1916 OWS badge with a difference?

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by dumdum

Note that the Firth badge has a 4-digit number whereas the associated 1916 badge has the usual "telephone number" of 5/ 6 digits....

"Over 270,000 “On War Service” badges were issued to women between May and December 1916."

Firth & Sons employed 5700 workers at Templeborough , approx. 90% were women.

If the Firth backplates were given to all female employees then the one you've shown (5172) must have been a very late issue. The 2 other ones mentioned (IWM and auction) were numbered 2646 and 3377 respectfully.

Edit : The two "Certificates of Appreciation" that the IWM have gives the name and employee number (?) of the member of staff , their job description and dates of employment.

The number on the certificate for Miss.R.Shale is the same as the number on her backplate.

1. Ada Rogers - machinist (recess) and ganger at the National Projectile Factory, Templeborough, Sheffield, March 1916 - December 1918.
2.R.Shale - machinist (chamfer) at the National Projectile Factory, Templeborough, Sheffield , March 1916 - December 1918.