8183 Sgt Percival Armstrong, MM, WIA



8183 Sergeant Percival Armstrong MM
6th Field Company, Engineers
6th Infantry Brigade
2nd Division
1st Australian Imperial Force

This file last updated 23 July, 2025 13:30

Introduction

Percival Armstrong was born in ANNANDALE, SYDNEY, 1891, the sixth child of Henry James Armstrong and Maria née Cripps who were married in 1884 in SYDNEY (NSW BDM 1531/1884).

The Armstrongs are a large family:

Georgina 
Ivan 
Norman Leslie 

NSW BDM 1458/1877,
NSW BDM 7968/1888
NSW BDM 18250/1894

Henry James 
Hilda Elizabeth 
Ethel M. 

NSW BDM 7365/1885
NSW BDM 11405/1889
NSW BDM 110311/1896

Reginald 
Percival 
Edward A. 

NSW BDM 7693/1887
NSW BDM 19199/1891
NSW BDM 28247/1898



[Rear Lto R]    3810 (Cpl) John Firth (HQ)    757 Cpl Albert Stephen Chapman (2 Sect)   1917 Cpl Walter Donaldson (4 Sect)    6567 Cpl Richard Boase (4 Sect)

8183 Sgt Percival Armstrong (1 Sect)   7083 Cpl Leslie William Brady (3 Sec)    3116 Cpl Daniel Alexander Sievers ( Mtd Sect), Cpl Payne (2 Sect)

[Front]   3344 Sgt William Gough (2 Sect)   1257 Sgt Edward Ernest Bennett (4 Sect) 3281 Sgt George Patrick (HQ)

4525 SM Robert Brownlee    21393 SM George Albert Osbaldston   3284 QMS Tas Clark Ayers (HQ)   3472 Sgt Alexander William Haygarth (Mtd Sect)

[Copyright Australian War Memorial]

He had previously served with the Engineer Volunteer Corps and in his initial application to enlist on 29 Nov 1915 he gives his trade as Carpenter and Shop Fitter which makes it clear that he was employed at his family's Shop and Office Fitting company.

Percival enlisted at SYDNEY TOWN HALL on 1 Feb 1916 and completed further documentation at the ENGINEER DEPOT, MOORE PARK, where he undertook his initial training and was assigned to the Reinforcements the 7th Field Company, Engineers.

Both he and his brother, 4336 CQMS Norman Leslie Armstrong DCM, 2nd Infantry Battalion, registered their Next of Kin as their sister Hilda Elizabeth. This could indicate that their parents were not completely enthralled with the idea of their serving even though they were of an age where they could make their own decisions.

He embarked 14 Apr 1916 from SYDNEY aboard HMT (A40) CERAMIC, and disembarked at ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT 16 May 1916 after the ANZACs had been withdrawn from GALLIPOLI, some to MUDROS which had been the Command Headquarters and Medical facility but most to EGYPT. In EGYPT the staff were in the process of splitting the ANZAC 1st and 2nd Divisions and from the veterans in EGYPT and the relatively raw recruits arriving from AUSTRALIA, creating five Australian Infantry Divisions.

Originally assigned to the 7th Field Company, Engineers, a unit with this name had been created in AUSTRALIA and it was wending its way to EGYPT. Percival, among others was reassigned to the nascent 6th Field Company Engineers.

Percival's documents are listed below. More may come to light when the Australian War Memorial completes its present upgrade of their collection system.

  1. Service Record

  2. Recommendation for Military Medal

  3. Official Citation for Military Medal

  4. WW1 Embarkation Roll

  5. WW1 Nominal Roll

Percival Armstrong MM died 11 Sep 1943 at CHATSWOOD (NSW BDM 17775/1943 and Ryerson Index)

Percival married Edith M. Pickles, in SYDNEY in 1919 [NSW BDM 11232/1919]. Edith, born in REDFERN in 1894 [NSW BDM 28996/1894] is the daughter of Thomas and Christina L. Pickles.

Percival and Edith have a daughter, Valerie M in 1920 [NSW BDM 53859/1920].

