On War Service 1915 badge

[Artynut]

Thank you for your very informative answer Mike. D.J.

[dumdum]

Hi Mike and others

Interested to see this badge which I'd always thought was WW2 with the maker's mark (T.& S. Ltd?) and the unusual "snowflake" pattern to the reverse. Some Australian lapel badges use this technique but they tend to be from the 1940's on.

I would be very pleased if it is indeed WW1 as this is the period that really interests me!

Can anyone confirm, please?

[mike_vee]

Another Gaunt "rounded corner" 1916 badge on eBay , first glance shows tool/vice marks and where one corner has been 'sheared' off. Also fittings have been removed but going for £7.50 + pp.

Still looking for a manufactured rather than modified example.

.

[Tweed]

This is one I have had while, too pointy for you ?

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by Tweed

This is one I have had while, too pointy for you ?

Looks like a nice example , the corners appear to have been 'bowed' slightly which is a trait you see quite often.

.

[Tweed]

Indeed,
It’s an interesting piece of symbolism an equilateral triangle with 3x60 degrees

[mike_vee]

Spotted an unusual Gaunt 1915 OWS badge , originally it was an 'N' series but the letter has been ground/filed down but is still visible.

What is interesting is that the number on the buttonhole fitting has a 'J' prefix ! This is the first one I have seen which is odd as it has a five figure number .

From 'Ticker's' post :

The reason I say ‘K’, and not ‘J’, is that the only examples I have seen with ‘J’ are where this appears stamped on the buttonhole fixing immediately in front of the number, and where other letters have been erased from behind the crown . It is my belief, therefore, that the ‘J’ series was chronologically after the ‘Z’ series.

If they needed to manufacture 30,000 + badges why would they not have produced a proper 'J' series ?

.

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by mike_vee

So, although I now have both Gaunt and Wylie versions there is no definitive proof that they were 'manufactured' this way and they may 'possibly' just be the result of 'modification' by a skillful jeweller/metal worker !

Spotted another Wylie 1916 'rounded corner' badge , while the corners are not as 'rounded' as on my badge they do look like a 'modification' by a skillful jeweller/metal worker !

No signs of the usual/crude marks made by shearaing/filing and no indications of it being held in a vice but I'm not convinced it was 'manufactured'.

I now think that my badge may simply be a top class 'modification' but still hang on to the hope that Wylie may have actually 'manufactured' them this way.

.

[MPS]

Hello

Can any member provide a web link to or better still send me electronic copies of the articles originally published in Issues 45 and 46 of “The Armourer” magazine (2001) by Tom Tulloch-Marshall - “On War Service” Badges, 1914-19. The Official Issues.

Thanks in advance.

Mark

[mike_vee]

Spotted this photo of a badge but what is it ?

RAOC ,Woolwich Arsenal , Ordnance Factory or War Service ?

Button hole fitting and number suggest civilian , letter 'L' on rear of crown looks the same as 'L' series (J. R. Gaunt & Son Ltd London) 1915 On War Service badges.

Is it a genuine badge , a 'variation' or a made up "frankenstein" item ?

Anyone got any ideas ?

.

[Charliedog012012]

Hard to decide the purpose of the badge, but if it proves to be genuine, then it is a gem of a find. Well done Mike……long may your ‘Sherlock Holmes’ instincts continue.
Cheers
James

['Ticker' Riley]

Hello Mike

I think you'll find it is just a cut-down 1915 'On War Service' badge. In other words someone has taken the shield part, with attached buttonhole fixing, and the crown from the top of the badge and put the two together. Why someone would do this I do not know, unless the original badge was damaged perhaps?

Regards

Martin

[dumdum]

Hi all

I never cease to be amazed at what fates have befallen badges of all types both at the time of issue and subsequently!

I'm going with a badge that was not as "discreet" as the wearer wanted it to be and therefore modified it.

I doubt if it was done during the WW1 period but then again...

Should we suggest someone engaged on a fringe area of war service at a later date but still wanting to appear to have that "stamp of authority"?

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by 'Ticker' Riley

Hello Mike

I think you'll find it is just a cut-down 1915 'On War Service' badge. In other words someone has taken the shield part, with attached buttonhole fixing, and the crown from the top of the badge and put the two together. Why someone would do this I do not know, unless the original badge was damaged perhaps?

Regards

Martin

Hi Martin ,

That was my thought but I wanted to double check .

.

[magpie]

I don't know why there's an obsession with skilled jewellers making and doing modifications, basic metalworking and the use of that very complicated to use file was an everyday thing back then, I think people overthink the why's and doing of things to the badges to justify buying them.