WWI ARCS good service certificate awarded to Ethel Tiplady

c. 1919
Overview

Australian Red Cross Society certificate awarded to Ethel Tiplady for good service rendered during the Great War 1914-1919.
The Certificate is made from thick cream coloured paper with a sepia illustration of a soldier, nurse and sailor around a central circle with red border containing the Red Cross symbol and words 'Australian Red Cross Society, B.R.C.S.' around the cross.
The soldier and sailor are dressed in uniform, and are crouched down holding their rifles with attached bayonets. The nurse stands tall in the centre and is wearing her uniform and hat. The same red cross symbol in red appears on the apron front.
The signature of the artist who designed the illustration, Lionel Lindsay, is printed below the illustration.
The details of the award are printed in black cursive writing, with the name of the recipient and 1915 date written in black ink. A facsimile signature of Helen Munro Ferguson appears in black at the bottom of the certificate.
The back of the certificate is plain.

Historical information

Ethel May Tiplady was born in November 1881 in Petersham, New South Wales. She appears to have lived in Manly and didn't marry. It is unknown what services she provided to the Red Cross in 1915 to receive the certificate.

On 13 August 1914, nine days after the outbreak of World War One, Lady Helen Munro Ferguson, the wife of the Governor-General, formed the first Australian Red Cross branch. It was still part of the British Red Cross Society (BRCS) as seen on the certificate.

Sir Lionel Arthur Lindsay (1874-1961) was the third-oldest member of the large Lindsay family of artists which included brothers Norman and Percy. In the early 1890s he left his childhood home of Creswick, Victoria and moved to Melbourne and eventually Sydney, where he became an illustrator and editorial cartoonist for publications including the Evening News and the Bulletin. He is known for his paintings and etchings.

Another ARCS certificate designed by Lionel Lindsay is also held in the collection.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-119-RoW00635
Material
Width
203 mm
Height or length
263 mm
Inscriptions and markings

Under illustration:

"Lionel Lindsay"

"This Certificate
is awarded to
Ethel Tiplady 1915
for good service rendered to the
Red Cross Society
during the Great War 1914-1919"

"Helen Munro Ferguson"

Place made
Australia
Year
Primary significance criteria
Historic significance
Social or spiritual significance
Comparative significance criteria
Interpretive capacity
Last modified
Sunday, 10 August, 2025
Completeness
100
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WWI ARCS good service certificate awarded to Ethel Tiplady
WWI ARCS good service certificate awarded to Ethel Tiplady
Reverse of WWI ARCS good service certificate awarded to Ethel Tiplady
Reverse of WWI ARCS good service certificate awarded to Ethel Tiplady

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