US Pre WWII Distinctive Unit Insignia, 148th Field Artillery, Screwback, NS Meyer. Darwin Australia Raid February 1942

Original Period Manufacture. Enameled DI with a screwback reverse, mounted to it's original NS Meyer sales card. Idaho National Guard unit Inducted into federal service in 1940. The 1st Bn sailed from San Francisco 21 November 1941, and arrived in Australia 6 January 1942. The Bn formed the artillery support for an Australian expedition to Timor, but had to turn back due to overwhelming Japanese aerial attacks. Upon the return of the convoy to Darwin on 18 February 1942, their guns were still aboard MV Tulagi, and were lost (later salvaged) when the ship sank during the first Japanese aerial raid on Darwin, 19 February 1942. 4 members of the 148th were killed during the raid, with an additional 14 wounded.