Militaria

Lot 4686    Session 17 - (11:30am Friday 3rd August)    Militaria

Estimate $5,000
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $5,500

1RAR ALPHA COMPANY FLAG, 1948-53, the first company flag for 1 Royal Australian Regiment, with the Royal Australian Regiment badge (KC) at upper left corner and large letter A in centre, mat framed under perspex with timber frame, features hand drawn and coloured images of the Australian Rising Sun badge (KC) at top left corner and the Royal Australian Regiment hat badge (KC) in top right corner, and with title details, 'Birth Of The Royal Australian Regiment/The First Company Flag/1RAR Alpha Company Japan - Korea/King George VI 1948-53' between these two badges, below the flag are lists of the Company roll call, wounded in action and killed in action, all text is in black ink calligraphy. Thinning of material at top and three areas of loss of material, otherwise good fine, unique and rare.

After WWII Australia was committed to provide troops for occupation duties in Japan. This led to the formation of the 34th Australian Infantry Brigade to consist of the 65th, 66th and 67th Australian Infantry Battalions. The 65th Battalion was formed on 12 October 1945 from the 7th Division out of Balikpapan and it then sailed to Morotai to undergo training prior to joining the British Commonwealth Occupation Forces in Japan. Battalions were re-designated on 23 November 1948 and the 65th Battalion was renamed 1st Battalion, Australian Regiment and on 31 March 1949 following approval to use the 'Royal' prefix was announced on 10 March 1949 it was renamed 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.

The RAR badge on the flag was designed by Sgt E.J.O'Sullivan of 1RAR Intelligence Section and the motto was suggested by Maj K.B.Thomas MC of 1RAR. The badge was originally only intended to be worn by 1RAR but became the standard badge for all RAR units. It was used for Christmas cards in 1949 but did not replace the Rising Sun hat badge until early 1954.