Australian Home Front

[Chipper]

OK, that's interesting, I didn't know they had 1916 issues. Great find! I have the 1918, pardon the blurry pic.

Interesting also about the Widows ribbon. Thanks for that.

Cheers, Tim

[Jackhr]

Originally Posted by dumdum

Hi Tim

Got one of those WW1 "widows" badges way back along with his pair of medals. The seller didn't check CWGC and didn't "link" the two lots.

Have subsequently turned up a pic of the soldier (42nd Btn from memory) who fell in 1917.

They sometimes turn up with the ribbon absolutely in tatters. The top and bottom bars seem to end up on eBay as "mystery badge".....

I've actually seen just a bar with TWO stars that I should have snapped up.

Should have but the top bar has a number which can be researched to see who it belonged to.

Rob

[dumdum]

Hi Tom

Agreed. But it would have just made a nice "curio" if that's not too strong a term for something that represents a lot of sadness, loss and pain.

I would love to have been able to locate the Memorial Plaque or the scroll to go with the other items, purely as a way of perpetuating the memory of this "Digger".

Ray

[dumdum]

Hi Tim

I didn't know about the 1916 badges either and, as I said, I thought that it was going to be a standard "1918" badge with a low number.

I suspect that it served the same function as the later dated badge but if it's not cropped up before then it's uncommon to say the least.

There are ways and means of checking up on the owners of those badges but you need a "johnny on the spot" to access the files (from memory they are contained in the "MT/" series)

Cheers

Ray

[slick_mick]

Here's an interesting voided WW1 Returned from Active Service Badge.

Probably something done by the individual soldier.

Mick

[Chipper]

That is interesting, and I think you're right, as the number on the back has been cut through.

Thanks Mick, good to see a possible one-off variant although I wonder if it was something more soldiers did, and why? Looks like a very professional job.

Cheers, Tim

[dumdum]

Cute trick!
My favourite local antique shop has had a piece cut from one of these RASB badges for ages. The owner had removed the "rising sun" bit to presumably put on something else. You could just see a couple of numbers that betrayed its origins......

I've posted before about an NSW RSA badge (similar in size and form to the RASB badge) that has the owner's name engraved on it to the front face. Now that I'm a bit more "au fait" with loading pics I'll do it.

[Chipper]

Excellent, post away!

[dumdum]

Thanks Tim. And I'll try to make it a GOOD photo. Some of them I've taken could be a badge or a grand piano....

[kingsley]

The 1917 enamelled Naval Coaling Battalion badge is one of the rarest. Sorry unable to provide a picture but someone might have one. In the old newspaper publication of official lapel badges this one appears to be mounted on some sort of leather? plaque rather than worn as a lapel badge but it can't be seen clearly because it is low quality newsprint. In any case, I doubt if coal heavers wore three piece suits on which they could have worn a lapel badge. Worn in Sydney and maybe elsewhere during the 1917 general strike.

[Chipper]

Thanks Kingsley, good info, thanks

[dumdum]

I think that I've got one of the Naval Transport Coaling badges put away somewhere. Actually TWO (one slightly better than the other). I'll look it out this weekend!

[dumdum]

Hi all

Here is a picture of the badge in question (rescued from the 'Net). Sad to say that it is NOT the badge that I have but I do have some enamelled badges that have this term.
Watch this space!