O.F.M. was the ORDNANCE FACTORY MARIBYRNONG. Up to the end of June 1943 and at a time when the wages were about £5 ($10) to £6 ($12) per week Australia had spent £1,106,000,000 (£156 per head) on the war effort. A lot of the money was spent at home in making war necessities such as armaments, munitions, boots, clothing, and in providing special training. Significant increases in numbers occurred in the personnel employed in the fighting services, and also in the work force involved in the war effort. During the financial year 1942-1943 the war cost Australia £561,743,000 (over a billion dollars), while the Income Tax raised from individuals totalled only 16.5% of this amount. To finance the war the Australian government had previously borrowed money from the public, and from institutions such as the savings banks, friendly societies, and life assurance societies, by running three successfully subscribed Liberty Loans. The institutions had contributed considerably more money to these Liberty Loans than the public, however it can be argued that the public members of these institutions had also contributed some money indirectly. The 4th Liberty Loan which opened on 5 October 1943 and closed on 9 November 1943 was intended to raise £125,000,000, with the government aiming for 750,000 subscribers. Bonds costing £10 each could be bought on a time payment scheme. A total of £126,408,000 was raised at two different interest rates and maturity dates, however the number of subscribers had only reached 567,533. Some newspaper reports of the time indicate that the low number of subscribers was a partial failure of the loan, because spare money in the community could lead to inflation at a time when goods were in short supply. The government set target quotas on how much money should ideally be raised in a particular district, and how many subscribers should ideally take part. Often these quotas proved to be excessive. The Special Red Pennant Award as given to the No 1 FORGE O.F.M. was normally for achieving the highest per capita contribution within each particular group. What is unknown at this stage is what other entities were in the same group, or how large the group was. There were other variations of the awards such as those given to country districts, where a star was placed on the left hand corner of the pennant if the money quota was reached, while two or three stars indicated that the quota was doubled or tripled. A bar was also included on the pennant if the quota of subscribers was achieved, while two bars indicated double the quota of subscribers. The above information was sourced from Trove newspaper articles at: (1) http://nla.gov.au.nla.news-article70439716, (2) http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article141292541, (3) http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11797265, (4) http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11788072, and from (5) http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1070158--1-.PDF (see page 580).This framed award has significance in that it serves as a historic reminder that the No 1 Forge O.F.M. and the Ordnance Factory Maribyrnong once existed within the Shire of Braybrook, and later the City of Sunshine, and that it was involved in the manufacture of ordnance for World War 2. It also serves as a historic reminder that it costs a huge amount of money for a country to be involved in a major war, and that a big contribution is required from the public to raise money and to produce goods for the war effort.Permanently sealed brown stained wood frame with a glass face. Enclosed behind the glossy glass is a triangular shaped pennant made of red felt material. The red colour appears to be somewhat faded. The inscriptions and markings on the pennant are in blue, gold, and white coloured inks.The AUSTRALIAN COAT OF ARMS diagram plus the following writing: SPECIAL AWARD / 4th LIBERTY LOAN / Oct.-Nov. 1943 / No 1 FORGE O.F.M.4th liberty loan, special award, ordnance factory maribyrnong, no 1 forge o.f.m., oct - nov 1943, red pennant

Uncompleted pledge to purchase Fourth Liberty Loan Bonds from a representative of the Commonwealth War Loans Organisation or through a bank, stockbroker or post office. The bonds would mature with interest after the war. Twelve major Government war loans (called Liberty, Austerity, Special or Victory loans) were offered during World War II. The Fourth Liberty Loan was launched in October 1943 to support war expenditure.Pink coloured card printed in browncommonwealth war loans organisation, liberty loan bonds

Uncompleted application form to purchase Fourth Liberty Loan Bonds and mark the application 'credit City of St Kilda'. The bonds, which would mature with interest after the war, were administered by the Commonwealth War Loans Organisation. Twelve major Government war loans (called Liberty, Austerity, Special or Victory loans) were offered during World War II. The Fourth Liberty Loan was launched in October 1943 to support war expenditure.Grey coloured card printed in browncommonwealth war loans organisation, city of st kilda, liberty loan bonds

Photos shows a Melbourne, MMTB, double-deck bus painted in an all-over livery for the Buy Bonds Let's fill the 3rd Liberty Loan - World War 2 campaign. Has images of Winston Churchill and Australian Prime Minister John Curtain on the side of the bus. The bus is a Leyland TD5c type. In the background is a bus with a James Motors 1925 body, which were remounted on K6 International chassis in 1942 - 1943. Photographed at North Fitzroy Depot. These buses were used to replace the cable trams in Bourke St from October 1940. John Curtain became Prime Minister on 7 October 1941 and died on 5 July 1945. The paint shop record for buses (See Reg Item 126) gives the bus number 220, that it was painted from the 2nd to the 3rd Victory Loan in Jan. 1945 and then painted to green and cream in 8/1945.Yields information about a bus decorated or painted to promote the 3rd World War loan.Set of two photographs of a MMTB double decker bus advertising Buy the World War 2, 3rd Liberty Loan.tramways, buses, mmtb, double deck buses, john curtain, winston churchill, north fitzroy bus depot, world war 2, war loans, leyland, td5c class, central bus garage, bus 220

