British Legion Commemorative.

[mike_vee]

A couple of recent finds , also got hold of 3 early editions of Legion Magazine (1928/1929) . Haven't gone through them yet but they can be very useful for accurate information about the inner workings of the British Legion.

.

[Charliedog012012]

Originally Posted by mike_vee

A couple of recent finds , also got hold of 3 early editions of Legion Magazine (1928/1929) . Haven't gone through them yet but they can be very useful for accurate information about the inner workings of the British Legion.

.

I have to confess that it never ceases to amaze me how you find these wonderful badges, magazines etc. You are building a unique and fascinating collection. Excellent and a collection to be treasured. Have a great Christmas and long may your ‘finds’ continue into the new year.
Cheers
James

[mike_vee]

Latest badges.

[mike_vee]

Latest interesting items :

RBL Membership Card showing update to Life Member.

British Legion Standard Bearer Positions printing block.

.

[dumdum]

Hi Mike

Hope the year is off to a great start. Let me echo what James said: you have put together some fascinating items and you are more than generous with your sharing of info!

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by mike_vee

I spotted an 'unusual' British Legion badge , it had what appeared to be a brass disc/backplate. The rear of the badge wasn't shown but as it was different I snapped it up.I thought it may have had a screw post fitting and the disc was some type of washer.

The disc is well made and appears to be a 'safety' fitting to stop the badge from coming out of a button hole. I have never seen this before.

The above post was made last January , I had never seen the discs before and had no idea if they were produced specifically for Gold badges.

Last week I spotted a small job lot containing a British Legion badge with a disc , no number on the horse shoe fitting and couldn't see the back of the badge due to the disc. Took a chance and won the lot , it was a small Gaunt makers marked (JRG&S) hallmarked (Birmingham 1954) Gold badge ! (photo 2)

Two days later there was another job lot of British Legion badges plus other badges and a medallion , one of the BL badges had .... a disc. As the lot may have attracted bidders for the other items I contacted the seller with an offer for the BL badges and my offer was accepted. The lot arrived yesterday and there was ..... a small Gaunt makers marked (JRG&S) hallmarked (Birmingham 1954) Gold badge ! (photo 3)

Neither badge has a membership/award number but these weren't officially introduced for Gold badges until the mid/late 1950's when they started being recorded by the British Legion.

As the original badge/disc was a Gaunt 1950 one it appears that the discs were specifically made by Gaunt for the Gold badges.

Footnote : I am not keeping either of the two badges , one was basically acquired for someone else and the other (as I later discovered) was being sold to benefit a children's hospice . The second one has some missing/damaged enamel so will be sold for scrap gold with the profit going to the hospice.

NB : There are two small Gaunt gold badges on eBay at the moment , both are from 1950's (no discs) , asking prices £199.00 and £250.00 which I think are vastly overpriced.

.

.

[irishhorse]

Seen this new badge on a Facebook collectors site.

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by irishhorse

Seen this new badge on a Facebook collectors site.

I got one direct from the Branch , hopefully they will still be going in 2025 !

.

[magpie]

Originally Posted by mike_vee

Latest interesting items :

RBL Membership Card showing update to Life Member.

British Legion Standard Bearer Positions printing block.

.

When I worked down the road from this branch I spent some of my lunch times driving to local churches etc in and around the area as a friend was trying to get photos of every war memorial in the UK, I was told about the one opposite this branch from what I can remember in a remembrance garden set back from the road only to discover the whole place covered in beer cans, broken bottles, needles and other drug related discards with graffiti on not only the path but the memorial itself, the whole garden was a disgrace and not somewhere you'd want to go.

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by magpie

When I worked down the road from this branch I spent some of my lunch times driving to local churches etc in and around the area as a friend was trying to get photos of every war memorial in the UK, I was told about the one opposite this branch from what I can remember in a remembrance garden set back from the road only to discover the whole place covered in beer cans, broken bottles, needles and other drug related discards with graffiti on not only the path but the memorial itself, the whole garden was a disgrace and not somewhere you'd want to go.

There is a war memorial in Uxbridge in a small park/old grave yard , for a while the area was the 'haunt' of drinkers/drug takers/ rough sleepers. Eventually it was declared a 'no alcohol zone' and is now a clean and peaceful place.

Sometimes it takes a council to start enforcing 'anti-social behaviour' rules before an area can change.

.

[mike_vee]

2015 : This card was sent out with "The Legion Supporter Newsletter" , if you filled it in and returned it they would be hung as bunting in St.James's Park. If you included a donation you also got a VE70 pin badge.

2018 : Sent out to "Legion Supporters" , if you filled it in and returned it they would scan it onto a weatherproof poppy which would be placed in the "Centenary Field of Thanks". I never saw any Poppies for sale with the 1918-2018 date on the plastic center.

A couple of bits of memorabilia to go with the "Legion Companion" and "Poppy Supporter" badges I have.

.

[mike_vee]

Not a badge but an interesting item.

A pewter mini 'Quaich' (a drinking cup not an egg based tart ! ) , it appears to be custom made but while I can understand it having an RBL Scotland badge , I'll have to do a bit of research to find out the significance of the Gurkha (crossed kukri) symbolism.

.

[mike_vee]

Just arrived , a small job lot of RBL and Poppy Pins.

3 x RBL Beret badges (hollow back)

2 x RBL Beret badges (solid back)

2 x RBL Security/Parking badges.

1 x Small RBL Security/Parking clutch pin badge.

1 x Derby Branch 2010 pin.

1 x small 'stud' with stem (not seen this one before).

1 x 2008 poppy pin (hadn't spotted it when I bought the lot !).

A great lot for a very reasonable "make an offer" price .

.

[Shiny]

Very nice lot there, you do get some great results.

Michael

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by Shiny

Very nice lot there, you do get some great results.

Michael

Thanks Michael , sometimes I just get lucky !

The 2008 pin was at an angle and I couldn't see the date , the 'stud' with stem goes well with the (2005) BL 'stud' and I had never seen the small Security/Parking pin (clutch pin fitting).

I'm waiting on delivery of another cheap small job lot that includes a British Legion "For Merit" badge , it looks in good condition but I won't know for sure until it arrives.

.