'Fighting Men's Day' fundraising button 1918 - large size
1918Circular fundraising badge or button sold during World War One to support the 'Fighting Men's Day' appeal in 1918. It is made from printed paper between a tin base and celluloid cover.
It features a central image of the head and shoulders of an Australian soldier in his khaki uniform and slouch hat with fixed bayonet in front of the Australian flag. There is a cream band around this image, within which the words 'Our Fighting Men' appear at the top of the arc and 'Australian Comforts Fund' below in red letters. The outer border and rim of the badge is gold in colour. The maker's details appear in blue lettering on the rim.
The reverse has a metal pin which encircles the edge of the badge before ending in a point which can be pushed through clothing for attachment.
The Commonwealth Button Fund was established in mid-1915, with the first Button Day being held in November of that year, supporting the people of Belgium. Over the course of the next 6 years, 33 Button Days were held raising money for a variety of patriotic and charitable causes including the Australian, British and French Red Cross, Hospitals, allied countries, current serving men and women, discharged, wounded and disabled servicemen and women, and their families. The buttons were sold in trams, buses, at railways stations and at rallies to raise money for the stated cause.
'Fighting Men's Day' button day was held on two separate dates in June and July 1918. Buttons were sold in the suburbs of Melbourne on 28 June, and on 5 July in the city. Proceeds were given to the Lady Mayoress' Patriotic League to provide comforts to the fighting men at the front.
This larger size button was sold for 2/6 while the smaller sized button sold for 1 shilling.
Details
Details
On front of badge:
"OUR FIGHTING MEN
AUSTRALIAN COMFORTS FUND"
On rim of badge:
"A. PATRICK MAKER MELBOURNE SYDNEY ADELAIDE"
Related Objects
Related Objects
Other items by Commonwealth Button Fund
-
'Hospital Day' fundraising button 1918 - small size
-
Collector's Permit - ANZAC Remembrance Day 1915
-
'Suffering Nations' Day' fundraising button 1917 - large size
-
'Belgian Day' fundraising button 1915 - large size Collector's badge
-
'Wounded Soldiers Day' fundraising button 1915 - large size Collector's badge
-
'Salvation Army Day' fundraising button 1919 - small size
-
'Italian Red Cross Day' fundraising button 1917 - large size
-
'French Red Cross Appeal' fundraising button 1916 - child
-
'Blind Day' fundraising button 1920 - small size
-
Commonwealth Button Fund Receipt - Italian Red Cross Day 1
-
'ANZAC Day' fundraising button 1916 - small size
-
'Lady Hennessy's Patriotic Day' fundraising button 1916 - large size
More items like this
Other items from Recollections of War
-
'Charity' fundraising button 1915 - large size
-
Silver plated trident bread fork with decorative top - emu
-
Silver plated trident bread forks with decorative tops - Kangaroo
-
Furlough House - 8 Division ex-POW Miss 1946 fundraising badge
-
Australasian Trained Nurses' Association Badge presented to Evelyn Wilson
-
New Zealand Registered Nurse badge presented to Georgina Dickson
-
Postcard showing the ANZAC Buffet in Hyde Park, Sydney
-
U.S.S. America printed cloth sailor doll
-
WWI era double-sided locket featuring an Australian soldier and young woman
-
H.M.A.S. Vengeance powder compact
-
Hair work mourning Albert chain or fob - 1914
-
St. John Ambulance Association Bradford Centre shield 1895-1954
Scan this QR code to open this page on your phone ->
