Rising Sun Badge: Part 2

As well as the official General Service badge, there have been many “sweetheart” badges made  based on the design, including those made of silver, pearl, and resin (WW2 era). There are also reproduction/commemorative versions, including those sold through Army Disposal stores featuring a map of Australia instead of the crown.

Fourth version 1949

Corps and regimental buttons were reintroduced in 1949, having been discontinued, perhaps, “when Japan entered the war”:

Maryborough Chronicle (Qld) 18th October 1949 page 2.

The new version  changed the words in the scroll from “Australian Commonwealth Military Forces” to “Australian Military Forces”.

Fifth Version 1954

The death of the King and Elizabeth’s coronation required a new badge:  the St Edward’s crown replacing the Tudor Crown.

Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners’ Advocate (NSW), 15th July 1954 page 1.

Sixth version 1969

This version, with the Federation Star on a heraldic wreath, was never fully issued. According to Wikipedia, due to stocks of the old badge, it did not need to be produced until the late 1980s.

Seventh Version 1991

This was released to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli.  Due to criticism of the look of the new badge, there were further modifications in 1995 (returning to brass from the aluminium used since 1960s, raising of the crown and arms, and reintroducing the 1914 style piercing).

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