Soren Posted 1 August , 2005 Share Posted 1 August , 2005 Hi Pals, I've neglected the Aussies for a while, A bit stale & overworked, but here goes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soren Posted 1 August , 2005 Author Share Posted 1 August , 2005 Maybe some Aussie Pal's could help me here, I'm sure that they had a cap badge on the side of the slouch hat. Is a rising sun or something similar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 1 August , 2005 Share Posted 1 August , 2005 Soren The AIF did indeed wear the Rising Sun badge on the left brim of the hat. See http://awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/rising_sun.htm However, the hat brim was almost invariably not fastened up when in action. Cheers Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soren Posted 1 August , 2005 Author Share Posted 1 August , 2005 Thanks Gareth, I'll make the hats unfastened in the picture. Soren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie Posted 1 August , 2005 Share Posted 1 August , 2005 Nice try Soren But so formal, weren't the Aussies known for their casual attitude to dress standards? Cheers kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soren Posted 1 August , 2005 Author Share Posted 1 August , 2005 Nice try Soren But so formal, weren't the Aussies known for their casual attitude to dress standards? Cheers kim <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Oh come on..... look at the fella in the middle, he has his Gas mask at an unruly angle!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 1 August , 2005 Share Posted 1 August , 2005 Soren I don't like to be too picky (though there is the saying that there's no point in being a nit if you don't pick) but if the Australians are wearing gas mask containers, then they are probably on the Western Front, and by about mid-1916 at the earliest. In that case, aren't the Aussies - and the British soldier on the left of the drawing - much more likely to be wearing steel helmets, rather than slouch hats/peaked caps? I know this makes the difference between the UK and Australian troops harder to discern, but the Australians should still be distinctive by their different tunic styles. Regards Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soren Posted 1 August , 2005 Author Share Posted 1 August , 2005 Hi Gareth, I'm looking at the two examples of the tunic and they do not look that different, other than the Aussie one looks a bit longer or am I missing summat? I suppose the end of the Aussies cuff could taper in a bit, I did realise that the helmet thing could be an issue, but I sort of imagined them further back, not a frontline trench. Or did they have to don them immediately they entered a trench? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 1 August , 2005 Share Posted 1 August , 2005 Soren What have I got myself into? I'm not an infantry uniform specialist, but I recall that the AIF uniform was more of an olive shade than the UK equivalent (I know, that's pretty hard to show in a monochrome sketch). Other distinctive feature were: large patch pockets on the skirts of the jacket; small black rising sun badges on both sides of the collar; a unit identification patch on the arm below the shoulder; and a small curved brass AUSTRALIA at the base of the shoulder strap. I have an idea that the tunic cuffs could be unbuttoned so that the sleeves could be partly rolled up. This would account for them appearing to taper, as you observed. As for the steel helmets, I suppose they would have been worn when in range of enemy fire. I should have said that I like the sketch! Regards Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest fred dagg Posted 2 August , 2005 Share Posted 2 August , 2005 Soren The first thing any Australian soldier did with a new hat was soak it to get a decent 'bash' and the 1000 hours look. They would not wear one with such a well-defined turn up! From the angle you have chosen, much more of the crown would have been visible. Chin -straps also seem a little too pronounced. They were usually out of sight during casual wear. Fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soren Posted 2 August , 2005 Author Share Posted 2 August , 2005 Soren The first thing any Australian soldier did with a new hat was soak it to get a decent 'bash' and the 1000 hours look. They would not wear one with such a well-defined turn up! From the angle you have chosen, much more of the crown would have been visible. Chin -straps also seem a little too pronounced. They were usually out of sight during casual wear. Fred <{POST_SNAPBACK}> OK, hats changed, pockets made more bulky and cuffs pulled in!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 2 August , 2005 Share Posted 2 August , 2005 Soren Very good! Dare I ask about the Rising Sun collar badges? Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soren Posted 2 August , 2005 Author Share Posted 2 August , 2005 Soren Very good! Dare I ask about the Rising Sun collar badges? Gareth <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Hi Gareth, You are absolutely right, I'll put them in later, many thanks for putting your criticism forward, it is after all about authenticity, no point doing it otherwise, I've learnt something form this thread that's for sure!. I must admit though, my drawing tends to be a lot faster than this piece so things liike badges and insignia would not normally be an issue. Soren Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphin Posted 2 August , 2005 Share Posted 2 August , 2005 Soren I'm pleased to assist someone with a talent that I definitely lack. I remember well that the ex-AIF man who lived next door to me in the 1960s was a good artist, and that he had a number of framed sketches of trench life in his house. I wonder what happened to them? Your sketch reminded me of the old soldier I knew. Best wishes Gareth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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