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Category: Colour patches

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AMF & 2nd AIF Service Corps, Medical and Hospital Units 

Australian Army Service Corps units Hospital Ships & Sea Ambulance Transport
Land HQ Troops AASC Casualty Clearing Stations
Line of Communication Area AASC Units Hospitals
Australian Army Medical Corps Convalescent Depots, 1942-1945

For details of these patches

For details of these patches

For details of these patches

For details of these patches

For details of these patches

Australian Army Service Corps (contd)

  • 1157. AASC New Guinea Force, 1942-1945: Auth. GRO 370/1942, 4.9.1942. Despite the demise of New Guinea Force in 1944, this colour patch continued in use until at least late 1945, for example members of 74th Aust. Transport Platoon, 151st Aust. General Transport Company, were still wearing this patch in August 1945, although their unit had been allotted to First Aust. Army in 1944. Worn also by HQ Air Maintenance Companies and Air Transport Supply Platoons.
    • The 151st Aust. Gen. Tpt Coy Association has advised however that at the same time other subunits of the company were wearing No. 1647. Telephone conversation with the Victorian 1997 Anzac Day reunion organiser, Mr. Frank Robb, on 24.4.1997. The original reference is taken from a photograph which appears on page 329 of Equal to the Task, N. Lindsay.
  • 1158. Motor Transport Units AASC, New Guinea Force: NSW manufacture, Victoria Barracks collection.
  • 1159. Horse Transport Units AASC, New Guinea Force: Western Australian manufacture. Possibly for 7th Aust. Pack Transport Company, raised in New Guinea by expansion of the 1st Independent Light Horse Troop.
  • 1160. Supply Units AASC, New Guinea Force: NSW manufacture, J.A. Ryan Collection, AWM.
  • 1161. BIPOD Units AASC, New Guinea Force: NSW manufacture, J.A. Ryan Collection, AWM. In mid 1943, Bulk Petroleum Storage Companies serving in New Guinea were specifically ordered to wear No. 1157.
  • 1162. Supply Units AASC, Northern Territory Force: Western Australian manufacture.
  • 1163. Horse Transport Units AASC, Tasmania Force: CCF manufacture in compressed felt, and possibly designed for the 4th Aust. Pack Transport Company which was raised on a restricted establishment in February 1943.
  • 1164. Unidentified:
  • 1165. Unidentified:

Land Headquarters Troops AASC

  • 1166. Motor Transport Units AASC, 1943-1945: Auth. GRO 468/1943, 18.6.1943. 
    • Included 127th-139th Aust. General Transport Companies; 
    • LHQ Car Company; 
    • 3rd Aust. Independent Motor Ambulance Convoy.
  • 1167. Pack Transport Companies, AASC, 1943-1945: Auth. GRO 468/1943, 18.6.1943.
  • 1168. Supply Units AASC, 1943-1945: Auth. GRO 468/1943, 18.6.1943. 
    • Included HQ 2/1st Aust. Base Supply Depot; 
    • HQ's 1st and 2nd Aust. Supply Reserve Depots (formerly 4th and 5th Aust. BSD's); 
    • HQ's 2/3rd and 23rd Aust. Supply Depot Companies; 
    • 11th to 13th, and 160th to 177th Aust. Supply Depot Platoons.
  • 1169. Bulk Issue Petrol and Oil Depot Units AASC, 1943-1945: Auth. GRO 468/1943, 18.6.1943. 
    • Included 
      • BIPOD Platoons; 
      • 1st Aust. Mobile Oil Reclamation Unit.
    • Note: Considerable departure from the approved shades of blue, i.e.. University Blue inset on Dark Blue background, will be noted on colour patches for LHQ Troops AASC supplied by manufacturers other than the Commonwealth Clothing Factory.

