Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

Regimental Ties

Overview

Regimental ties originated in Great Britain. where soldiers used their regiment’s colors on flags and pieces of silk to help identify themselves in battle and establish rank and classification within their regiment. Over time the colours, directions of the stripes and incorporated symbols came represent the wearer’s membership to a military regiment, particularly when worn with civilian attire off-duty. Length and width has varied over time paralleling civilian fashion trends. In the 1890s short, untipped ties were the norm. Over time they got longer, and slimmer in 1940s, 50s and 60s, before they became wider in the 1970s and 80s. In the 90s most ties wear 3.5 ” wide and subsequently they got slimmer again. Some of the ties in the collection of the Australian Army Museum of Western Australia are illustrated in the accompanying photographs.

Historical information

By the 1870’s the Four-In-Hand Knot had surfaced and very quickly became popular. This trend was followed in the military who were moving away to more practical operational uniforms. So rather than skipping color altogether, the regimental colors were transferred to the necktie, which looked very similar the one’s we know today. In the 1890’s public schools joined in the tie craze, and so school ties were born. Particularly after World War 1, there was a desire to maintain links with wartime comrades and the regimental tie providing an identifying and unifying element at commemorative events and reunions. It is still considered at the very least bad form if not disrespect to wear a regimental tie to which one has no connection.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-32-99-101
Inscriptions and markings

Illustrations include: Artillery; Engineers; Signals; National Service Association; Army Apprentices Association; Service Corps; Transport; Medical, Queensland Mounted Infantry, School of Transport (RACT); RAEME

Contextual Information

Regimental identifiers such as ties may be found in the Traditions Gallery at the Australian Army Museum of Western Australia. Further examples are held for reference in the textiles collection. These may be viewed through prior arrangement.

Links to additional resources
History of the Tie
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Organisation Details
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Artillery
Regimental tie of the Royal Regiment of Australian Artillery - Blue with stylized red lightning bolts running from upper left to lower right. The lightning bolts are associated with the legend of St Barbara, the Gunner's patron saint.
RAE
Regimental tie of the Royal Australia Engineers - blue with wide burgundy striped with narrow burgundy stripe on either side all running upper left to lower right
Signals
The Royal Australian Signals currently has three recognised regimental ties described as Subdued Jimmy, Bold Jimmy and Regimental Colours. Jimmy is the name given to the figure of Winged Mercury, the central element of their corps badge
Nashos
Nashos - National Service Association tie - blue with thin touching red, white and blue stripes cotised with a thin gold stripe running upper left to lower right. Light blue Australia outline surmounted by colored tri=service badge at left hand side of blade.
aprentices
Australian Army Apprentices Association tie - Thin green/gold/green stripes running top left to lower right. Large full colour Apprentices badge centred
Service Corps
Royal Australian Army Service Corp tie with alternating double white and gold stripes running upper left to lower right on dark blue field.
RACT
Royal Australian Corps of Transport with alternating double white (Service Corps element) and crimson (Engineer element) running upper left to lower right on dark blue background
RAAMC
Royal Australian Army Medical Corps - broad gold and crimson stripes running top left to lower right equally spaced with dark blue background
QMI
Regimental tie of the 2/14th Queensland Mounted Infantry (RAAC) - Maroon with silver QMI badge centred.
RACT School
Army School of Transport (RACT) - Blue with thin parallel red, white, blue strips running upper left to lower right with white School of Transport badge centred.
RAEME
Ties of the Royal Australian Electrical and mechanical Engineers. Dark barathea blue with thin cojoined yellow over red stripes running upper left to lower right. Alternate version where every second stripe is replaced with small centred RAEME badge

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