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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

unusual lapel badge


Khaki

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I have never seen this before, apart from the obvious maybe someone can tell me more. It is marked on the obverse BRITISH GREAT WAR VETERAN 1914.1918, the reverse has a wheel attachment with patent dates not readable , and  sterling.

khaki

1117181026a.jpg

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Use of the word ‘British’ to differentiate (probably from the ‘Great’ American Civil War), and the flags as shields (a US cultural more - think Captain America) suggests that this was a lapel pin designed for an American market methinks.

Edited by FROGSMILE
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Thanks Frogsmile,

I agree with your thoughts, I also wondered whether it may have been an association of GW British Vets living in the USA, or more likely an association of former British members of the AEF.

 

ps even the crossed rifles look similar to the 1898 US krag, but that might just be artistic license

Edited by Khaki
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Thanks Scalyback. 

did that occur between the US and Britain in significant numbers?

 

I understand that some early AEF units were issued with SMLE's in 1917, but  I can't imagine that any surviving doughboy's would form an association referring to themselves as British veterans regardless of how comradely their wartime cooperation was with the BEF.

 

khaki

 

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  • 1 year later...

From what I can see, it's not a particularly good representation of the Union Jack/Flag.

It seems to be lacking in white.

That would again support it being an US made item for US veterans, rather than British residents in US.

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One thing to consider is the group of Americans who volunteered to fight on the Western Front before the US entered the War in 1917. I believe the estimate is between 40,000 to 60,000  Americans volunteered in the CEF (the official number is 35,612). My guess, there is another badge that has French and US shields. Perhaps they were made in the States and given to "Early" volunteers when they returned home or perhaps these vets formed a fraternal organization and these are a membership pin. Just a thought!

 

Ypres

Edited by Ypres1915
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I don’t think it would be inscribed with ‘British’ Great War Veteran (very specific) if it was for Americans, more likely for British veterans who had emigrated and created a fraternity similar to the ‘Old Contemptibles’ in Britain.  Even allowing for a wish to avoid confusion with the American (Civil) Great War, it would simply be leave too much room for confusion. In any case I think it was known in the USA as the ‘European Great War’, or just European War.

Edited by FROGSMILE
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Perhaps. With the upmost respect, I believe Americans refer to the Civil War as the "Civil War" not their "Great War" so there would be no reason for confusion. I am Canadian and live in a Border community, 45 minutes from the US border and have interacted and discussed WWI with many American collectors and sellers none of whom confuse the Great War with the Civil War. Just my experience though. Perhaps an American member could weigh in on this??

 

Ypres.

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1 hour ago, Ypres1915 said:

Perhaps. With the upmost respect, I believe Americans refer to the Civil War as the "Civil War" not their "Great War" so there would be no reason for confusion. I am Canadian and live in a Border community, 45 minutes from the US border and have interacted and discussed WWI with many American collectors and sellers none of whom confuse the Great War with the Civil War. Just my experience though. Perhaps an American member could weigh in on this??

 

Ypres.


You might well be correct, Ypres.  I don’t think that Americans have referred to the ACW as their Great War in recent generations and indeed I’d not heard of such a thing before.  It’s just that I read in relatively recent times some mention of the US referring to that war as the “Great War between the States”, which if true is I think a fair description.  It struck a chime with me and that’s why I have remembered reading it.  The post WW1 era in the US would still have recalled that war as a momentous event that affected far more of their families than WW1 did, and I recall that some ACW veterans were still alive.  As you say, it would be interesting to learn the views of an American with good knowledge of his Nation’s history and associated etymology.

Edited by FROGSMILE
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