Ah, Lang and Bruce ... such cynics. Where would militaria collectors, enthusiasts, and museum collections be today if not for colour patches, unit signs, registration numbers, camouflage paint, etc etc?
Not that the following is a reason for their burdensome infliction on the common soldier, with his needle-staked fingers after yet another unit transfer, of course, but recently I had cause to celebrate the Aust colour patch system, at least at Divisional and AIF/AMF level, as I was able to recognise where soldiers in images were from by the shape and grey edge (or lack thereof) of their colour patches. Made for more illuminating image captions.
OK, back to the bunker ... incoming!
Mike