Unusual British Legion badge
 

Hi All,

I got this British Legion badge yesterday and was wondering if anyone had come across one before.

It is the older style badge but has a pin fitting rather than the usual horseshoe you would expect.

Michael

Would the pin fitting indicate that the badge is for wear by a female?

Morning Leigh,

That was my thoughts as well but I'm not sure when women could be members of the main section (if that's the right term) as opposed to the womens section.

I'm thinking possibly from day 1 as they served as well but I'm sure that won't have been the thinking at the time.

Michael

Hi Michael

Found this on RBLWS website ;

"At a Legion Conference in July 1922, a further Resolution was proposed that the Constitution be amended to allow ex-Servicewomen to be admitted to ordinary membership of the Legion on equal terms with the men. As a result, the world ‘Auxiliary’ was amended to 'Section' and thus the British Legion ‘Women’s Section’ was born. A further amendment to the Bye-Laws accepted that ex-Servicewomen could be members of a British Legion Branch as well as a Women’s Section Branch. "

Michael, I have a couple of this version in my collection.
Jerry

I would have thought that they would still wear the RBL Women's section badge.
As we know sexism was quite strong back then and I would think that a woman would not be allowed to wear a Man's badge at any time and I am sure that a Lady would be proud to wear her Women's section badge.
Just my thought.
Jerry

I would have thought the same but wonder who/why introduced the amendment that women could be members of a British Legion Branch as well as the Women's Section.

Damn suffragettes ! :D

PS , have seen badges with both vertical and horizontal pin fittings.

Thanks for the help everyone, there's a lot of interesting information there.

It sounds like it could date anywhere from 1922 to 1971. It's still not one I've seen before though so it will make a nice addition to my RBL collection.

Michael

Hi

Although many thousands of miles from "Blighty" I've got a few BL badges but have not seen this one before. I would suggest that the pin-back could have been introduced at a time when suits with a buttonhole slit ceased to be "in fashion".

I've picked up several h/m gold badges including one that has been engraved with an inscription but can anyone explain a silver, not plated BL badge? It's not h/m but has the marking "STERLING" on the reverse.

It was a spec buy from eBay and I half expected it to be plated.

I have just realised that I have 2 Honorary British Legion badges , one is the button hole/horseshoe fitting and the other is the pin/brooch type.

Is it possible that that the change was introduced as an "austerity" measure during WW2 ? The companies that made the badges were already set up to produce the pin/brooch fittings , as used for Women's Section items, and any reduction in metal use would be seen as contributing to the war effort.

Recently got this small "pendant" , it looks like a lapel stick-pin that has been converted into a pendant.

Were stick-pins ever made with a 'loop' on top ?

Looks like what I've heard called a "dangler".

It has been specially made like this as the "loop" has not been added but cut out from the "flan" of the struck badge.

Interesting that it has the maker's back stamp.

Thanks for the info , one of the stick-pins I have was made by the same company.

While 'trying' to sort out my BL badges I did a bit of basic research and came across some info that may help.

"A scarce early large sized gilt and enamel 'British Legion membership badge, the reverse with maker’s details "Birmingham Medal Co" and Registered Design and Patent Number "684409" (1921)". See photos.

I have recently acquired a large (J.R Gaunt) badge with the same Rd.Number but with a horizontal pin plus small versions (no makers details or number) , one with horizontal and one with vertical pins.

Hi

I've assembled a small group of BL badges including a couple of the early large gold ones (one of which is engraved with a presentation inscription to an MC winner).

One that surfaced a year or two back was a large silver member's badge. No hallmark but clearly marked "STERLING".

OK, so the 9ct is obviously for outstanding service to the BL but the silver one? Thoughts?

I've posted this British Legion(?) pic before but it would be nice to know more about it.

Answers on a postcard.....

Gold Badge

"The Gold Badge may be awarded to a member who has given at least eight (8) years meritorious and conspicuous service to the objectives of the Legion as defined by the Royal Charter. Following the National Chairman's approval of the award, the formation proposing the award must meet the cost of the badge. When the recipient passes away, the badge becomes the property of the next of kin, who may retain it or return it to the formation to issue to another individual for whom the award has been approved".

The irony of it is that many deserving members never get recognised because the formation (normally a branch) cannot afford the cost of the gold badge, currently about £350ish

A really interesting post! It has certainly added to my knowledge of this item.

I've also got a large, unengraved BL badge in its original box of issue. If of interest, I'll post the details of the engraved badge. A photo might be harder as the engraver has skillfully engraved beneath the "half moon" clip. The skill of some amazes me....

Still keen to know about the silver badge.....

Haven't seen any mention of a silver badge ..... anywhere !

Could it have been a 'one off' special commission ?

You say there is no hallmark which is unusual but not unheard of , Bosley's has sold a couple of BLWS gold badges that only have a makers mark (Birmingham Medal Company) and 9ct Gold stamp but no assay office markings.

Another factor could have been cost , sending an item to the assay office would increase the price of the badge ?

Gold Jewellery does not have to be hallmarked if it weighs under 1 gram - Over that weight it should be!