Line of Communication Area AASC Units

  • 1170. (a) Details, Aust. Army Service Corps, 1925-1930: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 111, 1925. Depot Sub-sections, AASC, of the Citizen Forces were disbanded in 1930 and use of this patch lapsed at this stage. 
    • See also PERMANENT MILITARY FORCES, No. 386.
    • (b) Non-Divisional Units AASC(M), Eastern Command, 1940-1942: Allotted to Eastern Command AASC Troops by AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 5473, 30.1.1940, but according to an ADST NSW L of C Area memo, No. 165834 of 24.8.1942, by August 1942 only supply units of the AASC were still wearing this patch, and of the various units, only 12th Aust. Supply Personnel Company appears to have actually been wearing them. Although a nucleus of Supply Personnel Companies of the AASC(M) were placed on the Order of Battle in each Military District in 1938, these were attached for peacetime training to a convenient divisional or mixed brigade AASC and wore the patch of that unit in most cases until late 1942.
  • 1171. Remount Units AASC(M), 1940-1942: Auth. AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 11754, 28.2.1940, and AAO 28/1941, 28.2.1941. On mobilization the various remount squadrons and troops of the AASC(M) amalgamated with remount depots of the AASC(P) to form remount squadrons.
  • 1172. AASC Aust. Overseas Base Sub-Area, 1940-1941; 
    • Aust. Base and L of C Area Units AASC, 1941-1943: Auth. Colour chart promulgated with AHQ(DOS) Memo No. - 70030, 21.10.1940. 
    • Included 
      • 1st Aust. Base Supply Depot; 
      • Base Transport Platoon; 
      • Special Base Transport Platoon; 
      • Detail Issues Depots; 
      • 2/4th Aust. Reserve Motor Transport Company; 
      • 1st and 2nd Aust. Petrol Depots; 
      • 2/1st Aust. Field Butchery and Cold Storage Unit; 
      • 2/1st Aust. Field Bakery; 
      • Supply Personnel Sections; 
      • 1st Aust. Base Provision Office (Supplies); 
      • Port Detachment AASC.
  • Line of Communication Area Motor Transport Units AASC, 1942-1945: Auth. GRO 663/1942, 11.12.1942. 
    • Units included: 
      • General Transport Companies; 
      • Car Companies and Platoons; 
      • Ambulance Car Companies; 
      • Bridge Companies. 
        • Most ambulance car companies were manned by the AWAS.
  • 1173. Queensland L of C Area:
  • 1174. New South Wales L of C Area:
  • 1175. Victoria L of C Area:
  • 1176. South Australia L of C Area:
  • 1177. Western Australia L of C Area, 1942-1944; 
    • Western Command, 1944-1945:
  • 1178. Tasmania L of C Area:
  • 1179. Northern Territory L of C Area: These units included the general transport companies operating as part of Central Australia Transport Column, formerly the Darwin Overland Maintenance Force, between Alice Springs and Darwin.
  • 1180. New Guinea L of C Area: 

Line of Communication Area Horse Transport and Remount Units AASC, 1942-1945: Auth. GRO 663/1942, 11.12.1942. 

  • Units included 
    • Auxiliary Horse Transport Companies and Platoons; 
    • Horsed Transport Depot; 
    • Remount Squadrons.
  • 1181. Queensland L of C Area: 
    • Initially the 1st and 2nd Aust. Auxiliary Horse Transport Companies, and 
    • 1st Aust. Remount Squadron, comprised 1st Aust. Remount Squadron only from November 1944.
  • 1182. New South Wales L of C Area: 
    • Initially the 
      • 3rd, 4th and 5th Aust. Auxiliary Horse Transport Companies, 
      • 1st Aust. Horsed Transport Depot, and 
      • 2nd Aust. Remount Squadron, comprised 2nd Aust. Remount Squadron only from July 1944.
  • 1183. Victoria L of C Area: 
    • Initially the 
      • 6th and 7th Aust. Auxiliary Horse Transport Companies and 
      • 5th Aust. Remount Squadron, still comprised 6th Aust. Auxiliary Horse Transport Company and 5th Aust. Remount Squadron in March 1945.
  • 1184. South Australia L of C Area: Comprised 8th Aust. Auxiliary Horse Transport Company and 4th Aust. Remount Squadron.
  • 1185. Western Australia L of C Area, 1942-1944; 
    • Western Command, 1944-1945: Initially comprised 9th Aust. Auxiliary Horse Transport Company and 3rd Aust. Remount Squadron, reduced to the latter in 1944.
  • 1186. Tasmania L of C Area: Initially 10th Aust. Auxiliary Horse Transport Company and 6th Aust. Remount Squadron, reduced to one platoon of the former unit in March 1945.
  • 1187. Northern Territory L of C Area: No horsed transport units existed in the Northern Territory and the remount capability was undertaken by 7th Aust. Veterinary Hospital and Remount Section AAVC. A genuine example has been noted in the J.A. Ryan Collection, AWM, however no stocks of this patch were held in the postwar period and all examples noted to date in private collections have been reproductions.
  • 1188. New Guinea L of C Area: The only horsed transport units existing in New Guinea were pack transport companies, which were LHQ units, and there is no evidence that they wore this colour patch. CCF manufactured examples do exist. 

Line of Communication Area Supply Units AASC, 1942-1945: Auth. GRO 663/1942, 11. 12.1942. 

  • Units included: 
    • Supply Personnel Companies; 
    • Detail Issues Depots; 
    • HQ Supply Depot Companies; 
    • Supply Depot Platoons; 
    • District Supply Depots; 
    • HQ Base Supply Depots; 
    • HQ Supply Reserve Depots; 
    • Field Bakeries; 
    • HQ Field Baking Companies; 
    • Baking Platoons; 
    • HQ Field Butchering Companies; 
    • Field Butchering Platoons; 
    • HQ Farms Group; 
    • Farm Companies; 
    • Independent Farm Platoons; 
    • Experimental Farm Platoon; 
    • Marine Food Supply Platoons; 
    • Refrigeration Plant Operating Platoons; 
    • Port Detachments AASC.
  • 1189. Queensland L of C Area:
  • 1190. New South Wales L of C Area:
  • 1191. Victoria L of C Area:
  • 1192. South Australia L of C Area:
  • 1193. Western Australia L of C Area, 1942-1944; 
    • Western Command, 1944-1945:
  • 1194. Tasmania L of C Area:
  • 1195. Northern Territory L of C Area:
  • 1196. New Guinea L of C Area:

Line of Communication Area Bulk Issue Petrol and Oil Depots AASC, 1942-1945:  (BIPODS) Auth. GRO 663/1942, 11.12.1942.

