That WV / VW Badge again!

[Jelly Terror]

Perhaps someone will be able to clarify... I am still slightly confused over the WV / VW badge that has been discussed on the forum a number of times:

image.jpg

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...t=worker+badge
http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...t=worker+badge

My limited understanding is that it is the 'Women's Volunteer' badge, forerunner to the WVS, but there seems to be some confusion as to weather or not it was a (so to speak) 'women's' badge:

http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...94&postcount=7
http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...64&postcount=7

I recently acquired a small photograph of a group of ladies, one of whom wears the badge in question. Would this lend any support to the school of thought behind it being a women's organisation?

Had a bit of a nerdy result with this one too... a little image-manipulation revealed the small, square lapel pin just below, to be the National Savings badge. You can just make out the swastika:

WV 1.jpg WV 2.jpg WV 3.jpg

Was this WV badge exclusively worn by women?

With thanks.

[Phil2M]

I thought it was VW for Volunteer Worker

[Jelly Terror]

Originally Posted by Phil2M

I thought it was VW for Volunteer Worker

Thanks, Phil.

Do you have any source that you can cite for this?

[Phil2M]

I can't remember where i read or heard it. Not terribly reliable, sorry. To me, volunteer worker sounds more likely/logical than woman volunteer.

[Sonofacqms]

Like Phil, I have always been told it was Volunteer Worker which I think were numbered on the reverse.

Interestingly the badge worn below the VW by the lady has a swastika in silver on black which was for the National Savings organisation.

Rob

[Jelly Terror]

Originally Posted by Sonofacqms

Like Phil, I have always been told it was Volunteer Worker which I think were numbered on the reverse.

Interestingly the badge worn below the VW by the lady has a swastika in silver on black which was for the National Savings organisation.

Rob

Thanks, Rob.

(Said badge):

Nat Sav Badge.jpg

[Postwarden]

Hope that the attached extracts from my book Doing Their Bit; Home Front Lapel Badges 1939-1945 will help to clear up some of the confusion.

Jon

[Cribyn]

Hello Jon

Is this another book we can get direct from you? If so and you still have copies I would be interested.

Regards
Roger

[Postwarden]

Thanks for the interest.

I don't keep copies of that particular book but it can be obtained directly from my publisher Sabrestorm.

Details of the book and a link to the Sabrestorm site are in the Books by Forum Members section about six entries down.

Jon

[Jelly Terror]

Originally Posted by Postwarden

Hope that the attached extracts from my book Doing Their Bit; Home Front Lapel Badges 1939-1945 will help to clear up some of the confusion.

Jon

Jon,

Sincere thanks for your input and for sharing your research.

So we can clarify now by stating that the badge dates from the Great War period, the letters of which stand for 'Voluntary Worker'. I conclude from this that the badge/organisation (as Mark 'dubaiguy' phrases it) is not gender-biased.

Thanks and regards to all.

[Postwarden]

Glad to help.

Whilst the badge was not 'gender-biased' the attitudes of the First World War would have meant that most of the workers would have been women.

Jon

[Phil2M]

Thats where I read what the badges were before

[Jelly Terror]

Originally Posted by Phil2M

Thats where I read what the badges were before

Spot on, Phil. Thanks for your help.