Brooch: Mothers and Widows - Mrs M J Pflaum

Mothers and Widows badge with impressed serial number on reverse upper bar '28983'. A black machine embroidered silk ribbon, showing, in yellow, white and red, sprigs of wattle, a 'Rising Sun' badge and 'FOR AUSTRALIA'. The ribbon is suspended between two white metal bars, the upper one with a brooch fitting and the lower one with two gold stars, indicating two relatives died.

Mary Jane Theel married Heinrich Adam Theodor Pflaum at Gumeracha, South Australia on 8 April 1878 and they had 14 children born from 1879 to 1904. During the First World War four of Mrs Pflaum's children enlisted in the AIF: Raymond Hostein, Theodor Milton, Elliott Frederick and Leonard Haddon. Raymond and Theodor were killed during the war.

161 Private Raymond Pflaum was serving with the 32nd Battalion when he died at Fromelles on 19 July 1916. His brother, Corporal Theodor Pflaum, 8 Machine Gun Company, found him wounded on the battlefield but could not help him and had to advance. Raymond died of his wounds later that day. His body was not recovered until 2009, when his remains were found during the excavation of a German mass grave at Pheasant Wood. He was reburied at Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery, France.

Theodor was commissioned as a second lieutenant in February 1917. He was serving with the 25th Machine Gun Company when he died of wounds on 24 September 1917 while being taken to the 10th Casualty Clearing Station. He is buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.

This Mothers and Widows badge was issued to Mrs Pflaum by the Australian government and the two stars on the base represent Raymond and Theodor.