ProvenanceFundraising badge sold to support the war effort near the start of the First World War.
Britain had a treaty with Belgium and so was bound by honour to aid the Belgians in response to German aggression in 1914. There was widespread sympathy for Belgium across the British Empire, which led to mass support for what people believed would be a short conflict.
Badges were produced by all different charities and organisations during the First World War to raise funds for their respective causes. Patriotic buttons were common as a symbol of support and loyalty to Australia's military forces and the war effort as a whole.
Badges were also produced under the direction of the Australian Commonwealth Button Fund, established in April 1915. Different buttons were issued every month for various deserving or urgent war funds. Any patriotic or Red Cross branch could sell the badges after they had applied to the Central Executive Commonwealth Button Fund based in Melbourne.SignificanceIllustrative of the badges that were popular as a means of raising funds or showing support for particular organisations or causes during the First World War. This and other associated badges are a rich source of evidence on the material and cultural history of Australia, particularly during wartime. The symbols, colours and mottoes used on the badges themselves also express ideas about the values and identity that Australians held in the early to mid-twentieth century.DescriptionCircular badge: printed paper between tin base and celluloid cover. Belgian colours, marked 'Brave Belgium' in white across the centre of the badge.Creator (person)Creator (organisation)AcknowledgementDate of Creation1914 - 1918Date of Usage1914 - 1918MaterialTin
|paper
|celluloid DimensionType: Total
Unit (Lengths): mm Accession NumberHT 1986.0083
