Historical information

The three cloth patches belonged to Dr William Roy Angus and are now part of Flagstaff Hill’s comprehensive W.R. Angus Collection, donated by the family of Dr W R Angus (1901-1970), surgeon and oculist. The badges date to the Second World War era, when Dr Angus was a Surgeon Captain for the Australian Defence Forces in the Army Medical Corps, 108 Australian General Hospital and 106 Australian General Hospital, stationed in Ballarat, Victoria, and in Bonegilla, N.S.W. He completed his service just before the end of the war due to suffering from a heart attack.

In World War I the troops of the Australian Military Forces staked coloured flags of various shapes and colours in the ground where they camped to identify their units. These flag codes were quickly recognised. The system worked so well that miniature flags were called colour patches. They became part of the uniform, to be worn on both sleeves just below the shoulder. The system was slightly modified for use in the Second World War.

The W.R. Angus Collection: -

The W.R. Angus Collection includes historical medical equipment, surgical instruments and material belonging to Dr Edward Ryan and Dr Thomas Francis Ryan, (both of Nhill, Victoria) and Dr Angus’ own belongings. The Collection’s history spans the medical practices of the two Doctors Ryan, from 1885-1926 plus that of Dr Angus, up until 1969. It includes historical medical and surgical equipment and instruments from the doctors Edward and Thomas Ryan of Nhill, Victoria.

Dr Angus married Gladys in 1927 at Ballarat, the nearest big city to Nhill where he began as a Medical Assistant. He was also Acting House surgeon at the Nhill hospital where their two daughters were born. During World War II He served as a Military Doctor in the Australian Defence Forces.

Dr Angus and his family moved to Warrnambool in 1939, where Dr Angus operated his own medical practice. He later added the part-time Port Medical Officer responsibility and was the last person appointed to that position. Both Dr Angus and his wife were very involved in the local community, including the planning stages of the new Flagstaff Hill and the layout of the gardens there. Dr Angus passed away in March 1970.

Significance

Dr W R Angus (1901-1970), surgeon and oculist, collected a range of military objects including those he personally used during his time as Surgeon Captain in the Australian Defence Forces in World War II. The objects allow insight into military life in the early-to-mid 20th century.
The W.R. Angus Collection is significant for still being located at the site it is connected with, Doctor Angus being the last Port Medical Officer in Warrnambool. The Collection includes historical medical objects that date back to the late 1800s.

Physical description

Badges; set of three cloth patches, yellow rectangles on brown squares. Insignia of the Australian Defence Forces, Army Medical Corps, 106 Australian General Hospital, WII era. Dr W R Angus owned the cloth patches that are now part of the W. R. Angus Collection.