The current rising sun badge used since 1991

The Rising Sun badge, also known as the General Service Badge or the Australian Army Badge is the official badge of the Australian Army. The badge is worn on the upturned brim of a slouch hat and is readily identified with the spirit of ANZAC. New recruits into the Australian Army are awarded the badge on the completion of their training. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (759x627, 145 KB)From [1] File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (759x627, 145 KB)From [1] File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Australian Army is Australias military land force. ... Slouch hat during the American Civil War A slouch hat is a wide-brimmed felt hat with a chinstrap most commonly worn as part of a military uniform. ... Simpson and his Donkey An ANZAC soldier gives water to a wounded Turk. ...

In 1902 a badge was urgently sought for the Australian contingents raised after Federation for service in South Africa during the Boer War. The most widely-accepted version of the origin of this badge is that which attributes the selection of its design to a British officer, Major General Sir Edward Hutton the newly appointed General Officer Commanding Australian Military Forces. Hutton had earlier received as a gift from Brigadier General Joseph Gordon, a military acquaintance of long standing, a "Trophy of Arms" comprising mounted cut and thrust swords and triangular Martini Henri bayonets arranged in a semicircle around a brass crown. To Hutton the shield was symbolic of the co-ordination of the Naval and Military Forces of the Commonwealth. Combatants British Empire Orange Free State South African Republic Commanders Sir Redvers Buller Lord Kitchener Lord Roberts Paul Kruger Louis Botha Koos de la Rey Martinus Steyn Christiaan de Wet Casualties 5000 - 6000 Battlefield casualties, 15,000 disease related. ... Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Thomas Henry Hutton, KCB, KCMG (1848–1923) was a British born, Canadian military commander from 1898–1901. ...

The original design which was created in haste was redesigned and proudly worn by soldiers of the First Australian Imperial Force in World War I and the Second Australian Imperial Force in World War II. In 1949, when Corps and Regimental Badges were reintroduced into service the badge was changed again. The wording on the scroll of the "Rising Sun" Badge was changed to read "Australian Military Forces". In 1969 the badge was again modified to incorporate the Federation Star and Torse Wreath from the original 1902 version of the badge and the scroll wording changed to "Australia". In 1991 a new design was produced which returned the design to one similar to that of the original World War I badge. The inscription on the scroll was again changed and now reads - The Australian Army. In 1995 it changed for the last time when Major John Hambridge, the Staff Officer Clothing Support (Technical) changed the metal from 1160 aluminimum back to brass, but with a gold plate, raised the crown and replaced the original peircings as it had in 1914, thus returning to it's traditional layout. The First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from August 15, 1914, following Britains declaration of war on Germany. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ... The Second Australian Imperial Force (2nd AIF) was the name given to the volunteer units of the Australian Army in World War II. The 2nd AIF was formed, from 1939 onwards, to fight overseas: most army units were Militia (reserve) units and under Australian law at the time, Militia troops... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The Australian Army is Australias military land force. ...

Historic badges

Original badge used from 1902-1904

Second version used from 1904-1949

Third version used from 1949-1969

Fourth version used from 1969-1991

References

• Australian Army website
• Australian War Memorial
• www.Anzacday.com