Percival Armstrong MM died 11 Sep 1943 at CHATSWOOD [NSW BDM 17775/1943 and Ryerson Index]. I can find no record of his burial even with the full details of his parentage, spouse, daughter and his service.

Abbreviations and Acronyms

Abbreviations or acronyms which have a dotted underline can be expanded by moving the cursor over the term - e.g. WIA. The cursor will be replaced by ? and the expanded abbreviation will be displayed. This is gradually being incorporated into the site, replacing the the current expansion of abbreviations. There may be a discernable delay of about a second before the expansion is first provided.

There is also a separate list of abbreviations which is available through the menu at the top of this page or the hyperlink here.  Abbreviations are inconsistent, even within a single occurence where a term is abbreviated.

There are a number of sources for tracing abbreviations used in Australian and New Zealand service records. Those used when operating with the British or US forces can generally be found, especially in World War 1. Abbreviations used solely within Australia in WW2 are most difficult to trace, particularly when they are regional. Sometimes a 'best guess' is the only answer.

Duplicated Pages

Some of the service information may appear to be duplicated although individual occurrences are not in the same order and different abbreviations used. This occurs when the unit and Army records are amalgamated upon discharge or death in Service.

Service Numbers

Service numbers in WW1 were unique to the unit (e.g. Battalion) or Corps (e.g. Artillery). In WW2 Service Numbers were unique to the State in which they were allotted. For further information about identity numbers for Service personnel, see Regimental and Service Numbers

Dates of Occurrence and Reporting

The date of reporting an incident may be hours, days or months after the date on which incident actually occurred.

The original service record is amended only when the incident is reported which means that events are not necessarily recorded in in strict chronological sequence. This is the date shown on the left of the page of the original record, and also on the left in my transcription but readers should note that at times there may be no date of reporting at all, particularly when service personel are repatriated for discharge at the end of hostilities.

To assist the reader, when transcribing the military record I have done my best to record events in their chronological sequence. This is date is on the right of the page of the original record and also on the right in my transcription.

For clarity I have transcribed all dates into the format d MMM yyyy.

AUSTRALIAN   

Australian Coat of Arms

   MILITARY FORCES

AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE

Attestation paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad

No.   

   8183   

Name   

   ARMSTRONG, Percival    M.M.

Unit   

7th Field Coy, Engineers
6th Field Coy, Engineers

Joined   

29 Nov 1915

Questions to be put to the Person Enlisting before Attestation

1.

What is your Name?

1.

Armstrong, Percival

2.

Near what Parish or Town were you born?

2.

In the Parish of   Annandale
near the City of   Sydney
in the County of nbsp;  Cumberland

3.

Are you a natural born British Subject or a Naturalised British Subject? (N.B. — If the latter, papers to be shown)

3.

Yes

4.

What is your age?

4.

24-4/12

5.

What is your trade or calling?

5.

Carpenter

6.

Are you, or have you been, an Apprentice? If so, where, to whom, and for what period?

6.

No

7.

Are you married?

7.

[No entry]

8.

Who is your next of kin? (Address to be stated)

8.

Sister Miss Hilda Armstrong
[Final address]
The Rotoscill Coy 608-614 Harriet St
97 O'Shannessey St
Ultimo Sydney NSW

9.

Have you ever been convicted by the Civil Power?

9.

No

10.

Have you ever been discharged from any part of His Majesty's Forces, with Ignomony, or as Incorrigible and Worthless, or on account of Conviction of Felony, or of a Sentence of Penal Servitude, or have you been dismissed with Disgrace from the Navy?

10.

No

11.

Do you now belong to, or have you ever served in, His Majesty's army, the Marines, the Militia, the Militia, Reserve, the Territorial Force, Royal Navy or Colonial Forces? If so, state which, and if not now serving, state cause of discharge.

11.

Engineer (Volunteer Corps)

12.

Have you stated the whole, if any, of your previous service?

12.

Yes

13.

Have you ever been rejected as unfit for His Majesty's Service? If so, on what grounds?

13.

No

14.

(For married men, widowers with children, and soldier who are the sole support of widowed mother) - Do you understand that no separation allowance will be issue in respect of your service beyond an amount which together with pay would reach eight shillings [$A0.80¢] per day?

