Australian Historical Medals

Lot 566    SESSION 3 (2.30PM TUESDAY 26TH JULY)    Australian Historical Medals

Estimate $150
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $850

CHINESE COMFORTS FUND, five pounds donation badge in sterling silver and enamel (22.5x205mm), by Amor, Sydney, pin-back, bottom obverse legend in Mandarin Chinese translates as, 'The war of resistance will be won and the founding of a nation will be achieved', on the reverse in relief is the amount of the donation, namely, '£5'. Very fine and very scarce.

The donation amount for this badge was quite high considering that the average weekly wage in 1944 was a little over £6 per week.

The following article was published in Barrier Daily Truth (Broken Hill, NSW) on Saturday 2 September 1944, page 3.

CHINESE COMFORTS FUND
(To the Editor)
On the 7th July, 1944, China bravely marched into her eighth year of war of resistance against the Japanese invaders. For seven long years, China has suffered untold agonies never before experienced in her 5,000 years' history. For the last two and a half years she has been blockaded by sea and land and has had to fight with flesh and blood against fire and steel. Though terribly wounded physically, spiritually China has remained undaunted. Now, as victory is drawing nearer, the task of the final destruction of the enemy the greater part of whose armies is on China's soil, will mean that China's burden will become even heavier.

In compliance with an instruction from Generalissimo Chiang Kai-Shek that branches of the Chinese Comforts Fund be established in overseas countries, and with a desire to play their part to hasten victory, the Australian Division of the Chinese Comforts Fund was formed recently by the Chinese citizens, to work for the provision of comforts for the Chinese and Allied Fighting Forces operating in the Chinese theatre of war. In response to suggestions by a number of Australian friends, our Executive Committee is now extending the appeal to the Australian public.

It is fully realised that you are answering many similar requests, but China's cause and the efforts which her soldiers have made during their long resistance against a ruthless enemy are such that they will undoubtedly appeal to your generosity. Any assistance which you can render will be gratefully acknowledged. For Income Tax purposes, donations to this fund are allowable deductions for Companies and rebateable allowances for individuals.

I am sure that your readers will realise very clearly what the soldiers of China are doing in defence of Justice and freedom. - Yours, etc.
T. Y. LIN, President, Chinese Comforts Fund . (Australian Division), Box 4016, G.P.O., Sydney.