SIX (6) WW1 PATRIOTIC APPEAL BADGES: PAPER, CARD & FINE LINEN. SOME WITH PINS, SOME WITHOUT.


Railway Benelovent Institution, Australian wattle, Russian Red Cross (linen), Australian Red Cross, Canada (CEF), St Dunstan's (silk), Blue Cross, Red Cross relief flag  - Seaforth Highlanders and a Red Cross relief flag for the KOSB - King's Own Scottish Borderers (the blue bonnets).


Condition: Paper ephemera dating from circa 1914 - 1918. Six of the eight items are made of paper or card, the Russian Red Cross badge and the St. Dunstan's badge are woven from fine lined with a printed design. Four badges have pins, four are without. The pictures refer. From a small collection.


Notes: The railway charity the Railway Benelovent Institution was formed in 1858 to provide support to railway staff (active and retired) and their dependents when they needed help through illness, injury, bereavement, or adversity as through war. The RBI also ran two orphanages for the children of railway families.


Blinded Soldiers and Sailors Care Committee (now Blind Veterans UK) was founded in London in 1915 by publisher and newspaper owner Sir Arthur Pearson. Sir Arthur, who was blind himself, set up the charity to help the substantial numbers of veterans losing their sight during the First World War. Drawing on his own experience of sight loss, Sir Arthur’s aim was to help veterans “learn to be blind” by providing rehabilitation, training and lifelong support. He helped veterans acquire new skills to adapt to their sight loss and live a fulfilling, independent life.


Blue Cross has been helping animals since 1897. The Blue Cross Fund was initiated to help animals during the Balkan War. The Blue Cross helped animals in the First (1914-1918) and Second (1939-1945) World Wars. By the end of World War One Blue Cross had treated over 50,000 sick and injured horses and 18,000 dogs, all funded by donations from the British public. Blue Cross had also sent veterinary supplies to over 3,500 units of the British and allied armies all over the world to treat horses.


Note: Wartime Comforts Fund Flag Day Fundraising pins, badges, Red Cross, Russian Relief, Wattle Day, Hospital, Nurses' and general Fundraising 'Flag Day' badges, O o St. J of J & Salvos pins and badges, TOC H etc.

Charity appeal "flag day" fundraising pin badges were sold during the Great War to raise money for a variety of causes; mainly supporting the troops fighting on the various fronts, supporting the war effort, supporting wounded soldiers, widows etc. 

On Saturday 5th September 1914, Mrs Morrison (the founder of the World War One flag day movement) launched her first collection of the Great War. Three thousand six hundred collecting tins were issued and each collector carried a tray laden with flags. 

It soon became evident that the sellers - with their red, white and blue scarves, and members of the Boys' Brigade and Boy Scouts who assisted them, ?had entirely captured the sympathy of the public. The extraordinary success of Mrs Morrison's flag day was widely noticed, and soon she received letters from all parts of the country asking for information and assistance, as others were anxious to take up the idea, when it was seen how easily large sums could be obtained, by such a simple method. 

The holding of flag days as a rewarding means of raising money for worthy causes was proved for all to see. One of the most worthy of causes was that of raising money through the sale of penny-flags to help British prisoners of war in Germany. 

Condition note: The opinions expressed in the condition report are a guide only and should not be treated as a statement of fact. On items like this prospective buyers are encouraged to seek further information or request additional images during the auction period. 


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