14.

Yes

15.

Are you prepared to undergo innoculations against small pox and enteric fever?

15.

Yes

I,     Percival Armstrong     do solemnly declare that the above answers made by me to the above questions are true, and I am will and hereby voluntarily agree to serve in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia within or beyond the limits of the Commonwealth.

* And I further agree to allot not less than two fifths / three fifths of the pay payable to me from time to time during my service for the support of my wife / wife and children.

Date    25/ 9 / 15   

   Signature of person enlisted   

* This clause should be struck out in the case of unmarried men or widowers without children under 18 years of age

†Two-fifths must be allotted to the wife, and if there are children three-fifths must be allotted.

CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTING OFFICER

The foregoing questions were read to the person enlisted in my presence.

I have taken care that he understands each question, and his answer to each question has been duly entered as replied to by him.

I have examined his naturalisation papers and am of opinion that they are correct.

Date    1 Feb 1916    

   Signature of Attesting Officer   

OATH TO BE TAKEN BY PERSON BEING ENLISTED

I,     Percival Armstrong    swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force from 1 Feb 1915 until the end of the War, and a further period of four months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed or removed therefrom; and that I will resist His Majesty's enemies and cause His Majesty's peace to be kept and maintained; and that I will in all matters appertaining to my service, faithfully discharge my duty according to law.

   SO HELP ME GOD

   Signature of Person Enlisted      

Taken and subscribed at     Sydney    in the State of     NSW     this     1st     day of     February    1916 before me :—

   Signature of Attesting Officer      

* A person enlisting who objects to taking an oath may make an afformation in accordance with the Third Schedule of the Act, and the above form must be amended accordingly. All amendments must be initialed by the Attesting Officer.

Description of    ARMSTRONG, Percival     on Enlistment

Age   24   years    —   2 months

Distinctive Marks

Nil

Height   5   feet     9    inches

[174cm]

Weight      134    lbs

[61Kg]

Chest    37 — 38½   inches

[86.5cm — 94cm]

Complexion   Dark

Eyes   Hazel

Hair   Black

Religious Denomination   Cong

[Congregational]

CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINATION

I have examined the above-named person and find that he does not present any of the following conditions, viz:—

Scrofula; phthisis; syphilis; impaired constitution; defective intelligence, defects of vision, voice or hearing; hernia; haemorhoids; varicose veins, beyond a limited extent; marked varicocele with unusually pendant testicle; inveterate cutaneous disease; chronic ulcers; traces of corporal punishment, or evidence of having been marked with the letters D. or B.C.; contracted or deformed chest abnormal curvature of spine; or any other disease or physical defect calculated to unfit him for the duties of a soldier.

He can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints and limbs; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description.

I consider him fit for active service.

Date    29 Nov 1915    

Place    Sydney    

    Signature of Examining Medical Officer    

CERTIFICATE OF COMMANDING OFFICER

I CERTIFY that this attestation of the above-named person is correct and that the required forms have been complied with. I according approve and appoint him to 7th Field Coy, Engineers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Date   6 Apr 15    

Place   Engineer Depot, Moore Park   

    Signature of Officer Commanding    

Chronological Events

In developing the chronological list of events for this record, I have repeated the convention later developed by clerical staff when examining overseas events, of numbering overseas activities in red as it assists in developing a chronological list. The numbers e.g. 43 can safely be ignored unless attempting to match my record and interpretation with an event in the actual Service Record.

Rank
Description

Medical       Other

Date Remarks

Recruit

Enlisted

1 Feb 1916

Sydney N.S.W.

Sapper

Basic Training completed.

