WWI fundraising button featuring the portrait of General Birdwood

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c. 1915

Overview

Colourful fundraising button featuring the portrait of General William Birdwood, Commander of the ANZAC Forces in World War One.
It is made from printed paper between a tin base and celluloid cover.
He is wearing his uniform with red collar tabs designating his rank and a peaked cap with a lot of gold braid. The background is dark brown in colour. His name is written in white block letters either side of his portrait.
The whole button is enclosed within a solid gilt frame with an attached brooch pin. The gold metal is somewhat dirty and scratched and the pin is almost vertical rather than horizontal.
There is no visible maker's mark.

Historical information

Field Marshal William Riddell Birdwood, 1st Baron Birdwood (born 13 September 1865, died 17 May 1951) was a British Army officer. He saw active service in the Second Boer War on the staff of Lord Kitchener. During World War One, he commanded the Anzac Corps right through the Gallipoli Campaign. In 1916, he went to France as the Commander of I Anzac Corps. In late 1917, he was given command of the newly formed Australian Corps, comprising all five divisions of the Australian Imperial Force.
This button is one of five in the collection featuring famous military leaders from World War One.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00511

Item type

Themes

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

Material

Gilt