  • 1197. Queensland L of C Area: Comprised No. I and No.2 Queensland L of C BIPODs and initially 2/1st Aust. Petrol Depot. This patch was also retained until early 1945 by 57th Aust. BIPOD Platoon, which was raised from these units in early 1944 for 1st Aust. Beach Group.
  • 1198. New South Wales L of C Area BIPOD: This patch was also retained until early 1945 by the 58th Aust. BIPOD Platoon, which was raised from this unit in early 1944 for 2nd
    Aust. Beach Group.
  • 1199. Victoria L of C Area BIPOD:
  • 1200. South Australia L of C Area BIPOD: Disbanded in 1944.
  • 1201. Western Australia L of C Area BIPOD, 1942-1944: 
    • Western Command BIPOD, 1944-1945:
  • 1202. Tasmania L of C Area BIPOD: Disbanded in 1944.
  • 1203. Northern Territory L of C Area: 
    • Comprised of 
      • Northern Territory BIPOD and 
      • Central Australia BIPOD, later 
      • 1st and 4th Aust. BIPODs, 
      • 11 Aust. L of C Area BIPOD and 
      • 3rd Aust. Bulk Petroleum Storage Company.
  • 1204. New Guinea L of C Area BIPOD: Subsequently 2nd and 3rd Aust. BIPODs.
  • 1205- 12 10. Reserved.

AUSTRALIAN ARMY MEDICAL CORPS

Granted the title 'Royal' in 1948.

Note: (a) AAMC personnel serving with non-medical units, i.e.. Regimental Medical Officers, hygiene personnel, etc. These personnel were directed to wear a colour patch comprising a chocolate centre with grey background, the shape of the colour patch conforming with that of the infantry brigade or formation to which the member was attached. CMF personnel were not to wear the grey background. Auth. Standing Orders AIF 1940, Chapter X, Para. 209(k), and a DGMS Instruction dated 29.9.1942 which was promulgated in unit Routine Orders Part 1, e.g.. RO Pt I No. 479, 1 10th Aust. Anti-Tank Regiment, 21.10.1942. Numerous variations of colour patch design probably exist as a result of varying interpretations of this instruction.

(b) Transport sections of Field Ambulances were AASC units and wore the patch of their appropriate formation AASC. Motor Ambulance Convoys were originally AAMC units with a strong AASC transport and workshop wing (three sections each of 25 ambulances, and one workshop section), by the end of 1942 they had been reorganized completely as AASC units. The transport wings of District Sections, Motor Ambulance Convoys, AAMC, except 7th MD, were reorganized as Ambulance Car Sections (later Ambulance Car Companies) AASC, in August 1942.

