Fundraising Badge - "Lest We Forget"

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Unknown

1915

Subcollections

Overview

A circular tinplate badge with a celluloid face and a stick pin at the back.
Images at front of badge: a white background with a seven-pointed, gold outlined star. Inside the star is a peace wreath of green laurel leaves surrounding a map of Australia outlined in a thin gold line. Inside the map is black lettering. At the bottom is a red scroll with white lettering.

Historical information

Fundraising badges during WW1 were small, inexpensive tokens distributed to citizens in exchange for donations. These "pin" or "button" badges helped fund war efforts, support wounded soldiers, and aid refugees or prisoners of war. Sold during high-energy street drives and national "Badge Days", they were highly visible symbols of patriotism and civic duty. During World War I, fundraising badges (often called "tinnies" or "patriot buttons") were small, mass-produced tokens given to citizens in exchange for a donation. Worn proudly on clothing to show civic duty and financial support, they funded charities like the Red Cross, the Wattle Day League, and Veterans' Widows.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-124-2019.25

Item type

Badges

Collectibles

Souvenirs

Themes

Material

Metal

Paper

Plastic

Inscriptions and markings

"Lest We Forget. April 25th 1915"

"France. Egypt. Gallipoli. Palestine. New Guinea. North Sea. Mesopotamia"

Contextual information

On 25 April 1915, some 16,000 Australians and New Zealanders, together with British, French and Indian troops, landed on the Gallipoli peninsula.

Within this badge, lists the names of the different campaigns in which Australian forces participated in WW1. In small black lettering, the name of each campaign has been placed within each point of the star. 'France, Egypt, Mesopotamia, North Sea, New Guinea, Palestine, Gallipoli'.

Keywords

Fundraising

NUMISMATICS

Place made

Australia

Year

1915

Primary significance criteria

Artistic or aesthetic significance

Historic significance

Social or spiritual significance

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