Mothers & Widows Badge WW1

AWM REL/05876

Eligibility

The First World War Mothers’ and Widows’ Badge was issued to the mothers and/or widows of members of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) or the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force who were killed in action, died of wounds or other causes while on active service, or after discharge died of wounds or sickness directly attributable to their service.

Mothers and widows eligible to receive the badge had to apply for it through a post office, using a form which was witnessed by a postal employee. The forms were sent to the relevant service for verification before the badge could be issued. As mothers were often omitted as the listed next of kin they had to apply through this process and the difficulties caused by the application process may explain why not all women received a badge, or why some never bothered to apply.

Description

The black ribbon was machine-embroidered in gold with wattle sprigs, a Rising Sun badge, and the words "For Australia". The badges were suspended from a white metal bar which bore laurel leaves. Stars were added to the bottom bar, each indicating the death of one man. The badge was promulgated under Military Order 64 of 1919.

Notes

Content has come from the Australian War Memorial website.