Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

World War 1, Filet Crochet Commemorative Tablecloth, 5678 CALLAGHAN, 1915

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Overview

Filet crochet commemorative tablecloth fashioned by Kate (Katherine) Callaghan in honour of her son, 5678 Private Thomas Albert Callaghan serving with 11 Battalion, AIF. Thomas was 24 and single living with his mother at 100 Glyde Street East Fremantle when he enlisted on 8 March 1916. He had previously served 2 1/2 years with 11 Australian Infantry Battalion.

Historical information

After 1914 injury and loss due to war had a wide-ranging impact and women’s magazines included craft patterns to keep up patriotic sentiments in support of young men fighting at the front. People are often aware that socks and other items were knitted for people serving overseas, but Australian women were also encouraged to use their craft skills, especially filet crochet, to create household items with patriotic motifs and emblems such as cot blankets and tablecloths. Filet is the French word for net and filet crochet is a technique that creates intricate designs using a combination of open and closed mesh squares. Designs and commonly used words were provided, but women also added their own unique Australian motifs and phrases.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-54-814

Inscriptions and markings

Pte Thomas Albert Callaghan, 5678, 24, Labourer, He embarked from Fremantle on board HMAT A29 Suevic on 6 June 1916 and returned on 21 June 1919. He was a lumper, (unloaded cargo at the docks), but later in life, Thomas took up weaving after being in Hollywood Repatriation Hospital in his 50’s as described in a newspaper article in 1952 Happiness Woven Into A Man’s Life Pattern (The Daily News Sat Mar 1952/Page 7/Trove).

Links to additional resources

Service Summary - Callaghan

Service Records - Callaghan

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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