  • 1211. AAMC 1st Aust. Corps, 1940-1945: Auth. Colour patch chart promulgated with AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 70030,21.10.1940.
  • 1212.AAMC 2nd Aust. Corps, 1942-1945: Auth. GRO 206/1942,17.7.1942.
  • 1213. AAMC 2nd Aust. Corps: Variation, NSW manufacture, Victoria Barracks Collection.
  • 1214. AAMC 3rd Aust. Corps, 1942-1944: Auth. GRO 206/1942,17.7.1942.
  • 1215. AAMC New Guinea Force, 1942-1945: Auth. GRO 370/1942,4.9.1942.
  • 1216. AAMC New Guinea Force: Variation, NSW manufacture, Victoria Barracks Collection.
  • 1217. AAMC Northern Territory Force, 1943-1945: Auth. GRO 165/1943, 19.2.1943. For issue to all Field Ambulances, Camp Hospitals, the AAMC Detachment I I Aust. L of C Sub-Area, and AAMC personnel serving with non-medical units of 12th Aust. Division and Northern Territory L of C Area.
  • 1218. AAMC 1st Division, 1921-1942; 
    • AAMC 1st Aust. Division, 1942-1945: Auth. SO Clothing Pt III, 1922.
  • 1219. 16th Field Ambulance AAMC: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 111 1922. 
    • This unit was raised on 1.9.1921 as a non-divisional unit attached to the 1st Division, and was disbanded on 30.6.1922. It does not appear that this colour patch was issued, the entire stock still being held in 5 BOD in December 1946. The 16th Field Ambulance was re-raised in 3rd Military District on 1.11.1938 by redesignation of the 5th Cavalry Field Ambulance and initially retained No. 1236 as part of 2nd Cavalry Division.
  • 1220. AAMC 2nd Division, 1921-1942; 
    • AAMC 2nd Aust. Division, 1942-1944: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 1111922.
  • 1221. AAMC 3rd Division, 1921-1942; 
    • AAMC 3rd Aust. Division, 1942-1945: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 1111922.
  • 1222. AAMC 4th Division, 1921-1942; 
    • AAMC 4th Aust. Division, 1942-1944: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 1111922.
  • 1223. 17th Field Ambulance AAMC: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 111 1922. 
    • Raised on 1.9.1921 in 4th Military District as a non-divisional unit attached to the 4th Division, and disbanded on 30.6.1922. A limited quantity of these patches was still held in 2 BOD in January 1947, suggesting that they were issued to the unit. 17th Field Ambulance was re-raised in 2nd Military District on 1.11.1938 by redesignation of 2nd Cavalry Field Ambulance, and wore No. 1235 as it had remained part of 1st Cavalry Division. It reverted to its original designation in 1940, later becoming 2nd Aust. Light Field Ambulance. Another l7th Field Ambulance was raised in 1941 and wore No. 1217.
  • 1224. (a) AAMC 11th Mixed Brigade, 1921-1940; 
    • AAMC Northern Command, 1940- 1942; 
    • AAMC 5th Aust. Division, 1942-1945:
    • (b) AAMC, Field Troops, 5th Military District, 1921-1940; 
      • AAMC Western Command, 1940-1942:
    • (c) AAMC, Field Troops, 6th Military District, 1921-1942; 
      • AAMC Tasmania Force, 1942-1944: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 1111922.
  • 1225. AAMC 6th Aust. Division, 193 9-1945: Ref. MGO Branch Line Drawings, p. 17.
  • 1226. AAMC 7th Aust. Division, 1940-1945: Ref. MGO Branch Line Drawings, p. 17.
  • 1227. AAMC 8th Aust. Division, 1940-1945: Ref. MGO Branch Line Drawings, p.17.
    The majority of medical units and personnel of this formation were captured in Singapore, Ambon, Timor and New Britain between January and March 1942.
  • 1228. AAMC 8th Aust. Division: All examples noted to date of this colour patch are of Western Australian manufacture and there is no confirmation that they were worn. Based on existing evidence, the only probability of wear is by AAMC personnel serving with the 12/14th Aust. Field Regiment.
  • 1229. Unidentified: Military Heraldry Collection, AWM, and apparently issued to personnel, probably those attached to units of the 22nd Aust. Infantry Brigade.
  • 1230. AAMC 9th Aust. Division, 1940-1942: Ref. To Benghazi: Long, Appendix 4. Superseded by No. 1231 in December 1942.
  • 1231. AAMC 9th Aust. Division, 1942-1945: Auth. GRO 225/1943, 12.3.1943.
  • 1232. Unidentified: Of Middle East manufacture, possibly in error for No. 1231.
  • 1233. Unidentified: J.A. Ryan Collection, AWM.
  • - AAMC 10th Aust. Division, 1942: No colour patch is known to have been allotted to units and personnel of this formation.
  • 1234. AAMC l1th Aust. Division: To date no evidence has been located to confirm that HQ I I th Aust. Division at any time sought approval for this patch. Strictly speaking there was no need to do so, as a standing order was already in force that allowed AAMC personnel to wear their colour patch in the shape of the formation to which they belonged. All examples noted to date are of Western Australian manufacture and are unworn.
  • - AAMC 12th Aust. Division: See AAMC Northern Territory Force, No. 1217.
  • 1235. AAMC 1st Cavalry Division, 1921-1942; 
    • AAMC 1st Aust. Motor Division, 1942: Auth. SO Clothing Pt III, 1922.
  • 1236. AAMC 2nd Cavalry Division, 1921-1942; 
    • AAMC 2nd Aust. Motor Division, 1942: Auth. SO Clothing Pt 111, 1922. Superseded by No. 1238 in August 1942.
  • 1237. (a) AAMC 1st Aust. Armoured Division, 1941-1943: Ref. AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 14520, 7.3.1941.
    • (b) 2/14th Aust. Light Field Ambulance AAMC, 1943-1945: Continued to be worn by this unit and other AAMC personnel allotted to units of 1st Aust. Armoured Brigade Group after September 1943.
