The Australian army's system of colour patches arose from the need to solve an immediate problem. When the first Australian Imperial Force (AIF) set off for the Middle East in 1914, the only badge it wore was on headgear and jacket collars: the Australian "Rising Sun" emblem, inscribed with the words "Australian Commonwealth Military Forces" (ACMF). Nothing distinguished one regiment from another. Divisional Order No. 81(A) Administration was issued at Mena, Egypt, on 8 March 1915 to overcome the problem:After the First World War the use of colour patches continued in the Citizens Military Forces (CMF), also known as militia. The CMF were reorganised into a divisional structure similar to that of the AIF. Units were generally renamed to provide a direct numerical association with AIF units raised from the same states and districts. Through their identification with AIF units came the authority for militia units to wear the colour patches of their associated AIF units; other colour patches were approved for units outside the AIF association.Rectangular shaped glass covered Picture Frame showing colour patches and badges of the Australian Imperial Forces.THE GREAT WAR-1914/18 Distinguishing Badges and Patches of the Australian Forces.ww1, the great war, middle east 1914/18, lara r.s.l., colour patches

Taken some time between 1914-18, the photograph depicts an aerial view of trenches in France. The image mostly shows rural landscape, although there is a house in the bottom right corner. A dotted line has been drawn across the photograph, marking the section of trenches that belonged to British forces during World War I. It is believed that the line marking on this record denotes a section of the Western Front. The Western Front was the main theatre of war during World War I. Following the outbreak of war in August 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The German advance was halted with the Battle of the Marne. Following the Race to the Sea, both the French-British and German armies dug in along a meandering line of fortified trenches, stretching from the North Sea to the Swiss frontier with France. Between 1915 and 1917 there were several offensives along the Western Front. The attacks employed massive artillery bombardments and massed infantry advances. Entrenchments, machine gun emplacements, barbed wire and artillery repeatedly inflicted severe casualties during attacks and counter-attacks and no significant advances were made. Among the most notable of these offensives were the Battle of Verdun (1916), the Battle of the Somme (1916), and the Battle of Passchendaele (1917).The record is historically significant due to its connection to World War I. This conflict is integral to Australian culture as it was the single greatest loss of life and the greatest repatriation of casualties in the country's history. Australia’s involvement in the First World War began when the Australian government established the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in August 1914. Immediately, men were recruited to serve the British Empire in the Middle East and on the Western Front. The record has strong research potential. This is due to the ongoing public and scholarly interest in war, history, and especially the ANZAC legend, which is commemorated annually on 25 April, known as ANZAC Day.Sepia rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper.Obverse: A.3FE.O.146 / G2R 29 . 6 . 18 (Y p.m) / F= 10 1/4 / British Line / ------------------------------------------ / P. 250 1040 / 0. 30d. 0010 / 0. 30d. 3070 /military album, military, war, wwi, world war i, france, great britain, trenches, village, rural, western front

William John ARCHER (Bill) No 321 enlisted in B Coy 21st Batt AIF on 18.1.15. Embarked for Eygpt 8.5.15. Hospital 9.9.15 with Influenza. Hospital 24.11.15 with Gastric Enteritis. Hospital 2.1.16 with Otitis Media. Transfers to the 57th Batt and embarks for France. Hospital with Trench Fever 4.10.16. Promoted to Cpl 28.4.17. Hospital 19.3.18 with Scabies. WIA 18.4.18 GSW's to chest and leg severe. Discharged from the AIF medically unfit 9.1.19. Alexander William ARCHER No 40637 enlisted in the RAAF on 16.5.41 age 18 years 8 months. He wanted to be a Mess Steward and was taken in as he had worked in similar work line. He then has 5 postings before embarking for Egypt on 2.4.1942 and was posted to No 3 SQD RAAF on 20.5.1942. Re mustered as a Motor Cyclist he became a Dispatch Rider on 8.9.1942 between the RAAF and the Army. Alex served in the Middle East and Italy with 3 SQD. He embarked from Egypt diagnosed with Kyphosis and Scoliosis on 5.2.1944. In Australia he was re mustered as Office Orderly on 6.7.1944 and then discharged from the RAAF on 2.10.1944 Medically Unfit. Wooden base with brass shells either end resembling Officers caps,one being WWI, the other WWII, both inscribed. Centre plaque inscribed Alex Archer and Bill Archer, father and son. Above the centre plaque is a piece of German shrapnel chrome plated Map - "North Africa, 1940", on left hand side, "18-Pounder, 1917, Bill Archer-Anzac, 1914-1919", on right hand side, "German shrapnel"handcrafts - trench art, metal craft- brassware, arms - ammunition, military history - souvenirs

John Joseph LOWERY Regt No 1926 enlisted in the AIF 3rd Reinforcements, 22nd Batt on 16.6.1915 aged 18. Embarked for Egypt 26.8.1915, taken on strength Gallipoli 25.10.1915. Hospitalised 23.12.1915 frost bite to feet. Embarked for France 19.3.1916, promoted T/Cpl 1.2.1917, promoted L/Cpl 2.5.1917, promoted L/Sgt 21.8.1917. KIA Belgium 2.10.1917. Refer Cat No 2564P.Wooden frame, green border around certificate, glass front, centre is a photo of a soldier.Document: “Honour the Brave. Presented to Sgt J J LOWERY by the Members and Friends of the View Street Church of Christ and Bible School in grateful appreciation of his services for God, King and Country in the Great War 1914 - 1918” Bottom centre on white label: JOHN JOSEPH LOWERY “Enlisted 16.6.1915 Regt No 1926 3rd Reinforcements 22 Batt AIF aged 18. Embarked for the Middle East 26.8.1915. Admitted to hospital Gallipoli with frostbite 15.12.1915 Embarked for France 19.3.1916. Appointed Lance Sergeant 2.5.1917. KIA 2.10.1917 at Broodseinde, Belgium. Donated by Mrs Lyla Sutton” Bendigo District RSL Museum civic mementos - certificates, religion - christian, military history

The 8th Light Horse Regiment AIF was raised at Broadmeadows Victoria in September 1914 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander White and formed part of the 3rd Light Horse Brigade. The regiment served at Gallipoli where in a courageous but ill-fated charge at the Nek on 7 August 1915 it suffered horrendous casualties including Lieutenant Colonel White. Rebuilt in Egypt under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Leslie Maygar VC the regiment went on the serve throughout the Middle East Campaign. Colonel Maygar died of wounds at Beersheba when the regiment was attacked by enemy aircraft while waiting to follow up the successful charge of the 4th LH Brigade on 30 October 1917. The 8th Light Horse AIF was disbanded in 1919, but soon after re-raised as the 8th (Indi) Light Horse in the Citizen Military Forces, superseding 16th (Indi) Light Horse.Part of a rare collection of photographs of 8th Light Horse Regiment AIF during WWI (1914-18).Black and White photograph of group of soldiers of the 8th Light Horse Regiment AIF erecting Bell tents at Broadmeadows Army Camp. Row of pine trees in background: Large light pole in foreground. Photo is glued to plastic card.[Br]oadmeadows. The 8th LH moving to the old lines of the 4th8th light horse regiment aif, broadmeadows, 8th, light horse, wwi, world war one