Badges, uniforms, equipment & weapons of the AIF at Gallipoli.

Sub category index

The Australian Imperial Force (AIF) only had 1 hat badge. It is the 1904 (3rd) version of the Australian Military Forces General Service badge, often called "The Rising Sun" They were copper, worn oxidised.

<<< Each soldier was issued with 1 hat badge (top, left), 2 collar badges (centre, left) and 2 curved shoulder titles "AUSTRALIA" (bottom, left).

Originally, and even probably at Gallipoli, the men in the Battalions wore their battalion number on the shoulder strap of the uniform. This was replaced by a colour patch system.
A 1st Division Order issued in Egypt in March 1915 stated: 'In order to better distinguish the several units of the Division, coloured patches of cloth will be worn on the sleeve one inch below the shoulder seam. Except in cases of Headquarters of Brigades and the Divisional Artillery, the Engineers and Army Medical Corps, badges will consist of two colours, the lower indicating the formation, the upper the unit etc. Light Horse (4th Light Horse) and Artillery will be divided diagonally, the others horizontally'. See below for some of the colour patches.

Metal badges; Battalion numerals, shoulder titles & Anzac "A" badge
		The brass Anzac "A" badge was worn on the colour patch. It was to signify service at Anzac and was instituted in 1916.
Battalion numerals as discussed above.	The Anzac "A" badge (1916)	More detail

This is how the early AIF units wore the shoulder strap badges.
- Numeral for Unit number
- LH for Light Horse: INF for Infantry. AFA for Aust. Field Artillery & others.
- The curved "AUSTRALIA" title


Light Horse Signal Troop		Army Service Corps shoulder title

Engineers shoulder title		RA Naval Bridging Train shoulder title.