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Colour patches
During the world wars and the years in between, Australian soldiers wore cloth patches of various shapes and colours on their upper sleeves to indicate to which unit or formation they belonged. The use of colour patches was discontinued in 1949 when the British system of embroidered shoulder titles, formation signs and lanyards was adopted.
In July 1987 colour patches were reintroduced in order to foster the Army’s heritage and are now worn on the right side of the puggaree on the slouch hat.
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Search the Australian War Memorial’s Military Heraldry collection for images of colour patches - Australian Army
unit colour patches
Documentation relating to Unit Colour Patches from the Army Standing Orders for Dress released May 2002 - Colour patch image library
An image library created by the Army History Unit that includes, where possible, the Order authorising the colour patch
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