 |
|
|
|
|
National Federation of
Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Formation of the
Federation
In April
1917, the Asquith Liberal MP James Hogge sponsored a meeting at t he National Liberal Club over the
Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Bill, which proposed to reclassify those
invalided out of the army to identify those who might be recalled to service.
This meeting led to the formation of the National Federation of Discharged and
Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers and the adoption of the Silver Services
Rendered Badge to represent their cause.
Political Aspirations
 The National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers
decided to fight by elections to put its message across. In the Liverpool
Abercromby by election in June 1917, the National
Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers candidate polled a
quarter of the vote. In the 1918 UK general election its National Executive
approved five candidates, and local branches sponsored 25 more, considered
Independent National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and
Soldiers candidates. In three Leeds constituencies, the candidates were
nominated jointly by the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized
Sailors and Soldiers, the
National
Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers and the Comrades of
the Great War. None of the candidates were elected although many polled
substantial votes. In addition, the National Association of Discharged Sailors
and Soldiers sponsored a candidate in Sowerby in unusual
circumstances in which he inherited the position of unofficial Conservative
Party candidate, and won.
Politically Diverse
The groups were politically diverse. Hogge was a left-wing Liberal, and most of
the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers were
similarly left wing: among the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized
Sailors and Soldiers candidates was Ernest Thurtle, who later became a Labour
Party MP. Henry Hamilton Beamish was a member of both the Vigilante Society and
the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers
. In the 1918 general election he was one of the candidates sponsored by the
National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers
branches but not approved by the National Federation of Discharged and
Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers National Executive, again in
Clapham.
 Following the election, none of the groups continued in active party politics.
James Hogge resigned as President of the National Federation of Discharged and
Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers in
January 1919. Following pressure from Earl Haig,
the National Federation of Discharged and
Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers
lifted its ban on officers being members in June
1919 and the three groups together with the
Officers' Association began merger talks.
Major Thank You
Up until now
no one has ever known what the National
Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors
and Soldiers badge looked like. Once again this
museum owes a dept of gratitude to the members
of the
British Legion Memorabilia Collectors Club
for sharing this information us and enabling us
to distribute it to a wider audiences
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Back to top |
|
|
|
|
TA Veterans from around the United Kingdom are invited to attend the
National TA100 Armed Forces Memorial Parade and Service at the National Memorial
Arboretum Staffordshire. Saturday 13th September 2008 1400 hours.
Contact
Bob Rankin
TA
Veterans
Organiser for TA Veterans, Royal British Legion & Regimental Associations
Telephone: 01782 444246
Mobile: 07921 611280. Click on link to the
TA100 Armed Forces Memorial
Event page.
Take a visit to
British Legion Memorabilia
Collectors Club
a dedicated web site for the serious collector of British Legion History. |
