Merchant Navy Day fundraising button

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Overview

Circular fundraising badge or button sold during World War Two to support the 'Merchant Navy Day' appeal. It is made from printed paper between a tin base and celluloid cover.
It features a detailed, two-masted merchant steamer ship traveling from right to left across open water. The ship is drawn with a single prominent central funnel billowing faint smoke, a dark hull, and white upper decks.
The ship is sailing on stylised blue and white ocean waves. Above the ship is a bright blue sky filled with puffy, white and cream-coloured clouds.
The words 'MERCHANT NAVY DAY' are printed in a black letters around the upper edge, while the denomination '6D' (sixpence) is printed at the bottom.
The reverse has a metal pin which encircles the edge of the badge before ending in a point which can be pushed through clothing for attachment. There are no maker's marks.

Historical information

The Merchant Navy (also known as Mercantile Marine or Merchant Service) comprises the civilian commercial vessels and crews that transport goods, passengers, and supplies during both peace and war.
Unlike the Royal Navy or other armed services, it is not a single government organisation, but rather a collective term for privately owned cargo ships, tankers, passenger liners, and tugs.
The pivotal role of commercial mariners was brought to global attention during World War One. Tasked with bringing in essential food, raw materials, and military personnel, civilian ships suddenly became primary targets for German submarine warfare.
German U-boats instituted blockades to starve island nations into surrender. Merchant ships were painted in vibrant 'dazzle' camouflage to disrupt the targeting mechanisms of enemy torpedoes.
Between 1914 and 1918, approximately 17,000 seafarers lost their lives on British merchant vessels alone. In 1919, to formally honour this immense sacrifice, King George V coined the official title 'Merchant Navy', elevating the status of commercial mariners to match that of the armed services.

Many British Merchant Navy seamen were attached to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) or held commissions in the Royal Australian Naval Reserve (RANR/RANVR) during both wars, many as officers.

There are two photograph albums in the collection belonging to British Merchant Navy officers serving on Australian transport ships.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW01147

Item type

Badges

Collectibles

Ephemera

Themes

Defence > Navy

Social History

Transport