| Places | |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | REL/00089 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Badge |
| Physical description | Metal with 'antique bronze' finish |
| Maker |
Sussman |
| Place made | Egypt |
| Date made | 1916 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Unofficial prototype AAMC badge: Australian Army Medical Corps - Major Harold Octavius Lethbridge,
Description
Unofficial Australian Army Medical Corps badge. The design incorporates the rod and serpent common to medical units, wattle was used in lieu of a laurel wreath and a star was added to represent the Commonwealth.
History / Summary
In early 1916 Sir Neville Reginald Howse VC asked Major Harold Lethbridge to design an unofficial badge for the AAMC, at that time in the Middle East. Several drawings of the design were prepared by Sister Ann Georgina 'Jessie' Farquhar of the 2nd Australian General Hospital at Ghezireh, before this prototype badge was made by Herr Sussman in "The Mooski", Cairo. Though this final design was approved by Howse, many of the medical units moved to France and the badge was cancelled.