 1918 and the unit was redesignated on 23.7.1918. No authority for, or date of introduction, can be located for this patch, although the general design, in white worsted on khaki, had been in use as a proficiency badge by members of the unit since formation. It is noted in use at the time of the squadron's last parades as a complete unit in February 1919, and was still in use by 'D' Troop when they were demobilized in December 1919. It was worn on the left hand side of the hat puggaree, as well as on the jacket.
• 98B. 1st Aust. Wireless Signal Squadron: Variation, Military Heraldry Collection, AWM. The design is sewn to the purple background in this example and it is possible that it is of post-war manufacture.
• 98C. 1st Aust. Wireless Signal Squadron: Hand embroidered, a number of variations of this example existing in private collections. Although probably locally manufactured in India or Mesopotamia it is understood that these patches, together with the associated wireless proficiency badges, were also made by the troops' wives and girlfriends in Australia.
• 99. Australian Wireless Sections, 1916 - 1918 : Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 412, 20.12.1916. 'The example held in the Military Heraldry Collection, AWM, measures 4 and 7/8 inches long and 3/4 inch in width. Lettering is 3/8 inch high. In July 1917 authority was given for 1st Anzac Corps Wireless Section to be attached to 'K' Signal Company, while the wireless sub-sections serving with the five divisions (A I, A2, B2, A3, and A4 respectively) were absorbed by their respective divisional signal companies. 1st Anzac Wireless Section was redesignated the Aust. Wireless Section on 1.1.1918 and was absorbed by Aust. Corps Signal Company in March 1918. It is believed that use of this title probably ceased at this point.
• 100A. Signal Sub-Sections, (Army) Brigades, A.F.A., 1917 - 1919 : Auth. Australian Imperial Force Order 794, 10.8.1917.
• 100B. 36th Aust. Heavy Artillery Brigade Signal Sub-Section, 1918 - 1919: Although no authority has been located for this colour patch it is referred to in correspondence between the Director of the AWM and Mr. P.H. Wightman of the Official Historian's staff during the early 1920's, and appears as a sketch in AWM 25, item No. 89/8. Both parties acknowledge its existence however the lack of an authority precluded it from inclusion in the chart appearing in Volume III of the Official War History.

The material on this section of the site is drawn from "Distinguishing Colour Patches of the Australian Military Forces 1915-1951" by Keith Glyde. ISBN 0-6460-36640-8