Australian Military Regulations 1927

These are the administrative rulebooks for the Australian Army, made under the Defence Act 1903. They set out the practical ‘how-to’ of running the military—from who’s in charge of whom, to how doctors check soldiers for diseases, to what happens if someone trashes the barracks.

Who it covers:

• Soldiers and officers – rules about command, medical check-ups, and when pay can be docked
• Army doctors and dentists – must be registered practitioners; can order vaccinations, dental work, and post-mortem examinations
• Army lawyers – special rules for the Australian Army Legal Corps (who must be qualified barristers or solicitors)
• Messes – the social clubs for officers and soldiers, including how fees are set and debts collected

Key things it does:

• Chain of command: Lists the 24 Army Corps in order of seniority (from Staff Cadets down to the Women’s Royal Australian Army Corps) and establishes who can give orders to whom
• Medical rules: Soldiers can be ordered to undergo medical exams and treatment (including vaccinations) to keep the force healthy; infectious diseases must be reported immediately
• Money matters: Allows the Army to deduct pay for barrack damages (when someone breaks something but nobody owns up) and for debts owed to messes