History and Online Museum of  the  Royal British Legion in North Staffordshire
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 Life Member -  Royal British Legion Badges

  The Royal British Legion Life Member Badge

Current Royal British Legion Life Membership BadgeThe Life Membership Badge  of the Royal British Legion has evolved in the 79 years since its beginning in the early 1920's

Various enamel badge manufacturers have had the honour of manufacturing the different types of Life Membership badge over the years.

British Legion
Badge Size

In the British Legion Head Quarters Branch Price List February 1937 badges where issued in two sizes Large and Miniature. Miniature badges either had a screw back or a pin back.

In this online exhibition of Royal British Legion (RBL)  and British Legion Life Membership Badges the visitor will see how it has evolve from its first appearance in the 1921 of a polished silver plated finish (purchased life membership) or polished nickel (awarded) and blue enamel to the current  model.

[Link to Award Criteria Page]

Adams Badges - RBL
Birmingham Medal Company BL
J. R. Gaunt, London/Birmingham - RBL, BL
Ludlow of London - BL
Premier Badges - RBL
Roden of London - BL

Awarded Life Membership

National Life membership may be awarded to a member who has given at least ten years meritorious and conspicuous service to the objectives of the Legion as defined by the Royal Charter and who holds the Legion Gold Badge. The recipient retains his full rights without payment of subscriptions for the rest of his natural life.

When National Life membership is approved a framed certificate is sent to the member's branch for issue, together with a National Life membership card and badge.

Purchased Life Membership

During a brief period of the early 1970s the Legion not only awarded Life Membership but sold Life memberships to raise monies for the Poppy Appeal. The silver plated badge was re-introduced for this purpose. An example of one can be seen below that has been donated by Jerry Murphy of the British Legion Memorabilia Collectors Club


MAY 2008
Text Graphic with the word New Exhibition

 Royal British Legion  Silver Plated Purchased Life Membership badge

 
 
 
 
  Disclaimer:
Badge dating in this online museum are based upon known membership numbers and corresponding dates. These dates are estimates and not actual dates of manufacture and should only be used as a guide.
 
     
  Life Membership Badge  
     
 

The Royal British Legion

Life Member

1987 Model

20mm x 28mm

Donated to the site by:

Premier Badges

The Royal British Legion

Life Member

(1972 -1987 Version)

J. R. Gaunt / Adams Badges

20mm x 28mm

Donated to the site by:

Maj J Bamford

 

The Royal British Legion

Purchased Life Member

(1972 -197? Version)

J. R. Gaunt / Adams Badges

20mm x 28mm

Donated to the site by:

Jerry Murphy

 

 

British Legion

Life Member

J.R.Gaunt - London

Serial No. R32

Gilt Finish

19mm x 23mm

 

 

British Legion

Life Member

J.R.Gaunt - London

Serial No. 560

Gilt Finish

20mm x 30mm

Donated By Mr. L. J Wooster

British Legion

Purchased Life Member

Small

Plated Silver Finish

J.R Gaunt

0.75inches x 0.75inches

 

 

 

British Legion

Purchased Life Member

Small

Plated Silver Finish

Roden of London

0.75inches x 0.75inches

 

 

 

British Legion

Purchased Life Member

Small

Plated Silver Finish

Ludlow of London

Serial No. 225934

0.75inches x 0.75inches

 

 

British Legion

Awarded Life Member

Birmingham Medal Company

Polished Nickel Finish

Serial No. 403558

Date 1943

26mm x 28mm

 

 

 
     
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THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION
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Take a visit to
British Legion Memorabilia Collectors Club -  Life Member Page
a dedicated web site for the serious collector of British Legion History.