General Service badge brooch backs.
 

I have noticed from time to time that the odd General Service collar badge has a brooch type back fitting. Some of these look to be very well done.

Are these simply intended as "sweetheart brooches" or where they have another purpose. Can anyone give me some info on them?

Most of the ones I have seen seem to have that brassy WW1 look about them.

Donny B.

Gsc badge
 

I have a GSC cap badge, the large size with a brooch fitting to it. Maybe this was made as a sweetheart or just for ease of use but how easy is a slider? You could say a brooch is a lot easy then lug fixings.:) Disregard this as I was talking about a British GSC badge.

In my opinion brooch back Small Rising Sun badges were used by nurses ,most were St.Sil but at different times they would use a bronze or brass badge ,this is WW1. Mostly to hold a cape on.
Sweetheart badges were made in all sizes, I have in 15mm wide, all with pin/brooch/lug backs. Collecting these would be a long job

I read somewhere else that they were used by nurses....it might have been on an eBay posting....that they were used by nurses but I wasn't sure whether that was fact or opinion. I does make a bit of sense though, especially with a cape, as the brooch back would not require holes. A picture showing one being worn would be nice.

Donny B

WW1,Australian Army Nurse with Cape badge
 

[IMG]http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f1...948/th_IMG.jpg[/IMG]Here is a Nurse ,Sister Alice Ross-King .The cape she is wearing has a Rising Sun badge at the centre Top, you can just see it

What a great photo of Sister Alice Ross-King! Thankyou for posting it, JoeW. The badge shows up quite well.

I guess that answers my question. A brooch back makes a lot of sense as it would be much easier to use in that situation than the regular lugs. I notice though, that the badge is not actually serving as a clasp for the cape, it is actually being worn at the throat of her uniform.

I guess I can consider the brooch backs in a different light, as badges, now.

Donny B.