  • 1238. AAMC 2nd Aust. Motor Division, 1942-1943: Auth. GRO 301/1942, 7.8.1942.
  • 1239. AAMC 3rd Aust. Armoured Division, 1943-1944: Auth. GRO 165/1943, 19.2.1943. The 2/15th Aust. Light Field Ambulance was retained after the disbandment of this formation, being reorganized as the 2/15th Aust. Field Ambulance.
  • 1240. 4th Aust. Light Field Ambulance AAMC, 1943: Auth. GRO 375/1943, 7.5.1943.
    Worn by this unit and AAMC personnel allotted to other units of 3rd Aust. Army Tank Brigade. The initial order for the supply of these colour patches was submitted to Braeside Pty Ltd on 11.2.1943 as MGO Order No. 3724 and woven examples exist. NSW manufactured examples are also extant, that in the J.A. Ryan Collection, AWM, measuring 2 and 1/2 inches by I and 1/2 inches. An example with a green background has been located in another AWM collection however this appears on examination to have been specifically manufactured by the donor.
  • 1241. 6th Aust. Light Field Ambulance AAMC, 1943; 
    • 106th Aust. Light Field Ambulance AAMC, 1943-1945: Auth. GRO 310/1943, 16.4.1943. Worn also by AAMC personnel allotted to other units of 4th Aust. Armoured Brigade.
  • - 20th Aust. Field Ambulance AAMC: An order for 1,000 pairs of colour patches for this unit was placed with the CCF on 10.11.1942 (MGO Order No. 3271). It was shown as LHQ Troops in the Order of Battle, October 1942, but was apparently disbanded before its colour patches could be issued, and in excess of 2,100 patches for this unit were still held by 2 BOD in January 1947. It was reformed in late 1945 as part of B.C.O.F., Japan. No details regarding the actual design of this patch have yet been located.
  • AAMC Companies (Beach Group), 1944-1945: This was a new type of unit raised in early 1944 to meet the needs of amphibious landing operations. The 1st and 2nd AAMC Companies (Beach Group) were raised from the 2/12th and 1st Aust. Field Ambulances respectively and according to a 1st Aust. Corps minute G/3360/SD, dated 21.5.1944, personnel continued to wear the colour patch of their parent unit, ie., AAMC 8th and 1st Aust. Divisions respectively.
  • Sanitary Sections, 1921-1926; Field Hygiene Sections, Cavalry Field Hygiene Sections and Light Field Hygiene Sections, 1926-1942: These units wore the colour patch of the divisional or mixed brigade AAMC to which they were attached. In July 1942 all such units were disbanded, qualified personnel being attached to units and formation headquarters, where they wore the AAMC patch appropriate to that formation.
    • Change in designation was vide AAO 455/1926, 21.8.1926.
  • Mobile Bath Units, 1943-1945: Prior to early 1943, mobile bath units were miscellaneous units and were directed to wear the colour patch of the headquarters of the formation to which they belonged. (AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 70030,21.10.1940.) In January 1943 they became units of the AAMC, and were allotted the colour patch of the formation AAMC to which they belonged.
  • 1242. Details, AAMC (Militia), 1925-1940; 
    • Non-Divisional Units, AAMC, 19401942: Auth. SO Clothing -Pt 111 1925. These details were attached to a convenient field ambulance for training, being expanded into unit cadres from 1936 for casualty clearing stations, garrison companies, and medical and veterinary stores. The history of the medical stores units states that the prewar colour patch of 2nd Military District Depot Medical and Veterinary Stores was "...borrowed from 8th Field Ambulance [to which it was attached for peacetime training] but turned sideways ... brown with a cherry-red cross bar. (Medical Stores, Rob Nash, p.39.) The 'turned sideways' reference has not been confirmed, as 8th Field Ambulance were then wearing the colour patch of AAMC 1st Division, this statement possibly referring to the original patch worn by 8th Aust. Field Ambulance during 1916-1919. Ironically Eastern Command (formerly 2nd MD) Depot Med. & Vet. Stores had ceased to wear any colour patches by late 1941. Following the outbreak of the Second World War this colour patch was approved for wear by full time duty personnel of all medical units other than infantry and cavalry divisional AAMC. (AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 70488,17.9.1941. AA(Vic):MP 508/1, item 36/702/69.)  This included personnel of the AAMC (Dental Services). It appears with a grey background and was progressively superseded by the extensive scheme of non-divisional AAMC patches promulgated in August 1942.
  • 1243. AAMC Aust. Overseas Base Sub-Area, 1940-1941; 
    • AAMC, Aust. Base and L of C Area Units, 1941-1943: Auth. Colour patch chart promulgated with AHQ (DOS) Memo No. 70030, 21.10.1940. 
      • Included 
        • Convalescent Depots; 
        • Base Depots Medical Stores; 
        • Base AAMC Company; 
        • 2/6th Field Hygiene Section;
        • Anti-Malarial Units; 
        • 2/1st and 2/2nd Aust. Mobile Bacteriological Laboratories;
        • Motor Ambulance Convoys (Medical Wings).
  • 1244. AAMC Victoria L of C Area: CCF manufacture, no further details located.
  • 1245. AAMC 7th Military District, 1941-1942: Auth. AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 21986, 3.4.1941. For AAMC personnel of CMF hospitals, etc, at Darwin and other tropical stations not otherwise provided for. Approved as a result of a request for the issue of a colour patch to the 119th General Hospital.

