Preserving a WWI Honour Board

First World War Honour Boards were created by businesses and industry organisations, schools and local community groups, churches and social groups, sporting and social clubs, by individual’s and more, to the identify and acknowledge the men and women from their organisations, communities etc. who served and who fought and/or died in war.

WWI Honour Boards are generally composite objects, made of timber, stone, metal, glass, paper and photographs or a combination of these materials.

Timber Honour Boards are the most common, and are often still displayed in their place of origin, in local communities.

The type of timber used may reflect the Honour Board project budget realised from funds raised and/or donated by the local community or the business/individual that created it.  Australian mountain ash or Blackwood was often chosen for their colour and fine grain.

Honour Boards created from timber are susceptible to mould and insect attack and should be protected from moisture and changes in temperature, which can cause warping, splitting and cracking.

Regularly cleaning with a soft cloth and/or vacuum cleaner with a small soft hair nozzle is recommended to prevent dust build-up that will attract insects. If your Honour Board is in storage, protecting the board with a dust cover made from washed cotton sheeting will assist to preserve it.

*DVA Anzac portal – collection care information – Honour Boards