War Service Australia badge: Mrs Addie Askin, Post Office Worker, AIF Headquarters, London

Place Europe: United Kingdom, England, Greater London, London
Accession Number REL/18688
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Badge
Physical description Enamel, Sterling silver
Maker William James Dingley
Place made United Kingdom: England, West Midlands, Birmingham
Date made 1917
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Oval sterling silver pin badge featuring a voided map of Australia bearing a depiction of the Rising Sun badge. This design sits on a decorative horizontal bar which extends beyond the badge's outer circumference and which carries opposing colour patches for AIF Administration Headquarters (a vertically aligned rectangle divided vertically into black and white) in black and white enamel. An outer frame features the words 'WAR SERVICE AUSTRALIA' in silver on a black enamel background. The reverse is fitted with a pin brooch fitting and is impressed with hallmarks appropriate to the place of manufacture and year - Birmingham, 1917 - as well as initials, 'W.J.D.', for William james Dingley.

History / Summary

Issued Mrs Addie Askin and worn by her while employed at the Australian Post Office at Horseferry Road, London between 1917 and 1919. This later style of badge was issued to, and worn by, civilian members of the staff working at AIF Headquarters, London, located at Horseferry Road (see REL/18541 for an earlier version). Many of these workers - the majority of whom were female - were local residents of London and its environs.