Hospital Ships and Sea Ambulance Transports

Hospital ships were a military unit, administered as an army general hospital. Maintenance and control of their movements were the responsibility of the Royal Australian Navy, while sailing of the vessel was undertaken by personnel of the Merchant Navy.

  • 1246. 2/1st Aust. Hospital Ship, Manunda, 1940-1945: Auth. Colour patch chart promulgated with AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 70030, 21.10.1940. This vessel was a converted passenger liner.
  • 1247. 2/2nd Aust. Hospital Ship, Wanganella, 1941-1945: Ref. AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 35625, 30.5.1941, submitting MGO Order No. 1227 to the CCF for the initial supply of these colour patches. This vessel was a converted passenger liner. This colour patch was also issued to Australian personnel posted to the staff of the 1st Netherlands Military Hospital Ship Oranje between 1941 and 1942.
  • 1248. 3rd Aust. Hospital Ship, Centaur, 1943: Auth. GRO 375/1943, 7.5.1943. This vessel was a converted passenger and cargo vessel, and was torpedoed and sunk on 15.5.1943, on her maiden voyage.
  • 1249. 4th Aust. Hospital Ship, Stradbroke 11, 1943-1944: Auth. GRO 375/1943, 7.5.1943. This vessel differed in operation from the previous three, being a converted luxury yacht requisitioned from the Port Phillip Pilot Service in April 1943 by the army and operated as a sea ambulance transport (AH169). Manning was carried out initially by 4th Aust. Sea Ambulance Transport Company (Small Craft) RAE, then from late 1944 by 13th Aust. Small Ships Company RAE.
  • 1250. 1st Netherlands Military Hospital Ship, Oranje, (AMF Component), 1942-1943: Auth. AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 23643, 5.3.1942. The initial order for supply was placed with the CCF on 14.4.1942. This vessel was a converted fast motor liner, manned, equipped and operated by the Netherlands Government for use on the Middle East-Australia-New Zealand run. Initially the small Australian liaison staff posted to the vessel in 1941 were issued No. 1247 (Letter to DGMS from OC Aust. Troops, 1st Netherlands Military Hospital Ship, dated 2.3.1942. AA(Vic.):MP 508/1, item 36/756/108.) but on 2nd February 1942 the Dutch commander of the ship requested that the inset be changed to orange to represent the colour of the Netherlands Royal House. The Australian staff, greatly increased in 1942, including VAD's, was withdrawn from the vessel in early 1943.
  • 1251. Sea Transport Staff (AAMC Personnel), 1941-1945: Auth. GRO 468/1943, 18.6.1943, however the first reference was AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 36323, dated 3.6.1941, which placed MGO Order No. 1252 with the CCF for the initial supply of this patch. 
    • Worn by the 
      • Sea Ambulance Transport Companies, 
      • Sea Ambulance Medical Staffs and Detachments, Aust. Sea Ambulance Transport. In addition to supplying medical support on transports and sea ambulances returning to Australia from overseas, these personnel also served on hospital launches operated in the Islands by water ambulance convoys and other water transport units of the RAE.

Casualty Clearing Stations

  • 1252. 2/1st Aust. Casualty Clearing Station, 1940-1945: Auth. Colour patch chart promulgated with AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 70030, 21.10.1940. First issued in March 1940.
  • 1253. 2/2nd Aust. Casualty Clearing Station, 1940-1945: Auth. Colour patch chart promulgated with AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 70030,21.10.1940.
  • 1254. 2/3rd Aust. Casualty Clearing Station, 1940-1945: Auth. Colour patch chart promulgated with AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 70030,21.10.1940.
  • 1255. 2/4th Aust. Casualty Clearing Station, 1941-1945: Ref. AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 6158, 31.1.1941, placing MGO Order No. 935 with the CCF for the initial supply of these patches. This unit was captured in Singapore in February 1942.

Note: The authority for No's 1256 to 1266 inclusive is GRO 321/1942, 14.8.1942, unless otherwise stated.

  • 1256. 2nd Aust. C.C.S., 1942-1943; 
    • 102nd Aust. C.C.S., 1943-1945:
  • 1257. 2nd Aust. C.C.S.: Manufactured in NSW c.1942 but not approved or issued. 2nd
    Aust. CCS formed part of 2nd Aust. Corps during this period.
  • 1258. 3rd Aust. C.C.S., 1942-1943; 
    • 103rd Aust. C.C.S., 1943-1944:
  • 1259. 4th Aust. C.C.S., 1942-1943; 
    • 104th Aust. C.C.S., 1943-1945:
  • 1260. 5th Aust. C.C.S., 1942-1943; 
    • 105th Aust. C.C.S., 1943-1945:
  • 1261. 6th Aust. C.C.S., 1942-1943; 
    • 106th Aust. C.C.S., 1943-1945:
  • 1262. 7th Aust. C.C.S., 1942-1943; 
    • 107th Aust. C.C.S., 1943-1944:
  • 1263. 8th Aust. C.C.S., 1942-1943; 
    • 108th Aust. C.C.S., 1943-1945:
  • 1264. 9th Aust. C.C.S., 1942-1943; 
    • 109th Aust. C.C.S., 1943-1945:
  • 1265. 10th Aust. C.C.S., 1942-1943; 
    • 110th Aust. C.C.S., 1943 -1945:
  • 1266. 11th Aust. C.C.S., 1942-1943; 
    • 111th Aust. C.C.S., 1943-1945:

Hospitals

Note: The authority for No's 1267 to 1274 inclusive is the colour patch chart promulgated with AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 70030,21.10.1940.

