Posted 12 years ago
inhammer
(8 items)
It is a 1904-1949 version with the words "Australian Commonwealth Military Forces", worn before the ascent of Queen Elizabeth. So this was during the reign of King George VI until 1952. He was the first Head of the Commonwealth countries, hence the wording on the badge.
Aussie soldiers (called 'diggers') used this badge on their 'slouch hats'. I bought a slouch hat with the 1991 patterned badge, and my dad had this 'commonwealth' version given to him by an aussie soldier in the late '50s which was after the Malayan Emergency and the start of the Borneo Confrontation, and guess what? I exchanged mine with this one. Now my hat looks good with this version!
This has a great patina. These slouch hat pins are enjoyable collector's items, since there were so many versions, though you do have to be careful of reproductions.