Rising Sun (badge)
Encyclopedia
The Rising Sun badge, also known as the General Service Badge or the Australian Army Badge, is the official insignia of the Australian Army
. The badge is worn on the brim of a slouch hat
or the front of a peaked cap (select appointments only) and is readily identified with the spirit of ANZAC
, the legend of the Australian soldier (or digger
), and the esprit de corps of the Army itself, due to its association with the landings at Gallipoli in 1915. Today, new recruits receive the iconic badge with their initial issue of equipment, which happens within their first three days of enlistment.
of a popular brand of jam at the time of its inception, known as 'Rising Sun jam', while other scholars have suggested that it represented the rising sun from the start. To be sure rising sun designs had appeared on early Australian colonial coins and military insignia decades before the federation of the Australian colonies
in 1901, and may have represented the image of Australia as 'a young nation' and a 'new Britannia
'.
Indeed from as early as the 1820s, the symbol of a 'rising sun' was used by various progressive organisations, loosely characterised under the banner "Advance Australia". The rising sun crest used in the New South Wales
colonial and State crests was taken from the crest used on the first Advance Australia Arms circa 1821, and consistently since then. The oldest known example is the 'Advance Australia' coat of arms
. The 'Advance Australia Arms' (named because of the motto inscription) became widely used in New South Wales and the neighbouring colonies by private corporations and individuals. Although they never had any official status, they formed the basis for several official coats of arms, including the New South Wales coat of arms. The representation below was reputedly painted for Thomas Silk, the son of the captain of the Prince of Orange, a convict ship
that visited Sydney in 1821. The symbol struck a chord with the pre-federation population and many examples still exist on colonial architecture.
during the Second Boer War
. The most widely-accepted version of the origin of the badge is that which attributes the selection of its design to a British
officer, Major General Sir Edward Hutton
, the newly appointed General Officer Commanding, Australian Military Forces. The design was subsequently first worn by the Australian Commonwealth Horse
. Hutton had earlier received a "Trophy of Arms" as a gift from Major Joseph Gordon
, a long standing military acquaintance, comprising mounted cut and thrust swords
and triangular Martini Henri bayonets arranged in a semicircle around a brass crown. To Hutton the shield was symbolic of the co-ordination of the Naval and Military Forces of the Commonwealth. Three different designs were created, and they formed the basis of a new design created in 1903, which was subsequently adopted as the General Service Badge in 1911. The original badge bore the words 'Australian Commonwealth Military Forces' on the scroll at the bottom of the badge. However, as the original design was created in haste it was subsequently redesigned, and was later worn by soldiers of the First Australian Imperial Force
in World War I
and the Second Australian Imperial Force
(2nd AIF) in World War II
, being used on both the slouch hat and the tunic, while it was also used in some Regimental badges.
Since its inception the basic form of the 1904 version has remained unchanged although modifications have been made to the wording on the scroll and to the style of crown. Notably, although no badge was ever struck with the wording 'Australian Imperial Force', this wording has been used as a headstone design. In 1945, the Department of the Army recommended that two separate badges for Army war graves of World War II be used to distinguish between members of the 2nd AIF and the Citizen Military Force (CMF). Subsequently this variation appeared only on the headstone badges of deceased 2nd AIF members.
In 1995 the badge was altered for the last time when the metal was changed from 1160 aluminium, returning it to brass for the first time since World War II, but with a copper and gold plate, while also raising the crown and arms and re-introducing piercings as it had in 1914, and thus returning to its traditional layout. The version used today is the seventh iteration of the design used as the General Service Badge.
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
. The badge is worn on the brim of a slouch hat
Slouch hat
A slouch hat is a wide-brimmed felt or cloth hat with a chinstrap, most commonly worn as part of a military uniform. It is a survivor of the felt hats worn by certain 18th century armies. Since then, the slouch hat has been worn by military personnel from many nations including Australia, Britain,...
or the front of a peaked cap (select appointments only) and is readily identified with the spirit of ANZAC
ANZAC spirit
The Anzac spirit or Anzac legend is a concept which suggests that Australian and New Zealand soldiers possess shared characteristics, specifically the qualities those soldiers are believed to have shown on the battlefield in World War I. These qualities cluster around several ideas, including...
, the legend of the Australian soldier (or digger
Digger (soldier)
Digger is an Australian and New Zealand military slang term for soldiers from Australia and New Zealand. It originated during World War I.- Origin :...
), and the esprit de corps of the Army itself, due to its association with the landings at Gallipoli in 1915. Today, new recruits receive the iconic badge with their initial issue of equipment, which happens within their first three days of enlistment.
Origins
The origins of the rising sun badge are disputed however. It has been suggested that the association of the badge with the rising sun came from the trademarkTrademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
of a popular brand of jam at the time of its inception, known as 'Rising Sun jam', while other scholars have suggested that it represented the rising sun from the start. To be sure rising sun designs had appeared on early Australian colonial coins and military insignia decades before the federation of the Australian colonies
Federation of Australia
The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed one nation...
in 1901, and may have represented the image of Australia as 'a young nation' and a 'new Britannia
Britannia
Britannia is an ancient term for Great Britain, and also a female personification of the island. The name is Latin, and derives from the Greek form Prettanike or Brettaniai, which originally designated a collection of islands with individual names, including Albion or Great Britain. However, by the...
