Miniature pair of dark blue patrotic socks, fundraising

Pair of knitted miniature socks in dark blue wool, sewn together with a short length of silk tricolour. A gilded safety pin has been sewn to one of the socks.

Specific history unknown. There were a number of fundraising events and days instituted during the First World War which concentrated on soldier's comforts and, specifically, socks. 'The Camperdown Chronicle' (Victoria) for 2 June 1917, for example, noted that Tuesday 12 June had been set aside as 'Sock Gift Day' by the Camperdown Patriotic League; 'The Brisbane Courier' of 19 August 1915 reported that the Soldier's Sock Fund had benefited by a recent fundraising to the tune of £5/5/-; while on 5 November they announced that the Toowoomba Soldier's Sock and Comforts Fund had dispatched the previous day, '28 cases of comforts to the Queensland soldiers at Gallipoli'. Such events were maintained throughout the war, with 'The Brisbane Courier again noting on 10 October 1918 that 'Mrs Jackson is the head of the Sock Fund' (part of the Central Committee of the Queensland Soldier's Comforts Fund). It is surmised that these patriotic miniature socks were produced as fundraisers sold at stalls on days such as these, throughout Australia, with khaki and dark versions produced to show support for the army and navy respectively.