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Returned Sailors, Soldiers & Airmens Imperial Australia League: Life Member: Commander Harry T. Bennett RAN

Maker Returned Sailors Soldiers & Airmens Imperial Australia League (Australian, founded 1916)

Date1940-1967

Object number00003829

NameBadge

MediumBrass, enamel

DimensionsOverall: 30 x 25 mm

ClassificationsClothing and personal items

Credit LineANMM Collection Gift from J Bouvy

Terms

DescriptionThis Imperial League of Australia badge belonged to Commander Harry Thring Bennett who was a Life Member of the League.HistoryThe Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia was formed in 1916, and by 1919 a national badge had evolved that was in use until 1941. The League added Airmen in 1940 to become the Returned Sailors' Soldiers' and Airmens Imperial League of Australia and became the Returned Services League of Australia in 1965 - the RSL. The change to its current name - Returned & Services League - was made in 1990 to reflect the organisation's concern for current as well as former servicemen and servicewomen. The patron of the RSL is Queen Elizabeth II. This badge may be worn only by those who have served in the armed forces of the Crown or its allies. The centre shows a sailor, soldier and airman marching together with their arms linked in unity and comradeship Resting behind the top of the central badge are two wattle branches, which represent Australia. The other plants symbolise the historical link to Wales (leek), England (rose), Scotland (thistle) and Ireland (shamrock). Harry Thring Bennett DSO served in the Royal Navy during World War I and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order; he then transferred to the Royal Australian Navy where he spent most of the 1920s in the Hydrographic Branch undertaking surveys of northern waters and of the Great Barrier Reef. He retired in 1929 but was recalled during World War II where he served firstly as Commander of HMAS PLATYPUS and then as Staff Officer in Sydney of the DEMS (Defensively Equipped Merchant Ships). SignificanceThis badge signifies membership of the Imperial League of Australia.