A brief intro - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

markism · #1 10-07-22, 03:54 PM

Hi All
I have been lurking on the site for a while now on-and-off. Thought I best add an introduction before posting a question.
I have various interests and dabble in various areas, have a small collection of civilian and Govt badges, not many military.
Regards
Mark

Artynut · #2 11-07-22, 02:24 AM

Well, there are a few “Not Strictly Military” sub-forums on this site so I would say Welcome. The possibilities that you might pique the interest of other members or even show items from your collection that you may not have all the answers to, will certainly cause some members to go scurrying into their volumes of reference books and come up with an answer for you. So, nothing ventured, nothing gained! Again, Welcome and good luck. D.J.

Home Guard · #3 11-07-22, 02:58 AM

Welcome Mark! When you say civilian are you thinking of Home Front items? If so, there is a whole section devoted to just that, but a lot, but not all of it is on the Home Guard.

Terry

markism · #4 11-07-22, 07:57 AM

Thanks D.J. & Terry

I have found the "Not Strictly Military" areas and I have viewed those a lot.

I would say most of my non-Military are Prison Officers, Customs and Post Office, with some British Red Cross & St John (from past collecting interests). Also the occasional Bandsman or Musicians badge.

Below is badge I have. The Imperial Service Medal is to a guy who retired in 1959, when he was a Messenger with the Ministry of Labour and National Service. The badge I assume was worn most likely by messengers, doorkeepers and perhaps lift attendants if the HQ had them, and is circa 1953 to 1959 from the Queen's Crown. (The two items were picked up at different times).

Regards
Mark

Home Guard · #5 11-07-22, 04:12 PM

Mark, Do you include VAD in your BRCS and SJA collecting? There are some really nice bits in that arena, and some are very reasonable and some are not.

Terry

markism · #6 12-07-22, 06:21 AM

Hi Terry

I had a fair collection of BRCS and StJAB badges, along with medals and the BRCS awards on ribbons.

But everything I didn't have was getting dearer and dearer, in the end my interest moved to a different area and most of the medals and badges got moved on years back. I still have some to hand, not many and sadly none of the better ones.

I guess like most long term collectors that started when they were at school, interests have ebbed and flowed and changed a number of times over the years.

Regards
Mark