Quote:
Originally Posted by dumdum
The date is/was 1916 and there is also a file held at National Archives in Wellington that has the mention of "war service badges". The date range is 1916-1950 so would I be wrong in suggesting that this date of 1916 is the date for the introduction of the HMNZ Transports badge?
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Initially when conscription was introduced deck officers, engineers, seamen , cooks and stewards in New Zealand had to apply for individual exemptions (unlike the British ) but this was changed after pressure from the unions.
"Men not in uniform sometimes felt self-conscious; in Britain, the officers’ union, the Merchant Service Guild, demanded badges for its members to denote their service."
Quote:
Originally Posted by dumdum
The arm badges (or "armlets") referred to were much despised and many refused to wear them, calling them a "cheap gesture".
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I also recently read (will try and find it again) that the badges were unpopular as they had to be applied for which many did not bother to do. (Possible reason so few are around ?).
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