Volunteer badge 1914 - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

Chipper · #1 12-07-17, 07:30 AM

Hi,

This is not mine (yet) so just looking for opinions. I have not seen one like it before, and it does not appear to be official, as it is not in any books or dealer sites I have seen. Does anyone have an idea about it? Any info would be appreciated. It appears to be maker marked "J.A. RESTALL" who were from Birmingham, I think?

Cheers, Tim

Peter Brydon · #2 12-07-17, 05:09 PM

Tim,

In the absence of other replies, I like the badge and would have it in my collection.

Peter

Charliedog012012 · #3 12-07-17, 05:18 PM

Very nice badge indeed. I wonder if it might be a Veteran's badge??? Not seen that badge before and it is in beautiful condition.
PS: I have just found a 1914 version and a 1915 version on QMS Militaria! (Shows how observant I am!! Lol)

Peter Brydon · #4 12-07-17, 05:41 PM

For various reasons not everyone who volunteered in WW1 was accepted for service, I wonder if this could be a mufti badge that could be worn to avoid the "white feather" scenario ?

P.B.

dognose · #5 13-07-17, 06:55 AM

An earlier advertisement from J.A. Restall:

J.A. Restall - Birmingham - 1898

Trev.

Chipper · #6 15-07-17, 08:40 AM

Hi All,

sorry for no sooner reply, I've been without internet for 3 days.

Thanks Peter for the thoughts, I think you're on to something, the Australian's had badges given to volunteers who were not accepted for various reasons, so it makes sense rejected volunteers in Britain wanted to have something to show in a time where munitions workers were very keen to be badged and thus avoid any unpleasantness.

CharlieDog, I looked through Mike's site before posting, so I am in the same boat!

And thanks Trev for the info on the maker.

Cheers, Tim

dumdum · #7 20-09-17, 04:12 AM

Hi all

Further to my post of yesterday, here are some of the recruiting badges I have.
Anyone know what "Area 22" is? Obviously too early for Area 51...

Chipper · #8 20-09-17, 06:16 AM

excellent set of badges. Is the 1914 one marked on the reverse? As for area 22, I can only assume the Army had recruiting areas (I think they still do?) maybe for Battalion reasons, (i.e. each battalion had a defined area to recruit), maybe just to keep records of who came from where. Regardless, a great set of badges.

Thanks for showing

Cheers, Tim

Charliedog012012 · #9 20-09-17, 02:37 PM

I agree with Chipper. Some very nice and very difficult to find badges you have there. Many thanks for posting.

dumdum · #10 21-09-17, 02:05 AM

Hi all

Thanks for your feedback.
I can confirm that the 1914 badge is marked "J.A RESTALL" but the big 1915 badge has NO marks (but simple copper loops as you might find on a cap badge). I suspect that this one is the work of a "local" maker using a struck Union Jack (these would have been plentiful at the time).

The Monmouth badge is a J.R. Gaunt effort and the "22nd Area" has the RD number on the "half moon" clip that you see on many Gaunt badges so may well be one of theirs too.

Chipper · #11 21-09-17, 11:26 AM

Thanks for that, all of the (admittedly few) 1914 Volunteer badges I have seen were Renstall marked.

Just on the "RD" number - is this similar (or the same?) thing as the "REG" mark and numbers seen on some Railway service badges by Thomas Fattorini?
see attached:

Cheers and thanks, Tim

dumdum · #12 22-09-17, 02:41 AM

Hi all

Here's another picture of the mystery "22nd Area" badge but arguably a slightly better one that the one before.

The RD number that I mentioned is actually "RD" followed by a number that begins "63......". I would have to go and look to see what the actual number is but it can be found on many "on war service" badges made by J.R. Gaunt and also association items.

The Restall "1914 Volunteered" doesn't have an "RD" marking so sorry if it seemed so.

Still keen to know where "22nd Area" is if anyone can tell me....

The badge was an eBay find along with the BIG 1915 effort whereas the "Monmouthshire" badge came from the U.S.A. along with about 10 other war service badges for around US$30 each from a dealer website.

Originally a little damaged it was expertly re-enamelled for the cost of a nice bottle of wine!

dumdum · #13 22-09-17, 02:46 AM

Hi

Sorry. Just seen your picture of the Fattorini badge. Yes, that's it so maybe they ARE Fattorini and NOT Gaunt. So it is "REG" and NOT "RD"....
Confused? I am!
Truth to tell, most of those "OWS" badges are made by Fattorini.

dumdum · #14 06-11-18, 03:57 AM

Hi all

Having read my previous posts I realise that I'd not posted pictures of the NZ Soldiers' Assoc badge nor the Home Servicemens' League of NZ as I said I would.

Here they are. The NZ Soldiers' Assoc was created to lobby on behalf of home servicemen for same rights and privileges that were being accorded to the Returned Soldiers. Briefly the NZ RSA objected to the name of the Association, no doubt feeling that it was a little too close to theirs!

Result: the Association changed its name and produced the other larger badge, a version of which is/ was used by the NZ Home Servicemens' Assoc following WW2.

The second badge is uncommon, the first RARE!

Sorry about the pic quality.....

dumdum · #15 06-11-18, 04:01 AM

I meant to add that the NZ Soldiers' Association badge bears the number A115 engraved on the back. This will presumably be for "Auckland" and will be an association number and unlikely to be a service number. From memory, the only other badge I've sighted was "A110"