![[Service flag]](../images/a/au^serv.gif)
image by Dave Martucci, 26 June 2010
Last modified: 2016-02-27 by ian macdonald
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image by Dave Martucci, 26 June 2010
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Along with the United States and
Canada, Australia also had a special flag to indicate
service with the military in World War I. Introduced in 1918 for "Violet Day"
and used at least until Violet Day 1923, it was the Australian Flag with a white
border all around, inscribed in gold letters at the top "FOR KING AND COUNTRY".
At the center of the Union Jack in the Australian Flag was a depiction of the
French Legion of Honour medal. Red "seals" or "wafers" in numbers corresponding
to the number of men or women in the service were to be placed on the white
border, but I have never seen an image of these symbols.
The flag is
known from news accounts. See for example "The Sydney Morning Herald", Tuesday 4
June 1918, page 6 (http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15776947)
for a description or Wednesday 27 July 1921, page 12 (http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15942987)
for an illustration and from a poster that can be found online at the National
Library of Australia (Image ref. nla.pic-an14106579-v). The poster says it is
the "Australian War Service House Flag" and that it is the "Officially
Authorized Registered Design No. 2691", apparently registered to the Centre for
Soldiers' Wives and Mothers, Sydney.
According to "The Sydney Morning
Herald", Thursday 21 July 1921, page 6 (http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15949735)
the flag was designed by "Mr. Carter of Messr's. John Sands and Co." and was a
"symbol of great historic Interest, because of its close link with the war."
Dave Martucci, 26 June 2010