  • 1267. 2/1st Aust. General Hospital, 1940-1945: Initially supplied by the CCF with a dark
    green inset, not mid green as shown by MGO Branch line drawings. Western Australian manufactured examples of this colour patch were supplied in compressed felt with a light green inset. These should not be confused with No. 1305.
  • 1268. 2/2nd Aust. General Hospital, 1940-1946:
  • - 2nd Aust. Special Hospital, 1940: Raised in the Middle East in July 1940 from personnel of the 2/1st AGH to replace the 3rd Aust. Special Hospital, diverted to the United Kingdom. No colour patch was approved for this unit, which subsequently was reorganized as the nucleus of 8th Aust. Special Hospital.
  • 1269. (a) 3rd Aust. Special Hospital, 1940: Disbanded and absorbed by the 2/3rd AGH
    in the United Kingdom.
  • (b) 2/3rd Aust. General Hospital, 1940-1942: Raised on 30.7.1940 from members of 3rd ASH and other AAMC personnel in the UK. It arrived in Palestine in May 1941 but was not re-established as an active unit, personnel being posted to other hospitals in the Middle East. Personnel were still posted against the establishment of the unit in December 1941 but it was disbanded soon afterwards.
  • 1270. 2/4th Aust. General Hospital, 1940-1945:
  • 1271. 2/5th Aust. General Hospital, 1940-1945:
  • 1272. 2/6th Aust. General Hospital, 1940-1946:
  • 1273. 2/7th Aust. General Hospital, 1940-1945: Initial order for supply was MGO Order
    No. 496, 1.8.1940, submitted to the CCF.
  • 1274. 8th Aust. Special Hospital, 1940-1943; 2/8th Aust. 
    • General Hospital, 1943-1945: These colour patches were first issued in Australia in September 1940.
  • 1275. 2/9th Aust. General Hospital, 1941-1946: Ref MGO Branch Line Drawings, p. 18.
  • 1276. 2/10th Aust. General Hospital, 1941-1945: Ref MGO Branch Line Drawings, p. 18,
    but supplied with a dark green inset. Captured in Singapore in February 1942.
  • 1277. 2/11th Aust. General Hospital, 1942-1945: Ref. MGO Branch Line Drawings, p.18.
    This reference refers to the unit as 11th Aust. Special Hospital, which is incorrect.
  • 1278. 2/11th Aust. General Hospital, 1941-1942: Auth. HQ AIF(ME) Memo No. 3800,
    9.3.1942.  It has not been confirmed when this particular colour patch was issued,
    although the unit had been in the Middle East since mid 1941, leaving for Australia at the
    end of January 1942. Approval was granted in the Middle East without reference to AHQ
    and probably dated well prior to that quoted above. There is some speculation that the
    upright inset in this patch, usually reserved for hospital ships, was approved because the
    hospital was specifically established at Alexandria, Egypt, to receive casualties returning
    by sea from the Western Desert and Greece.
  • 1279. 2/12th Aust. General Hospital, 1941-1945: Ref AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 43527, 27.6.1941, placing the initial order for supply (MGO Order No. 1192) with the CCF.
  • 1280. 2/13th Aust. General Hospital, 1941-1945: Ref AHQ(DOS) Memo No. 57294,
    7.8.1941, MGO Order No. 1282 to the CCF for initial supply. Captured in Singapore in
    February 1942.
  • 14th Aust. Special Hospital, 1941-1942: Auth. HQ AIF(ME) Memo No. 13424, 5.11.1941. Apparently issued in the Middle East prior to the departure of the unit for Australia at the beginning of February 1942. This design was authorised in the Middle East differing from that initially approved by AHQ, and as late as April 1942 the CO 14th ASH was seeking advice from GHQ(Aust.) as to what colour patch was to be worn by his unit. In any case I believe that an error appears in the diagram submitted with HQ AIF(ME) Memo No. 3800 of 9.3.1942 advising the Military Board of approval for this patch; 'brown' for the colour of the inset should probably read 'maroon', as a brown inset was hardly likely to provide a striking contrast against the chocolate brown background.
  • 1282. 14th Aust. Special Hospital, 1942; 
    • 2/14th Aust. General Hospital, 1942-1945: Ref, AHQ(MGO) Memo No. 50296, 18.5.1942.
  • 81st Aust. Special Hospital, 1944-1945: Raised in mid 1944 by redesignation of 81st
    Aust. Camp Hospital (Composite), and wore
    No. 1319.

Note: The authority for No's 1283 to 1321 is GRO 321/1942, 14.8.1942, unless otherwise stated.

