Missions to Seamen Merchant Navy Day Appeal pin - 2

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Overview

Missions to Seamen Merchant Navy Day Appeal circular paper fundraising pin. It features the patriotic colours of red, white and blue on a cream background, all enclosed within a thin blue border.
The words 'MISSIONS TO SEAMEN' are printed in red following the top curve of the inner circle, while the words 'MERCHANT NAVY DAY' are printed in dark blue along the bottom inner edge.
The central image is of two crossed flagpoles, with the left flag being the British Red Ensign (commonly used by merchant vessels), and the right flag being that of the Missions to Seamen organisation - a flying angel between two lines of text featuring the name of the organisation.
The bold red letters 'M N' (Merchant Navy) sit above the tops of the crossed flagpoles.
It would have had a metal pin threaded through a small hole for attachment, but this is missing.
The reverse of the pin is plain, with no maker's marks.

Historical information

The Missions to Seamen is a prominent Christian welfare charity that provides practical, emotional, and spiritual support to merchant crew members worldwide. It was founded in 1856 in the United Kingdom to care for the welfare of seafarers of all nationalities and faiths.
In 1858, the mission adopted its famous Flying Angel logo. The iconic symbol is based on a verse from the biblical Book of Revelation: "Then I saw an angel flying in mid-heaven, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those on earth..."
The organisation is now known globally as The Mission to Seafarers.

During the World Wars, the merchant navy became the essential backbone of supply lines, facing intense danger from enemy surface raiders, mines, and submarines along the Australian coast. The mission rapidly escalated its welfare services to support traumatized mariners, survivors of torpedo attacks, and stranded international crews.

Fundraising items such as this pin were manufactured extensively during these periods to raise money from the public to keep the port centres funded.

There are two almost identical varieties of this pin in the collection. They differ only in the positioning of the 'MN' letters and the point at which the flagpoles cross

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW01128

Item type

Badges

Collectibles

Ephemera

Themes

Defence > Navy

Religion

Social History

Transport