Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

Insignia - Anzac A

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Overview

Brass 'A' Gallipoli service badges were authorised for wear by Gallipoli veterans on each colour patch in 1916. Originally embroidered, they took the form of brass letters from 1917. This example appears to have been cut from a shoulder title such as 'RAMC', each have a pair of attachment lugs brazed on at the top and bottom of the letter 'A's broader leg.

Historical information

In November 1917, AIF orders authorised the wearing of a small badge in the form of the letter "A" on unit colour patches to denote that the wearer had taken part in the 1915 Gallipoli campaign. It was later prescribed that the badge would be a brass letter three quarters inch high. A further order, in January 1918 extended the eligibility to service "on the islands of Lemnos, Imbros, and Tenedos, on the transports or hospital ships at or off Gallipoli or these islands or in the AIF line of communications units from Egypt". It is interesting to note that this final addition embraced the work of the Australian Army Nursing Service so that both men and women were acknowledged as "the Anzacs".
The wearing of cloth colour patches on the sleeves of jackets was adopted in 1915 as the means of identifying units of the AIF shortly before Australian battalions began to be embarked for service on Gallipoli. The system was retained by the Australian Army after the war and remained in use during the Second World War. Anzac veterans who were again serving in uniform in the latter period were again able to wear the Anzac "A".
In early 1917, convalescent Anzacs began to arrive in Australia wearing the Anzac "A" and the status of the badge, not previously seen in Australia, was queried. Finally deciding that formal adoption was necessary, AIF Order No. 937 (November 1917) authorised the badge for the whole force and ordered that it be supplied by Ordnance instead of regimental funds. Subsequent orders made the wearing of the badge compulsory and clarified the eligibility rules.
There had been some resentment to the adoption of the badge, particularly in the early years. Survivors of Pozieres and Mouquet Farm in 1916 had, quite reasonably, felt that their experiences were comparable to those of the Anzacs.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-99-235

Contextual Information

Within the Museum, Brass As appear on original uniforms where provenanced to a Gallipoli veteran. They do not appear on replica uniforms in the Gallipoli dioramas, not being authorised until 1917 after the campaign

Links to additional resources

Brass A in wear