Education Department of Victoria Anzac Day 1918 medalet : Miss R Cambridge Accession Number: REL41895

Description

Circular bronze medalet featuring an Australian Digger in profile accompanied by the words 'Honor to the A.I.F.' on one side. The other side features a central rectangular panel with the words 'Gallipoli France Palestine' with a sprig of wattle, with the words 'EVD Anzac Day 1918' around the circumference. Fitted with a suspension loop which carries a short length of red, white an blue cotton ribbon.

Contextual Description

Part of a collection of badges which were collected by Miss Ruth Cambridge, daughter of a Boer War veteran, probably Private Owen Cambridge, First Victorian Contingent.

The Anzac Day 1918 medallion was struck by the Education Department of Victoria, which was actively involved in wartime fundraising in the First World War. Programmes included the Young Gardeners League, the Young Workers' Patriotic Guild, concerts, fundraising and food for soldiers in hospital, especially the Caulfield Military Hospital, and constant letter writing to soldiers abroad. Some £300,337 was raised by the Department during the war.

The Department's booklet 'How We Raised the First Hundred Thousand', published in 1917 states: 'On the first anniversary of the Anzac's landing, that historic event was commemorated by the striking and issue of a bronze medallion. It was an artistic piece of workmanship which found a ready demand throughout Victoria and neighbouring states. One hundred and seventy five thousand medallions were supplied and circulated, and the profits from the sales added some £2,000 to the Fund.' The example shown here was struck for Anzac Day 1918.