Australian Army - Badges

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Subcollections

Overview

(a) 1 x brass ("rising sun") collar badge
(b) 1 x brass ("rising sun") collar badge
(c) 1 x brass ("rising sun") collar badge
(d) 2 x brass curved shoulder titles (standard 55cm)

Historical information

(a) "Australian Commonwealth Military Forces" (from World War 2 : 1939-1945) - made by K G Luke, Melbourne, Vic
(b) "Australian Commonwealth Military Forces" (from World War 1 : 1914-1918)
(c) "Australian Commonwealth Military Forces" (unsure - either WW1 or WW2) made by Stokes & Sons, Melbourne, Vic
(d) "Australia" (from WW1 and WW2)

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-124-2025.155

Item type

Badges

Themes

Buildings > Military
Defence > Army
War and Conflict > World War 2
War and Conflict > World War 1

Material

Brass

Copper

Weight

7 g

Inscriptions and markings

(a) Front is " Australian Commonwealth Military Forces" ; back of badge "K G Luke, Melb"
(b) Front is " Australian Commonwealth Military Forces"
(c) Front is " Australian Commonwealth Military Forces" ; back of badge "Stokes & Sons"
(d) Front is "Australia"

Contextual Information

(a) Sir Kenneth George Luke (1896-1971) was a successful businessman and VFL football administrator. He had been an apprentice of Stokes & Sons P/L (in Melbourne, Victoria) from 1910 until leaving the company in 1921. He became a partner in a metal-spinning and silverware business in Carlton in 1921, becoming the owner by 1925. In 1930, it was listed as K. G. Luke Pty. Ltd. then in 1953 became K. G. Luke (A/Asia) Ltd. The name changed to Luke Ltd. in 1976 and was taken over by National Consolidated Ltd in 1983.

(c)

(d) The original WW1 "Australia" shoulder titles were issued in oxidised copper or brass finish to eliminate shine that may attract enemy attention, and reduce the need to polish them. (The AIF was a fighting army, not a spit polish parade ground Army.)

Keywords

Badges-military

Australian Commonwealth Military Forces

Army Uniform

Place made

Australia

Primary significance criteria

Artistic or aesthetic significance

Historic significance

Busselton Historical Society

Organisation Details
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