Good luck charm : Lieutenant W C B Stavely, 59 Battalion, AIF

Small hand made woollen doll. The doll is made of a piece of wool divided into six parts to form hair, a face, arms and legs. The arms and legs are tied at the ends with pieces of red cotton to form hands and feet. A small piece of red, white and blue ribbon is tied around the waist. The face is composed of two black beads for eyes and a narrow strip of red cotton for the mouth. A securing pin is fastened to the back and is threaded through both the cotton and ribbon.

Associated with the service of Lieutenant William Charles Beresford Stavely who served in 59 Battalion, AIF during the First World War. Stavely was born in Victoria in 1894 and worked for the local council at Avoca until his enlistment, on 11 February 1916. Allocated the service number 2253, he completed initial training at Broadmeadows and later on the Salisbury Plains in England, before his battalion moved to France. After service there Stavely he was sent to Balliol College, Oxford where he underwent officer training. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant on 17 May 1918 and returned to his battalion in France. He took part in the Battle of Hamel, taking over command of a company when Lieutenant Facey was killed. Stavely was gassed later in 1918 and saw no further active service. He returned to Australia on 5 February, 1919 and was discharged 15 March 1919.