Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object ID # |
2007.054.003 |
Object Name |
Insignia |
Title |
Mrs. Harrison's 1939 War Bar IODE Pin |
Lexicon category |
8: Communication Artifact |
Date |
1939 |
Year Range from |
1939 |
Year Range to |
1968 |
Artist |
Birks-Ellis |
Made |
Birks-Ellis |
Place of Origin |
Toronto, Ontario |
Description |
Enamelled Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire badge pin with "1939" on the top bar. Suspended on two short chains is the IODE insiginia with a Union Jack (officially called the Royal Union Flag), and a crown (red/white/blue enamelling on brass). The back side has "BIRKS ELLIS REG." |
Makers mark |
The back side has "BIRKS ELLIS REG." |
Provenance |
Manufactured by Birk-Ellis in Toronto. Belonged to Rebecca Harrison (née Pratt) of Owen Sound, Grey County. Her son, John Harrison, served in the Second World War, which entitled her to wear the 1939 War Bar at the top of her pin. During and after the Second World War, she was a liaison worker with the Red Cross. Her work included helping war brides, and helping to organize hard-to-find items for parcels to send to POWs. She belonged to the Earl Grey Chapter of the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire, and married her husband in 1904. Her obituary mentioned that she was a Past Regent of the Earl Grey I.O.D.E. She died in October of 1968. It was last owned by her daughter-in-law, Catherine R. Harrison (née Young), of Owen Sound, Grey County. |
Collection |
Organizational/Government Collection |
Material |
Brass/Enamel |
Dimensions |
W-1.181 L-1.457 inches |
Found |
Owen Sound, Grey County |
People |
Harrison, Catherine Harrison, James E. Harrison, Rebecca |
Subjects |
Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire |
Search Terms |
Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (I.O.D.E.) |
Function |
An insignia item from the I.O.D.E. The top bar of these pins was enamelled with one of three colours. A red bar denoted that a woman had a son serving in the war (this pin has this colour as Mrs. Harrison had a son serving). A white bar meant that a daughter was serving. A blue bar represented a husband serving. These IODE pins were worn at IODE meetings, but one could also wear them to other functions and places to show that you had a family member serving in the military. This example belonged to Rebecca Harrison of Owen Sound, Grey County. |