Navy Day Adelaide fundraising button - October 1917
1917Circular fundraising badge or button sold during World War Two to support the 'Navy Day Adelaide' appeal in October 1917. It is made from printed paper between a tin base and celluloid cover.
It features a white border accented by a thin red edge which encircles the central design. Inside the border, dark blue capitalised text reads 'NAVY DAY ADELAIDE' at the top, 'OCTOBER 1917' down the sides, and the Navy League motto 'KEEP WATCH' along the bottom.
The centre has a coloured depiction of Australia's flagship battlecruiser, HMAS Australia, steaming through the ocean with dark smoke billowing from its funnels. Embedded in the upper right background is a small portrait bust of Admiral David Beatty (First Earl Beatty), the Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Fleet during World War One.
The reverse has a metal back with a void into which a metal pin is secured for attachment. There are no maker's marks.
These celluloid tinplate buttons were commonly sold to the public in trams, buses, train stations, and at public patriotic rallies. They were produced to raise funds on the home front in support of the work of the Australian and British Navies during World War One.
This particular drive was organised by the South Australian branch of the Navy League, which managed to raise over £20,000 for naval welfare and support funds during their campaigns.
Details
Details
"NAVY DAY ADELAIDE"
"OCTOBER 1917"
"KEEP WATCH"
Other items from Recollections of War
-
Royal Australian Navy Reserves tie pin
-
Royal Australian Navy Reserves lapel pin
-
Sailors Day metal fundraising pin - 2 shillings
-
Sterling silver Fums Up good luck charm
-
WWII era Australian Red Cross fundraising tag - Sacrifice Day
-
WWII era paper fundraising tag - Battle Stations Week
-
WWII era paper fundraising tag - China Relief appeal
Scan this QR code to open this page on your phone ->
