Australian Allied All Services Association membership badge
1945Australian Allied All Services Association (AAASA) metal membership badge in the patriotic colours of red, white and blue on a gold background.
It is oval in shape and features symbols relating to all three military services - Army, Navy and Air Force. At the top of the badge is what appears to be a rising sun badge in gold. However, much of this is obscured by the red number '45' clasp which is attached to show that the owner of the badge had paid their membership for 1945. A red scroll banner appears below this, while two silver white wings extend either side.
The centre of the badge features a gold fouled anchor sitting on top of a silver map of Australia (sans Tasmania), with a gold rifle on the diagonal atop the anchor.
A wide blue border containing the text 'AUSTRALIAN ALLIED ALL SERVICES ASSN' in raised silver lettering extends in a horseshoe shape from under the left hand wing to under the right hand wing.
The reverse of the badge has the number '657' impressed near the bottom. There are two small holes near the top through which the tabs for the '45' date clasp are threaded. It has a vertical pin clasp for attachment. There is no maker's mark.
The Australian and Allied All Services Association (AAASA) was an ex-servicemen's organisation founded in 1942 during World War Two to assist in the repatriation and rehabilitation of returning military personnel.
Its core mission was to support men and women transitioning back to civilian life after serving in the war, navigating the complex repatriation and rehabilitation programs set up by the government.
Unlike some traditional organisations that had stricter eligibility criteria based on location or branch, the AAASA extended membership broadly. Any person who served even a short time in any branch of the British Empire Forces, or the military forces of any of the Allied nations, was eligible to join.
Details
Details
On front of badge:
"AUSTRALIAN ALLIED ALL SERVICES ASSN"
On reverse of badge:
"657"
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