State War Council Assistant's Badge - Red Letter

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State War Council

1917

Overview

State War Council Assistant's Badge - Red Letter - in the shape of a diamond.
It is made from cream coloured card with red text and a red illustraion of the reverse of an envelope.
There is a hole at the top through which some matching red cotton is threaded for attachment.
Unlike the collector's permits, there is no space for a name or section number and the reverse is blank.

Historical information

According to the Australian War Memorial, fundraising buttons/badges were sold in trams, buses, at railways stations and at rallies to raise money for the stated cause. This Assistant's Badge is associated with the Wattle Day League, formed almost concurrently in NSW and South Australia in 1909-10 with the purpose of promoting awareness of the plant, encouraging people to wear it and pushing for its adoption as a national symbol.
The homesickness felt by many troops serving in France and the Middle East saw the wattle become a powerful symbol for Australia and home. The League used its popularity to promote and support many fundraising events; in this case, the Keswick Military Hospital and its work with maimed soldiers.
The appeal was held on 21 December 1917.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00305

Item type

Badges

Collectibles

Ephemera

Themes

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

Material

Card

Ink