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  #1  
Old 24-05-19, 05:30 PM
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Default Unofficial war service pins

Does anyone know if there's a book out there about the unofficial pins that were issued?

I have one each of the 4 official pins that were issued but no unofficial ones & it's an area that I'm thinking of branching out into.
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Old 24-05-19, 06:44 PM
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What is an official and unofficial War Service Pin, please?

Marc
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  #3  
Old 24-05-19, 06:58 PM
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I'm presuming you mean the On War Service badges. There is a book all about them called Doing Their Bit, worth googling for it.
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  #4  
Old 24-05-19, 07:00 PM
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Hi AB,

as far as I know there is not a definitive book on these badges, but I can refer you to CharlieDog's albums, which are a quite an amazing collection of them, complete with some superb info.

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...p?albumid=3667
https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...p?albumid=3305
https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...p?albumid=3665

Hi Marc, we are talking about the many "on War Service" lapel pins that were issued during the Great War. Mostly unofficial and mostly not endorsed by the Government, but none-the-less, prolific. I go by the assumption they were used to both closely mimic official ones (in the case of the 1914 badge, many unofficial ones are very similar in design) and also to ward off the white feather brigade.

Officially, there were 4 issued:
1) The common round "1914 On War Service", issued by the Admiralty
2) The crossed cannon "enrolment" badge, issued to workers waiting for placement in factories - they were originally issued enamelled, but then soon changed to all GM
3) The common "1915 On War Service" badge, also as above, originally enamelled then changed to 'economy'.
4) The 1916 "On War Service" triangular badge, issued to women workers. These come mostly in brass, but all gilded, white metal and nickel plated, and occasionally with the corners rounded off.

Cheers, Tim

Last edited by Chipper; 24-05-19 at 07:15 PM.
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  #5  
Old 24-05-19, 07:11 PM
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Thanks Tyneside, I had forgotten about Jon's book, that is an excellent reference for WW2 badges.

There are other country specific books, mostly very hard to get a hold of nowadays, that cover the area, as well.

Cheers, Tim
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  #6  
Old 24-05-19, 07:41 PM
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Thanks for the information & links. Unless my Googling skills are wonky, the book appears to cover the Second World War & I'm looking more for First World War items. Sorry, I should've been clearer.

The albums look fantastic!
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Old 24-05-19, 08:01 PM
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Hi AB

I figured you may be looking at WW1.

If you re looking at British badges, there is scant info in any one book.

Canadian Badges are covered in "Canadian War Service Badges" by Robbie Johnson, but the book is virtually impossible to find these days, I have been looking for a copy for 2 years....

Australian Badges covered in "Australians Awarded" by Clive Johnson and "Australian War Badges of WW1 & WW2" by Graham Donley has some as well.

British Railway badges are covered briefly in "Railway Buttons, Badges, and Uniforms" by David Froggatt and there is literally just a few pages on British badges, with just a little info in "The Great War Collectors Companion" by Howard Williamson

Cheers, Tim
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  #8  
Old 21-02-20, 09:36 AM
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Default WW1 badges

Hi,
I am new to the forum and fairly new (about a year) to collecting munition workers' badges. I am more interested in the WW1 ones. Is there a comparable book to "Doing Their Bit: Home Front Lapel Badges 1939-1945" by Jon Mills, but for the first war?

My interest in the badges stems from my research into the history of women in engineering work.

thanks
nina
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  #9  
Old 22-02-20, 07:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by greensteam View Post
Hi,
I am new to the forum and fairly new (about a year) to collecting munition workers' badges. I am more interested in the WW1 ones. Is there a comparable book to "Doing Their Bit: Home Front Lapel Badges 1939-1945" by Jon Mills, but for the first war?

My interest in the badges stems from my research into the history of women in engineering work.

thanks
nina
I have searched in vain for a ‘World War 1’ equivalent to Jon Mills excellent volume ‘Doing their bit’. The above links in the various posts make an excellent starting point for understanding the difference between the ‘Official’ and ‘Unofficial’ badges. However, one of the joys in collecting the ‘Unofficial’ badges is researching about the companies involved. It is fascinating.
Cheers
James
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Old 29-05-19, 11:16 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chipper View Post
Officially, there were 4 issued:
1) The common round "1914 On War Service", issued by the Admiralty
2) The crossed cannon "enrolment" badge, issued to workers waiting for placement in factories - they were originally issued enamelled, but then soon changed to all GM
3) The common "1915 On War Service" badge, also as above, originally enamelled then changed to 'economy'.
4) The 1916 "On War Service" triangular badge, issued to women workers. These come mostly in brass, but all gilded, white metal and nickel plated, and occasionally with the corners rounded off.

