'Our Soldiers' Day' fundraising button 1916 - small size

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Commonwealth Button Fund

1916

Overview

Circular fundraising badge or button sold during World War One to support the 'Our Soldiers' Day' appeal. It is made from printed paper between a tin base and celluloid cover.
The button features a gold-bordered art nouveau style heart within a green wreath, surmounted by a yellow seven-pointed star, all on a royal purple background. The words 'Discharged Soldiers' Fund For Our Returned Soldiers' are written within the heart on a stippled cream background. A gold and white border encloses the whole design. The word 'Copyright' appears in black on the lower rim of the button.
The reverse has a metal back with a void into which a metal pin should be secured for attachment, but the pin is missing. Some blue paint has adhered to small areas of both the front and back of the button.

Historical information

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.

'Our Soldiers' Day' button day was held on December 1 1916 with proceeds raised distributed to discharged soldiers.

This smaller sized button sold for 1 shilling, while the larger size sold for 2/6.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00314

Item type

Badges

Collectibles

Ephemera

Themes

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

Material