Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

Replica 7th War Loan Honour Flag

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Subcollections

Honourable Insignia - Regimental Colours, Guidons, and Royal Banners

Overview

Replica of the 7th War Loan Honour Flag. The Honour Flag consists of an Australian Blue Ensign in the canton and a white field all surrounded by a narrow red border. A blue Federation star is positioned n the white field in the usual place as on an Australian Ensign. The fly half of the flag was augmented by vertical blue bars indicating War Loan contributions relative to a district assigned quota based on population.

Historical information

The most successful War Loan campaign was the Seventh which was launched on 16 September 1918. Almost one quarter of all households in Australia participated and £43,850,160 was raised. One reason the seventh loan was so well subscribed was that for the first time an ‘Honour Flag’ had been produced which would be presented to those local authorities which raised a set amount of money based on their populations.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-99-750

Item type

Flags

Themes

War and Conflict
War and Conflict > World War 1

Material

Nylon

Width

6 m

Height or length

2 m

Inscriptions and markings

The flag without bars and star was presented to districts which raised their quota of funds, and for every 25 per cent over quota a bar was added. A star was included if a district raised more than double its quota. Beginning in July 1915, the Commonwealth Government floated seven war loans to help fund the cost of Australia’s involvement in World War One. Australians were urged to purchase war bonds that would be repaid with interest. By the end of the war, £250 million had been raised from these loans which covered almost 60% of the cost to Australia of the war against Germany.

Contextual Information

The following is a list of Western Australian districts which secured seventh war loan honour flags: Flag with three bars and star (more than double the quota). Armadale, £2,630 Beverley, £14,450 Bunbury, £26,430 Cannington, (Queen's Park), £4,710 Donnybrook, £3,050 Geraldton, £35,780 Greenbushes, £6,440 Guildford, £18,380 Kalgoorlie, £88,160 Katanning, £22,590 Kellerberrin, £8,610 Kelmscott, £2,510 Leonora, £11,610 Marble Bar, £5,020 Meekatharra, £15,150 Melville (Bicton), £7,420 Menzies, £7,200 Norsemen, £5,570 Northam, £25,020 Pinjarrah, £4,070 Plantagenet (Mt. Barker), £5,890 South Perth, £8,000 Wagin, £12,885 Westonia, £5,040 Wickepin, £4,480 Yalgoo, £3,900 York, £24,290. Flag with three bars (at least 75 per cent over quota) Dangin, £3,040 Moora, £9,350 Northampton, £3,640 Subiaco, £21,660. Flag with two bars (at least 50 per cent over quota) Pingelly, £7,590. Flag with one bar (at least 25 per cent over quota) Belmont Park £2,040 Busselton, £2,740 Cottesloe, £25,890 Midland Junction, £11,340. Flag only (obtained quota) Balingup £1,560 Claremont, £23,370 Coolgardie, £3,580 Narrogin, £5,130 Toodyay £3,600 Wanneroo, £1,200 Williams, £3,350.

Links to additional resources

Flag in Katanning

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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