Australian Army Reserve gilded brass lapel badge
1939Australian Army Reserve gilded brass, shield-shaped lapel badge specifically designed in 1939 for wear on civilian clothing.
The badge is quartered by a prominent cross embedded with five raised stars representing the Southern Cross. A flowing banner drapes across the sides and top reading 'AUSTRALIAN ARMY RESERVE', while the entire emblem is surmounted by a voided King's Crown.
The reverse has two horizontal copper lugs through which two split pins for attachment are threaded. The badge issue number '30567' is impressed on the reverse between the text 'ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE' and the maker's name 'K.G. LUKE, MELB.'.
This is a fairly rare badge which was commissioned just before the outbreak of World War Two. The badge was meant for a planned 'Army Reserve' enlistment scheme targeting 90,000 civilian men for Militia or Garrison service. Due to the rapid outbreak of World War Two in September 1939, the formalised reserve scheme was never fully executed, leaving the vast majority of these produced badges unissued to the public.
The badge was intended for wear on the lapel of civilian clothing, indicating that the wearer was a member of the Reserve Force.
Details
Details
On front of badge:
"AUSTRALIAN ARMY RESERVE"
On reverse of badge from top to bottom:
"ISSUED BY THE
DEPARTMENT
OF DEFENCE"
"30567"
"K.G. LUKE
MELB."
Other items by K.G. Luke Melb.
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