National Defence Companies

[Postwarden]

I recently rediscovered an interesting extract from the history of The London Scottish in World War Two which relates the history of their National Defence Company.

In 1936 TA regiments were authorised to enrol ex-members for part time service in a national emergency, the duties involving guards on vulnerable points. The history says that volunteers were to be issued with uniforms when embodied and records a parade in 1937 when the company's volunteers paraded in civilian clothes.

In 1939 the scheme was revised when the Companies became part of the TA Reserve. The Jock's history records that when their company was mobilised in August its members wore civilian clothes supplemented by a red armband with the monogram TA and an NDC lapel badge.

Kipling & King illustrate two NDC metal cap badges and Westlake the title NDC.

Is there any evidence that these three items were ever worn on uniform?

Thoughts appreciated.

Jon

[engr9266]

Here are a few National Defence Companies badges.

[sapper533]

Could this be the armband?

[mike_vee]

From a 1936 Recruiting poster.

[Postwarden]

Great spot. Now we need to see a buttonhole badge as all those posted so far appear to be cap badges.

Jon

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by Postwarden

Great spot. Now we need to see a buttonhole badge as all those posted so far appear to be cap badges.

Jon

Was it actually a buttonhole badge as we know it ? The poster simply says "A badge that can be worn in the buttonhole".

I can't find any examples , even in an auction lot that includes badges from the RDC through to the NDC.

https://www.olympiaauctions.com/sale.../view-lot/283/

A 2014 thread about NDC badges mentions ;

NDC EVIIIR with the uniquely bent slider

Could it be that this was the badge that "can be worn in the buttonhole" and that the straight slider was introduced/used when 'cap' badges were issued ?

NB. The only examples of the bent slider I spotted were on early EVIIIR badges.


.