Metal Uniform Embellishments of the Australian Army

Post 1953 (QEII Series) Vol 1 (Corps and Schools) and Vol 2 (Units and Regiments)

As the titles indicate, these works are intended to catalogue the series of metal uniform embellishments used by all Corps and Units (and similar structural elements) of the Australian Army from 1953 to the date of publication. That period covers a period now passing 60 years of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, whose Cypher (known as “the St Edward’s Crown”) repeatedly features as an integral design element within the vast majority of those uniform insignia.

Every reasonable attempt has been made to catalogue all of the known metal insignia used on Australian Army uniforms during this period, however essentially pictorial guide books of this kind can never be entirely complete, nor can it be absolutely and categorically definitive. There are far too many short-lived, ‘unofficial’, ‘trial’, ‘temporary’, ‘locally-sourced or procured’, ‘withdrawn’ and/or ‘rejected’ uniform insignia items for that to be realistically achieved in a ‘First Edition’ work such as this. There are also gaps in official records to which we have been able to refer and of course, there are weaknesses in the recollections of even the most reliable and sincere memories of serving soldiers and administrators from the relevant period (or from any other period for that matter). The passage of years since 1953 and the destruction of many authoritative records and the loss of many key personnel and their firsthand knowledge over that time, has both added to our difficulty and to our resolve, to produce an accessible reference work… one which current and former Service Personnel (as well as their friends and family), might all find useful. These people deserve no less, since the Citizens of those Nations which neglect to learn the lessons of their own history, are said to be destined to repeat those lessons. So, if in some practical way, this work aids a few of us to remember and to learn a little about the service given to the Country by so many of our fellow Australians, then that may well prove to be this work’s most important and valuable achievement.

Our Books, Metal Uniform Embellishments of the Australian Army are now featured on www.charliebravobooks.com. click here.