Australian Army Rising Sun
Badge
Proudly worn by soldiers of the 1st
and 2nd Australian Imperial Forces in both World Wars, the 'Rising Sun'
badge has become an integral part of Digger tradition. The distinctive
shape, worn on the upturned brim of a slouch hat, is readily identified
with the spirit of ANZAC. Yet despite the badge's historic significance,
well researched theories as to its origin are more numerous than its
seven points.
In 1902 a badge was urgently sought for the
Australian contingents raised after Federation for service in South
Africa during the Boer War. Probably the most widely-accepted version of
the origin of this badge is that which attributes the selection of its
design to a British officer, Major General Sir Edward Hutton, KCB, KCMG,
the newly appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Forces.
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He had earlier received as a gift from
Brigadier General Joseph Gordon, a military acquaintance of long
standing, a "Trophy of Arms" comprising mounted cut and thrust
swords and triangular Martini Henri bayonets arranged in a semicircle
around a brass crown. |
To Major General Hutton the shield was symbolic of
the co-ordination of the Naval and Military Forces of the Commonwealth. The
working drawings for this trophy had been marked 'Australia-Rising Sun'
A refurbished replica of the shield is on
display in the main foyer of Army Office in Canberra. The original
design, created and produced in haste for issue to the contingent
departing to South Africa, was modified in 1904. This badge, was worn
through both World Wars.
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. In 1949, when Corps
and Regimental Badges were reintroduced into service, the wording on the
scroll of the "Rising Sun" Badge was changed to read
"Australian Military Forces".
Twenty years later, the badge was again
modified to incorporate the Federation Star and Torse Wreath from the
original 1902 version of the badge and the scroll wording changed to
"Australia" In the 75th anniversary year of the ANZAC landings
at Gallipoli there arose a desire to return to the traditional
accoutrements worn by Australian soldiers during the World Wars and
which clearly identify the Australian Army. The recent change coincides
with the 90th anniversary of the Army which was commemorated on 1st
March 1991.
This wording from the Army
Traditions web pages