The first Roundel

ARB3

As a young lad in High School I really bungled some of mylearning opportunities.

The worst of these was that I missed out on learning about theAustralian Flying Corps from my English Teacher at High School

I looked for Pictures and articles about Mr Fisher-Webster in vain

Herbert attended Sydney High School, and later at Oxford University and Sydney University.

He enlisted in the AIF on the 3rd March, 1916, and sailed on the 7th October with 6th Reinforcements.

From the 8th February, 1917, and served at Hindenburg Line and Bullecourt, where he was wounded 19th May. I believe he was wounded in the hand as that was a disability he carried through his later teaching career.

He transferred to A.F.C. in November, was commissioned on 22nd April, 1918, promoted lieutenant, 22nd July, finally returning home 31st August, 1920.

One Question I would have asked was “What was the origin of the Roundel?”

Sopwith Camel no Roundel Later Picture with a Roundel

The French Air Service originated the use of roundels on military aircraft during WWI. The chosen design was the French national cockade whose colours are the blue-white-red of the French Flag.

Similar national cockades, with different ordering of colours, were designed and adopted as aircraft roundels by their allies, including the British Royal Flying Corps and the US Army Air Service. After WWI, many other air forces adopted roundel insignia, distinguished by different colours or numbers of concentric rings.

French Voisin type III Circa WWI

A cockade is a knot of ribbons, or other circular or oval shaped symbol of distinctive colours which is usually worn on a hat. Famously, Napolion’s army.

Napoleon’s hat worn at Waterloo

In the 18th and 19th centuries, coloured cockades were used in Europe to show allegiance. Military uniforms used a cockade to distinguish Nationality

Countries like Australia, New Zealand & Canada adopted the British Roundel however they have made changes in recent years to personalise the image and also use low visibility Roundels

United States of America

Singapore

Low visibility on Right

Malaysia Navy right

Philippines Low visibility on Right

Indonesia Air Force Army Navy

British

Papua New Guinea

Republic of Korea