Royal Australian Navy - To Women of Australia - For Duty Done

Maker Royal Australian Navy (Australian, founded 1913)

Manufacturer Stokes and Sons (1856-)

Date1914-1918

Object number00009324

NameBadge

MediumEnamel, sterling silver

DimensionsOverall: 44 x 30 mm

ClassificationsEphemera

Credit LineANMM Collection

Terms

DescriptionWWI badge with legend 'Royal Australian Navy - to Women of Australia - for duty done'.HistoryDuring WWI and WWII societal pressure to join the armed forces must have been the source of immense emotional conflict for Australian mothers. The natural concern to protect your children and to keep them from harm was at variance with the patriotic push for men to risk their lives in the service of their country. Perhaps due to the absence in Australia of conscription for overseas military service, government propaganda was produced during WWI and WWII that was persuasive and passionate on the subject of enlistment – and not all of this material was aimed at men. Maternal pride was appealed to as mothers and women were called upon to encourage men to do their duty and join the forces. Slogans on posters exclaimed ‘Won’t you help and send a man to join the army to-day!’ and ‘The cry of the mothers : Australians! Enlist now!’. With a mother’s anxiety comes pride and honour. The two world wars mobilised and united the Australian population in a way that has perhaps never been seen since. To have a son who was fighting not only evoked pride but inspired patriotism and drew Australian mothers directly into the war effort. For women, particularly in the First World War, supporting your children’s enlistment was your most important contribution. During both world wars the Department of Defence issued badges and brooches to mothers and female relatives of those who were on active service to recognise this contribution. These badges contain wording such as ‘To the Women of Australia for Duty Done’, and displayed identifying bars or stars to indicate the number of male relatives on active service. These badges would have been instantly recognisable at the time, making the wearer identifiable as having a son or relative away on active service. They were an official symbol of the important role that mothers and other female relatives played as moral supporters during wartime.SignificanceThis badge was issued to the nearest female relative of those members of the Royal Australian Navy who enlisted for general naval service and who performed service outside Australian waters.