WWI fundraising tag - Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' (R.S.S.) Day

Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' (R.S.S.) Day was held on two consecutive days, 24 May 1918 and 25 May, 1918, also known as Empire Day.
In Brisbane, a march was held, medals presented to returned servicemen, musical perfoamnces given and coins dropped into a Union Jack flag. Collectors were stationed on prominent street corners.
In other eastern capitals, sports carnivals were held on Empire Day, along with picnics and musical concerts. Funds raised helped to affray the costs of building club rooms and additional funds used to support returning servicemen in myriad ways.

Philip Roy Dennett (known as Roy) was born in Prospect, South Australia on 30 May 1897. He was an 18 year old postal assistant when he enlisted with the 29th Battery of the 8th Field Artillery Brigade, A.I.F. on 21 September 1915. His service number was 19629.
He embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A7 Medic on 20 May 1916 and served in France as a Gunner and a Driver.
He returned to Australia aboard HMAS Australia in June 1919 and as discharged a month later.

This tag is one from a group of 4 tags, 6 ribbons and a souvenir booklet dating from World War One which were purchased together. They were all attached to a cardboard backing protected with plastic. Written on the cardboard was: '19629 GNR P.R. DENNETT, 8 F.A.B. A.I.F.'
Roy Dennett would have been serving overseas when many of the ribbons and tags were produced and purchased, so they were possibly bought and saved by a family member. This would have been seen as supporting the war effort generally and Roy more specifically.

They are rare survivors. The ribbons in particular are very delicate and were not designed to last. They are ephemera in the true sense of the word.

The portrait of Roy was obtained from a distant relative and is printed with her permission.