Unusual British Legion badge

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by mike_vee

After 1973 non serving Honorary Members became Associate and Honorary Membership became the sole province of serving members of HM Forces only , but in 1981 this all changed when they were admitted to Ordinary Membership.

Now I have Associate and Ordinary Membership cards to add to my growing collection , it is good to be able to tie the cards to the dates.

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[leigh kitchen]

Not a badge, just a bit of " WWI" poppy ephemeria.
I'd be desperate enough to drink my own sweat or even water before I ever brought myself to drink gin (even though I think this one is basically a non-juniper flavoured one) but I couldn't resist buying this one.

Edit: I have no idea why the bottle's fallen over in one image.

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

Not a badge, just a bit of " WWI" poppy ephemeria.
I'd be desperate enough to drink my own sweat or even water before I ever brought myself to drink gin (even though I think this one is basically a non-juniper flavoured one) but I couldn't resist buying this one.

Edit: I have no idea why the bottle's fallen over in one image.

Modern RBL version .

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[leigh kitchen]

Wife's just picked up "The Gin Blue Line" or something, a police version.

RBL recently had problems with one of their spirit lines didn't they? I think it was rum? Their advertising was considered by some to be inappropriate as it may offend service personnel who'd been traumatised or physically injured?

Apologies roaming off topic.

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by leigh kitchen

RBL recently had problems with one of their spirit lines didn't they? I think it was rum? Their advertising was considered by some to be inappropriate as it may offend service personnel who'd been traumatised or physically injured?

"Pull The Pin" rum !

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[leigh kitchen]

That's the one. I was tempted.

[mike_vee]

Spotted this one on eBay , I don't think it would fool anyone. Low price so maybe seller doesn't know it's a made up badge.

.

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by mike_vee

now I need to find an early issue Gaunt WS badge (earliest I have is numbered 10,168 - 1923/1924).

It has taken 6 month but this just arrived , an early issue Gaunt WS badge (numbered 407) which I would guess was issued in the first month (week ?) of the Women's Section being officially founded in 1922.

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[Home Guard]

A very nice WS pin Mike, Always love seeing your collection!!!

Terry

[Waterloo1815]

Mike,
There is a badge of the same design shown in thread #1 currently for sale on Sally Antiques website described as 9 carat gold for £325.00!
Regards,
Leo

[dumdum]

Originally Posted by mike_vee

It has taken 6 month but this just arrived , an early issue Gaunt WS badge (numbered 407) which I would guess was issued in the first month (week ?) of the Women's Section being officially founded in 1922.

.

Hi Mike

I'll echo Terry's comments! I think it's wonderful to see low numbered items that were clearly issued in their thousands.

Keep up the chase!

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by Waterloo1815

Mike,
There is a badge of the same design shown in thread #1 currently for sale on Sally Antiques website described as 9 carat gold for £325.00!
Regards,
Leo

Over priced by at least 30% , the large (1st pattern) ones can be picked up for £150-£200 and the smaller (2nd pattern) for anywhere between £50-£150.

A lot of dealer site seem to have an "auction" mentality , they know what the badges are worth but add on the equivalent of a "buyers premium" and wonder why the badges don't sell.

One of my best finds on eBay was one of the smaller (9ct) badges in its original box , complete with 'backplate' for £5.00 and that included postage !

.

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by dumdum

Hi Mike

I'll echo Terry's comments! I think it's wonderful to see low numbered items that were clearly issued in their thousands.

Keep up the chase!

Thanks Ray , I now have British Legion , British Legion Honorary and Women's Section badges that are definitely from the first year (probably first month) of the founding of each group.

There were at least 500,000 of the large (1st pattern) British Legion badges issued before the size changed in 1946.

EDIT : The above 'guesstimate' on number of badges was based on Graham Wootton's list , which was out by a large margin. Below is from a Membership Card I have:

The 1927 membership card shows a badge number of 363,995 , this would throw out the number on all later issued badges by roughly 150,000

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[dumdum]

Hi Mike

I think it's great that we all have our own interests and also that we can often help each other out. My "policy" is that if I've got items that would be better off in someone else's collection, that's where they should be!

Yes, I see items on some dealer sites that I would like to acquire but usually they are far too expensive. Mind you, they still seem to be listing them many months later....

My own "find" in the "issued in quantity" badges is that dear old large Comrades of the Great War badge numbered 255.

[Home Guard]

Possibly off topic, but in my recent batch shipment my friend gave me several poppy pins. Some of them have a rugby ball with the poppy and one has a golf ball. I am not sure I understand the connection. I would think some sort of military connection.

Mike can you advise me about these please?

Thanks,

Terry