WWI era silver sweetheart brooch - Field Artillery, A.I.F.

« Prev Item Next Item »

c. 1915

Overview

World War One era, circular, voided, silver sweetheart brooch featuring a central depiction of a bird with raised wings surrounded by a wreath of leaves.
Between the wing tips, the letters 'FA' appear in the voided area, while the letters 'A.I.'F.' are engraved at the base of the wreath.
The brooch appears to be hand made as the etching of the metal is simple in style and not symmetrical.
The reverse has the words 'STG. SIL.' impressed in the centre within a rectangular border with rounded edges, and the phrase 'To Edith from Dover' is engraved at the bottom.
There is a pin clasp on the reverse.

Historical information

The brooch was purchased in the Albany area of Western Australia, but the identity of the creator/sender and recipient, Edith, are unknown.

When World War One was declared on 4 August 1914, Dover assumed a vital role in the defence of Britain. The huge Admiralty Harbour supported naval forces controlling the Straits of Dover and safeguarded troops and supplies going to and returning from France. The town itself became one huge fortress, with a garrison to hold the port at all costs. Dover was a crucial port for soldiers leaving for and returning from the front lines in France, and also became a symbol of home for soldiers returning from the war. It is more likely that the sender of the brooch passed through Dover on his way to the battlefields than actually served in an artillery unit there.

Photo lockets, pendants and brooches were very popular during wartime and there are a large number of them in the collection.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00573

Item type

Themes

Social History
War and Conflict
War and Conflict > World War 1