A little token, true and tender
During and after World War II, grief for lost loved ones was often kept private. One small medallion, however, represented a public token of silent suffering. The Mothers’ and Widows’ Badge was awarded to women whose husbands or children had been ‘killed in action, or died of wounds or from other causes whilst on service’ in the Mercantile Marine, Royal Australian Navy, Royal Australian Air Force, Australian Army or Australian Army Nursing Service. A seven-pointed star hung below the badge for each relative who died.