Engineer Depot, Moore Park

Sapper

Embarked SYDNEY AUSTRALIA aboard HMAT (A40) CERAMIC for EGYPT

14 Apr 1916

Sapper

1  Disembarked TEL-EL-KEBIR from HMAT (A40) "CERAMIC" and joined Misc.Reinfmts

16 May 1916

Nominal Roll

Sapper

2 Embarked WT(?) Britore from ALEXANDRIA

28 May 1916

Nominal Roll

Sapper

3 Embarked for FRANCE ex CHRISTCHURCH

16 Aug 1916

Sapper

4 Taken on Strength of 6th Field Company Engineers

16 Sep 1916

BELGIUM

Temp 2nd Corporal

5 To be Temporary 2nd Corporal

28 Jan 1917

FRANCE
A former rank in the Royal Engineers and Army Ordnance Corps. 2nd Corporals wore one stripe like Lance-Corporals, but unlike the latter, which was an appointment, they held full non- commissioned rank.

2nd Corporal

6 Promoted 2nd Corporal

28 Jan 1917

Temp Corporal

7 To be Temporary Corporal

13 May 1917

Temp Corporal

8 Transferred to 17th Field Coy, Engineers

20 May 1917

2nd Corporal

9 Reverts to 2nd Corporal on transfer to 17 Field Coy

20 May 1917

[16th & 17th Field Coys were formed to be a part of the expansion to create the 6th Division. Australians in the UK recovering from injuries or illness were diverted from returning to their original units and other experienced soldiers were posted in to form the backbone of the new units. The Division was disbanded before it saw action and the soldiers used to reinforce the heavy losses of existing units.]

2nd Corporal

10 Taken on strength 17 Field Coy from 6th Field Coy

26 May 1917

2nd Corporal

11 Awarded Military Medal

3/4 May 1917

Original entry undated and out of sequence

Citation for the award MILITARY MEDAL to 8183 2nd Corporal P. Armstrong

On night 3-4 May 1918 2nd/Cpl Armstrong was in charge of a party of sappers and infantry constructing a forward communications trennch in U. 29.a.(Sheet 51 B) The work was of vital importance and was carried out under very heavy shelling and machine gun fire.

Throughout the work 2nd/Cpl Armstrong set a splendid example by his coolness. When the party was being withdrawn after completing the task 2nd/Cpl Armstrong noticed a man lying badly wounded. He left his party to find a stretcher with which he returned through a heavy barrage and then helped to carry the wounded man back to the nearest Dressing Station.

2nd/Cpl Armstrong has been an invaluable member of this Coy throughout the past nine months.

(SGDP) N.M. SMYTH
Major-General
Commanding 2nd Aust Division

Temp Corporal

12 Promoted Corporal

5 May 1917

See next entry

Corporal

13  Corrigendum  
18 Aug 1917 which reads promoted Cpl 5/5/17 Delete complete.
Entry in lieu thereof read T/Cpl promoted Cpl 21/5/17

1 Sep 1917

Corporal

14 Nom Roll M/in 17 Field Coy from B'sea

PARKHOUSE

13 Sep 1917

Corporal

15 M/o No 3 Camp PARKHOUSE to No 10 CAMP [illegible]

13 Sep 1917

PARKHOUSE

Corporal

16 Transferred to 6 Field Coy on marching out to ETD BRIGHTLINGSEA

9 Nov 1917

[This and the next entry out of sequence]

Corporal

16a Marched in on transfer from 17 Field Coy

9 Nov 1917

Corporal

17 Proceeded O/seas [to] FRANCE ex [Engineeer Training Camp] B'lingsea

17 Nov 1917

via SOUTHAMPTON

Corporal

18  Marched in AGBD ex ENGLAND

18 Nov 1917

ROUELLES

Corporal

19 Marched out to 2 Div Engrs

21 Nov 1917

ROUELLES

Corporal

20 Taken on Strength of 6 Field Coy from AGBD ex Eng Rfts (late 17 Field Coy AE) as Corporal

23 Nov 1917

BELGIUM

Cpl

Letter to Hilda Armstrong from Officer Commanding Base Records Office, MELBOURNE provided a copy of extract from Fourth Supplement No 330172 of the London Gazette dated 6 Jul 1917, relating to the conspicuous service provided by her brother No. 8183 Second Corporal P. Armstrong, 7th [sic] Field Company, Engineers and the King's award of the Military Medal for Bravery in the Field.

