Historical information

During World War I, "boomerang badges" were popular sweetheart brooches and fundraising pins. The boomerang motif was chosen to symbolize the solder's safe return from the war, much like a thrown boomerang comes back.
This badge was donated to the St Kilda Society by the wife of John (Jack) Dudley Cullen, who was the first person from St Kilda to enlist in World War I. He lived at 23 Argyle Street (now Waterloo Crescent), St Kilda.
An electrician with three years service with the militia behind him, Jack enlisted on 14 August 1914 at the age of 21. By 20 October that year he was sailing to Egypt on the HMAT Shropshire as a member of the 5th Battery, 2nd Field Artillery Brigade. He served in the Middle East for a short time before being hospitalised with enteric fever and returning home to Australia.
After recovering, Jack undertook permanent guard duties at Broadmeadows Training Camp until October 1916, when he went to England with the 118th Howitzer Battery on the HMAT Aeneas. He again returned to Australia on health grounds, this time suffering a bronchial condition, and was discharged in June 1918.
In February 1918, while still in England, Jack married Miss Daisy Dawes of Durrington, near Salisbury. They settled for a short while in Australia but returned to England to live in 1921.

Physical description

Gold coloured metal boomerang with eyelet for attachment.

Inscriptions & markings

"Our Boys"