Info on sweetheart badges?

[wright241]

Originally Posted by Kate L

Before today I had never heard of sweetheart badges, and I'm curious to know more.
When my mother died recently, we found an RAF brooch badge in her posession. We assumed that it was some kind of dress badge, but having just searched for photos, I've discovered that it is a 'sweetheart' badge. The badge is very likely this one: http://www.ww2wings.com/wings/britai...etheart5.shtml except that the central RAF lettering is in royal blue, not red.
I gather that sweetheart badges were bought by the serviceman for their nearest and dearest, but I can find little more about this. I'm intrigued, as my father didn't meet my mother until some years after he was demobbed (he served ca 1942-1946/7 and they met in 1951). Where would he have bought the badge from? Would he have bought it while he was serving (which raises questions about who he bought it for)?, or could he have bought it after he met my mother?
Hope that you can enlighten me or point me in the direction of more information.
Thanks, Kate

Kate,
Don't take this the wrong way, but what makes you think that the badge she had was bought for her by her husband. It could have been a momento from someone else... From what you have said, it doesn't sound like the sort of thing he would have brought her.
My Mum (was in the ATS) lived in London during the war and didn't get married until 1946. She also had an RAF brooch hidden away - and she only showed it to me after my stepfather died... Her RAF "sweetheart" was a bomber crew member and never came back - like so many. What can I say.
david