Australian Army Corps Badges — What they were

In the Australian Army, a "corps" is a big branch or specialty, such as infantry, artillery, engineers or medical services. A corps badge or badge of the Australian Army helped show which corps or unit a soldier belonged to. There are two common kinds of identification:

• Cap badge (metal badge): The most famous is the "Rising Sun" badge (the General Service Badge) that many Australian soldiers wore on their hat or cap. It showed you were part of the Australian Army.
• Unit or corps patches (coloured cloth patches): These were worn on the shoulder and showed the soldier's corps and often which division or regiment they belonged to. The shape and colours gave specific information.

Why badges mattered

• Identification: You could tell a soldier's role at a glance (for example, who was a medic or an engineer).
• Practical: In battle or in camp it made coordination easier.
• Esprit de corps: Badges created pride and a sense of belonging.

What the main Australian corps did in World War II

Australia's army in WWII was made up of many corps. Here are some important ones and their roles — written simply:

• Infantry: Frontline soldiers who fought on foot in attacks, defense, patrols and close combat.
• Artillery: Operated big guns that fired shells to support the infantry from a distance.
• Engineers (Royal Australian Engineers): Built bridges, cleared mines, repaired roads, and made defensive works — essential for movement and safety.
• Signals: Handled communications — radios, telephones and message systems — so commanders could give orders and units could coordinate.
• Army Medical Corps: Looked after wounded soldiers, ran field hospitals, and evacuated the injured to safety.
• Ordnance and Service Corps (logistics): Supplied food, fuel, ammunition, clothing and repaired vehicles — they kept the army moving.
• Armoured/cavalry units: Used tanks and armored vehicles for mobile attacks and reconnaissance.

Australian forces served in many places during WWII: North Africa (e.g., Tobruk, El Alamein), Greece and Crete, Syria, and later extensively in the Pacific (New Guinea, Borneo) fighting the Japanese. Each corps contributed its specialist skills — the infantry fought the battles, artillery and engineers supported them, medics treated casualties, and logistic corps made sure troops had what they needed.

The German-designed 'Jerry Can' — what it was and why it mattered

In the 1930s, German engineers created a very effective 20-litre (about 5 US gallons) fuel and water container called the Wehrmacht-Einheitskanister, which Allied soldiers later nicknamed the "jerry can" ("Jerry" was a slang name for Germans).

Key design features

• Rectangular steel shape: Flat sides and a compact shape made it easy to stack and store in trucks and on vehicles.
• Three handles: Allowed one person to carry it by himself or two people to pass it easily along a line — very handy during refuelling operations.
• Strong pressed indentations: The patterned depressions on the sides made the can stronger so it wouldn't buckle.
• Good spout and cap design: The cap and pouring mechanism were designed to avoid spills and let fuel pour smoothly (some designs even let air in while pouring so liquid flows without glugging).
• Durability and a tight seal: Built to resist leaks and rough use in the field.

Why the jerry can made a big difference in WWII

• Improved logistics: Armies need fuel, water and oil. The jerry can made it easier to move and store these supplies reliably — especially important in places with long distances, like the North African desert.
• Saved time and reduced waste: Fewer leaks, easier pouring and quicker handing of cans meant vehicles could be refuelled faster and less fuel was lost.
• Copied by the Allies: British troops captured German cans and liked them so much that Allied factories began producing similar designs. The U.S. adopted a version later in the war.
• Helped mobility: Better supply chains allowed armies to move faster and further. In desert and jungle campaigns where there were few good roads and long supply lines, that mattered a lot.

How the Australians used it

Australian units encountered and used jerry cans in North Africa and later in the Pacific. Once the Allies recognized how useful they were, jerry-can-style containers became standard equipment across many armies.

Summary

Badges in the Australian Army showed which corps a soldier belonged to and helped with identification, organisation and pride. Each corps had a specific role in WWII — from fighting in the infantry to keeping the army supplied and moving. The German-designed jerry can was a small but powerful innovation: a durable, stackable, easy-to-use fuel and water container that greatly improved wartime logistics and was widely adopted by Allied forces after they captured and tested it.

If you want, I can show pictures of some Australian corps badges and a jerry can and point out the parts I mentioned.