The following article has been prepared using the Australian Military Regulations 1908 (with amendments to 1913) and Orders for Dress and Clothing 1912. As these military regulations, unlike later publications thereof, do not list all ranks and their corresponding appointments, the embarkation rolls of the AIF have also been used to establish the appointments used within different corps. As a result, it is probable that some of the appointments below were used by Artillery, Engineer and AMC units and would therefore; use the gun, bomb, or geneva cross of these units, in addition to the badges shown. As I have not been able to locate any members of these units holding these appointments in the embarkation rolls, and therefore cannot be certain that such appointments existed in these units, I have not shown these badges.

 

The following, being concerned with the badges of rank and appointment, is not a complete list of the appointments used by the AIF. Appointments for which no identifying badge was worn (which are a considerable number) are not shown.

 

Excepting the ranks and appointments of Master Gunner Class III, Brigade or Regimental Sergeant-Major and Staff Sergeant-Major (which are discussed under the heading Non-Commissioned Officers), each heading below corresponds to a rank. The images below this heading show the badges of that rank and also of the appointments holding that rank. I have been unable to conceive a means of also showing the order of precedence however, I hope to complete a list of ranks and appointments, giving their order of precedence in the future.

 

Warrant Officers


Warrant Officer

Warrant Officer

Warrant Officer, AMC

Warrant Officer

(Medical Corps)

 

Non-Commissioned Officers


The rank of Master Gunner, Class III appears in military regulations however, no corresponding badge is shown in dress regulations. The badge shown was that worn in the British Army.

 

The appointment of Regimental or Brigade Sergeant-Major (when not a Warrant Officer) is shown in dress regulations and the badge pictured below described in those regulations. In the military regulations of 1904 this is shown as a rank, those of 1908 show it as an appointment however, the corresponding rank is not shown. In order of precedence it ranks above the rank of Quartermaster Sergeant.

 

Staff Sergeant-Major is shown in the order of precedence and ranks with Master Gunner Class III and Brigade or Regimental Sergeant-Major. It does not appear however, in the table of ranks and appointments and whether it is a rank or an appointment is therefore not known. Several individuals in the embarkation rolls of Infantry Battalions and Light Horse Regiments are listed with this rank/appointment.

 

Master Gunner 3rd Class

Master Gunner 3rd Class

Brigade Sergeant-Major

Brigade Sergeant-Major

(when not a Warrant Officer)

Brigade or Regimental Sergeant-Major

Brigade or Regimental

Sergeant-Major

(when not a Warrant Officer)

Staff Sergent-Major

Regimental Sergeant-Major, AMC

Regimental Sergeant-Major

Army Medical Corps

(when not a Warrant Officer)

 

Quartermaster-Sergeants


Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant (AMC)

Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant

(Medical Corps)

Regimental or Brigade Quartermaster-Sergeant

Brigade or Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant

Armament Quartermaster-Sergeant

Armament Quartermaster-Sergeant

Farrier Quartermaster-Sergeant

Farrier Quartermaster-Sergeant

Wheeler Quartermaster-Sergeant

Wheeler Quartermaster-Sergeant

Saddler Quartermaster-Sergeant

Saddler Quartermaster-Sergeant

 

Squadron, Troop, Battery, or Company Sergeants-Major


Battery Sergeant-Major

Battery Sergeant-Major

Company Sergeant-Major

Company Sergeant-Major

(Engineers)

Company, Troop, or Squadron Sergeant-Major

Company, Troop, or Squadron Sergeant-Major

Staff Sergeant Artificer

Staff Sergeant Artificer

Farrier Staff Sergeant

Farrier Staff Sergeant

Wheeler Staff Sergeant

Wheeler Staff Sergeant

Saddler Staff Sergeant

Saddler Staff Sergeant

Staff Sergeant

Staff Sergeant

(Medical Corps)

Staff Sergeant

Staff Sergeant

 

Colour Sergeants


The rank of Colour Sergeant was peculiar to Infantry regiments. It ranked with Squadron, Troop, Battery and Company Sergeants-Major.

 

Colour Sergeant

Colour Sergeant

 

Squadron, Troop, Battery or Company Quartermaster-Sergeants


Battery Quartermaster-Sergeant

Battery Quartermaster-Sergeant

Company Quartermaster-Sergeant, Engineers

Company Quartermaster-Sergeant

(Engineers)

Company Quartermaster-Sergeant, AMC

Company Quartermaster-Sergeant

(Medical Corps)

Squadron, Troop or Company Quartermaster-Sergeant

Squadron, Troop or Company Quartermaster-Sergeant

 

Sergeants


Fitter Sergeant

Fitter Sergeant

(Artillery)

Armourer Sergeant

Armourer Sergeant

Fitter Sergeant

Smith Sergeant

Farrier Sergeant, Artillery

Farrier Sergeant

(Artillery)

Farrier Sergeant, Engineers

Farrier Sergeant

(Engineers)

Farrier Sergeant

Farrier Sergeant

Wheeler Sergeant, Artillery

Wheeler Sergeant

(Artillery)

Wheeler Sergeant

Wheeler Sergeant

Saddler Sergeant, Artillery

Saddler Sergeant

(Artillery)

Saddler Sergeant

Saddler Sergeant

Sergeant Trumpeter

Sergeant Trumpeter

Sergeant Bugler

Sergeant Bugler

Band Sergeant

Band Sergeant

Pioneer Sergeant

Pioneer Sergeant

Sergeant, AMC

Sergeant

(Medical Corps)

Sergeant

Sergeant

 

Corporals


Lance Sergeant

Lance Sergeant

Farrier Corporal

Farrier Corporal

Shoeing-Smith Corporal

Wheeler Corporal

Wheeler Corporal

Saddler Corporal

Saddler Corporal

Collarmaker Corporal

Band Corporal

Band Corporal

Corporal, AMC

Corporal

(Medical Corps)

Corporal

Corporal

 

2nd Corporals


2nd Corporal

2nd Corporal

 

Bombadiers


Bombadier

Bombadier

 

Gunners, Drivers, Sappers, or Privates


Lance Corporal, AMC

Lance Corporal

(Medical Corps)

Lance Corporal

Lance Corporal

Acting Bombardier

Shoeing Smith

Shoeing Smith

Wheeler

Wheeler

Saddler

Saddler

Collarmaker

Trumpeter

Trumpeter

Bugler

Bugler

Bandsman

Bandsman

Pioneer

Pioneer

Private, AMC

Private

Driver

(Medical Corps)