| Place | Oceania: Australia |
|---|---|
| Accession Number | RELAWM15884.005 |
| Collection type | Heraldry |
| Object type | Badge |
| Physical description | Brass, Silk, White metal |
| Maker |
Unknown |
| Place made | Australia |
| Date made | c 1919 |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
Mothers and Widows Badge: Mrs Helen Hyde
Description
Woven black cotton ribbon bearing a white, yellow, red and black Rising Sun badge above 'FOR AUSTRALIA' in yellow. Each side of the top of the badge carries a sprig of yellow wattle. The ribbon is threaded between two white metal bars, each with a decorative border. The upper bar has a further design of laurel leaves tied with a bow. The back carries a simple brooch pin fitting and is impressed with the serial number '7126'. A seven-pointed brass star is attached to the lower bar indicating the loss of one relative.
History / Summary
War widow, Mrs Helen Hyde of Redfern NSW, wore this badge in memory of her husband, Private Thornleigh Hyde who was killed by machine gun fire on 18 September 1918 while advancing as part of the allied offensive in the final stages of the war. Thornleigh had served with the 1st Battalion and was awarded the Military Medal for his actions at Pozieres in 1916. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Bretonneux, France.