Presentation brooch : Driver Oswald George McLaren, 5 Machine Gun Battalion, AIF

Places
Accession Number REL33616
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Badge
Physical description Gold, Rose gold
Maker Unknown
Place made Australia
Date made 1919
Conflict Period 1910-1919
Period 1950-1959
First World War, 1914-1918
Description

9 carat gold brooch presented to Driver Oswald George McLaren to Australia on his return to Australia after the First World War.
Obverse features a border consisting of a pair of bands joined by eight tiny gold beads, surrounding a map of Australian mainland, with states and rivers engraved into the surface. 'AUSTRALIA' is engraved across the centre of the map.
Reverse is engraved with the inscription 'To PVT O.G. MCLAREN on his return from War From MRS GUNTHER 1919'.
Stamped below this is, a 'Star 9 Sheaf'.

History / Summary

Given to Oswald George McLaren, a woodworker of Brighton, Victoria, who was born on 3 November 1899. He served with the RAN as part of the ANMEF from 11 August 1914 to 15 March 1915, and re-enlisted with the Machine Gun Section of 29 Battalion, AIF on 12 July 1915, and was assigned service number 97A. McLaren served in France - transferring to the 5 Machine Gun Battalion - before returning to Australia aboard HMAT Wyreema, embarking from Liverpool, England on 13 April 1919. He was discharged on 25 July 1919.

McLaren also served during the Second World War, with the service number V32136 as a Staff Sergeant with 214 Light Aid Detachment, enlistment date unknown, and was discharged on 7 February 1945. The brooch was found by donor when a young boy, under following circumstances: 'Found in the sand under the coconut palms at the northern end of Geoffrey Bay beach, Magnetic Island in front of the then Arcadia Guest House in 1950, on the day of a tourist day-visit by either the MV Manoora, MV Manunda or MV Kanimbla. My mum tried to contact the ship in Townsville on that day, with no success and the item remained in her possession until her death in 1988'.