WWI patriotic button featuring Lord Kitchener and the flags of the allies
c. 1916Circular badge or button produced during World War One to commemorate the death of Lord Kitchener in June 1916.
It is made from printed paper between a tin base and celluloid cover.
It features a central greyscale image of Lord Kitchener around which the flags of the allies appear (United Kingdom, Belgium, Italy, France, Japan and Russia).
There is 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 details.
Horatio Herbert Kitchener (1850-1916) was a British Field Marshal and colonial administrator who played a key role in World War I.
He was born in Ireland and trained as a military engineer. He served in the Middle East and Egypt, and became commander-in-chief of the Egyptian army in 1892.
He served as chief of staff in the Second Boer War, and later became Commander-in-Chief.
Kitchener became Secretary of State for War at the start of World War One. He oversaw the rapid expansion of the British Army through the recruitment of volunteers. He became the face of the First World War when he appeared on the 'Your Country Needs You' poster.
He died in 1916 when his ship, HMS Hampshire, struck a German mine while en route to Russia on a diplomatic mission. He was the highest ranking officer to be killed during the war.
Memorial badges such as this were produced after Lord Kitchener's death to encourage the troops and those on the home front to keep fighting.
This button is very similar to another in the collection which has the flags of the allies around the outside, but a depiction of a mining operation in the centre.
Details
Details
Related Objects
Related Objects
More items like this
Scan this QR code to open this page on your phone ->
