Silver filagree butterfly brooch sent from Evelyn to Dos from Palestine in 1942

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c. 1940

Overview

Silver filagree butterfly brooch sent from Evelyn to Dos from Palestine in 1942.
The wings of the butterfly are made from decorative whorls and twists of thin silver wire which are enclosed by wavy borders. The body and antennae are made from thicker wire, with the head and ends of the antennae being globular.
A brooch fitting extends across the upper back of the brooch, with the word 'Jerusalem' impressed along its length. A circular silver disc is attached to the back of the butterfly's body on which the words 'Sterling Silver 935' are stamped.
A silver safety chain with a pin for attachment is connected to the underside of the brooch.
The brooch came with an envelope with the logo for the Y.M.C.A. (a red inverted triangle over the outline of a map of Australia) printed in the upper left corner. Evelyn has written the details about the butterfly brooch and olive wood box in which it was contained, and her location and date in black ink.
The back of the envelope is unmarked.

Historical information

This brooch was sent to someone named Dos (yet to be determined) in June 1942, inside an olive wood box which is also held in the collection. The writing on the Y.M.C.A. envelope gives details of the gift. Another olive wood box with a napkin ring inside also came with the same grouping.
It is believed that Evelyn was Australian Army Nursing Service Lieutenant Evelyn Hay Drummond Carmichael, who served with the 6th Australian General Hospital situated on the Gaza Ridge in Palestine at the right time.
Evelyn was born in Bald Hills, Queensland on 26 May 1912. She enlisted for service in Brisbane on 5 August 1940, aged 28 and a single nurse. Her rank was Staff Nurse and her service number was QX6375. She served in Australia at various hospitals until the end of January 1941, when she embarked for the Middle East, arriving on 19 February 1941. She was promoted to Sister on 1 December 1941. She married Supt. Ian Mackenzie Turner of the Palestine Police Force in Gaza on 14 November 1942 and her appointment was terminated two days later.

Visiting servicemen and women purchased a variety of souvenirs from Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Palestine and The Holy Land while passing through on active service during both world wars.
Some of the more common items were embroideries such as cushion covers, painted artworks on fabric, jewellery made from mother of pearl, metal and timber, and photo albums with wooden covers filled with postcards of local scenes and pressed dried flowers.
There was also a range of trinket boxes, often with hidden drawers, made from the local olive wood and a range of other olive wood items including napkin rings and even a portable book shelf.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00784

Item type

Themes

War and Conflict > World War 2