30 Nov 1917

2nd Corporal

Receives the Military Medal from Gen Monash

20 Jan 1918

Temporary Sergeant

21 Promoted Temporary Sergeant vice Powers evacuated to base

27 Jul 1918

FRANCE

Temp Sergeant

22 To PARIS on leave

4 Aug 1918

FRANCE

Temp Sergeant

23 Rejoined ex leave

14 Aug 1918

FRANCE

Corporal

24 Reverts to Corporal on return of Sgt Bennett

6 Oct 1918

FIELD

Lance Sergeant

25 Promoted Lance Sergeant to complete Est

See WW1 Australian Army Rank Structures - Lance Sergeant

6 Oct 1918

FIELD [The "Establishment" is the document which lists a unit's staffing by rank and appointment and the crew-served weapons to which it is entitled. The Commanding Officer may promote a soldier temporarily to fill a temporary vacancy in the establishment due to hospitalisation, temporary transfer, leave etc or substantively to fill a permanent vacancy due to death, repatriation, transfer etc.]

Lance Sergeant

26 On leave to UK

1 Nov 1918

FIELD

Lance Sergeant

27 Rejoined from leave

18 Nov 1918

FIELD

Sergeant

28 Promoted Sergeant vice Davey transfered

9 Nov 1918

FRANCE

Sergeant

29 Detached to 2 Aust Pnr Bn

13 Jan 1919

FRANCE

Sergeant

29a Rejoined from 2 Aust Pnr Bn

16 Jan 1919

FRANCE

Sergeant

30 To ENGLAND for Non Military Employment

14 Feb 1919

[Gen Monash was now responsible for the repatriation of soldiers, but limited transport ships enabled him to introduce a system of pre-discharge training, in ENGLAND, FRANCE and BELGIUM for his soldiers which might enable them to have gainful employment on return to Australia. 934 Pte Albert E. Mitchell undertook training at the Belgian Universite du Travail which I understand to be equivalent to the modern-day Australian Tertiary and Further Education (TAFE).]

Sergeant

31 Disembarked SOUTHAMPTON

23 Feb 1919

ENGLAND (Nominal Roll)

Sergeant

32 Marched in to AASC Trg Dep ex France

24 Feb 1919

ENGLAND

Sergeant

33 Marched out from AASC Trg Dep to Rep & Demob Dept LONDON

26 Feb 1919

Sergeant

Granted Leave from 27 Feb 1919 to 27 Apr 1919 with pay and subsistence conditions on letter from employer. Subs 6/- per day from 24 Feb 1919 to 27 Apr 1919 now approved (letter rec from emp amended by [illegible]
Railway warrants to and from Birmingham value 12/4d Reason &emdash; Elect Plating
Attending &emdash W Canning & Co
133-137 Hampton St, Birmingham
Address as stated
Sgt &emdash; To SAIT Hdqs (NNE) London
Sgt &emdash; Relayed to 6FCE

27 Feb 1919 - 27 Apr 1919

The business owner reports that "Sgt Armstrong has regularly attended his employment, and has given us every satisfaction in the discharge of his duties."
Electroplating is definitely a good extension of skills for a family firm whose main business is shopfitting.

Sergeant

Marches in to No 2 Group, Sutton Very at HQ London
Leave expired 27 May 1919 Marched out to DAAG for disposal

28 May 1919

Sergeant

Embarks for return to Australia aboard HMAT Devanka.

8 May 1919

Disembarks 2 MD

26 Jun 1919

Sergeant

Discharged from the Army at 2 MD

10 Aug 1919

Annotations in his record note that he has had no disciplinary action taken and that he retires as "Totally and Permanently Employable".

ex-Serviceman

Completes Statutory Declaration re loss of Returned Service Badge when coat stolen from office.

29 Oct 1930

The Return from Service badge was then and is now a highly valued item. See the bronze badge illustrated at the bottom of this record.

Medals and Dress Embellishments

Military Medal, 1914-15 Star (Not entitled), British War Medal 1914-1920, Victory Medal.

Not entitled to wear ANZAC 'A'.

Not entitled to wear wound stripe.

Three Long Service Stripes and Four Overseas Service Chevrons.

Use the hyperlinks or scroll down to see further information on the badges.

