Historical information

TOC H was founded as a Christian organisation during the First World War in Belgium in 1915. Talbot House was a venue for respite from the war for soldiers and civilians. During the 1920s TOC H spread around the world especially to Commonwealth countries. In 1923 the Governor General of Australia wrote to The Reverend "Tubby" Clayton indicating that he and Lady Forster wished to endow a TOC H lamp, the symbol of TOC H in memory of their two sons who were killed in the war.
The lamp symbol is a replica of the lamp used to provide light to early Christians who sought refuge in the catacombs of Rome. The cross of Lorraine is an indicator of its origins in the Ypres salient.The lamp is a symbol of an ongoing commitment of TOC H to spread light wherever it may be required.

Significance

These badges are maintained as mementos of the Warrnambool branch of TOC H which operated from a sandstone building in Koroit Street Warrnambool.
It was active during the middle decades of the 20th Century

Physical description

.1 Octagonal metal and enamel badge featuring a gold coloured oil lamp and cross on a green luminous background with rays emanating from the lamp. The badge has a gold edging. The reverse has a pin clip and text
.2 and .3 Octagonal metal and enamel lapel badge featuring a gold coloured oil lamp and cross on a royal blue background. The badge has a gold edging. The reverse has a horseshoe shaped device to allow the badge to be secured in the buttonhole of a jacket.

Inscriptions & markings

.1Indecipherable
.2 Stokes and Sons Melbourne
.3 2849