A N white metal shoulder title

[engr9266]

I may have asked this question before but cannot seem to find it so here goes (again.....)

White Metal shoulder title - AN 30mm x 15mm approx.

This has a pin fastening and also has a the maker mark of JR GAUNT LONDON.
I thought this maybe associated to the EFI/NAAFI i.e. Army Navy but it also could be Australian Nurse or is it something completely different??
Can you help? Thanks.
P.S. Could also be a AUXILIARY NURSE?

Jerry
engr9266

[manchesters]

Jerry,

It is a WW2 badge of the British Red Cross Society for a VAD Military Nursing Member appointed to the grade of Assistant Nurse in a Military Hospital or Naval Hospital.

Worn on the apron on right side of bib in indoor uniform and on the shoulder straps of their outdoor uniform.

regards

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by manchesters

Jerry,

It is a WW2 badge of the British Red Cross Society for a VAD Military Nursing Member appointed to the grade of Assistant Nurse in a Military Hospital or Naval Hospital.

Worn on the apron on right side of bib in indoor uniform and on the shoulder straps of their outdoor uniform.

regards

There were Nursing Auxiliaries who wore a metal NA badge .

http://www.photodetective.co.uk/VAD-ww2.html


Edit : Sorry , I made a mistake !

WW2 Nursing Auxiliaries had the letters NA embrodered on their uniform , Simon's post is (almost) correct and refers to the grade of ‘VAD Assistant Nurse,’ which was introduced in March 1918.

4. Special military probationers and V.A.D. nursing members appointed to the grade of V.A.D. assistant nurse will wear the letters A.N. in metal on the right strap of their aprons in indoor uniform, and on the shoulder straps of their outdoor uniform coats.

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[manchesters]

With respect, my post is 100% precisely correct and not almost correct as you say.

When I add to a thread I do it with evidenced knowledge from primary sources and not just from Google.

My quote is a direct lift from the 1945 Dress Regulations of the BRCS.

regards

[mike_vee]

Hi Simon , I apologise if I have got things wrong but you stated WW2 and that is not correct.

I do get information from Google but I try to include the sources/references.

In this case the information came from "THE FAIREST FORCE - Great War Nurses in France and Flanders" website :

In March 1918 it was decided to create a new grade, the ‘VAD Assistant Nurse,’ as set out in Army Council Instructions:

The Army Council Instructions includes the details about the AN badge.


http://www.fairestforce.co.uk/5.html

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[norfolk regt man]

Originally Posted by manchesters

Jerry,

It is a WW2 badge of the British Red Cross Society for a VAD Military Nursing Member appointed to the grade of Assistant Nurse in a Military Hospital or Naval Hospital.

Worn on the apron on right side of bib in indoor uniform and on the shoulder straps of their outdoor uniform.

regards

Thanks for this, I always wondered what that title was for

[mike_vee]

Further reference

From an article on Great War Nurses site regarding Assistant Nurses :

"While transcribing the war diary of the Matron-in-Chief with the British Expeditionary Force, I've now come across entries which show that this changed in 1918. The diary entry states:"

V.A.D. Assistant Nurses: Received from Director General Medical Services copy of Army Council Instruction 214 of 1918 relating to the promotion of V.A.D. Members to the rank of Assistant Nurses. Before being promoted they must have served two years, must be in possession of the Red Efficiency Stripe and must be recommended by the Officer Commanding and Matron. The letters "A.N." are to be worn on the apron in indoor uniform and on the shoulder straps on outdoor uniform.

http://greatwarnurses.blogspot.com/2...ant-nurse.html


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[engr9266]

Thank you all for your replies. So I have a WW1/WW2 VAD Assistant Nurse title.
Well, so much for my thinking it maybe EFI/NAAFI ...
Time for a cuppa and a NAFFI pie.
Jerry

[manchesters]

Originally Posted by engr9266

Thank you all for your replies. So I have a WW1 VAD Assistant Nurse title.
Well, so much for my thinking it maybe EFI/NAAFI ...
Time for a cuppa and a NAFFI pie.
Jerry

It may have been instituted in WW1 but it was still worn during and probably after WW2. Impossible to accurately date it.

regards

[mike_vee]

I don't know how long after WW2 the badges were worn but found a bit more info about Assistant Nurses.

Nurses Act 1943

The act provided for a state roll of assistant nurses , open at first to those with long experience in nursing , but later open only to those who had taken a two-year training in accordance with a prescribed syllabus , in an approved training school for assistant nurses.

The Nurses (Amendment) Act 1961 changed things and Assistant Nurses were renamed State Enrolled Nurses.

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[norfolk regt man]

I see that I have one, it’s fixing is two copper lugs, and there’s no white metal between the top of the a and the top of the n. I guess this is a later type.

[dumdum]

Hi all

And just to confuse everyone, a well-known book on New Zealand badges by the late Dave Corbett has it described as "Auckland Navals".

These men were known as "The Rockies" and Dave seemed to have made the link with white metal badges being used by volunteers.

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by dumdum

Hi all

And just to confuse everyone, a well-known book on New Zealand badges by the late Dave Corbett has it described as "Auckland Navals".

These men were known as "The Rockies" and Dave seemed to have made the link with white metal badges being used by volunteers.

Diggerhistory website show a photo of the title from "Badges & Insignia of the New Zealand Army" by Geoffrey P Oldham.

It doesn't show the back of the badge , so no way of knowing if it is the Gaunt brooch fitting one.

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-...der-titles.htm



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[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by norfolk regt man

I see that I have one, it’s fixing is two copper lugs, and there’s no white metal between the top of the a and the top of the n. I guess this is a later type.

I wonder if there were different badges for indoor/outdoor uniforms ?

The letters "A.N." are to be worn on the apron in indoor uniform and on the shoulder straps on outdoor uniform.

A pin/brooch one for the apron and a lugged version for shoulder straps.


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[dumdum]

Originally Posted by mike_vee

Diggerhistory website show a photo of the title from "Badges & Insignia of the New Zealand Army" by Geoffrey P Oldham.

It doesn't show the back of the badge , so no way of knowing if it is the Gaunt brooch fitting one.

http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-...der-titles.htm



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Hi Mike

I've actually owned a pin-back Gaunt badge and have another one that was the same. This is "out on loan" and it's time I chased it up.

The first one came from a junk shop locally, the second from eBay but from the UK. The seller told me that it had belonged to an auntie who was a nurse, if I recall correctly.

Diggerhistory shows a section on Australian "state" RSA badges. I contributed the photos for that part!