Background - Engineer Field Companies

[Information from https://rslvirtualwarmemorial.org.au]
UNIT SHOULDER PATCH
6TH FIELD COMPANY ENGINEERS


NOT ENTITLED TO WEAR ANZAC 'A'

Each Division had three Field Engineer Companies under command, numbered the same as the Brigades of the Division. The 2nd Division thus had the 5th, 6th and 7th Field Companies of Engineers on strength.

During WW 1 the Engineers undertook a raft of tasks broadly divided into mobility, counter mobility and construction as well as survey and mapping, and specialised tunnelling and mining operations. The Field Companies' scope of works concentrated on the former rather than the latter.

They undertook a broad range of tasks including preparation and supervision of the construction of defensive and gun positions, excavation of trenches and dugouts, erection of wire and other obstacles, preparation of command posts, signalling and water supply, field engineering, road and bridge construction and route maintenance. They also undertook obstacle breaching and crossing. For example in the lead up to the attack at Mont St Quentin the Engineers were required to carry out two river crossing / bridging operations.

Engineers also had responsibility for signalling although this function became more specialised as the war progressed, eventually leading to the creation of a separate Signals Corps.

2nd Division Battle Honours

Pozieres, Mouquet Farm, Flers, Malt Trench, Lagnicourt, Bullecourt, Menin Road, Broodseinde Ridge, Passchendaele, Vill-sur-Ancre, Morlancourt, Hamel, Villers- Brettonneux Herleville, Berbécourt, Bianches, Mont St. Quentin, Beaurevoire Line, Montbrehain

Military Medal

[Extracts from Ribbons and Medals: Naval, Military, Air Force and Civil, Captain H. Taprell Dorling, DSO RN,
George Philip & Son, 33 Fleet Street, London EC4, 1940 & British Gallantry Awards, P.E. Abbott and J.M.A. Tamplin, Guiness Superlatives, Middlesex, 1971]

On 25 March 1916, King George V. instituted by Royal Warrant a new medal to be awarded to warrant officers,non-commissioned officers and men of the Army for individual or associated acts of bravery brought to notice be the recommendation of a Commander-in-Chief in the field.

The medal, which is silver, is designated "The Military Medal" and bears on the obverse, the words "For Bravery in the Field" encircled by a wreath and surmounted by the Royal Cypher and Crown. The medal is 1.42 inches in diameter and is mounted on an ornate scroll suspender.

The medal is worn on the left breast immediately before war medals and the 1¼ inch ribbon is dark blue, having in the centre three white and two crimson ⅛ inch alternating stripes.

The award may be made to men and women for devotion to duty under fire, and bars may be awarded for further services. Recipients are allowed to use the letters MM after their names.

The Military Medal is a level 3 award, positioned after the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) and above the Mentioned in Despatched (MID), and was the soldiers' equivalent of the Military Cross for officers.

As a level 3 award, The Military Medal was superceded by the Medal for Gallantry in the Australian Honours system, after the Imperial Honours System was closed to Australian Service Personnel. The highest award for gallantry in the field under the Australian system is the Victoria Cross for Australia (VC), followed, in order, by the Star of Gallantry (SG), the Medal for Gallantry (MG) and the Commendation for Gallantry.

1914-15 Star

[Extract from Ribbons and Medals: Naval, Military, Air Force and Civil, Captain H. Taprell Dorling, DSO RN,
George Philip & Son, 33 Fleet Street, London EC4, 1940]
1914-15 Star

The decoration consists of a four-pointed star in bright bronze as shown, with the date 1914-15 on the central scroll. The reverse is plain, and is stamped with the name and unit of the recipient. The ribbon is red, white and blue, shaded and watered, worn with the red nearest the centre of the breast. It is atached to the medal through a ring.

It is similar in shape and description to the 1914 Star, to which few, if any, Australians were entitled. Those entitled were those who had already served with the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (AN&MEF) in the operations to capture German New Guinea in 1914.

The decoration, sanctioned in 1918, was issued "to all officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of the British, Dominion, Colonial and Indian Forces, including civilian medical practitioners, nursing sisters, nurses and others eployed with military hospitals, who actually served on the establishment of a unit in a theatre of war as defined in Appendix 'A'. Individuals in possession of the 1914 Star will not be eligible for the award of this decoration."

