'Hospital Day for Charity' 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 'Hospital Day for Charity' appeal in 1916. It is made from printed paper between a tin base and celluloid cover.
The button has a broad red outer circle with a gold edge. The name of the appeal is written in large cream letters in the red band. The image at the centre of the button includes a nurse bending over a patient in a sick bed in front of a window in cream and blue outline with red highlights, in front of a gold background.
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 for Charity' button day was held on 20 October 1916 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.

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

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00317

Item type

Badges

Collectibles

Ephemera

Themes

Medicine & Health
Social History
War and Conflict
War and Conflict > World War 1

Material

Ink