Each badge and button in this collection is part of a long military tradition dating back to 1600s Britain. Nevertheless, there is frequently a connection between the regiments represented by these badges, and the invasion, securing and protection of the Australian colonies after 1788. In addition, most of the badges date back to 1914 when Australian troops fought during World War I side-by-side with these regiments in France, Palestine and the Dardanelles. It is during this time they were likely to have been collected by an Australian Imperial Force member as evidenced by the large numbers of Commonwealth AIF badges and buttons.

While the relevance of these objects appears to be as part of military tradition and history, it is far broader: for every badge represented in this collection there were families and loved-ones at home. Many of the men who went to war did not return. In World War I, from Australia's population of less than five million, 416,809 men enlisted, of whom over 60,000 were killed and 156,000 wounded, gassed, or taken prisoner. Examples of specific action underscore the carnage. In July 1916 Australian infantry at Fromelles suffered 5,533 casualties in only 24 hours and by the end of the year about 40,000 Australians had been killed or wounded on the Western Front. In 1917 a further 76,836 Australians became casualties in battles, such Bullecourt, Messines, and the four-month campaign around Ypres, known as the battle of Passchendaele. The economic, social and emotional cost for the Home Front is incalculable with grieving families, and especially women, being left to carry the burden in the tough societal conditions of post-war Australia. When viewed in this way, the history represented by these seemingly utilitarian and military-specific badges and buttons is actually of deeply complex and multi-layered significance.

Refs
Australian War Memorial http:www.awm.gov.au/atwar/ww1.htm.

The badge was made in Montreal, Canada.

The 'Frontiersmen' was a quasi-military organisation formed after WWI. It was empire wide and this example is Canadian where the Mural crown badge did not come into effect until 1927.

Ref: D Bruckshaw Historical & Archives Section Countess Mountbatten's Own Legion of Frontiersmen

The Legion of Frontiersmen (LOF) was formed after the Boer War in 1904. While the LOF was never part of the Canadian Army, it did contribute to the formation of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, the 210th Frontiersmen Battalion in Canada, and the 25th Royal FRONTIERSMEN Fusiliers in England. This Mural crown badge was used until the change to Countess Mountbatten's Own LOF did not come into effect until 1927. The Mural or 'walled crown' was inspired by the decoration given to the Romans soldier who first broke over the battlements of an enemy city. This design was thought appropriate to the nature of the frontiersman in the vanguard of action.

Refs.
http://www.frontiersmenhistorian.info/canada.htm
Pers Communication; Dean Bruckshaw, Historical & Archives Section of Countess Mountbatten's Own Legion of Frontiersmen, Canada.

Collected by N A Taylor. The donor of these badges was prompted to give them to the Powerhouse Museum by virtue of his relationship to Major H.P. (Pat) Boland, numismatic curator (and later consultant) at this Museum from 1961 to 2006.

Military badge, headdress badge, Legion of Frontiersmen, Canadian Army, copper alloy, made by W Soul Ltd, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, after 1927

Stamped gilded copper alloy badge of laurel wreath encircling emblem of circle within quartered shield, castellated crown at top, under is, 'FRONTIERSMEN', two hooks behind for attachment.

Made: 1927

2008/73/39

1927

43 mm

40 mm

14 mm