trenchwalker Posted 12 July , 2006 Share Posted 12 July , 2006 What is the story behind them can any body tell what type of service you have to to to earn one etc. many thanks Mart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nfh249 Posted 12 July , 2006 Share Posted 12 July , 2006 Members of the Territorial Force (Territorial Army) were only engaged for home defence and therefore could not serve abroad. Around 1910 a scheme was introduced whereby TF soldiers could volunteer to serve abroad in times of need, the "Imperial Service" commitment. They were entitled to wear the Imperial Service badge on the right breast and if I recall they were paid a little premium (but I'm not 100% on that). Regards, Neil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Carter Posted 12 July , 2006 Share Posted 12 July , 2006 At the start of WW1 when it was decided the BEF was not going to be big enough and Kitchener's New Armies would need 'X' amount of time before being ready for active service. The Territorial Force which had been called up and started their Home Service duties on guarding the coastal areas were asked to volunteer to serve overseas. If a certain amount of the rank and file voted yes (a rough guess say 90%) Then they were allowed to wear the Imperial Service Badge. I only think they wore it over here in the UK, not when they went on active service. terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 13 July , 2006 Share Posted 13 July , 2006 The badge is technically a 'tablet', officially introduced by AO 3 of 1910 as 'Imperial Service Badge'. It attracted no extra payment, and carried a liability to serve overseas in time of national emergency. I know of no regulation to remove it on active service, but photos of it in that contect are rare. A soldier could not, until later in the war, be compelled to serve overseas except with his unit, and the original criterion was that 90% of the unit must hold the badge. That soon crumbled! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon2 Posted 13 July , 2006 Share Posted 13 July , 2006 Hi pals, Just bringing this up to the top again to ask an expert about the attached photo. Would anyone have an educated guess of the identity of the badges on the right breast pockets of the soldiers standing far left and far right. If these are the Imperial Service Badges mentioned on the original post then I can positively identify my GU as he enlisted in 1911. Regards Simon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 14 July , 2006 Share Posted 14 July , 2006 Yes they are ISB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon2 Posted 14 July , 2006 Share Posted 14 July , 2006 Grumpy, Thanks, Simon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rgalley Posted 27 September , 2010 Share Posted 27 September , 2010 The badge is technically a 'tablet', officially introduced by AO 3 of 1910 as 'Imperial Service Badge'. It attracted no extra payment, and carried a liability to serve overseas in time of national emergency. I know of no regulation to remove it on active service, but photos of it in that contect are rare. A soldier could not, until later in the war, be compelled to serve overseas except with his unit, and the original criterion was that 90% of the unit must hold the badge. That soon crumbled! Extract from Andrew Rawson's 'British Army Handbook 1914-1918': "Overseas Commitment Over 17,500 Territorial soldiers had already committed themselves to overseas service by signing the Imperial Service Obligation, and on 15 September [1914] the rest were given the opportunity to volunteer. Battalions would be designated 'General Service' if over 60% of the men volunteered and came under war office control when new recruits had increased the numbers to 25% over establishment." Hope this helps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 27 September , 2010 Share Posted 27 September , 2010 I stated the statutory position as at 4 Aug 1914. I added "that soon crumbled". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterkennedy Posted 29 September , 2010 Share Posted 29 September , 2010 What is the story behind them can any body tell what type of service you have to to to earn one etc. many thanks Mart Mart, Here are the "Conditions of Service" for the Imperial Service Badge - from my grandfather's service record. He enlisted in a Territorial artillery unit on 7th September 1914 and signed the agreement on the same day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterkennedy Posted 29 September , 2010 Share Posted 29 September , 2010 More of the conditions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterkennedy Posted 29 September , 2010 Share Posted 29 September , 2010 More of the conditions. I hope this is of interest to you. Peter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muerrisch Posted 29 September , 2010 Share Posted 29 September , 2010 Thanks: never seen a "hot" example, issued after war broke out. I fear the government increasingly honoured the agreement more in the breach than the observance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themonsstar Posted 29 September , 2010 Share Posted 29 September , 2010 The following pages show the problems getting the TF ready for overseas deployment. Next page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themonsstar Posted 29 September , 2010 Share Posted 29 September , 2010 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themonsstar Posted 29 September , 2010 Share Posted 29 September , 2010 page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peterkennedy Posted 29 September , 2010 Share Posted 29 September , 2010 More of the conditions. [/qu Condition 2 was certainly breached very quickly. The conditions agreed to by the Terrier to serve overseas were "in accordance with provisions of Section XIII (2) (a) of the the Territorial and Reserves Forces Act, 1907". Peter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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