Membership badge : US Wives Mothers Social Club, Victoria

Places
Accession Number REL34259
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Badge
Physical description Brass; Enamel
Maker Screencraft
Place made Australia
Date made c 1942-1945
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Description

Enamelled brass badge showing a gold kookaburra on a white background, atop a red boomerang which contains the word 'VICTORIA'. A blue band around the edge of the badge contains the words 'U.S. WIVES MOTHERS SOCIAL CLUB'. On the reverse is a hinged horizontal pin clasp, and the impressed maker's name 'SCREENCRAFT'.

History / Summary

Organisations such as the United States Wives and Mothers' Social Club were made up of Australian war brides of US servicemen. While the history of this particular club is unknown, other similar organisations existed throughout Australia. One such oraganisation, the US Servicemen's Wives and Fiancees Club was represented in all State capitals and its aim was to acquaint new wives and fiancees with American customs and ways of life, such as cooking methods. It also provided a common social focus for these women. In a period of two and a half years during the Second World War there were more than 10,000 marriages and 2,000 engagements between Australian women and US servicemen.