Quote:
Originally Posted by mike_vee
As the 'official' policy was that badges had to be returned
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Found this interesting little titbit from a letter in the Sheffield Daily Telegraph on 15 July 1915.
“Some months ago my employers presented me with an official war service badge to wear in the lapel of my coat. I was informed that the badge, which is of brass with a crown, surrounded by “On War Service 1914” in blue enamel, was provided by the government for men of military age engaged in munition and kindred trades. (Incidentally,
I was made to deposit 2s. 6d. with my employers, which is to be returned when I return the badge at the conclusion of my service.)"
To put this in perspective from a female worker's point of view , the government had set a minimum
weekly rate of 20 shillings for women doing skilled ‘male’ work.
But :
"employers often circumnavigated the edict. ‘Male’ jobs were often ‘diluted’ (broken down into multiple processes) to avoid being labelled ‘equal work’; and while 20 shillings was a minimum, it came to be interpreted as a standard".
So they 'may' have had to pay a deposit of 1/8th of their weekly salary.
.