Sailors' Day fundraising button - dark blue

c. 1940
Overview

Circular fundraising badge or button sold during World War Two to support the 'Sailors' Day' appeal. It is made from printed paper between a tin base and celluloid cover.
It features a central dark blue fouled anchor sitting directly over a red circle which is the centre of a cream lifebuoy (lifesaver). There are four cream tabs at the top, bottom and both sides, through which a depiction of a rope is threaded.
To the outside of the lifebuoy is a broad dark blue border on which the words 'SAILORS' DAY' are printed in cream upper case letters around the top arch, while the denomination of '1/-' (one shilling) is at the bottom.
The reverse would have had a metal pin which encircles the edge of the badge before ending in a point for attachment, but this is missing.
The maker's details 'A.E. PATRICK PTY. LTD. SUMMER HILL' are printed in blue on the lower rim of the button.

Historical information

The Sailors' Day and Merchant Seamen's Appeals during World War Two were nationwide charity and fundraising campaigns in Australia designed to support Allied merchant navy personnel and naval seamen.
Organised through various charitable groups like the Royal Navy and local merchant navy welfare funds, these regular appeals raised vital capital to provide comfort packages, medical aid, and financial relief to the families of sailors who faced immense danger keeping supply lines open.

There are two versions of this button in the collection - dark blue and light blue - both with the same price of one shilling.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-119-RoW01144
Item type
Badges
Collectibles
Ephemera
Material
Ink
Metal
Paper
Width
27 mm
Height or length
27 mm
Inscriptions and markings

On front of button:

"SAILORS' DAY"

"1/-"

On rim of button:

"A.E. PATRICK PTY. LTD. SUMMER HILL"

Place made
Summer Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Year
Primary significance criteria
Social or spiritual significance
Comparative significance criteria
Interpretive capacity
Last modified
Sunday, 27 September, 2026
Completeness
100
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Recollections of War

Recollections of War

Sailors' Day fundraising button - dark blue
Sailors' Day fundraising button - dark blue
Reverse of Sailors' Day fundraising button - dark blue
Reverse of Sailors' Day fundraising button - dark blue
Sailors' Day fundraising buttons - light blue and dark blue
Sailors' Day fundraising buttons - light blue and dark blue

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