Gold and enamel sweetheart brooch : Mrs Mary Ann Powell

Fifteen carat rose gold and enamel sweetheart brooch showing a voided machine gun, crossed signal flags and colour patches for 9, 26 and 42 Infantry Battalions, AIF, within gold scrolls surmounted by a king's crown. The back has a brooch pin fitting and attached safety chain.

Worn by Mrs Mary Ann Powell throughout her life, in commemoration of the service of her three sons in the First World War. 6136 Private Nigel Edward Powell, from Toowoomba, Qld, enlisted on 5 August 1916 and served with 26 Battalion, AIF. He was killed in action, at the age of 20, at Ribemont, France, on 24 May 1918. 749 Corporal Harry Powell, also from Toowoomba, enlisted on 8 December 1915 and served with 42 Battalion, AIF. He returned to Australia on 8 August 1918 and died in the 1950s. 96 Sapper Arthur John Powell, also from Toowoomba, enlisted at the age of 27, on 21 August 1914, and served with 1 Division Signal Company. In Egypt he contracted tonsilitis but was deemed cured before his unit left for Gallipoli travelling via Mudros. Here he developed pleurisy, and after treatment on the island returned to Egypt without having reached Gallipoli, where he was declared medically unfit for service. He returned to Australia in June and was discharged in August 1915. Arthur Powell died in Ayr, Qld on 17 October 1918 and was given a military funeral.