Appendix 'A' included the Western, Eastern, Egyptian, African, Asiatic and Australasian Theatres of war, with commencement dates individual to countries and campaigns.

British War Medal 1914-20

[Extract from Ribbons and Medals: Naval, Military, Air Force and Civil, Captain H. Taprell Dorling, DSO RN,
George Philip & Son, 33 Fleet Street, London EC4, 1940]
British War Medal

This medal was approved by King George V in 1919 to record the bringing of the war to a successful conclusion and the arduous services rendered by His Majesty's Forces.

The medal, which is supended from its ribbon by means of a straight clasp, without swivel, bears on the obverse the effigy of His Majesty - exactly similar to that on a half-crown - with the legend 'Georgivus V : Omn : Rex et Ind : Imp'.

The reverse bears a design which represents St George on horseback, trampling underfoot the eagle shield of the central powers and a skull and crossbones, the emblems of death. Overhead is the risen sun of victory. The male figure, rather than a symbolical female one, was chosen because man had borne the brunt of the fighting. The figure was mounted on horseback as symbolical of man's mind controlling force (represented by the horse) of far greater strength than his own. The design is thus also symbolical of the mechanical and scientific appliances which helped so largely to win the war.

The ribbon has a orange watered centre with stripes of white and black at each side and with borders of royal blue. It is stated that the colours have no particular signification.

Victory Medal

[Extract from Ribbons and Medals: Naval, Military, Air Force and Civil, Captain H. Taprell Dorling, DSO RN,
George Philip & Son, 33 Fleet Street, London EC4, 1940]

This medal, of bronze, bears on the obverse a winged figure of Victory, full length in the middle of the medal and full face; the borders and the backgound plain, without either incription or date. On the reverse is an inscription. "The Great War for Civilization." and either the names of the different Allied and Associated Powers, or their coats of arms.

The rim is plain, and the medal hangs from a ring. The ribbon is red in the centre, with green and violet on either side shaded to form the colours of two rainbows.

It has also been approved that any officer or man who has been "mentioned in despatches" shall wear a small bronze oak leaf on the ribbon of this medal. Only one oak leaf is so worn, no matter how many "mentions" the wearer may have received.

The medal is designed to obviate the exchange of Allied Commemorative war medals, and is issued only to those who actually served on the establishment of a unit or ship in a theatre of war. [This is an important distinction, as those Australians who served only in Australia, or only in Australia and England, were not entitled to the award.]

The Rising Sun Badge

This version of the Rising Sun Badge was worn by soldiers of the 1st and 2nd Australian Imperial Forces, and the badge has become an integral part of the Digger tradition.

Worn on the the upturned brim of the slouch hat, it is readily identified with the spirit of ANZAC.

There are a number of versions of the genesis of the badge, the most widely accepted being that it derived from a Trophy of Arms - various swords and bayonets mounted on  a semi-circular display in Victoria Barracks, Melbourne.

The original version worn in South Africa was modified in 1904 and worn by Australian soldiers through two World Wars.

Later changes were made to the style of the crown and the wording on the scroll. The "King's Crown" is the one shown to the left, while arches of the "Queen's Crown" rise at the same angle as the base of the crown, curve at their highest point to a level mid-way on the orb below the cross and then down to below the orb.

In 1949 the scroll was changed to read "Australian Military Forces".

In 1969 the badge was modified to incorporate the 7-pointed Federation Star with a central Queen's crown over the Torse Wreath (a twisted roll of fabric) from the original 1902 version, and the scroll wording changed to "Australia".

In the 75th anniversary year of the the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli, there was a drive to return to traditional accoutrements worn by Australian soldiers during the World Wars, which clearly identify the Australian Army. The Queen's crown returned to its central position and the scroll now reads "The Australian Army'.

