Boy Scout 1914 badge

[Raster Scanning]

Boy Scouts who worked towards the war effort were entitled to wear a war service badge, two versions were issued.both were made of red felt and bore a date and the King's crown.

The 1914 war service badge was awarded for 28 days unpaid service, while the 1918 one was awarded for 50 days unpaid service. There were about 80,000 war service badges awarded during the four years.

 

 

A Boy Scout wearing a 1914 badge. Scouts were used in many ways to support home service troops in the war, taking messages and general administration being the primary function. This Bedford Scout was photographed by R W Stratton.

A rather moth eaten original currently for sale on eBay

 

Edited 13 September , 2022 by Raster Scanning

[NigelS]

Similar were issued to Girl Guides. This from 'Something for the Girls: The Official Guide to the First 100 Years of Guiding' :

In May 1915, the following appeared in the Gazette:
The War Service badge will be granted on the recommendation of a captain, and approved by the Commissioner, to all Guide and Guide Officers who have performed (or shall perform by the end of the war) alternatively:
a. not fewer than twenty-one days' special service for Hospitals, Nursing Institutions and other Public Departments, or Societies or Girl Guide Hostels. This service must be at the request of some competent authority and must be carried out for at least three hours a day; or
b. Not fewer than fifteen articles personally made to include four pairs of socks, four pairs of mittens, two shirts, one pyjama suit, one child's garment, one woman's garment, one belt and one bed jacket. Knitting and needlework already done for Sailors, Soldiers, Sea Scouts, Belgian Refugees, Hospitals etc. may count.
c. for twenty-one days' work, not necessarily consecutive, in connection with recognised firms working directly for the government in connection with the war, or in connection with 'War Service for Women' initiated by the Government Labour Exchanges, in such work as farm work, dairy work, market gardening, poultry farming, light machinery for armaments, clothing machining, brush making etc.
It was later decided that paid work did not count for the badge, making it harder for many teenagers who left school and went to work, aged 14 and 15. Work on allotments and in gardens, to increase the field yield of the nation, was added, as was the making of 200 'treasure bags'. The badge was awarded on a yearly basis, so many Guides achieved more than one, in all 1,400 service badges were awarded.
In addition to these duties, the Association suggested that Guides should volunteer to be messengers for government departments and organisations. The Guides gained such a good reputation for doing this that they were approached by Marconi Wireless and Telegraph Company, which needed messengers to carry highly confidential information.
Winifred Birt-Kempton of the All Saints Guide Company in Lambeth was given the important task of relaying private messages from Marconi to Admiral Lord Fisher at the Admiralty. In gratitude, Marconi presented her with a special badge.

 

[Raster Scanning]

Thanks Nigel. That is interesting.