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In WW2 Australian uniforms were almost identical to the British. |
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Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Navy
The traditional service uniform of both the British Royal Navy and those of Commonwealth nations is a blue-black double-breasted wool tunic with matching visor cap. Only his distinctive brass buttons with the legend "Australia" identify this officer as serving with the Royal Australian Navy. The gold braid on his cuffs shows the rank of Lieutenant (equivalent to Army Captain). His decorations include not only the (Imperial) Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) but also the Conspicuous Gallantry Medal (CGM), which was awarded to Petty Officers and Seamen. |
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The DSC recognizes his heroic actions as an Officer aboard HMAS Yarra, which went down fighting in the Sunda Strait at the Battle of the Java Sea in March 1942. He was one of the few survivors. In addition to these honours, he wears the Africa Star with a silver rosette signifying non Army-related service. This was earned while HMAS Yarra served as an escort vessel on the "Tobruk Ferry" in support of the beleaguered port of Tobruk. It was here as a Petty Officer that he won his CGM. He also displays the Pacific Star, the British Defence Medal, the British War Medal, the Australia Service Medal, and finally, the U.S. Legion of Merit -- another honour bestowed for his deeds at Sunda Strait. As a foreign award, it is correctly worn last even though ranking higher than other decorations. |
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Captain, 2/24th Bn. 9th Division AIF This bloke is a Captain in the Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF). Before the war he was an Accountant. He earned his short term commission "in the field". He served with the 2/24th Battalion of the famous 9th Division AIF who were the backbone of the defence at the Siege of Tobruk in 1941. That is where he won the Victoria Cross, the British Commonwealth's most prestigious gallantry award. Note the wound badge on his left forearm. Note the "T" (for Tobruk) shaped colour patch. |
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At war's end he received the relevant Campaign Medals. His post-war medal rack also shows the DSO he was awarded later in his career, the Mentioned in Despatches Oak-leaf and some medals to signify his attendance at Coronations and the like. Apart from the officially awarded medals he also wears the unofficial but accepted Seige of Tobruk medal. |
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RAAF Flight Lieutenant, DSO & bar, DFC in service dress tunic and forage cap Many RAAF men served with the RAF against the Nazis. When they did, they wore their RAAF uniforms with shoulder arcs bearing the title "Australia." This Flight Lieutenant wears an RAAF four-pocket tunic with the prescribed pale blue shirt and black necktie. He also sports a jaunty forage cap in place of the usual visor cap. RAAF uniforms, though virtually identical in every other respect to those of the RAF, were of a somewhat darker blue and often featured blackened bronze or bakelite (plastic) buttons and insignia in place of the RAF's bright brass. |
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| Unique to the RAAF are the subdued miniature crown and eagle insignia - smaller versions of the RAAF cap insignia - which were placed just above the rank stripes on the cuffs of the service tunic. The four red overseas chevrons on the right sleeve indicate two years of active duty in foreign theatres of operation, with each chevron representing 6 months' service. | |
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RAAF Flight Lieutenant
in
Tropical Uniform and Slouch Hat
Most of the Royal Australian Air Force personnel deployed during World War 2 served in Africa and in the South Pacific, where oppressive heat called for something cooler than the standard blue wool uniform. This Flight Lieutenant wears a cotton "KD" (Khaki Drill) tropical 4-pocket tunic with sewn-in belt and black bakelite (plastic) buttons. Although similar to the Army's KD tunic, the Air Force version is distinguished by its pointed trim at the cuffs. Instead of the prescribed blue wool visor cap, he has chosen to wear his Akubra slouch hat. Attached to the RAAF puggaree with its single blue fold are the tri-color RAAF branch flash and a brass RAAF hat badge. Unlike the Australian Army, which pinned the left brim of their slouch hats to the crown, the RAAF wore the brim flat as shown. |
| RAAF Flight
Lieutenant in BDU jacket and visor cap
Instead of the standard four-pocket tunic, this Flight Lieutenant is wearing the more casual battle dress uniform ("BDU") with his cloth-visored RAAF peaked cap. The cap and badge are identical to the RAF's version except for the darker RAAF blue. Instead of the regulation necktie, he boasts a colorful and decidedly non-regulation silk ascot. The RAAF, like their British cousins, allowed room for individual expression in the wearing of uniforms, especially among pilots. This pilot's wings are embroidered in silk on a wool background that matches his uniform. His decorations are a bit of a puzzle: |
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| Presumably for downing a large number of enemy planes, he has received one of the British Commonwealth's highest military awards, the Distinguished Service Order - not once, but twice (as indicated by the gold lion's head device). How is it, then, that he has avoided the promotion in rank that one might expect to accompany such accolades? Is it perhaps because he is as much of a hell-raiser on the ground as in the sky? How very Australian, if true. His other two ribbons are the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) (little wonder) and the Burma Star with a silver rosette that signifies he is also qualified for the Pacific Star. On the medal itself a clasp is worn. | |
