"Doing His Country's Work"

[Guest chris dixon]

In the family archives I have recently found a badge. It's just over 2 cms in diameter - a narrow blue circle with the words "Doing His Country's Work", and in the middle a soldier in a peaked cap. It is sterling silver. Can anyone tell me anything about it?

[Guest Hill 60]

Chris - It sounds like some sweetheart brooches I have seen. Not all sweethearts were 'regimental' types, many were similar to the one you've described.

[Jim_Grundy]

Chris

It could be a privately made badge that identified someone working in war-related industry rather than serving in the armed forces.

There were some officially made badges for 1914, 1915 and 1916 (bearing the the words, "On War Service") but there were many that were produced unofficially, some by individual private companies.

These were worn by more than munition workers too. Anyone employed by a company undertaking government contracts could qualify, even basket weavers - they made shell carrying cradles (or whatever they're called), for example.

Unfortunately, I have never seen a published work that lists all the variations or even the eligibility criteria for the badges. Men could lose their entitlement to the badge and be combed out of official work. You see a lot of reports of this in the records of local Tribunals.

Cheers,

Jim

[Tom Tulloch-Marshall]

Unfortunately, I have never seen a published work that lists all the variations or even the eligibility criteria for the badges.

Jim - some notes about "On War Service" badges - by no means comprehensive but some explanations about the unnofical issues, issue criteria for official issues, changing rules, etc >

http://www.btinternet.com/~prosearch/OWS.html

regards - Tom

[Jim_Grundy]

Tom

Very interesting. Thanks for pointing this out.

Cheers,

Jim