Returned from Active Service badge : Royal Australian Air Force

Accession Number REL32404
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Badge
Physical description Brass
Maker Amor Pty Ltd
Place made Australia
Date made c 2000s
Conflict Period 2000-2009
Period 1950-1959
Period 1970-1979
Period 1960-1969
Period 1990-1999
Period 1980-1989
Description

Specimen of the Australian Defence Forces Returned from Active Service badge. It features a tri-services badge (with an anchor, wings and Rising Sun) surmounted by the Queen's crown, with a boomerang underneath with the text 'RETURNED FROM ACTIVE SERVICE' . The reverse of the badge has a pair of pin clips for attachment to the wearer's clothing, and is marked with the serial 'AF7198', indicating that it was produced for issue to RAAF veterans.

History / Summary

The Returned from Active Service Badge (RASB) is issued to Australian Defence Force personnel who have rendered warlike service. The badge enables individuals to display their involvement in warlike service while wearing civilian attire. It is worn when the wearing of service medals is not appropriate or possible. As the award of the RASB is not governed by statute, it has been the practice of Australian Governments to determine conditions of eligibility for each conflict in accordance with the circumstances existing at the time. Since 1945, with the award of the Australian Active Service Medal (AASM) 1945-75 and the current AASM, the badge has been awarded automatically. The bronze badge was introduced in 1953, and is identical to the earlier post-Second World War Returned from Active Service badge, apart from the replacement of the King's crown with the Queen's crown.