Historical information

The use of these buttons as a means of raising revenue through patriotic sentiment occurred soon after Australia pledged allegiance to Empire. Buttons reflected ‘public sentiment, courage, patriotism, generosity and several [un- named] virtues’ such as the martyred mother of a ‘fallen’ hero. Attention was paid to attractiveness of design, encoded symbolism and high quality of production. Expressing ‘loyalty’, they were tokens to be kept for perpetuity.

Female labour was used to operate the die that compressed the tin backing, photographic print and celluloid cover together. The pin was applied by hand. Women, of all ages, entered into the spirit of voluntary sales. Often they were sold at the entry and exit points of major pedestrian thoroughfares. . Pride in salesmanship was affected by publishing the name of the woman and her fiscal achievement in the major newspapers of the day.

Physical description

Small circular pressed tinplate button featuring a white map of Australia on a dark blue ground with the stars of the Southern Cross surrounding, all within a gold border. The phrase ‘I Will Help Until the War is Won’ is printed in red across the map

Inscriptions & markings

I will Help until the war is won