Female relative's badge : Mrs F C Keen

Circular silver badge surrounded by a wreath and surmounted by the kings crown. The centre of the badge has a small raised map of Australia surrounded by a smaller wreath. Between the two wreaths is the text 'TO THE WOMEN OF AUSTRALIA' in raised letters. The reverse has a hinged securing pin and some raised text which reads 'ISSUED BY THE / C'WLTH GOVT / A236534 / 'AMOR / SYDNEY'. Suspended by two securing rings is a flat rectangular bar with a single gold seven pointed star in the centre. The star represents the number of relatives serving on active service overseas.

This badge was issued to the wife and/or mother or nearest female relative of Australians who were on active service abroad during the Second World War. Each star on the badge represents a son or relative on active service. This badge was worn by Mrs Faith Keen, whose husband, Jack was serving in New Guinea. Jack Robert Keen was born in Sydney NSW in 1904. Prior to his enlistment for military service, Keen worked as a motor mechanic. Keen had married Faith Hughes in 1930 and they had three children, Neil, Pamela and Robert (aged 11, 9, and 2, respectively in 1943). He joined the militia in June 1941 and attained the rank of sergeant in November 1942. Soon after enlisting with the Second AIF in April 1943, Keen attained the rank of warrant officer class 2. He served with the 110 Brigade Workshop in New Guinea in 1944-45, and was later discharged in October 1945.