Defence Honours
editBattle and theatre honours of the Australian Army
Australian Battle Honours, Theatre Honours, Honour Titles and Honour Distinctions
"Emblazoned on a unit's colours, battle honours represent the proud history of a unit and the very core of its character." http://digital.realviewtechnologies.com/?iid=6631&startpage=page0000018
The process in Defence varies from the civilian awards in that Defence differentiates between the process for individual awards versus the process for honours which are group awards. The public cannot nominate for "honours" for example a battle honour, theatre honour etc. such as the Vietnam Medal. This process is determined by the Battle Honours Committee (BHC) which met in 1981 and most recently in 2012.[1] The Australian Army History Unit is responsible to provide secretariat services for the Battle Honours Committee.[2]
http://www.fleetairarmoa.org/news/faa-battle-honours-section-of-website-complete
The awarding of Battle Honours can be a long and complicated task, "Better a wise choice rather late than a serious of vexatious disputes" [3]
Any person or organisation can make nominations of Australian citizens for Australian honours" is not true. The community does not nominate people for a Vietnam Medal.
The defence position goes along these lines:
- Theatre Honours are Gallipoli 1915, France and Flanders 1916–1918, Middle East 1941–1944, South West Pacific 1942–1945, Korea 1950–1953 and Vietnam 1965–1972 (mentioned above). A Theatre is a campaign or series of operations.
- Battle Honours are Landing at Anzac, Hamel, Tobruk, Kokoda Track, Kapyong and Coral-Balmoral. These are awarded to units and worn by all members. They are most visible on Anzac day and unit colours. [4]
- Honour Title is normally a unit award, for example the title "Coral" awarded to 102nd Field Battery for its outstanding achievement during the Battle of Coral in South Vietnam.
- Honour Distinctions are intended to recognise service under operational conditions in security-related, peace keeping and peace enforcement and similar operations, for example the award made to the 17th Construction Squadron.
Morrison, David (10 August 2012). "Letter from the Chief of Army to the Officer Commanding 17th Construction Squadron" (PDF). Army Headquarters, Canberra: 2. OCA/OUT/2012/R11944295. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
http://digital.realviewtechnologies.com/?iid=6631&startpage=page0000018
- ^ Administration of Australian Battle Honours, Theatre Honours, Honour Titles and Honour Distinctions. Defence Instruction (Army). Vol. 38–3 (ADMIN ed.). Canberra: Australian Army. 4 May 2012.
{{cite book}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ "Australian Army History Unit: Our business". Canberra: Australian Army. 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ^ "Awarding Battle Honours Is Long, Complicated Task". Sydney: The Sydney Morning Herald. 1 June 1954. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|year=/|date=mismatch (help) - ^ "Battle Honours by conflict". Canberra: Australian Army. 2013. Retrieved 19 April 2013.
- ^ Defence Honours & Awards. Commonwealth of Australia. 2012 http://www.defence.gov.au/medals/Content/+130%20Publications/system%20brochure.pdf. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Australian Active Service Medal". Defence Honours & Awards. Commonwealth of Australia. 19 January 2012. Retrieved 13 August 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Morrison, David (10 April 2012). "Letter from the Chief of Army to the Governor General". Army Headquarters, Canberra: 2. OCA/OUT/2012/R11194182.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)