sweetheart brooch
Report a Mistake- Object Number 20010171-002
- Event 1939-1945 Second World War
- Affiliation --
- Artist / Maker / Manufacturer --
- Date Made --
- Place of Use Continent - North America, Country - Canada
- Category Personal artifacts
- Sub-category Adornment
- Department Dress and Insignia
- Museum CWM
- Inscription (obverse/avers): MN
- Materials Mollusk shell, Bronze
- Service Component Merchant Navy
- Measurements Height 4.5 cm, Width 3.5 cm
- Caption Merchant Navy Sweetheart Brooch
- Additional Information This sweetheart brooch belonged to Henry Murray Varrin, who served in Canada's merchant navy during the Second World War. The pin's diamond-shaped mother of pearl base holds a brass and enamel crest featuring "MN" for the merchant navy. A pin allows it to be fastened to clothing like a jacket or blouse. Merchant sailors gave such 'sweetheart' pins to girlfriends and wives. Other versions incorporated the words "Canada" or a maple leaf.