War service badge. ID help request.

[melh]

I'm new here and have inadvertently placed my first post in the 'Introductions' thread and now realise that the Home Front would have been the appropriate place for it so here it is.

I have a small group of War Service Badges that came to me with an old collection a while since, there's one that I'm not familiar with.
It's the oval one in the centre of the photo with the initials R.A.O.D.
I have seen one of a similar form online which is marked as, West Riding Works & Services, which leads me to think that it's corporation related rather than industrial.

There's another one that I find interesting, the Enamel R.O.F. one marked National Industrial Mobile Squad. Can I assume that it was something of a rescue service for the ordnance industry?

I'd be grateful for any information.
Mel.

[leigh kitchen]

RAOD - Royal Army Ordnance Depot?

From Sally Bosley's sales site:

WW2 Royal Ordnance Factories National Industrial Mobile Squad badge

A very scarce original circa 1941 wartime period 'National Industrial Mobile Squad badge'; gilded brass oval example bearing 'Board of Ordnance' shield, the reverse with maker's details "T.L.M. Ltd B'Ham" and official low issue number "375". Very good condition, retaining original buttonhole fitting, enamel intact, very minor stress lines, gilt remains bright.
Height 26mm.

'Royal Ordnance Factories National Industrial Mobile Squad' were experienced staff from the older munition factories, who acted as advisers and trainers to the workforce in newly created Engineering Royal Ordnance Factories. The majority of the volunteers came from Woolwich, Enfield and Nottingham.

[melh]

Leigh, thank you, I'll take a look at Mrs Bosley's site later.
The Royal Army Ordnance Depot (or Department) did come to my mind but nothing with that actual set of words turns up on Google. It came up with, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, & Royal Ordnance Depot. Nothing military turns up on any searches of the initials R A O D.

[melh]

I'll just add, to save confusion.
The centre is Green enamel, not entirely obvious when photographed on a similar coloured background, the numbers are not floating in the air

[dumdum]

Hi Mel

A nice grouping there. I've seen similar badges (but not with this wording) with white and purple enamel.

Presumably the colours had some significance, maybe regional or "trade" based.

[melh]

Originally Posted by dumdum

Hi Mel

A nice grouping there. I've seen similar badges (but not with this wording) with white and purple enamel.

Presumably the colours had some significance, maybe regional or "trade" based.

The West Riding one that I mentioned has a white enamel centre.

[dumdum]

Thanks for that. Any clues as to the purple one? Being a relatively large area of enamel, they often turn up in less than perfect condition.

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by melh

The Royal Army Ordnance Depot (or Department) did come to my mind but nothing with that actual set of words turns up on Google. It came up with, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, & Royal Ordnance Depot.

Those would have been my first guesses but can't find anything that fits .

Could the badge be is some way connected to the Royal Arsenal , Woolwich ?

There is a memorial that states :

TO THE GLORIOUS DEAD
AND IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF THE MEN
OF THE ARMY ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT WOOLWICH
WHO LAID DOWN THEIR LIVES FOR KING AND COUNTRY
IN THE GREAT EUROPEAN WAR 1914 - 1918

.

[melh]

I found two West Riding ones listed on the well known online auction site ( I'm not sure if forum protocol allows me to name it). One with white enamel and one with none.

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by melh

I found two West Riding ones listed on the well known online auction site ( I'm not sure if forum protocol allows me to name it). One with white enamel and one with none.

There are also a couple of Wessex Area ones around.

Here is a West Riding one on eBay.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/391907874...kAAOSwPnxZ5LWW

.