War Service Badge - Class A
 

A colleague of mine has a CEF War Service Badge - Class A which reads "For Service at the Front" with CPF (Canadian Patriotic Fund) 1915 also on the front. Unlike the description on the following website:

http.//www.vac-acc.gc.ca (Veterans Affairs Canada)

it does not have a serial number stamped on it. The badge was made by TP Tansey, Montreal. Unfortunately, the fastener holding the screwback fitting is missing. Can anyone tell me what these normally sell for?
Thanks, David

Hi David, If it is the 1915 issue, it is relatively scarce. In fact the CPF ones with the year are all difficult to find. (For more information, see Robbie Johnson's CANADIAN WAR SERVICE BADGES 1914-1954.)
Not sure of a value, but not a common badge.

I have one ofthese maybe two & always thought the CPF meant Canadian Permanent Force. we did have troops in WW1 besides CEF. No proof of course. Ray

Ray, the Permanent Force troops had to become Expeditionary Force troops legally to proceed overseas. Eg the RCE, Ordnance, and RCR among others had to become part of the CEF to be covered by the legalities of wartime service.
CPF was the Canadian Patriotic Fund, a private organization until taken over by the federal government later in the war.

Just for the fun of it,here's T.P. Tansey ad in the Montreal's phone book of 1915-1916.
Jo
http://bibnum2.bnquebec.ca/bna/lovel...-1916_2003.pdf

Thanks guys. Bill, if you're going to be at the Ottawa show in April I may bring it along and show you, if my colleague will let me borrow it. Maybe I should bring him along too!

Hello David, Yes my plan at this time is to have a table at Ottawa. Would be great to see you and the badge.

Hi,

thought I'd just add to this thread, rather than start a new one:

I recently picked up this, a CPF badge. I have some info (thanks Google) but just want to get the proper story from the experts. I believe from the above thread, these were the fore-runner to the popular "CEF - for service at the front" badges, and I see from this thread, there was a "CPF 1915" version, so this being "1915-16" I assume simply the next in the series? If so, was there a 1917 etc? Or when did it all change to "CEF"?

Basically any info would be much appreciated.

Cheers, Tim

PS it's maker marked T.P. Tansey, Montreal, and has a number stamped into it.

War Service Badge "CPF"
 

The War Service "CPF" Badges pre-date the "CEF" War Service Badge. The CPF (Canadian Patriotic Fund) badge(s) issued the badges prior to 1917, after Aug 1917 the government merged this program into it's own and stated issueing the "CEF" badge. The CPF organization was based on the remnants of the BOAR War organization, in fact some funds remaining from the Boar War efforts were transferred to the "new" incarnation of the CPF. There are a number of badges marked with "CPF"; SERVICE AT THE FRONT 1915, 1915-16, 1915-16-17 and 1917. there is also a Nursing WAR Service badge and Honorably Discharged badge. These badges are somewhat scarce.

Thanks for posting these. I have never seen the Nursing Service pin.

Hi Larry, that's amazing info, and super pictures, thanks very much. You've cleared up a lot of questions I had.

Much appreciated,

Cheers, Tim

Sorry, forgot to add: where does this undated "CPF" one fit in?

Many thanks, Tim

War Service Badge
 

I also have a 'CEF' numbered on the rear, is there a list of numbers somewhere? or a need to check service records? Regards Mark

CPF "Service At The Front"
 

The undated badge is the first in the series- so in 1914. By the way if the badge has an "X" at the start of the serial number it is a Birks badge

Thanks again Larry, right on both: X prefix and it's Birks. What a wealth of info! So very much appreciate you sharing it with us all.

Cheers, Tim