Please be advised: this website contains the names, images and voices of people who are now deceased.

Collections WA has a responsibility to preserve and make accessible the history and culture of Western Australia in all its various forms. The intention of Collections WA is to support research, and to reveal actions of the past that have impacted upon communities, families, and individuals.

In doing so, Collections WA acknowledges the need to respond sensitively and appropriately in cases when accessing this material may be confronting to Aboriginal visitors and clients.

Please also note: Some historical materials within this portal may include language or opinions that today are considered inappropriate or even offensive. Collections WA does not endorse this language and apologises for any distress caused.

Continue

Continue showing cultural advice

Stop showing cultural advice

Collections WA brings together collections from libraries, galleries, museums, archives, historical societies, cultural organisations, community groups and other collecting organisations across Western Australia.

Recollections of War > Records

'Lady Hennessy's Patriotic Day' fundraising button 1916

« Prev Item Next Item »

Commonwealth Button Fund

1916

Overview

Circular fundraising badge or button sold during World War One to support the 'Lady Hennessy's Patriotic Day' appeal in 1916. It is made from printed paper between a tin base and celluloid cover.
It features the Australian flag on a red background with a broad band of pale blue around the outside. At the bottom is a belt buckle and on the upper side are the words 'For our fighting men' in large cream letters.
The reverse has a metal back with a void into which a metal pin is secured for attachment.

Historical information

The Commonwealth Button Fund was established in mid-1915, with the first Button Day being held in November of that year, supporting the people of Belgium. Over the course of the next 6 years, 33 Button Days were held raising money for a variety of patriotic and charitable causes including the Australian, British and French Red Cross, Hospitals, allied countries, current serving men and women, discharged, wounded and disabled servicemen and women, and their families. The buttons were sold in trams, buses, at railways stations and at rallies to raise money for the stated cause.

The 'Lady Hennessy's Patriotic Day' button day was held on 24 March 1916 and proceeds were given to Lady Hennessy's Patriotic League, which provided comforts to Australian men fighting at the front.

Details

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00325

Item type

Themes

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

Material

Width

23 mm

Height or length

23 mm

Inscriptions and markings

"FOR OUR FIGHTING MEN"

Keywords

Commonwealth Button Fund

Badges & Buttons

History - Social

Place made

Melbourne
Victoria
Australia

Year

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Social or spiritual significance

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity

Recollections of War

Recollections of War

Organisation Details
View Collection
Item Feedback

Other items by Commonwealth Button Fund

Other items from Recollections of War

'Lady Hennessy's Patriotic Day' fundraising button 1916

'Lady Hennessy's Patriotic Day' fundraising button 1916

Reverse of 'Lady Hennessy's Patriotic Day' fundraising button 1916

Reverse of 'Lady Hennessy's Patriotic Day' fundraising button 1916

Media Reuse | View Full Size | Item Feedback

Scan this QR code to open this page on your phone ->

Full size unavailable (you're already seeing this image in its highest resolution available on Collections WA)

Loading...