Explanation on the Lapel Badges

[Galou49]

Hello everyone,

I apologize for my question you're going to find maybe stupid but I'm passionate about patches and badge.
I came across the badge panel.
Can you tell me that they were useful to them?
All the soldiers wore them?
If yes on what occasion as I never see a photo with this kind of badge.
Who made them and how not to get to buy WW2 originals.
Thanks for your help my friends.

[Mike_2817]

An image may help?

[Galou49]

Originally Posted by Mike_2817

An image may help?

Hello,
I'm sorry I do not understand. A photo can help me but with explanations.

[Galou49]

Originally Posted by Mike_2817

An image may help?

This:

http://www.britishmilitarybadges.co....-lapel-badges/

[tynesideirish]

The badges you highlighted were all worn by civilians who worked at jobs helping the war effort. 'On War Service',

[Galou49]

Originally Posted by tynesideirish

The badges you highlighted were all worn by civilians who worked at jobs helping the war effort. 'On War Service',

I thought I saw a French flag with the cross of Lorraine. It was therefore intended for Frenchmen working for the war effort?

[Postwarden]

There is no simple answer to your question.

Broadly speaking lapel badges such as those you illustrate are not part of military uniform and not worn on them.

In the past reservists such as those in the Territorial Army wore an official government issue lapel badge on civilian clothes to show that they were volunteers for service.

Other lapel badges were worn by ex-servicemen to show that they had served in a particular regiment or Corps and were also created for Old Comrades and Ex-Service Associations for a similar purpose. These were never a Government issue.

During both World Wars many lapel badges, both government and private issue were worn to signify that although not in uniform the wearer was playing a part in the war effort.

I know of no comprehensive book on all lapel badges but my book Doing Their Bit which appears in the list of Books by Forum Members and is available to buy, looks at pre-war Reserve service badges for bodies such as the TA, RAFVR etc and at the enormous number of Home Front badges issued in WW2 - some of which were intended to show support for the Free Forces based in Britain such as the Free French/France Libre.

Jon