I really appreciate your input.

Yes, I'd heard that having something assayed adding to the cost while not necessarily making it more valuable.

I recall talking with a jeweller sent to the UK for some extra training. He said that you would see the rings all assembled on a bench waiting to be marked up at the Assay Office.

I bought the BL badge from eBay from a fairly blurry pic and thought that it might have been plated. A nice surprise when it turned out not to be!

I'll check and see if there's a maker but I think that it might be our old friends J.R. Gaunt....

Just checked the London Assay Office site to get an idea of costs for hallmarking.

1–2 articles in a packet = £13.00 per packet.

3 articles or over in a packet = £18 per packet + £1 per article.

On top of that add VAT + return postage ( As appropriate plus £3.25 per shipment)


As most manufacturers would be sending multiple items the costs wouldn't be that great , especially for gold. But for single custom made items , especially silver , the additional costs (£13.00 + VAT + appropriate postage x2 + shipment £3.25) would add a lot to the final cost of the item.

Have just been sorting out my BL badges and found all the ones I have with pin fittings .

Sorry for quality of photo , think when I get time (and money) I may get all my BL/RBL badges professionally photographed.

Hi all

A brief search located the large silver BL badge. It is just marked "SILVER" and then "BMCo" (Birmingham Medal Co).

A 9ct large badge that I possess has the "service details" for the owner engraved on the reverse.

He was Chairman of the Wimbledon branch (Great Uncle Bulgaria was the Secretary....) for seven years and was Hon Auditor for thirteen years (unlucky for some...).

A very kind UK-based contact has produced his MIC for me showing service with the East Surreys (F & F, with award of trio). Discharged as Class "Z"" in 1919.

Hi Michael

A nice collection of BL items. I have a badge for the Port Sunlight BL branch if I remember correctly. They must have been "squeaky clean".....

I am thinking of parting with a small 9ct badge (hallmarked 1967-68). Good order, no damage. PM if keen!

The only silver BL items I have are a 1934 East Anglia Area Bowls tournament semifinalist medal (hallmarked) and a 1937/38 Metropolitan Area Inter games winner medal (hallmarked) , got them reasonably cheap (£5.00 each).

I'd love to get a full set of the gold badges but for the moment they are just 'wish list' items.

Unusual find
 

Bought a small lot of BL/RBL badges , they arrived today and one confused me. :confused:

Similar size , shape and colouring to the small tie pin size items but no British Legion or Royal British Legion lettering. :confused:

What it did have was "CE-SL" on the top and Malawi on the bottom . After a bit hunting around on Google I discovered it is for the "Commonwealth Ex-Services League" (mentioned on RBL website) .

I only bought the lot for the smallest BLWS badge (womens section on top bar) but am happy with my interesting little find. :D

Nice find on both counts there Mike. I've never seen either of them before.

Michael

Saw the small WS one and thought the other was simply a small BL pin , sometimes I'm just lucky. :)

Another one I hadn't seen before , how many years is "Long Service" ? :confused:

Have now got four of these badges , any idea when they first came out and are there any others that I've missed ?

What's the H ?
 

Just got a bandsman/standard bearer badge with a QVC/St.Edwards Crown , found a couple of old (ancient !) threads that covered the crown issue.

QVC badges

The badge has H1373 stamped on the back (have another one with no stamp) , a theory about these numbers was put forward in 2008 but has anyone got any up to date info ?

Victorian Crown 1921 ??

A seller on eBay is asking £49.99 + postage for one of these :eek: , I picked my one up for £6.00 (that included postage).

Unusual find
 

Almost skipped past this badge thinking it was a standard British Legion Women's Section one with brooch fitting.

A closer inspection showed it was an "Honorary" badge , so stuck in a last minute bid and got it.

Arrived today and is quite interesting :

Button hole fitting.

RD No. 686642 same as 1921/1922 pattern Women's Section badge.

Maker - A.HARRIS Ltd. GLASGOW.

PS - Am now on the lookout for old style BL/RBL 'Life Member' badges , the ones with the bottom scroll. ;)

You do have a real skill of finding these unusual badges Mike. My list of wants seems to grow every time you put a post on 😁

Michael

No real skill , just patience ..... and luck ! :D

Before I just used to ignore a lot of badges , thinking I already had them , now I take my time and find the unusual or rarer ones. Then it's down to luck , if someone else has spotted them it's a case of how much I'm willing to pay (and being Scottish I'm tight with money :eek:).

PS. Every time I post a new badge my list of wants grows ! :)

Postman just delivered my latest 'addition' , an older version RBL "For Merit" badge. :D

Checking albums I have discovered there is a British Legion one as well , so the hunt goes on ! :(

Well done, I was bidding on this as well but I think you and someone else both went over my max amount.

Michael

Have just finished sending you an e-mail , I had a maximum in mind ...... then decided to up it by £1.00 ! :D

Another addition , silver coloured small Gaunt badge.

Another one I almost ignored . I have a few small British Legion badges , horseshoe fitting , vertical pin , horizontal pin but this is the first time I've seen one with a clutch pin.


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