Pair of colour patches with brass 'A' : Private D Caulfield, 5 Battalion, AIF

Pair of horizontally aligned rectangular colour patches for 5 Battalion AIF, divided horizontally black over red. Attached to the centre of each colour patch is a brass letter 'A'. The letter 'A's have two attachment lugs on the back of each and these are threaded through the colour patch and sewn to a piece of khaki backing material.

Associated with the service of Private Daniel Caulfield, who was born in Scotland on 6 June, 1872. He emigrated to Australia, settling in Fitzroy, Victoria and worked as a compositor.

After the First World War began, Caulfield enlisted for service with the AIF on 24 August 1914 and was allocated the service number 150, the rank of private and posted to B Company, 5 Infantry Battalion. He embarked from Melbourne with his unit on 21 October, aboard HMAT A3 Orvieto.

After arriving in Egypt Caulfield, along with the rest of the battalion, began further training. The training and conditions in Egypt were hard and Caulfield was diagnosed with rheumatism and admitted to hospital in March 1915.

His condition did not improve and he was declared medically unfit and returned to Australia aboard HMAT A29 Suevic on 28 April. He disembarked in Melbourne on 24 May and was discharged from the AIF on 4 September.

Several months later, Caulfield enlisted for service with the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (ANMEF) on 29 May 1916. He was allocated a new service number, 578 and again the rank of private. He sailed for New Guinea aboard SS Marsina on 31 May, 1916. After serving several months in New Guinea he returned to Australia in March 1917. This period of service ended on 30 March, 1917.

Caulfield's third period of service began on 12 April 1920 when he re-enlisted in the ANMEF with the service number 1972. He embarked at Sydney aboard SS Marsina on 16 April, 1920. He returned to Sydney aboard SS Melusia on 25 September suffering malaria and asthma. In November, he was discharged from the ANMEF in Melbourne as medically unfit.

Colour patches were introduced in the AIF in March 1915, about the time Caulfield was admitted to hospital with rheumatism. It is possible he may have been issued these colour patches before his return to Australia at the end of April. However, he was no longer serving with the AIF when the 'A' badges were introduced in late 1917.