R.A.F, A.I.D & A.P.D larger size lapel badges

[wasaraftype]

I know the R.A.F badge stands for (Royal Aircraft Factory) and I believe the A.I.D badge stands for Aeronautical Inspection Directorate but I haven't been able to ascertain what the A.P.D badge stands for. All are of the same basic design with Horseshoe fittings.

The A.I.D badge has no makers mark, has a low issue number of 367 and has been marked in pen with 1916. with a 2 figure undetermined digit immediately following.

The R.A.F badge has a very low issue number of 171 and is marked H.B SALE Ltd of Birmingham.

The A.P.D badge has no issue number and is also made by H.B SALE of Birmingham.

The R.A.F is definitely WWI but when the others were issued remains a mystery to me.


Any thoughts of fellow members would be most welcome.

[SAS1]

I believe the DAP is WW1 vintage and is for the Aeronautical Production Department. Not researched it but I'd guess it lead to or had links with the later Ministry of Aircraft Production of WW2.

[Frank Kelley]

A truly superb and very rare trio, the Farnborough factory badges are quite scarce these days, they were certainly is use in 1914, so before those wretched "white feathers" were being handed out.
The Aeronautical Inspection Department was formed in 1913, I would think, therefore, the war service badges would actually date from about 1915 or so, at the time those awful women started throwing feathers about.
The Aircraft Production Department was formed in 1917, it was actually part of the Ministry of Munitions and their war service badges are very scarce indeed, I assume you would not need to tell all and sundry that you were employed by them after the war, so I would think circa 1917 to July 1919.

It is certainly interesting to note the lack of enamel to the centre surrounding the letters on the Farnborough badges, still superb badges though.
I should certainly be very pleased with that trio if I were you.

Originally Posted by wasaraftype

I know the R.A.F badge stands for (Royal Aircraft Factory) and I believe the A.I.D badge stands for Aeronautical Inspection Directorate but I haven't been able to ascertain what the A.P.D badge stands for. All are of the same basic design with Horseshoe fittings.

The A.I.D badge has no makers mark, has a low issue number of 367 and has been marked in pen with 1916. with a 2 figure undetermined digit immediately following.

The R.A.F badge has a very low issue number of 171 and is marked H.B SALE Ltd of Birmingham.

The A.P.D badge has no issue number and is also made by H.B SALE of Birmingham.

The R.A.F is definitely WWI but when the others were issued remains a mystery to me.


Any thoughts of fellow members would be most welcome.

[dumdum]

Hi all

Back after a small break. I'm wondering if there is some meaning to the colour of the enamel. I collect OWS badges and notice that they tend to be(mostly) blue and white enamel with the (obvious) addition of "red" if they are generic badges (red, white and blue...).

The "1915" muntions badges appear to have been issued in blue/white before the all brass version that pops up on EVERY internet site...

I've previously featured a 1915 badge that is most beautifully enamelled with the ON WAR SERVICE/ 1915/ Ordnance symbol filled in in blue.

So, blue and white, some meaning or just "looked nice"?

[Frank Kelley]

I would have thought both the Admiralty and War Office had considerable influence upon the choice of the patriotic colours, I believe the first Board of Ordnance 1915 badges finished in gilt and blue enamel were intended for issue to Admiralty contractors in 1915.
The design of these badges had been discussed in 1914, but, agreement had not been reached within the government.
The Royal Aircraft Factory was certainly using their badge by December 1914 and that particular badge had been approved by the government beforehand in the year.

Originally Posted by dumdum

Hi all

Back after a small break. I'm wondering if there is some meaning to the colour of the enamel. I collect OWS badges and notice that they tend to be(mostly) blue and white enamel with the (obvious) addition of "red" if they are generic badges (red, white and blue...).

The "1915" muntions badges appear to have been issued in blue/white before the all brass version that pops up on EVERY internet site...

I've previously featured a 1915 badge that is most beautifully enamelled with the ON WAR SERVICE/ 1915/ Ordnance symbol filled in in blue.

So, blue and white, some meaning or just "looked nice"?

[dumdum]

Hi Frank

Thanks very much for your post. I agree that the choice of colours was not just some "accident". I've frequently looked at my collection and tried to look for some pattern to things.

I therefore can't imagine that there wouldn't have been some "rules and regulations" to cover the design of the badges, given that the issue of the "official" badges was fairly tightly controlled.

One thing that I have noticed is that a lot (but not all) of those "generic" badges that seem to be rather "vague" in their wording ("On His Majesty's Work"; "On Government Work",etc.) often have the "red, white & blue" theme.

Maybe it was felt that the use of these patriotic colours gave them more authority...

I've already uploaded some pictures of a selection of these badges but am more than happy to do so again.