Comrades of the Great War - a full house?

[dumdum]

Hi all

Just thought to post this photo of what, I think, is pretty much a "full house" for badges relating to the Comrades.

Any thoughts as to the difference between the Women's Section badge and the Women's Auxiliary?

I'm also picking that the "Official" bar is for some committee member.

I understand that the 1920 bar was for attendees at a conference held to discuss forming a "united" veteran's association, leading to the formation of the BL, but had an idea that there was also a 1921 version?

Is any of this correct or just rumour?

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by dumdum

Hi all
Just thought to post this photo of what, I think, is pretty much a "full house" for badges relating to the Comrades.

Any thoughts as to the difference between the Women's Section badge and the Women's Auxiliary?

The basic badge was available in 2 sizes , the large one and the same size as the ones with the lower scrolls.

The "Women's Auxilliary" and "Women's Section" may have a similar 'history' to the British Legion :

"The British Legion was formed on 15 May 1921 , at the time it was decreed that "women would not be eligible for ordinary membership but that a separate Women’s Auxiliary should be set up - and so the 'Women’s Auxiliary Section of the British Legion' was established ".

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 word ‘Auxiliary’ was amended to 'Section' and thus the British Legion ‘Women’s Section’ was born."


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[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by dumdum

I understand that the 1920 bar was for attendees at a conference held to discuss forming a "united" veteran's association

That badge just looks odd as the 1920 bar is off center

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[dumdum]

Hi Mike

I knew that you would have the "gen"!!!! Many, many thanks for the info.

So the Auxiliary is earlier that the Section badge?

The 1920 tag has been artfully placed around the "half moon" clip on the lapel badge so it does "swing" somewhat.

When I took the photo, it must have moved....

The other bit that has made me curious is whether the big badge preceeded the small one and I think that, if we accept that badges had some sort of sequential issue, my large badge numbered 225 must have been a fairly early one.

I have also noticed that many associations produced smaller versions of their badges from the late 1920s onwards. This could have been dictated by cost, but it was more likely to have been a fashion statement.

Even the SWB seems to have been "downsized" to a less common, unofficial mufti version....

[mike_vee]

I haven't done much research into the "Comrades" association but would assume that they were the same as the BL and initially they didn't have a Women's Section , so it is probable that 'Auxilliary' came first.

No idea which size of badge came first (will have to look into that) but think you could be correct .

While hunting for BL info I came across a 'snapshot' of an internet site that had a small section on 'Comrades' which has tiny 'thumbnail' pictures of the various badges. There are nine badges , the seven you have plus the smaller size one and one I can't identify because picture is so small.

The description is : "Comrades Of The Great War (1917) Bandsman " , it appears to have a Crown on top and a 'ribbon' scroll on the bottom.

Will try to enhance the photo over the weekend.

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[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by mike_vee

The description is : "Comrades Of The Great War (1917) Bandsman " , it appears to have a Crown on top and a 'ribbon' scroll on the bottom.

Will try to enhance the photo over the weekend.

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Can't do a lot with the photo as the original is so small but this will give you some idea.

[dumdum]

Hi Mike

Thanks again for the extra information. I've got more small Comrades badges than large ones, but I'm fairly certain that they have lower numbers than the small ones.

One that I forgot to post was a tiny Comrades badge with a stickpin (even with a Gaunt backstamp!). It was sold by a veteran's charity organisation with the description that it was a "tie pin".

Possible I guess, but maybe just another example of an attempt to "understate" one's belonging to a given group.

I'll take a photo at some point.

The Bandsman badge is interesting, but WHY don't folk check the size of the images they post? I copied some badge photos way back when I knew even less about PCs and was later annoyed to find that they were about the size of a drawing pin!

Increasing the size just pixelated them to heck....

[BadgerNI]

Hi All, I'm new to the forum and have a moderate collection of WW1 and WW2. They are mostly OCA, sweetheart and Home Front.
With regard to Comrades of the Great War I have a Merit Badge. asked Mr Google about it but he came up empty for once.
If any of you know what it was awarded for (apart from Merit ) I would love to hear.

[mike_vee]

Sorry , missed your post.

Although the Comrades of the Great War were one of the "founder organisations" of the British Legion many of their branches/clubs continued under their own 'banner'. There are still numerous clubs but they shortened the name to simply "Comrades Club".

It is possible that your badge is a similar idea to the British Legion/RBL service awards , these are badges/medals presented for between 10 - 50 years membership/service.

The RBL "For Merit" badge is given after 25 years service.

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[Home Guard]

Can't add anything, but this has been a very interesting discussion!

Terry

[dumdum]

Hi

Just seen your post on the Merit badge. A nice item. Size?

It's also good that it hasn't suffered from enamel loss which can happen when open work badges like this get bent/ trodden on or "flexed".

I'm also re-posting a photo of a badge that I've had for some time but for which the identification has eluded me so far.

It's around the size of the standard small Comrades badge and I'm guessing that "N.E.S." is "National Ex-Servicemen's"

No maker's mark or association number and while most of the pre-BL groupings used the motto "JUSTICE" this one has gone for "LOYALTY". Clearly the coat of arms in the centre makes an appeal to the United Kingdom.

Not seen another but maybe one of the members has another 10 tucked away!

[mike_vee]

Nice badge , I haven't come across any information about 'N.E.S' in any of the books I've read. The "Associated War Comrades" is also an usual title , so I'm wondering if the 'S' refers to Society ?

As there were numerous "Old Comrades" Associations plus the "Comrades of the Great War" could there have been a 'National' group/society set up to bring together members of the various other organisations. ?


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