Australia Female relative badge WW2

[gibbo]

My son has found a medal similar to the one below. There is no name on the badge to say who it was issued to and or service number.


" In the Second World War there was only one badge issued to the nearest female relative of members of the RAN, the Australian Imperial Force (including members of the Australian Army Nursing Service), and the Royal Australian Air Force on active service abroad. Stars displayed on a bar suspended below the badge represented the number of relatives involved in the war effort. Authority for the issue of the badge in the Second World War was issued under AIF Order 200 dated 14 February 1941."


Is there anyway to find out as he would like to return it to family.

 

[DaveHam9]

Interesting gibbo.

I have one with one star which is a bit curious because one son was in the army and two were in the RAAF. The other son was a coast watcher in Fiji. I'm having trouble reading the number on the back of mine. It's tarnished on the right hand half.


I would suggest emails to Australia War Memorial and to Dept of Veteran Affairs and Australia National Maritime Museum since they have one in their collection.

http://collections.anmm.gov.au/people/3311

Dave

 

[gibbo]

Yep i will email them and see what they say.

The one Anthony found is in pretty rough condition which is why we found a photo of the above one to post rather than try to explain in writing what it looked like.

Also the one he found has the number A67033 on the back of it, i tried entering that number into the national archives on the off chance it might have been a service number but no luck.

 

[DaveHam9]

Yeah, the big question is does the record of those numbers with names survive?

 

[gibbo]

I will email them and post an update on here when i hear back from them.

I never knew those medals even existed until Anthony asked me to check it out for him. Mum hadnt heard of them neither.

 

[DaveHam9]

I've seen one with 4 stars. I'll have to ask. There might be two of them in this house.



http://www.defence.gov.au/Medals/Australian/Badges/Mothers-Widows-Badge.asp

http://www.defence.gov.au/Medals/Australian/Badges/Female-Relative-Badge.asp

 

[gibbo]

Hey Dave, there might be a register for them badges. I will contact them and see what they have to say.

Series MT1384/2 comprises 157 items in 199 volumes of registers of issued medals and badges. The types of registers include:

Mothers’ and Widows’ Badge 1914/1918; 1939/1945 (1916-1925; 1939-1948 )

Female Relatives’ Badge 1914/1918; 1939/1945 (1914-1918; 1939-1946)

Returned from Active Service Badge 1939/1945 (1939-1951)

General Service Badge 1939/1945
etc etc

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/Sea...sReports/SeriesDetail.aspx?series_no=MT1384/2

 

[gibbo]

Email sent so now just sit and wait

 

[gibbo]

NAA got back to me and sent me a link for the online records of medals issued to wives and mothers.

Found ours, his name was Leslie John Bunting and his mother was issued the medal. Her name was M E Bunting and lived at Felgua in QLD [via Tully]

On Leslie's military records his father's name was John. Leslie was born the end of 1918 so not in the birth records for get mother's name. He was still alive in 1963 cause he applied for Repat. benefits

I found a death for a Margaret Edith Bunting but not been able as yet to confirm its the lady who was issued the badge.

QLD death index
1982 54628 Margaret Edith Bunting ... Charles Fredrick Alexander Florence Violet Cutten

Margaret died in Charters Towers in 1982.

 

[DaveHam9]

That's good news gibbo.

The next bit will be harder.

Dave

 

[Bootzy]

Hi Gibbo,
You probably have this…

Name: Leslie jack Bunting
Birth Date: 23 Oct 1919
Birth Place: Queensland
Registration Year: 1919
Registration Place: Queensland, Australia
Father: Jack Bunting
Mother: Margaret edith Alexander
Registration Number: 014922

Name: Leslie John Bunting
Birth Date: 23 Oct 1918
Birth Place: Townsville Queensland
Year Range: 1940 - 1947
Enlistment Place: Cairns Queensland
Service Number: QX7611
Father: John Bunting
Series Description: B883: Army, 2nd Al F

1980 ER - Leslie has a Mary Elizabeth Bunting a clerk ? with him at 36 Brannagan st Tully – he’s a loco driver
**Leslie on his own in 1972 and with Mary Elizabeth by 1977

Mother..
Name: Margaret Edith Alexander
Spouse Name: Jack Bunting
Marriage Date: 10 Feb 1919
Marriage Place: Queensland
Registration Place: Queensland
Registration Year: 1919
Registration Number: 000755
Page Number: 18

Her birth
Name: Margaret Edith Alexander
Birth Date: 8 Jul 1898
Birth Place: Queensland
Registration Year: 1898
Registration Place: Queensland, Australia
Father: Charles Turnbull Alexander
Mother: Florence Violet Cutten
Page Number: 284
Registration Number: 005299

Her death..
1982 54628 Margaret Edith Bunting - Charles Fredrick Alexander & Florence Violet Cutten

 

[gibbo]

Many thank for that Val, i will check the Mary Elizabeth out and see where that leads to.

 

[Bootzy]

Looking at ER for his parents in 1963 Charters Towers there’s:
Jack a concrete worker with Margaret Edith h/d and a Sidney Charles Bunting railway employee at Oxford st Charters Towers..

1972/1977/1980 - Sidney Charles Bunting is at 7 Johnstone st Stratford 4872 (Leichardt Qld) on his own

 

[Bootzy]

Gibbo,
in his Service record has this about the badge..

Received from Officer-in-charge – Warwick, Female Badge no: 67033 date is 31st Oct 1942 signed M.E. Bunting so that would make it his Mother.

Leslie made a claim for Repat 28/11/1963

 

[gibbo]

Gibbo,
in his Service record has this about the badge..

Received from Officer-in-charge – Warwick, Female Badge no: 67033 date is 31st Oct 1942 signed M.E. Bunting so that would make it his Mother.

Leslie made a claim for Repat 28/11/1963

Hi Val, yep seen that in his record. Trying to find a living rellie to give the badge back to the family.

 

[gibbo]

1972/1977/1980 - Sidney Charles Bunting is at 7 Johnstone st Stratford 4872 (Leichardt Qld) on his own

Charters Towers Cemetery
BUNTING SIDNEY CHARLES 16/01/2006 aged 75

BUNTING ALBERT ALEXANDER DOB 28/08/1924 15/12/2011 aged 87

 

[gibbo]

FOUND A HOME FOR THE MEDAL! :biggrin:

Tracked the grandson of Margaret's down so medal on the way home tomorrow. Dont you just love it when things come together :biggrin:

 

[Bootzy]

good one Gibbo O0

 

[gibbo]

Just got word that the badge has arrived to the family. He said it was in really good condition considering been found in the bush tho a bit tarnished. He is going to have it professionally cleaned. One happy fella he is :biggrin:

Thank you to everyone who replied

CASE CLOSED