Volunteered for Home and Empire cross : Lieutenant W C B Stavely, 59 Battalion, AIF

Brass and dark blue enamelled cross suspended from a small brass ring. The word 'VOLUNTEERED' appears in gold letters within a white enamelled rectangle across the horizontal arm of the cross. The vertical arm of the cross has the words 'FOR HOME AND EMPIRE' superimposed in gold letters. A brass King's crown with red and white enamel surmounts the vertical arm of the cross. The name 'W C STAVLEY' is impressed on the reverse.

These crosses, individually named, could be purchased at a cost of 2 shillings from the “Australian Patriot’s League”, a Victorian-based organisation. Any accepted, discharged, or rejected volunteer, for the navy, army, or nursing services, could apply for the badge upon provision of a signed declaration that they had volunteered to serve. The Australian government was strongly opposed to such badges being produced and distributed unofficially. In 1918, after the introduction of its own lapel badges for volunteers, returned veterans, medically unfit and those required for home service, the Department of Recruiting declared the wearing of the Patriot’s League badge to be unlawful, and intimated that wearers were liable to prosecution. This example is associated with the service of Lieutenant William Charles Beresford Stavely who served in 59 Battalion, AIF during the First World War. Stavely was born in Victoria in 1894 and worked for the local council at Avoca until his enlistment, on 11 February 1916. Allocated the service number 2253, he completed initial training at Broadmeadows and later on the Salisbury Plains in England, before his battalion moved to France. After service there Stavely he was sent to Balliol College, Oxford where he underwent officer training. He was commissioned as a Lieutenant on 17 May 1918 and returned to his battalion in France. He took part in the Battle of Hamel, taking over command of a company when Lieutenant Facey was killed. Stavely was gassed later in 1918 and saw no further active service. He returned to Australia on 5 February, 1919 and was discharged 15 March 1919.