'Hospital Day' fundraising button 1918

1918
Overview

Circular fundraising badge or button sold during World War One to support the 'Hospital Day' appeal in 1918. It is made from printed paper between a tin base and celluloid cover.
The button depicts a gold heart in the centre of a red background with a white and blue border. The phrase 'Hospital Day 1918' appears within the heart in dark blue writing with pale blue shadows on a cream background with stippled highlights. The word 'Copyright' appears in white on the lower rim of the button.
The reverse has a metal back with a void into which a metal pin is secured for attachment.

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.

'Hospital Day' button day was held on 25 October 1918 with proceeds supporting metropolitan hospitals across a range of services. These included general hospitals, children's hospitals, Homeopathic, Eye and Ear and Dental hospitals, mental asylums, convalescent homes for men and women and for the aged and infirm, among others.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-119-RoW00315
Material
Width
23 mm
Height or length
23 mm
Inscriptions and markings

"HOSPITAL
DAY
1918"

"COPYRIGHT"

Place made
Melbourne
Victoria
Australia
Year
Primary significance criteria
Historic significance
Social or spiritual significance
Comparative significance criteria
Interpretive capacity
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Recollections of War

Recollections of War

Organisation Details
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'Hospital Day' fundraising button 1918
'Hospital Day' fundraising button 1918
Reverse of 'Hospital Day' fundraising button 1918

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