British MN Lapel Pin looking to find source to buy from or get from

[Keith at Tregenna]

Not that I am concerned but, I was told - "What we are discussing are badges issued during WWII and National service" ?

Enjoying the thread and not nit picking. K

[Keith Tindell]

My apologies, it's full moon and I am apt to be affected, sorry again, kt

[Keith at Tregenna]

Really, is not a problem and interested, just wondered ? K.

[Fouro]

The present Queen's first VC.

The Queen's first Victoria Cross | The Royal British Legion

FOURO

[Fouro]

Under a decree from the Govt (2013) the RBL is obliged to let MN veterans enter any RBL club, if they've paid their annual dues, I feel sure someone on here will come up with the text of the decree. Even though I spent many years trying to get Torbay to hold a memorial service on the 3rd September, finally succeeding in 2015 and again held in 2016 and they have promised to hold one every year, I still get a feeling when Armed Forces RBL members attend, they are very aloof and consider us MN types a bad smell under their nose.

I have placed on this site the details of 'The Federation of Merchant Mariners' to whom you should send your details and service, Derek Bristow who looks after the Veteran badge applications is currently on vacation but expected back in about ten days. Give him your details, nothing ventured nothing gained

https://www.arrse.co.uk/wiki/Merchant_Navy

FOURO.

[Ivan Cloherty]

https://www.arrse.co.uk/wiki/Merchant_Navy

FOURO.

Thank you Fouro, appreciate your efforts

[Keith at Tregenna]

WW1,possibly saw the first thoughts regarding the Silver Badge.

37. Mr. BUTCHER asked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that silver War badges are being granted to those who have served in His Majesty's naval forces since 4th August, 1914, and whose service has been terminated on account of wounds or on account of physical infirmity for which they are not themselves directly responsible, there is any similar provision for officers and others of the merchant service who may be permanently incapacitated from following their employment owing to wounds or injury sustained in engagements with the enemy or other causes directly attributable to the War; and, if not, whether steps will now be taken to issue a silver or other badge in cases of this kind?

K.

[Keith at Tregenna]

Dr. MACNAMARA Officers and men of the mercantile marine serving under special engagements in His Majesty's commissioned ships are eligible for the award of these badges. As regards officers and men of the mercantile marine other than the above the matter falls to be dealt with by the Board of Trade.

MERCHANT SERVICE. (Hansard, 19 October 1916)

UK, Silver War Badge Records, 1914-1920

Britain’s Silver War Badge for service in World War I.

Historical Background

The British Empire lost more than 700,000 service personnel killed in World War 1. An even greater number were discharged because of wounds or illness. In September 1916, King George V authorized the Silver War Badge (SWB) to honour all military personnel who had served at home or overseas since 4 August 1914 and who had been discharged because of wounds or illness. The SWB was a small, circular badge made of sterling silver, bearing the king’s initials, a crown, and the inscriptions ‘For King and Empire’ and ‘Services Rendered’.

The SWB was not simply an honour; it also served a practical purpose. At the time, men of military age who were not obviously in the service were sometimes accosted or insulted by civilians presenting them with white feathers — a symbol of cowardice — for shirking their patriotic duty. The badge served as an outward symbol that the wearer’s duty to country had been honourably fulfilled.

Although the White Feather brigade did reappear during WW2, it was never on the same scale and was slowed with conscription.

DailyMirror-1940.jpg

A "Mercantile Marine Silver War Badge" was separately issued for Merchant Navy Crew who had been wounded and were unable to continue there work on ship or shore.

The Mercantile Marine Medal was awarded to men who served at sea during the First World War for six months or more, and who served at sea on at least one voyage through a danger zone. All recipients were also automatically entitled to the British War Medal.


The Silver War Badge, meanwhile, was awarded to merchant seamen who were no longer fit for service due to sickness or wounds received during the war, either at home or overseas.

This Silver War Badge was awarded by the Board of Trade to any Master, Officer or Seaman of ships of the* British Mercantile Marine in which the wages were paid by their owners. The Masters, Officers or Seamen who met the above conditions should prove that had remained incapacitated for service* in the Mercantile Marine.

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[Keith at Tregenna]

I did look into the Silver MN badge years ago, there was little on the net hence reported what was found. There is not much more now. Enough to convince me it was earned and appreciated then and for WW2 would have been distanced from a white feather and was approved by the King.

EG WW2: Compton Mackenzie, then a serving soldier, complained about the activities of the Order of the White Feather. He argued that these "idiotic young women were using white feathers to get rid of boyfriends of whom they were tired". The pacifist Fenner Brockway claimed that he received so many white feathers he had enough to make a fan.

Perhaps the most misplaced use of a white feather was when one was presented to Seaman George Samson who was on his way in civilian clothes to a public reception in his honour. Samson had been awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in the Gallipoli campaign.

Private Norman Demuth, who had been discharged from the British Army after being wounded in 1916, received numerous white feathers after returning from the Western Front, and decided that if the women that handed them out were going to be rude to him, he was going to be rude back. One of the last feathers he received was presented to him whilst he was travelling on a bus, by a lady who was sat opposite him. She handed over the feather and said, "Here's a gift for a brave soldier." Demuth replied, "Thank you very much - I wanted one of those." He then used the feather to clean out his pipe, handed it back to her and remarked, "You know we didn't get these in the trenches." The other passengers subsequently became angry with the woman and started shouting at her, much to Demuth's amusement.

The supporters of the campaign were not easily put off. A woman who confronted a young man in a London park demanded to know why he was not in the army. "Because I am a German", he replied. He received a white feather anyway.

There was one case where presented with a white feather, the chap thanked her. "Two Awards in one day and produced a medal from his pocket.

All in all, believe there was much historically that firstly produced MN men, eventually - some recognition and a well deserved MN Silver Badge via the King. Have an idea that Sailors would have not been to troubled by women ? LOL.


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[Keith at Tregenna]

Don't know whether or not you know the history of the Silver Badge but it was issued because so many people, especially women spat on MN personnel in civilian clothes and called them cowards

Still not aware of all the facts; hope my relatives gave service and were rewarded and are remembered by the King of the day.

K.