Mothers and Widows badge : Mrs S Newell

Round, silver coloured Mothers and Widows badge. The obverse shows a raised image of a woman and part of a laurel wreath with the words 'FOR AUSTRALIA' in raised letters. The reverse has a pin fastening and raised lettering which reads 'ISSUED BY THE C'WLTH. GOVT' and 'ANGUS & COOTE 1942.'. The number 'A12448' is impressed between the two inscriptions. Attached by two suspension rings to the bottom of the badge is a flat rectangular bar with a single brass seven pointed star in the centre.

The Mothers and Widows Badge was issued to the mother and/or widow of a member of the RAN, AIF (including AANS), or RAAF killed in action, or who died of wounds or from other causes whilst on service or as a result of such service. Stars were added to the bottom bar, each indicating the death of one person. This badge was issued to Mrs Selena Ruby Elizabeth Olive Newell, the mother of SX15445 Private Wilford Gordon (Bill) Newell, born on 11 January 1921 in Milang, South Australia. Newell had served in the Australian Military Forces as a trooper with 18 Machine Gun Company before enlisting in the Second AIF in December 1941. He joined 2/10 Battalion and arrived in Port Moresby, New Guinea on 24 December 1942. Newell was killed in action in the Sanananda area on 19 January 1943. He is buried at the Port Moresby (Bomana) War Cemetery.