Colour patch
Shoulder cape belonging to Miss Golda Ellis. Golda attached many different colour patches to her cape, collected from servicemen she met in her role with the Cheer Up Society during the Second World War
A colour patch is a unique combination of shapes and colours that identifies a particular unit. Colour patches made it quick and easy to identify a person’s battalion or regiment, brigade, and division. Basic shapes indicated the division or service to which the wearer belonged, while lower colours usually denoted brigade and upper colours the battalion or regiment. The patches were also the unifying symbol which bound together members of a unit during the Second World War.
The orange and green colour patch in the box represents the 2/1st North Australian Observer Unit, also known as “the Nackeroos”. This was an Australian Army unit that operated in remote areas of northern Australia. The Nackeroos carried out patrols and reported Japanese positions. This unit was a precursor to the current North West Mobile Force (NORFORCE).
- Design a colour patch for your class or school. What colours and shapes would you use? Why?
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