Wound Stripe

Army Order No.204 Headquarters, 1st A.N.Z.A.C., 9th August, 1916. (slightly amended for layout)
DISTINCTIONS FOR OFFICERS AND SOLDIERS WHO HAVE BEEN WOUNDED

Wound Stripes

The following distinction in dress will be worn on the service dress jacket by all officers and soldiers who have been wounded in any of the campaigns since 4th August 1914 :

    Stripes of gold Russia braid No.1, two inches [2.5cm] in length sewn perpendicularly on the left forearm sleeve of the jacket to mark each occasion on which wounded.

    In the case of officers, the lower end of the first strip of gold braid will be immediately above the upper point of the flap on the cuff.

    Warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men will wear the gold braid on the left forearm sleeve, the lower edge of the braid to be three inches from the bottom of the sleeve.

    Subsequent occasions on which wounded, will be placed on either side of the original one at half inch interval.

    Gold braid and sews will be obtained free on indent from the Army Ordnance Department; the sewing on will be carried out regimentally without expense to the public.

Overseas Service Chevrons

[http://au.geocities.com/fortysecondbattalion/level2/reference/01nos-standards.htm]
[Image from http://www.diggerhistory.info]

Overseas Service Chevrons

Australian Imperial Force Order No.1053, January 1918 (Slightly amended for layout)

His Majesty the King has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of chevrons to denote service overseas since the 4th August 1914.

    Chevrons of two colours have been approved.

      The first chevron if earned on or before 31st December 1914, will be red.

      If earned on or after 1st January 1915, it will be blue.

      All additional chevrons after the first will be blue.

    The chevrons will be worsted embroidery, 1/4 inch [0.63cm] in width, the arms 4 inches [10.2cm] long. They will be worn inverted on the right forearm:

    In the case of officers, the apex of the lowest chevron will be 1 inch [2.5cm] above the upper point of the flap on the cuff.

    In the case of warrant-officers, non-commissioned officers and men, the apex of the lowest chevron will be midway between the seams and four inches [10.2cm] above the bottom edge of the sleeve.

    The red chevron will be worn below the blue one. They will not be worn on greatcoats.

    In the case of Australians, the first chevron was earned the date the individual left Australia. Additional chevrons were awarded for each successive aggregate period of 12 months service outside Australia.

Long Service Badges

[Image from http://www.diggerhistory.info]
Long Service Badges
A.I.F. ORDER No.470, 24 January 1917 (slightly amended for layout)

The question of the issue of a badge to members of the AIF who have completed a certain period of service has received consideration, and approval has been given for the issue of a badge for long service combined with good conduct, subject to the following conditions.

    The badge will consist of an inverted single chevron of service braid to be worn on the left forearm - the point of the chevron to be 3 inches [7.6cm] above the edge of the cuff.

    Warrant and non-commissioned officers and men, will be eligible for the badge, which will not carry an increased pay or allowance.

    One chevron will be worn for each complete year's service in the Australian Imperial Force from the date of embarkation in Australia.

    No badge will be issued to any man who, during the 12 months, has incurred a regimental entry (i.e. an entry involving forfeiture of pay) in his sheet.

    Time absent from the unit in hospital or elsewhere on account of wounds or sickness, not the result of misconduct, will count as service towards earning the badge.

    A man in possession of a badge will forfeit same on being convicted of any offence involving a forfeiture of pay , but will be eligible to regain the badge after 6 months good conduct, from the date of forfeiture.

    The illegal wearing of this badge will be a crime under A.A. Section 40.

Some Government Issued Badges

Nearest Female
Relative Badge

War Widows
Guild Brooch

Silver War Badge

Discharged Returned
Soldier Badge

Government issued badge in enamel and sterling silver issued to the wife, mother or nearest female relative of a serving soldier. Additional bars were suspended below for further individuals.

Membership badge of a Kookaburra in sterling silver, issued by the Government to the widows of men who lost their lives due to their service. Numbered on the reverse.

Awarded to service personnel who sustained a wound, or contracted sickness of disability in the course of the war as a result of which they were invalided out, or to soldiers who had retired during the course of the war.

First issued in 1916. Slight variations are indicative of a number of makers. 267,300 were issued. Numbered on the reverse but the numbers have no link withlength of service or Service Number.

[Badge information collated from Australian War Memorial, "Australians Awarded" by Clive Johnson and en.wikipedia.com]