  • 1283. 101st Aust. General Hospital, 1942-1946:
    1284. 102nd Aust. General Hospital, 1942-1945; 
    • No. 102 (Holland Park) Military Hospital, 1945-1946:
  • 1285. 103rd Aust. General Hospital, 1942-1945:
  • 1286. 104th Aust. General Hospital, 1942-1946:
  • 1287. No. 105 (Adelaide) Military Hospital, 1942-1946:
  • 1288. 106th Aust. General Hospital, 1942-1946:
  • 1289. 107th Aust. General Hospital, 1942-1946:
  • 1290.108th Aust. General Hospital, 1942-1944:
  • 1291. 109th Aust. General Hospital, 1942-1945: 
    • Raised by expansion of 44th Aust. Camp Hospital.
  • 1292. No. 110 (Perth) Military Hospital, 1942-1946:
  • 1293. 111th Aust. General Hospital, 1942-1945:
  • 1294. No. 112 (Brisbane) Military Hospital, 1942-1946:
  • 1295. No. 113 (Concord) Military Hospital, 1942-1946:
  • 1296. 114th Aust. General Hospital, 1942-1945; 
    • No. 114 (Goulburn) Military Hospital, 1945-1946:
  • 1297. No. 115 (Heidelberg) Military Hospital, 1942-1946:
  • 1298. 116th Aust General Hospital, 1942-1945:
  • 1299. 117th Aust. General Hospital, 1942-1944:
  • 1300. 118th Aust. General Hospital, 1942-1946:
  • 1301. 119th Aust. General Hospital, 1942-1943: 
    • Disbanded and reorganized as 86th Aust. Camp Hospital in November 1943.
  • 1302. 120th Aust. Special Hospital, 1942-1945:
  • 1303. 121st Aust. General Hospital, 1942-1945:
  • 1304. 122nd Aust. Special Hospital, 1942-1945:
  • 1305. 123rd Aust. Special Hospital, 1942-1945:
  • 1306. 124th Aust. Special Hospital, 1942-1946:
  • 1307. 125th Aust. General Hospital, 1943-1944: Auth. GRO 125/1943, 5.2.1943.
  • 1308.126th Aust. Special Hospital, 1943-1945: Auth. GRO 125/1943, 5,2.1943.
  • Note: The 127th AGH was not raised although it appeared briefly on the Order of Battle as an LHQ unit in January 1943.
  • 1309. 128th Aust. General Hospital, 1943-1944: Auth. GRO 672/1943, 17.9.1943.
  • 1310. 129th Aust. General Hospital, 1943-1945: Auth. GRO 672/1943, 17.9.1943,
  • 1311. 130th Aust. General Hospital, 1945-1946: Ref AWM colour patch file card
    register. (Note dated 13.6.1962 by the Director, AWM, regarding information received from a former member of the unit on 11.6.1962, and held on file 449/9/23. This describes a "chocolate square on grey background', however a chart prepared by the BCOF Association which appears on p. 50 of The Forgotten Force, James Wood, shows No. 1650 as being worn by this unit.) Raised in 1945 as a component of BCOF, Japan, and was reorganized as part of the British Commonwealth General Hospital for BCFK in 1950.
  • 1312. 1st Aust. Orthopedic Hospital, 1942-1945
  • 1313. Aust. Women's Hospitals, 1942-1945: Auth. GRO 375/1943, 7.5.1943. 1st, 2nd, & 3rd.
  • 1314. Camp Hospitals, Queensland L of C Area, 1942-1946: 1st to 10th, 47th, 56th, 66th, 67th, 70th, 71st (Composite), and 82nd.
  • 1315. Camp Hospitals, New South Wales L of C Area, 1942-1946: 11th to 18th, 54th, 57th, 61st, 63rd, 68th, 72nd (Composite), and 77th.
  • 1316. Camp Hospitals, Victoria L of C Area, 1942-1946: 19th to 30th, 48th to 51st, 58th, 62nd, 69th, 73rd (Composite), 78th, 79th, and 86th.
  • 1317. Camp Hospitals, South Australia L of C Area, 1942-1945: 32nd to 36th, 52nd, 59th, 64th, and 74th (Composite).
  • 1318. Camp Hospitals, Western Australia L of C Area, 1942-1945: 37th to 40th, 53rd, 60th, 75th (Composite).
  • 1319. Camp Hospitals, Tasmania L of C Area, 1942-1946: 41st, 80th (Composite), 81st
    (Composite).
  • 1320. Camp Hospitals, Northern Territory L of C Area, 1942-1943: Darwin Fortress, 42nd, 45th, 55th, 65th, and 76th (Composite). Superseded by No. 1217 in February 1943.
  • 1321. Camp Hospitals, New Guinea L of C Area, 1942-1945: 46th and 47th Aust. Camp
    Hospitals.

Convalescent Depots, 1942-1945

  • 1322. 2/1st Aust. Convalescent Depot, 1942-1943: Auth. HQ AIF(ME) Memo No. 3800, 9.3.1942.
  • 1323. 2/3rd Aust. Convalescent Depot, 1942: Auth. HQ AIF(ME) Memo No. 3800,
    9.3.1942.
  • - 2/4th Aust. Convalescent Depot: On 26.9.1942, HQ AIF (ME) sought approval from LHQ for the allocation of a colour patch to this unit, to comprise a chocolate square with grey background, with a I inch by 1/2 inch oblong in light blue superimposed. Although no further information is available regarding approval, in view of the allocation during the previous month of an identical design to the 104th Aust. General Hospital, it is unlikely that authority would have been given by LHQ

 

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  

 

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