| On 6.5.1942, the
Adjutant-General directed that all square colour patches currently on
order should be reduced to I and 1/2 inch square in size, and that
these dimensions should govern all future supplies to facilitate
production and reduce wastage. Minute,
Adjutant-General, dated 6.5.1942, to the MGO. AA(Vic): CRS B1540, item
36/702.
A grey background of 3/16th inch
wide would be added where necessary for AIF personnel. Contrary to
popular belief this reduction in size affected very few other existing
shapes, and then only for certain new designs approved after May 1942.
Stocks of colour patches already
held at this point continued to be issued as required, and maintenance
stocks were manufactured to the original dimensions. The depiction in
MGO Branch Line Drawings of all pre 1942 colour patches for CMF units
and formations in reduced sizes is incorrect.
Deviations from the approved size, or unusual sizes, are included in
the text relating to each colour patch.
i) Standard oblong, 1915-1946. Superseded (xxv) from 1917. Some post
1942 examples were reduced to 2 inches by I inch.
(ii) Standard ellipse, 1916-1946. Some new designs were approved as 2
and 1/2 inches by I inch from mid 1942.
(iii) Standard diamond, 1915-1946.
(iv) Standard equilateral triangle, 1916-1948. At least three new
designs approved during 1943 are shown as I and 5/8th inch equilateral
triangles in full size draft GRO drawings.
(v) Standard circle, 1916-1946.
(vi) Standard square, 1916-1946.
(vii) 3rd Aust. Army Tank Brigade, 1942-1944. Size shown in GRO
drafts, although actual examples can measure from 2 and 1/2 inches
long and I and 1/2 inches high.
(viii) 1st Aust. Armoured Division, 1941-1945.
(ix) 3rd Aust. Armoured Division, 1943-1945.
(x) 4th Aust. Armoured Brigade, 1943-1946.
(xi) 2nd Aust. Motor Division, 1942-1943.
(xii) Standard square, 1942-1949. It should be noted that many CCF
supplied examples will measure I and 3/4 inches square.
(xiii) I Corps Signals and RAE(M) Non-divisional units, 1928-1942.
(xiv) 11 Corps Signals, 1928-1940.
(xv) 9th Aust. Division, 1942-1946.
(xvi) Independent Companies and Commando units, 1942-1946.
(xvii) Chemical Warfare and Docks units, 1943-1945.
(xviii) Dental and Independent Signals Group, 1942-1945.
(xix) Standard arm of service shape, 1944-1949.
(xx) RAE line of communication units, 1942-1945.
(xxi) Mining and tunnelling engineer units, 1916-1919.
(xxii) Ammunition parks and sub-parks, 1916-1919.
(xxiii) AFC and Topographical Section, 1917-1919.
(xxiv) Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company, 1917-1919.
(xxv) 1st Aust. Division, 1915-1917.
(xxvi) HQ 4th Light Horse Brigade, Camel Battalions and Casualty
Clearing Stations, 1917-1919.
(xxvii) 1st Army Troops Company, 1917-1919.
(xxviii) Dental, 1918-1919 and Dental, 2nd AIF, 1940-1943.
(xxix) Machine Gun Corps, 1916-1919.
(xxx) 11th Aust. Division, 1943-1945.
Woven and embroidered colour
patches:
The dimensions of specific patches
of this type of manufacture are;
| No's
246 and 250: |
2½
inches square |
| No.
1103: |
2¼
inches square |
| No.
1104: |
2
and 1/8th inches square |
| No.
1020: |
3
inches square |
| No's
533, 534, 536: |
2
and 11/16ths inches long and 1 and 5/16 inches high. |
| No's
532 and 537: |
Between
selvedge: 3 and 1/8th inches long and 1 and 3/8th inches high |
| No.
673: |
between
selvedge: 2 inches square |
| No's
1675, 1678: |
Average
2 and 1/8th inches wide and 2 and 3/8th inches high |
| No's
1676, 1677: |
2
inches high and 2¼ inches wide vide MBI 16/1946 in practice
however height is approximately 2 and 3/8th inches. |
|
