| Accession Number | REL41103 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Heraldry |
| Physical description | Cotton, Felt |
| Maker |
Cassell, Mary Jane |
| Place made | Australia |
| Date made | c 1916 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Patriotic crochet cloth : Mrs M J Cassell
Description
Handmade white cotton crochet patriotic cloth. The image of a soldier wearing a slouch hat and holding a rifle is in the centre. Above him is a stylised Saint Edward crown with Prince of Wales feathers on either side. To the left of the soldier is a representation of the Victoria Cross. Below the medal is 'OUR HERO WERE PROUD OF HIM' with both the R in 'hero' and 'were' facing to the left. To the right of the soldier is a pair of vertically arranged medals, the top one possibly representing the Military Cross and the one below another representation of the Victoria Cross. Underneath the soldier is a battleship and 'AUSTRALIA'. The entire piece has been hand sewn onto a black felt backing.
History / Summary
This crochet was made by Mary Jane Cassell (née Harradine) and is associated with the service of her son, 1891 Private Lewis Cassell of the 45th Battalion, AIF. Mary Jane Harradine was born in 1868 and married William James Cassell in 1887. They had four children, with Lewis the only boy. Lewis was born with his twin sister Millie on 2 December 1894. They had two older sisters, Elsie and Alice.
Cassell was working as an orchardist at Rosebank, in Dural Sydney when he enlisted in the AIF at Bathurst NSW, on 21 February 1916. He embarked with the 3rd reinforcements of the 45th Battalion on 25 May 1916, aboard the transport ship Warilda. The battalion arrived at Plymouth, England on 18 July 1916 and after more training in the United Kingdom and France was sent into combat. Cassell was taken out of the trenches suffering severe trench foot on 23 November 1916 and was treated at Stratford-on-Avon in England. Upon his recovery on 27 February 1917 he went on a short period of leave before returning to his battalion in France.
On 5 April 1918 Pte Cassell suffered gunshot wounds to his left leg, groin and right arm at Pioneer Trench near Dernancourt. He was evacuated to England for treatment where he remained after his recovery until he embarked for Australia via Colombo. Cassell was discharged from the AIF on 12 April 1919.
Mary Cassell died in 1952. Lewis Cassell died on 30 August 1989.