A Century of Service: The Australian Defence Force

Overview

This year, we commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of World War I, “the war to end all wars”. This stamp issue honours the contribution made by our defence services over the last century. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) comprises the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), the Australian Army and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The Commonwealth Naval Force and the Australian Army were established shortly after Federation in 1901. In 1911 King George V granted the title of Royal Australian Navy. The Army established the Australian Flying Corps in 1912 which was reconstituted in Australia after World War I as the Australian Air Corps. This body was in turn separated from the Army in 1921 to form the Royal Australian Air Force, becoming the second air force to be formed in the world. In 1976 the three services were integrated into the ADF. Throughout its history the three arms of the ADF have participated in major conflicts including World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and more recently, in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The ADF has been involved in many peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, including in East Timor, Bougainville, Rwanda, the Solomon Islands, Somalia and Sudan.

The designs are based on the caps and badges of the respective three services of the Australian Defence Force.

Designer

Tim Hancock, xsd

Products released in this issue