Heritage of the Australian Intelligence Corps

'Unorganised facts are of no value. Information must be sifted, collated and recorded on systematic lines'
William Throsby Bridges, 1907

Uniform

In October 1908 Military Order 336/1908 was issued which amended the "Orders for Dress and Clothing of the Military Forces of the Commonwealth 1906", it specified the Australian Intelligence Corps (AIC) colour as pale blue. As a mounted combatant Corps, the AIC wore the Service Dress and accoutrements (swords, boots and so on) in the same pattern as that of the Light Horse. The order also provided that the AIC would wear the Commonwealth pattern buttons, "AIC" shoulder titles and "Regimental" collar and hat badges.

Initially AIC officers were only authorised to wear Service Dress, with no entitlement to Full Dress (Commonwealth Pattern) or Mess Dress and this was a source of much correspondence and representations to the Military Board, from the Corps first Director COL James McKay.


The distinguishing features of the AIC Service Dress were:

• The khaki cloth forage cap, with a "peak as provided for officers of the Staff" was worn with a pale blue band and regimental badge, or the cork Wolseley Pattern Helmet (pith helmet) was worn with a puggaree of seven folds, the centre fold being pale blue, MO 336/1908 detailed that a "small regimental badge" was worn on the front of the helmet "above V of puggaree".

• Pale blue gorget patches were worn on the collar of the tunic, 4 1/2 inches in length, pointed at the outer ends. Along the centre of the patch was a loop of crimson silk gimp with a small regimental badge in the centre and a small Commonwealth button 1 inch from point.

• The shoulder straps (“epaulettes") carried two half-inch stripes of pale blue, spaced half an inch apart showing khaki between, the AIC shoulder titles and officers badges of rank were worn on these straps.

As the original AIC consisted only of officers, the “Orders for Dress and Clothing” do not describe a uniform for Warrant Officers, Senior NCO or soldiers.



Today the Corps wears the Australian Army's standard range of khaki uniforms.

Reference:

Orders For Dress And Clothing Military Forces of The Commonwealth 1906. Embodying Amendments Made Up to 31 May 1912. By Authority J. Kemp, Acting Government Printer, Melbourne

Badges

Original Corps Badge

As noted above, dress regulations for the original Corps allowed for 'regimental badges'. The badge shown is known to have been worn prior to World War One and an example of both a large and small version are are held by the MAMI(1). Though the ordnance pattern has not been found to prove the badges provenance, as it featured an Imperial State Crown, it should have had Royal assent (2). The blue colour is derived from the authorised facings for the Corps uniforms. Note the motto, which is still used by the Corps today.

Notes:

1. In 2003 we became aware that in the Australian War Memorial collection of General Sir John Monash's medals and badges there is a pre-WW1 Australian Intelligence Corps badge, which tends to lend further provenance to the official approval of this badge. It is also of interest that this Corps badge is the only Army badge in this section of the Monash collection, which may indicate Sir John's pride in his Corps service prior to World War 1.

2. Soon after the accession of King Edward VII the opportunity afforded by the issue of a War Office "Sealed Pattern of the Royal Crown and Cypher" for use in the Army was taken advantage of to notify his Majesty's pleasure, that for official purposes the Royal Crown represented over the Royal Arms or other insignia (such as Corps badges) should be the Imperial State Crown.

Source "Complete Guide to Heraldry" by Arthur Foxe-Davies


Current Corps Badge

The current style of Corps badge is an adaptation of the United Kingdoms Intelligence Corps badge. The Australian Army application to use and adapt the design was approved by the UK War Office in 1949 (UK WO 32/13451) and the Australian version was introduced on 29 July 1949. After the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, the badge was modified in 1953, by replacing the Imperial State ("Kings") Crown (as seen on the old badge), with St. Edward's Crown, which has become known as the Queens Crown.

The badge consists of a Union (Tudor) Rose resting on a wreath of laurel, surmounted by the crown, over a scroll bearing the title 'Australian Intelligence Corps'. The symbolism enshrined in this badge is that the Tudor Rose is for confidentiality and trustworthiness, the laurel wreath is an ancient Roman symbol for achievement and honour, the crown signifies allegiance to the Sovereign.

Governor-General's Banner

In recognition of its valuable contribution to the nation and the Australian Defence Force, the Governor-General of Australia, Major General Michael Jeffrey AC CVO MC, presented his banner to the Australian Intelligence Corps at Canungra on 7th August 2004.

The Governor-General presents his Banner to the first
Australian Intelligence Corps Banner Ensign, Captain Michael Pert.
Photograph © 2004 Wayne Ryan

The parade ground at Moriaty Park, Canungra, Quensland, was the scene of tight security. The ceremony opened with helicopters of 171 Squadron inserting Mortar Platoon 6 RAR who 'secured the parade ground'. About 100 serving members, drawn from across Australia marched on to the parade ground, with numerous others participating in the activity in other capacities. The veterans were represented by over 60 former serving personnel who travelled at their own expense from as far afield as Perth and Melbourne.

The proceedings were witnessed by 1,500 family, friends and locals. Dignitaries included the Minister of Defence, Senator Robert Hill, the Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Peter Leahy AO and others to numerous to mention. Foreign dignitaries include the UK Director of Intelligence (Army) and representatives of the US Army MI Corps and the NZ Intelligence Corps.

The Governor-General's Banner is made of crimson silk,
68 centimetres on the pike and 88 centimetres on the fly,
exclusive of the 5 centimetre gold bullion fringe,
with the Governor-General's cypher on the obverse
and the badge of the Australian Intelligence Corps on the reverse.
Photograph © 2004 Wayne Ryan

Customs

Wreaths: For Corps memorial occasions are where possible made solely of laurel.

Toasts: At Corps dinners can be made with malt whisky, port, or water. In addition to the loyal toast and the Corps toast, it is usual that the senior Corps member present, whether a member of that Mess or a guest makes a toast to the fallen/absent comrades.

Formal dinners: Are usually set out in a "hollow square", with a small table in the centre complete with table setting in memory of those members who died during service. It is the practice that this setting be named for one of the members on the Roll of Honour appropriate to the occasion (ie: an officer for an Officers Mess function), and that during the dinner a designated member describes the absents members service history and circumstances. Over the small centre table should either be a ceiling rose, or in its place a single rose should be suspended from the ceiling, signifying the dining practice of "sub rosa".

A secondary benefit of the hollow square dinner, is that everyone can see each other and it therefore has the tendency to become a more convivial function.

General

Motto:"Forewarned, Forearmed"

Shoulder title: 'INT'

Lanyard: Bottle Green, introduced 8th May 1964

Alliances:Our Corps has been formally allied with the British Army Intelligence Corps since 1950 (UK WO 32/13886)

Corps ties: As a public display of our pride in the Corps and to promote esprit de corps, members of the Corps and its Association often wear the Corps tie each Friday (and are encouraged to do so). This is in recognition of the original Australian Intelligence Corps establishment on Friday, 6 Dec 1907.

Birthday: Friday 6th December 1907 (Military Order 305 of 1907)

Corps Colours

Green: For the Corps alliance with the (UK) Intelligence Corps.

Black: For the Corps links with the Australian Staff Corps.

Scarlet: Signifying the Corps combat support role.