Fund raising AIF soldier doll 'Private Bill Redgum'

Soft-bodied AIF soldier doll mounted on a square wooden stand. The doll's face is made from a cotton lisle stocking with features painted onto it. It has dark brown wool carpet-work hair. The doll has a miniature khaki fur felt slouch hat custom-made by Akubra. It has a plain khaki wool band, brown leather chin strap and an oxidised brass Rising Sun collar badge for a hat badge. The doll wears a grey collarless flannel shirt, pre-1943 pattern khaki wool tunic and trousers made from original fabric, custom-made miniature Rising Sun collar badges, small oxidised brass Australian Military Forces buttons, miniature colour patches for 2/1 Infantry Battalion, hand-knitted khaki wool socks and commercially produced toddler's brown leather shoes in place of boots. The dolls wears,in addition, a khaki canvas haversack and carries two canvas kitbags, both marked in black ink 'No B W 7043 PRIVATE W REDGUM 1ST BAT 2ND AIF'.

This doll, known as Private Bill or Billy Redgum, was made by Miss Muriel Hallam for members of the Junior Red Cross at the Strathfield Branch of the Australian Red Cross Society in Sydney. It was raffled to raise money for the war effort.