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This doll, known as Private Bill or Billy
Redgum, was made by Miss Muriel Hallam for members of the Junior Red
Cross at the Strathfield Branch of the Australian Red Cross Society in
Sydney.
It was raffled to raise money for the war effort. Soft-bodied
AIF soldier doll mounted on a square wooden stand. The doll's face is
made from a cotton lisle stocking with features painted onto it. It has
dark brown wool carpet-work hair. The doll has a miniature khaki fur
felt slouch hat custom-made by Akubra.
It has a plain khaki wool band,
brown leather chin strap and an oxidised brass Rising Sun collar badge
for a hat badge. The doll wears a grey collarless flannel shirt,
pre-1943 pattern khaki wool tunic and trousers made from original
fabric, custom-made miniature Rising Sun collar badges, small oxidised
brass Australian Military Forces buttons, miniature colour patches for
2/1 Infantry Battalion, hand-knitted khaki wool socks and commercially
produced toddler's brown leather shoes in place of boots.
The dolls wears, in addition, a khaki canvas haversack and carries two canvas
kitbags, both marked in black ink 'No B W 7043 Private W Redgum 1st Bat
2nd AIF'. AWM REL/18631
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