Australia: WW1 Demobilised Soldiers Badge 1918

Heavy golding tone to the silver finish. The oval shaped badge has the raised words 'ENLISTED IN A.I.F. 1918 ISSUED BY DEPT OF DEFENCE' in a band around the edge with the Australian coat-of-arms in the centre. On the reverse are two horizontal brazed-on lugs with the makers name 'STOKES & SONS MELB' and a stamped serial number. This badge (sometimes referred to as the 'too bloody late' badge) was issued to those AIF recruits who, at the time of the Armistice, in November 1918, were training in Australia, or who had enlisted but had not yet been called into camp for training. It was also issued to serving members of the Royal Australian Garrison Artillery who had volunteered, but not embarked, for service in the AIF Siege Artillery Brigade.