Returned Sailors' Soldiers' and Airmens' Imperial League Australia Life Member badge : Squadron Leader A A N D Pentland, Royal Australian Air Force

Accession Number REL38033
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Badge
Physical description Brass, Enamel
Maker Unknown
Place made Australia
Date made Unknown
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Description

Brass and enamel badge consisting of a white shield with brass figures of a sailor, soldier and airman in the center within a blue enamel circle bearing the words, 'RETURNED SAILORS' SOLDIERS' & AIRMEN'S'. Beneath is a red enamel scroll with, 'IMPERIAL LEAGUE AUSTRALIA'. At the base is a white enamel scroll with 'LIFE MEMBER'. The badge is surmounted by a red enamel king's crown. The reverse bears an attachment lug and 'U' shaped lapel pin and is stamped 'N3376' with '189' engraved below.

History / Summary

Alexander Augustus Norman Dudley Pentland, known as Jerry, was born on 5 August 1894. At age 20 he enlisted in the AIF as a trooper with the 12th Light Horse Regiment in March 1915 and was assigned the service number 674. In August he was deployed to Gallipoli where he served with the 1st Light Horse Regiment as a machine gunner. After contracting enteric fever in September he was evacuated to England for treatment. Upon recovering, Pentland was appointed to a commission in the British Royal Flying Corps in February 1916. He served with 16, 19, 29 and 87 Squadrons flying SPADs and Sopwith Dolphins. His service included both operational tours and instructor duties. By the end of the war Pentland had been awarded the Military Cross and Distinguished Flying Cross and was one of Australia's most successful flying aces, scoring 23 victories. Pentland returned to Australia after the war and served briefly with the newly formed Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) before moving to England and joining the Royal Air Force as a machine gun and fighting instructor. Pentland returned to Australia in 1926 and became a civilian pilot, flying in Australia and New Guinea. He rejoined the RAAF during the Second World War, initially instructing at elementary flying schools before commanding an air-sea rescue and communication unit in the Pacific for which he was awarded the Air Force Cross. He was discharged from the RAAF with the rank of squadron leader on 2 November 1945.