Identification bracelet with three good luck charms : Aircraft Mechanic 2nd Class H J Marston, No 3 Squadron, Australian Flying Corps

Places
Accession Number REL33983
Collection type Heraldry
Object type Heraldry
Physical description Aluminium, Brass, Enamel, Sterling silver, Wood
Maker Unknown
Place made Australia, United Kingdom
Date made c 1916
Conflict First World War, 1914-1918
Description

Brass identification bracelet consisting of a round aluminium identity disc and three good luck charms. Engraved on one side of the disc is 'HJ MARSTON / No 1478 / AFC / AIF' and on the reverse 'MRS F. MARSTON / 51 LEITHEAD ST'.

The three good luck charms are: a brass boomerang, 40 mm long, marked with the words 'I GO TO RETURN'; a small, 18 mm high sterling silver and enamel black cat with 'STG SILVER / RD 595243' cast into the reverse; and a hollow cast sterling silver and wood charm in the shape of a baby, 30 mm high, with separate articulated arms displaying a thumbs-up gesture, wings attached to the heels, a wooden head impressed on the top with a four leaf clover and 'TOUCH WOOD' embossed into the reverse, 'FUMSUP' impressed into the baby's shirt and marked 'RD2629' on the reverse of the body. It is missing glass eyes often seen in other examples.

History / Summary

Associated with the service of 1478 Aircraft Mechanic Second Class Henry James Marston. Marston appears to have been a particularly superstitious serviceman carrying three good luck charms while on overseas service. The boomerang entitled 'I Go To Return' is an obvious choice, and may have been bought by, or given to Marston before leaving Australia. The choice of the 'lucky' black cat is similarly obvious. The silver FUMSUP charm (a play on 'thumbs up'), was a popular motif in Britain during the First World War and also appeared on souvenir china and postcards. When the individual dolls were purchased they came with a poem describing the luck the dolls would bring: 'Behold in me the birth of luck, two charms combined TOUCHWOOD - FUMSUP. My head is made of wood most rare, my thumbs turn up to touch me there. To speed my feet they've Cupid's wings; they'll help true love 'mongst other things. Proverbial is my power to bring good luck to you in everything. I'll bring good luck to all away- just send me to a friend to-day'.

These lucky charms proved their worth as Marston narrowly escaped a serious accident on the Western Front in 1918. He was standing near the landing strip at 3 Squadron Australian Flying Corps' (AFC) aerodrome when an Armstrong-Whitworth F.K.8 started to make its descent. Unfortunately the aircraft's landing gear broke off before it could successfully touch down. The resulting crash ignited the bombs on board in a bright red flash followed by a huge explosion. Finding himself unscathed, Marston immediately went to the aid of the aircraft's observer who had been blown out of the cockpit by the blast.

Marston was born in Brunswick, Victoria in 1894 and was an instrument fitter on enlistment in the AFC on 24 October 1916. He embarked for overseas service aboard HMAT Shropshire on 11 May 1917, with the rank of air mechanic second class. He disembarked at Plymouth, England, on 19 July and marched into the AFC Training Depot, Wendover. On 22 November Marston proceeded overseas to Bailleul, France where he was taken on strength by 3 Squadron. Marston remained with 3 Squadron until 3 March 1919 when he marched out for England to join 3 Training Brigade, Weymouth for return to Australia. He boarded the transport ship Kaiser-i-Hind on 6 May and disembarked in Melbourne on 16 June where he was discharged.