Ceramic tankard with likeness of Sir Stanley Savige on one side and the Legacy symbol on the other.

Place Oceania: Australia
Accession Number REL30197
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Heraldry
Physical description Ceramic
Maker Unknown
Place made Australia
Date made 1946
Conflict Second World War, 1939-1945
Description

Cream coloured ceramic 'Toby-jug' style tankard with a three dimensional likeness of the face of Sir Stanley Savige on one side and a raised Legacy symbol (torch and wreath) on the other. The base of the tankard is incised 'LEGATEE STAN SAVIGE 1946'.

History / Summary

Stanley George Savige was born in Victoria in 1890, and enlisted in the AIF (Private 577) in March 1915. He served with 24 Battalion at Gallipoli, and was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant prior to the evacuation, at which he was part of the final holding party at Lone Pine. In France he saw service with 6 Brigade Headquarters as well as with his battalion, and was awarded the Military Cross for his gallantry at the second battle of Bullecourt. In 1918, he became one of a small number of Australians selected for service with 'Dunsterforce' in Persia, commanding 'Urmia Force', and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. Between the wars, Savige continued his military career with the Militia, and by 1939 he held the rank of colonel. When the 2nd AIF was raised, he was placed in command of 17 Brigade, which he led through the campaigns in Libya, Greece and Syria, before being promoted to command 3 Division (Militia) in New Guinea. In 1944, he was appointed GOC 2 Corps, in command of forces engaged in the campaign on Bougainville, and accepted the Japanese surrender there in September 1945. Lieutenant General Savige was knighted (KBE) in 1950, and died in 1954. He is widely remembered for his efforts between the wars in founding the Legacy Clubs (which he modelled on the 'Remembrance Club' formed in Hobart by his friend and former commander Sir John Gellibrand in 1923) to care for the dependants of deceased servicemen and ex-servicemen. These clubs grew into a nation wide organisation which, by the time of Savige's death, was supporting over 80 000 widows and children.

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