Colour patch book WW2

[Mike Cecil]

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

[Ed Storey]

The current Canadian Forces has gone down the 'Christmas Tree' road producing and issuing a badges for the sake of satisfying an insatiable demand for 'bling'. As an example, both the Regular Force and Reserves of the Canadian Army can barely field a division, yet by 2013 all five Division along with both the First Canadian Army and 1st Canadian Corps formation badges were reintroduced for wear on the Army Distinctive Environmental Uniform and CADPAT uniforms. Add to this all of the existing Regular and Reserve Brigade badges already in use and both uniforms have become quite colourful. Qualification and hazardous skill badges have traditionally only been worn on DEU but now the plethora of the various skill and qualification badges have also migrated to CADPAT. To top everything off, there is also a bewildering array of Task Force and even Commemoration badges which are now adorning CADPAT, further garnished the Christmas Tree. While this may seem like best time to be an insignia collector, the haphazard and uncontrolled way in which many of this insignia has made its way onto both the DEU and CADPAT uniforms means that documenting these badges is near impossible.

31 Brigade - CADPAT TW - front copy.jpg CA HQ - Canadian Army Headquarters - CADPAT TW - front copy.jpg Engineers Attached to C Company - Ukraine - 2018 - front copy.jpg

[Lang]

Here we go.

The Australian Army boss, General Rick Burr, in a Gilbert and Sullivan uniform talking to a lady soldier with her slouch hat gently placed high in the air so it will not spoil her hair do.

[Mike Cecil]

General Bling, looking grim and earnest, to female soldier: '... can you kill a man?'
Female Soldier at attention with wry smile: '...eventually, Sir'

[Bruce Parker (RIP)]

Originally Posted by Lang

Here we go.

The Australian Army boss, General Rick Burr, in a Gilbert and Sullivan uniform talking to a lady soldier with her slouch hat gently placed high in the air so it will not spoil her hair do.

I take your General Burr and raise you one now somewhat disgraced General Vance. Forgoing tactical khaki he sports a deep green base on which to display his colourful bling, no doubt a salute to our rich evergreen forests.