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Recollections of War > Records

Royal Air Force silver tone and enamel sweetheart pendant

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c. 1939

Overview

World War Two era, circular, silver tone and enamel Air Force sweetheart pendant. It features a central eagle with outstretched wings on a voided ring of blue enamel, surrounded by a decorative openwork border and surmounted by a King's crown with red enamel detailing.
The motto of the Commonwealth Air Forces, 'PER ARDUA AD ASTRA', appears in silver letters embedded in the blue enamel.
There is a silver metal loop at the top of the pendant through which a chain or pin could be threaded for attachment.
The reverse is plain and it has no maker's marks.

Historical information

This sweetheart pendant is one of many produced and sold to servicemen to give to their loved ones during wartime.
Given that the motto applies to all Commonwealth Air Forces, it is not possible to say if it was made specifically for the Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force or Royal Canadian Air Force.
A similar example had a suspension bar with a pin clasp which held the pendant. It is not known if this originally had a bar or was sold simply as a pendant.

Details

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00960

Item type

Collectibles

Ephemera

Jewellery

Personal Effects

Themes

War and Conflict

War and Conflict > World War 2

Material

Enamels

Metal

Width

31 mm

Height or length

40 mm

Inscriptions and markings

On front of pendant:

"PER ARDUA AD ASTRA"

Keywords

Royal Air Force (RAF)

Royal Australian Air Force

History - Social

Year

Primary significance criteria

Social or spiritual significance

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity

Last modified

Saturday, 25 July, 2026

Completeness

94

Recollections of War

Recollections of War

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Royal Air Force silver tone and enamel sweetheart pendant

Royal Air Force silver tone and enamel sweetheart pendant

Reverse of Royal Air Force silver tone and enamel sweetheart pendant

Reverse of Royal Air Force silver tone and enamel sweetheart pendant

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