Enamel fundraising badge 'War Chest, 1918'

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G. A. Miller

1918

Overview

World War One circular metal and enamel fundraising badge produced to raise funds for the Australian Comforts Fund War Chest appeal in 1918.
The outside of the badge has a metal edged, broad band of blue enamel into which the words 'War Chest' are embedded on the upper side and the date '1918' on the lower side. The central area depicts the Australian Comforts Fund logo - a red, six pointed star with the letters 'ACF' in the centre, all on a white enamel background. The writing and metal borders have lost brightness over time and the words are difficult to read.
The reverse has a brooch fitting. The maker's details appear in raised letters on the lower section.

Historical information

The Australian Comforts Fund (A.C.F.) was first formed in August 1916 from a number of individual state based organisations including the NSW War Chest that had been created at the beginning of World War One. Their role was to send comforts in the form of various 'luxury items' to supplement the Australian soldier's army rations and personal kit. These included games (chess, dominoes, draughts), tobacco and lighters, talcum powder, confectionary, diaries, writing paper and waterproof pencils, reading material, sewing kits and maps.
According to the Australian War Memorial, The Australian Comforts Fund 'quickly grew into a fundraising, collecting, sorting and distributing machine which rivalled the scope of the Red Cross.' They raised money on the home front through the sale of items such as buttons and badges, knitting patterns and postcards.

At the conclusion of World War One, the A.C.F. officially dissolved, before being revived in 1939 with the outbreak of World War Two to provide comforts to a new generation of soldiers. It ceased operation for a second time on 27 June 1946.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00549

Item type

Badges

Collectibles

Ephemera

Themes

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

Material

Enamels

Metal