Hi Everyone, I am back working on Annie Whitelaw of Briagolong, Victoria, who had eight sons. Six served in WWI, and a seventh in WWII (but after his mother had died). Of the six in WWI, three were killed in action and one died of wounds a few years after returning to Australia. I have a photo of her headstone at http://kapana.blogspot.com/2005/11/annie-whitelaw.html In the back of my mind is that mothers of either sons who were serving, or sons who were lost, were awarded some form of badge, although I cannot remember if this was WWI or WWII. Is there anyone out there who can tell me anything about them, and what would have happened, if they were WWI, if a mother had six sons. Were badges of a bar-type where there something added for each son??? Thanks! Linda

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/civilian2.htm will tell all Cheers, Ted Harris ----- Original Message ----- From: "Linda Barraclough" <kapana@netspace.net.au> To: <AUS-MILITARY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 10:13 AM Subject: Mother's Badges > Hi Everyone, > > I am back working on Annie Whitelaw of Briagolong, Victoria, who had > eight sons. Six served in WWI, and a seventh in WWII (but after his > mother had died). > > Of the six in WWI, three were killed in action and one died of wounds > a few years after returning to Australia. > > I have a photo of her headstone > at http://kapana.blogspot.com/2005/11/annie-whitelaw.html > > In the back of my mind is that mothers of either sons who were > serving, or sons who were lost, were awarded some form of badge, > although I cannot remember if this was WWI or WWII. > > Is there anyone out there who can tell me anything about them, and > what would have happened, if they were WWI, if a mother had six sons. > Were badges of a bar-type where there something added for each son??? > > Thanks! > > Linda > > ______________________________

Another website on the Mothers & Widow's Badge for relatives of the dead: http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/badges/mothers_widows.htm And the Female Relatives Badge for those with someone on active service abroad: http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/badges/female_relative.htm Yours, John Wilson

Does anyone know if we had a system similar to the United States where people would put a gold star in their window for each family member that was serving? Maurie ----- Original Message ----- From: "John Wilson" <hugo@actrix.gen.nz> To: <AUS-MILITARY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Saturday, April 08, 2006 1:14 PM Subject: [AUS-MIL] Mothers & Widow's Badge and Female Relatives Badge > Another website on the Mothers & Widow's Badge for relatives of the dead: > > http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/badges/mothers_widows.htm > > And the Female Relatives Badge for those with someone on active service > abroad: > > http://www.awm.gov.au/encyclopedia/badges/female_relative.htm > > Yours, John Wilson > > > ==== AUS-MILITARY Mailing List ==== > The Military Historical Society of Australia > http://www.pcug.org.au/~astaunto/mhsa.htm > > > > > -- > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.1.385 / Virus Database: 268.3.5/302 - Release Date: 5/04/06 > >

G'day, I have seen "silver" badges issued to mothers in respect of WW2. A bar was suspended below it, with stars indicating how many sons (&/or daughters, perhaps) had enlisted. The badges were brooch-style, about 30mm diameter. I gather that the badges were numbered on the back - which makes you wonder if there might be something at NAA about them. I believe that the badges were issued during the war, as an indirect part of the recruiting effort: no self-respecting mother would want to be seen without her badge ... An interesting question might be whether or not sons who enlisted, but not for overseas service, counted toward the "stars" on the bar. I can't recall hearing of anything comparable in WW1, but will be interested to read what other Listers contribute on this subject. Peter THOMAS Darwin, AUSTRALIA <pmthomas@bigpond.com> -----Original Message----- From: Linda Barraclough [mailto:kapana@netspace.net.au] Sent: Wednesday, 5 April 2006 9:44 AM To: AUS-MILITARY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Mother's Badges Hi Everyone, I am back working on Annie Whitelaw of Briagolong, Victoria, who had eight sons. Six served in WWI, and a seventh in WWII (but after his mother had died). Of the six in WWI, three were killed in action and one died of wounds a few years after returning to Australia. I have a photo of her headstone at http://kapana.blogspot.com/2005/11/annie-whitelaw.html In the back of my mind is that mothers of either sons who were serving, or sons who were lost, were awarded some form of badge, although I cannot remember if this was WWI or WWII. Is there anyone out there who can tell me anything about them, and what would have happened, if they were WWI, if a mother had six sons. Were badges of a bar-type where there something added for each son??? Thanks! Linda ______________________________

Both WW1 and WW2 Female Relatives Badges are listed, photographs and details supplied on the previously supplied link http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-badges/civilian2.htm Cheers, Ted Harris ----- Original Message ----- From: "Peter Thomas" <pmthomas@bigpond.com> To: <AUS-MILITARY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2006 5:01 PM Subject: RE: Mother's Badges > G'day, I have seen "silver" badges issued to mothers in respect of WW2. > A bar was suspended below it, with stars indicating how many sons (&/or > daughters, perhaps) had enlisted. The badges were brooch-style, about > 30mm diameter. > > I gather that the badges were numbered on the back - which makes you > wonder if there might be something at NAA about them. > > I believe that the badges were issued during the war, as an indirect > part of the recruiting effort: no self-respecting mother would want to > be seen without her badge ... > > An interesting question might be whether or not sons who enlisted, but > not for overseas service, counted toward the "stars" on the bar. > > I can't recall hearing of anything comparable in WW1, but will be > interested to read what other Listers contribute on this subject. > > Peter THOMAS > Darwin, AUSTRALIA > <pmthomas@bigpond.com> > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Linda Barraclough [mailto:kapana@netspace.net.au] > Sent: Wednesday, 5 April 2006 9:44 AM > To: AUS-MILITARY-L@rootsweb.com > Subject: Mother's Badges > > > Hi Everyone, > > I am back working on Annie Whitelaw of Briagolong, Victoria, who had > eight sons. Six served in WWI, and a seventh in WWII (but after his > mother had died). > > Of the six in WWI, three were killed in action and one died of wounds > a few years after returning to Australia. > > I have a photo of her headstone > at http://kapana.blogspot.com/2005/11/annie-whitelaw.html > > In the back of my mind is that mothers of either sons who were > serving, or sons who were lost, were awarded some form of badge, > although I cannot remember if this was WWI or WWII. > > Is there anyone out there who can tell me anything about them, and > what would have happened, if they were WWI, if a mother had six sons. > Were badges of a bar-type where there something added for each son??? > > Thanks! > > Linda > > ______________________________ > > ______________________________