flag, fundraising

New Zealand Ensign named "OUR SOLDIERS FLAG", with embroidered names of the Hauraki Squadron of the Auckland Mounted Rifles. Additional research by Margaret Nash has identified that while most of the soldiers were from Auckland or the upper North Island, there were also a number from Wellington, Canterbury and Otago. At the centre of the Jack is the name of Cyril Bassett, VC. The names were worked by Mrs Agnes Keary to raise funds for the Auckland Patriotic Fund, WW1. The amount raised was 305 pounds. This went to the Auckland Wounded Soldiers' Fund.

The flag was started as a fundraiser for the Soldiers Queen during Auckland's 1915 Queen Carnival, and, following the conclusion of the carnival continued to have names added with the additional funds going directly into the Mayor's Auckland Patriotic Fund.

A December 1915 news item in the Rotorua Times stated "A fee of 10s per name is charged ... The flag is being circulated in the Auckland Province, and is on view for a few days in Mrs Iles' shop in Fenton Street... the flag will be permanently hung in the Auckland Town Hall."