Collection of World War 2 Badges (4) Includes Liberty Loan Badge and Red Cross Members Badgestawell, ww2

Rose Series postcard No. P 4680 titled "Flinders St Railway station Melbourne", shows the entry to the station, one tram, and motor cars doing a hook turn. There is a Liberty Loan advert on the station verandah on the left side of the photograph.Yields information Swanston St during the mid 1940s.Postcard - printed real photograph with Rose Stereograph Co. name on the rear.tramways, trams, flinders st station, swanston st, w2 class, flinders st, railways, world war ii

Timber frame containing Appeals badges, tokens, ribbons for various commemorative days including Red cross, War Chest, YMCA, St John's, Relief Organisation, Lord Mayor's Patriotic Fund, Liberty Loan, food For Britain, Medical Aid, Anzac Memorial Bursaries, Tin Hat, Return Soldiers Fund, Soldier's Dependant, Home For Soldiers, Legacy, ANZAC, Poppy Day etc.

Rose Series postcard No. P 1040, titled "Flinders Street Railway Station, Melbourne" showing the entrance to the station, many motor cars, some with black-out headlight covers, a MMTB Leyland bus, and a W2 class tram either 288 or 388 (Kew Depot cars at the time.) with the destination of Spencer St. This would have to be one of the first W2 class cars to have the metal gutter replaced by a storm/drip rail. There is an advertising board on the railway station verandah, advertising Liberty Loans. You can just make out the tram overhead for the curve from Swanston Street into Flinders Street.Yields information about Flinders Street and railway station in the early 1940s.Postcard - printed real photograph with Rose Stereograph Co. name on the rear.tramways, trams, flinders st, flinders st station, w2 class, buses, mmtb buses, world war ii

Set of six documents associated with a Wattle Park band recital by the AIF Legion of Anzacs band on Sunday 17 October 1943 in support of the 4th Liberty Loan. .1 - printed poster advertising the afternoon and travel by tram from Princes Bridge. .2 - duplicated notice from the Assistant Manager to Depots dated 13/10/1943 about the bus to be used to transport band members from Elizabeth St to Wattle Park - Central Bus Depot - notes the bus had been specially prepared for the event. .3 - typed notice from the District Traffic Superintendent to Hawthorn and Camberwell depots about special trams for the event and arrangements for conductors. Signed by J. M. Harry rubber stamp. .4 - hand written in blue indelible pencil on ruled paper, the table for the special cars for the event. .5 - hand written notes on heavy card of timing and loading on trams at Glenferrie Road. Signed R. Whitelaw. .6 - ditto for loading ex Wattle Park loop - signed by A? Cameron.1 - has a pencil inscription "158" in the top left hand corner. .3 - has a pencil note "Copy sent Hawt Insp with table" along the bottom edge.trams, tramways, mmtb, world war 2, wattle park, events, bands, buses, hawthorn depot, camberwell depot

2 copies of letter from HS Wootton, Town Clerk, City of Melbourne, titled "Arrangements in connection with "Miles of Munitions 1943" procession through city streets on Friday 29th October, 1943, in connection with Fourth Liberty War Loan". Provides details of route and assembly points with tram requirements. Dated 21 Oct 1943 8 memos from JM Harry, Dist Traffic Supt SS regarding tram arrangements to various inspectors. Memos dated 27/10/1943."Mr Harry" written in pencil on one letter. "Coburg depot" written on 2 memos. Several comments written in pencil regarding tram scheduling.trams, tramways, events, parades, world war 2, coburg depot, hanna st depot, malvern depot, hawthorn depot, camberwell depot, glenhuntly depot, victoria st, swanston st, elizabeth st, spencer st, collins st

Uncompleted application form to purchase First Victory Loan Bonds and mark the application 'credit City of St Kilda quota'. The bonds, which would mature with interest after the war, were administered by the Commonwealth War Loans Organisation. Twelve major Government war loans (called Liberty, Austerity, Special or Victory loans) were offered during World War II. The First Victory Loan was offered on 28th March - 9th May 1944, with a target of 150 million pounds.Yellow coloured card printed in brown on both sides.commonwealth war loans organisation, city of st kilda, victory loan bonds