Uniform Accoutrements - Armbands - World War 1 Staff Officers

Subcollections
Overview

During World War I, staff armbands were used to identify personnel attached to various headquarters and special duties.

Historical information

An armband is a piece of material worn around the arm. They may be worn for pure ornamentation, or to mark the wearer as belonging to group, or as insignia having a certain rank, status, office or role, or being in a particular state or condition.
During World War 1, headquarters staff officers and commanders in British and Empire forces including Australian wore armbands on their right arms to assist in identification of rank and function. Typically a red, white, red arm band indicated attached to Army Corps HQ. Divisional HQ troops wore a red arm band while Brigade HQ wore a blue arm bands.
This form of identification, paralled the identifying shoulder patches worn at unit level by all soldiers including officers serving in the unit.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-32-54-896
Contextual Information

At the Australian Army Museum of western Australia, the display of armbands and brassards is located in the Traditions Gallery

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Organisation Details
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Examples
Armbands
Reverse of staff armbands showing canvass backing and press stud fasteners
Staff Armbands
Armbands and Brassards

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