| Accession Number | AWM2019.256.3 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | |
| Date made | 12 Feb 1940 |
| Conflict |
Second World War, 1939-1945 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
| Copying Provisions | Copyright restrictions apply. Only personal, non-commercial, research and study use permitted. Permission of copyright holder required for any commercial use and/or reproduction. |
Photograph of presentation of teddy bear
Description
NX289 Captain Patricia Elsie Tarrant and NX266 Lieutenant (Lt) Ursula Mary 'Goldie' Golden with mascot bear and unidentified Australian soldiers.
Teddy bear presented on 12 February 1940 to the nurses of the 2/1st Australian General Hospital by members of the 2/4th Battalion's Anti Aircraft Platoon while aboard HMT Strathnaver en route to the Middle East. The teddy was made as an honorary corporal of the 4th Battalion, with stripes and colour patch, as the mascot of one of the first platoon of Australian troops (Anti-aircraft platoon, Headquarters Company) into Palestine in early 1940. The teddy was passed on to three Australian nurses from the 2nd/4th Battalion. Post-war when Lt Golden returned to Australia, the teddy accompanied their young son as a much-loved toy.