Canadian military HQ hat badge

[121155]

Got this badge today, looking for opinions, im pretty sure it is original but what to see what you think

[121155]

Back of badge

[121155]

And, does anyone know how many of these were made? I am assuming they are scarce as they are not often seen

[QSAMIKE]

This badge was worn during WW2 by the Female Civilian Employees at CMHQ in London as a form of identification pin..... They were hired mostly from the British employees at the Canadian Embassy since they already had a security clearance..... They held these positions until relieved by CWAC who took over most of the clerical duties..... But a number of them stayed till the end of the war...... They were made in London in 1940 as seen by the hallmark..... A total of 24 or 26 were made......

Mike

[QSAMIKE]

I have seen the original invoice for the manufacture of these badges and a group photograph of the women in the garden of CMHQ wearing the badges..... I know of at least 4 of these ladies who ended up here in Calgary as war brides.....

One year when the MCCC had their convention here I was escorting a number of seniors around the display's...... A member came up to me and showed me a badge that he had just purchased and was quite proud of and one of the ladies said to another of the ladies, "Look he has one of our badges" at which time he was told the whole story from the so called horses mouth..... (Sorry Auntie Leona I did not mean to call you a horse )

Mike

[121155]

Hi Mike, do you think this is an original badge?

[QSAMIKE]

Originally Posted by 121155

Hi Mike, do you think this is an original badge?

Yes I do I checked it against the ones I have and it is identical......

Mike

[121155]

Thanks for your help Mike

[rubicon]

Hello,

I've got another production of the CMHQ London lapel badge which was worn by civilian personels who worked dressed in civilian for the Canadian HQ during WW2. The badge is quite similar to the badge made by LS (Lewis Simpson) in 1940 but the pin and marking are different. This marking STERLING SILVER was used during the WW2 by the London branch of the French jeweller CARTIER. The French jeweller received many orders to make high quality badges from the Free French, Fighting French and British as well. So I assume this badge was made by CARTIER London.