'.
Indeed from as early as the 1820s, the symbol of a 'rising sun' was used by various progressive organisations, loosely characterised under the banner "Advance Australia". The rising sun crest used in the New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
colonial and State crests was taken from the crest used on the first Advance Australia Arms circa 1821, and consistently since then. The oldest known example is the 'Advance Australia' coat of arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
. The 'Advance Australia Arms' (named because of the motto inscription) became widely used in New South Wales and the neighbouring colonies by private corporations and individuals. Although they never had any official status, they formed the basis for several official coats of arms, including the New South Wales coat of arms. The representation below was reputedly painted for Thomas Silk, the son of the captain of the Prince of Orange, a convict ship
Convict ship
The term convict ship is a colloquial term used to describe any ship engaged on a voyage to carry convicted felons under sentence of penal transportation from their place of conviction to their place of exile.-Colonial practice:...
that visited Sydney in 1821. The symbol struck a chord with the pre-federation population and many examples still exist on colonial architecture.
Military use
In 1902 a badge was urgently sought for the Australian contingents raised after Federation for service in South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
during the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
. The most widely-accepted version of the origin of the badge is that which attributes the selection of its design to a British
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
officer, Major General Sir Edward Hutton
Edward Hutton (army)
Lieutenant General Sir Edward Thomas Henry Hutton KCB, KCMG was a British military commander, who pioneered the use of mounted infantry in the British Army and later commanded the Canadian Militia and the Australian Army....
, the newly appointed General Officer Commanding, Australian Military Forces. The design was subsequently first worn by the Australian Commonwealth Horse
Australian Commonwealth Horse
The Australian Commonwealth Horse was a mounted infantry unit of the Australian Army formed for service during the Second Boer War in South Africa in 1902 and was the first expeditionary military unit established by the newly formed Commonwealth of Australia following Federation in 1901...
. Hutton had earlier received a "Trophy of Arms" as a gift from Major Joseph Gordon
Joseph Maria Gordon
Major General Joseph Maria Gordon CB , was an officer in the British Army, later holding the position of Commandant of the South Australian Military Forces and serving in the Second Boer War in South Africa...
, a long standing military acquaintance, comprising mounted cut and thrust swords
Side-sword
The spada da lato or "side-sword" is the Italian term for the type of sword popular during the late 16th century, corresponding to the Spanish espada ropera....
and triangular Martini Henri bayonets arranged in a semicircle around a brass crown. To Hutton the shield was symbolic of the co-ordination of the Naval and Military Forces of the Commonwealth. Three different designs were created, and they formed the basis of a new design created in 1903, which was subsequently adopted as the General Service Badge in 1911. The original badge bore the words 'Australian Commonwealth Military Forces' on the scroll at the bottom of the badge. However, as the original design was created in haste it was subsequently redesigned, and was later worn by soldiers of the First Australian Imperial Force
First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and the Second Australian Imperial Force
Second Australian Imperial Force
The Second Australian Imperial Force was the name given to the volunteer personnel of the Australian Army in World War II. Under the Defence Act , neither the part-time Militia nor the full-time Permanent Military Force could serve outside Australia or its territories unless they volunteered to...
(2nd AIF) in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, being used on both the slouch hat and the tunic, while it was also used in some Regimental badges.
Since its inception the basic form of the 1904 version has remained unchanged although modifications have been made to the wording on the scroll and to the style of crown. Notably, although no badge was ever struck with the wording 'Australian Imperial Force', this wording has been used as a headstone design. In 1945, the Department of the Army recommended that two separate badges for Army war graves of World War II be used to distinguish between members of the 2nd AIF and the Citizen Military Force (CMF). Subsequently this variation appeared only on the headstone badges of deceased 2nd AIF members.
Design changes
In 1949, when Corps and Regimental badges were reintroduced, the badge was changed again. The wording on the scroll was changed to read 'Australian Military Forces', deleting the word 'Commonwealth'. Nevertheless the earlier badge remained in common use with recruit training units until at least the late 1960s. Following the ascent of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to the throne, the Crown on the badge was consequently changed from a Kings (Tudor) Crown to a Queen's (St. Edward's) Crown on the 1956 version. In 1969 the badge was again modified to incorporate the Federation Star and Torse Wreath from the original 1902 version of the badge, while in 1972 the scroll wording was shortened again to 'Australia'. However, due to the number of older badges still held in stock this badge was not produced for issue until the late-1980s. In 1991 a new design was produced which returned the design to one similar to that of the original World War I badge, to coincide with the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the fighting at Gallipoli. The inscription on the scroll was again changed and now reads: 'The Australian Army'.In 1995 the badge was altered for the last time when the metal was changed from 1160 aluminium, returning it to brass for the first time since World War II, but with a copper and gold plate, while also raising the crown and arms and re-introducing piercings as it had in 1914, and thus returning to its traditional layout. The version used today is the seventh iteration of the design used as the General Service Badge.