Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

World War 1, Home Front, Commonwealth Button Fund, Suffering Nations Day, 1917

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Subcollections

Commonwealth Button Fund - Patriotic and Fundraising Buttons of World War 1

Overview

Commonwealth Button Fund Appeal button - Suffering Natoma Day 1917

Historical information

The Commonwealth Button Fund was a World War 1 fundraising scheme which operated from 1915 until 1920. Its objective was to raise funds for wartime charities including refugee raid, war relief, soldier comforts and ancillary services like the Red Cross. It did this primarily through the sale of themed Button Days where small commemorative buttons were sold to the public by authorised sellers, mainly at transportation hubs, stations and stops.

In addition to the Commonwealth Button Fund, there was a vast array of benevolent societies and privately run patriotic funds and charities. Like the Button Fund, they were formed to raise money from the public to help support Australia's allies and its soldiers. Patriotic leagues and societies and other groups organised many different fund-raising efforts, including raffles and lotteries, special "days" like "Win the War Day" and "Allies Day". These activities raised over 12 million pounds during the War and immediately after. These private funds filled an important gap by providing the troops with warm clothing and comforts packages, by supervising the care and rehabilitation of returned soldiers and by raising relief funds for civilian wartime victims in Allied Europe.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-54-856

Inscriptions and markings

The circular badges were most commonly produced with a printed paper design laminated between a tin base and celluloid cover. The button had metal back with a securing pin and attachment.

Contextual Information

A display of Fund Raising and Patriotic Buttons features in the World War 1 Gallery during April and November at the Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Links to additional resources

Standard Reference Publication

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

Organisation Details
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