Summary

Lapel badge, otherwise known as a patriotic badge, made for the 'Win the War Fete' in Hawthorn in 1917'. Made by Stokes & Son, Melbourne.

The Hawthorn 'Win the War Fete' ran for a week, from 9 to 16 June 1917. In spite of bad winter weather, the Hawthorn Town Hall was crowded to capacity and 'hundreds' were turned away each night. The fete raised £2500. The Reporter (Box Hill local paper) remarked on 22 June that 'Every credit is due to the various stallholders, their assistants, and the voluntary army of willing workers who helped with the decorations, 19,000 paper flowers alone being used all of which were made at the town hall.' The article noted that money was raised from refreshments, 'produce', 'kitchen', sweets, flowers, cakes, infants' clothes, amusements and admission tickets.

Physical Description

Moulded brass badge with voided sections, as well as a pin and pin hook attached at the rear. On the obverse, sections of the badge are painted in red and black paint. A Tudor Crown (otherwise known as a King's Crown) surmounts a shield with a red cross in the middle, which is surrounded by a horse-shoe shaped band of embossed text on a black background. There is embossed text on the reverse. The badge is slightly soiled and tarnished. Some black paint from the obverse is smudged on the edge of the badge, and there are sections of black paint which are much thinner.

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