AIF Badges of Rank and Appointment 1917-1921

In 1917 (Military Order 516), the Australian Army introduced ranks and appointments based closely upon those then in use in the British Army. Two classes of Warrant Officer were introduced. Master Gunner Class III; Quartermaster-Sergeant; and Squadron, Troop, Battery or Company Sergeants-Major; previously ranks, were made appointments of the rank Warrant Officer Class II. The appointment of Regimental Sergeant-Major (when not a Warrant Officer) ceased to exist. Staff Sergeant, previously an appointment of the rank Squadron, Troop, Battery or Company Quartermaster-Sergeants, was made a rank ranking with Squadron, Troop, Battery or Company Quartermaster-Sergeants in the order of precedence.

Badges of rank were now to be of brass or gilding metal where previously these were of worsted. Chevrons continued to be of service pattern lace. Where previously a single badge was used by all Warrant Officers, four distinct badges were introduced to distinguish the various appointments within the two classes of Warrant Officer.

The following images are based upon Military Order 516 of 1917 and the Orders for Dress and Clothing 1918. As with previous articles concerning badges of rank and appointment the table of rank and appointments and the order of precedence within Military Order 516 were found to be incomplete. The nominal roll of the AIF was therefore, consulted to complete the images below. This system is however, far from perfect and undoubtedly appointments for which distinguishing badges existed are missing from those below. The following being concerned with the badges of rank and appointment is not a complete list of the appointments then in use. Those appointments for which no distinguishing badges existed are not shown.