Cheers, Tim
Hi Tom,

I've just picked up on this thread, what is the crossed cannon enrolment badge? I'm not sure I've seen one of those.

Michael
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  #11  
Old 29-05-19, 11:46 AM
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Hi Michael,

I imagine you have seen these, but they are often described simply as Munitions worker badges, when in fact, they were a sign a person had enrolled to work in munitions, but had not been placed yet. They were meant to be returned and replaced with the 1915 oval version once employment started, but as was often the case in those days, is seems based on how common they are, most were never returned.

Cheers, Tim
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  #12  
Old 29-05-19, 11:49 AM
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Thanks Tim,

Yes I know what you mean now, I am one of those who thought they were for munitions workers. I have the GM one but not the enamelled version.

Thanks for the explanation.

Michael

Edit: I've just realised auto correct changed your name to Tom on my early post, sorry about that.
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  #13  
Old 29-05-19, 11:55 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shiny View Post
Hi Tom,

I've just picked up on this thread, what is the crossed cannon enrolment badge? I'm not sure I've seen one of those.

Michael
I was confused as well

Google images helped , found this on IWM site.

Now all I need to do is fnd one !
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  #14  
Old 29-05-19, 01:25 PM
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no problem Michael, I answer to Tim or Tom

Hi Mike, the GM ones are reasonably easy to find on e-bay and dealer sites, the enamelled ones are a bit harder to find though. Pricing is all over the place, but you should be able to pick up an all GM version for around £15. The enamelled ones can be tricky, as they are usually priced way too high, in my opinion; but If you're patient, you may get one around £40 or even under, but most are in the £45 - £55 range.

If you have access to a militaria fair, that may be your best and cheapest option. I will be at Stratford this year, (9th June) happy to look out for one if you want - just PM me.

Also, beware of repaired enamelled ones, where the enamel is not a consistent colour.

Cheers, Tim
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  #15  
Old 21-05-20, 02:38 PM
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Thumbs up Official On War Service Badges

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chipper View Post
Officially, there were 4 issued:
1) The common round "1914 On War Service", issued by the Admiralty
2) The crossed cannon "enrolment" badge, issued to workers waiting for placement in factories - they were originally issued enamelled, but then soon changed to all GM
3) The common "1915 On War Service" badge, also as above, originally enamelled then changed to 'economy'.
4) The 1916 "On War Service" triangular badge, issued to women workers. These come mostly in brass, but all gilded, white metal and nickel plated, and occasionally with the corners rounded off.
Finally got round to getting the enamelled "enrolment" badge.

Picked up a small job lot , enrolment badge , Wylie 1916 (sharp corners) and a small tin box (more about that in another thread).

Paid just under £40.00 for the lot (average price on eBay for 1916 badges is £25.00) so was very happy with price.

1-2. 1914 - Only other 'variation' I've seen is one with 'screw post' fitting.

3-4. 1915-16 "Enrolment" enamelled (not sure of year this was issued/in use).

5-6. 1915-16 "Enrolment" plain .

7-8. 1915 OWS enamelled (small Gaunt stamp on back of crown).

9-10. 1915 OWS plain (L series Gaunt).

11-12. 1916 OWS Gaunt.

13-14. 1916 OWS Wylie

15-16. 1916 OWS Wylie rounded corners (looks manufactuered rather than filed).

17. Lottie Meade (Munitions worker) stamp.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 1914 Front.jpg (35.8 KB, 7 views)
File Type: jpg 1914 Rear.jpg (46.2 KB, 3 views)
File Type: jpg 1915-16 Enrollment Enamel Front.jpg (55.5 KB, 10 views)
File Type: jpg 1915-16 Enrollment Enamel Rear.jpg (43.0 KB, 4 views)
File Type: jpg 1915-16 Enrollment Plain Front.jpg (57.5 KB, 6 views)
File Type: jpg 1915-16 Enrollment Plain Rear.jpg (49.4 KB, 2 views)
File Type: jpg 1915 Enamel Front.jpg (42.4 KB, 6 views)
File Type: jpg 1915 Enamel Rear.jpg (37.2 KB, 4 views)
File Type: jpg 1915 Plain Front.jpg (44.5 KB, 6 views)
File Type: jpg 1915 Plain Rear.jpg (44.5 KB, 5 views)
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