British Legion Women's Section Member Badge - Royal British Legion in North Online Museum Staffordshire

History and Online Museum of the Royal British Legion in North Staffordshire

	British Legion Women's Section Member & Honorary Badge

British Legion Women's Section Membership Card & Badge

The British Legion women’s section was formed in 1921 as the British Legion Auxiliary Women's Section – its task was to safeguard the interest of widows and families of ex-servicemen and women and to augment and widen the activities of the legion.

This is the exhibition that is dedicated to Women's Section Badge it is here that the visitor will see on display an ever growing selection of badges that have evolved since the establishment of this arm of The Royal British Legion.

In this online exhibition of British Legion (BL) Women's Section membership numbered badges, examples can be found from the following enamel badge manufacturers:

Birmingham Medal Company - BL
J. R. Gaunt, London - BL

Badge Design Registration

The design of the badge was first registered in 1922 and each badge as well as the membership number also has the registration number of 686642 in the top right hand corner.

Although the design of the badge remains the same there are some variations mainly in the design of the corporate lion logo. The variation in badge manufacturers one would assume is a question of economics and the best price. However in 1946 the badge was re-designed into the more recognisable form that is available today see RBL exhibition.

Womens Section Safety Pin Badge Side View

Womens Section Safety Pin Badge Side View

This exhibition boasts an unusual Birmingham Medal Co badge that has a safety pin rather than the more usual brooch or clasp pin. This particular badge is considered to be from a small batch/short run manufactured or whether the design changed for a particular reason.

As you can see from the side elevation in the exhibit to our left the extra brass plate riveted over the safety pin. Quite expensive to do and one can only surmise that the manufacturer quickly revised the design to a less labour intensive one.

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. The example below of a miniature Women's Section badge against its full size sister.

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. The example below of a miniature Women's Section badge against its full size sister.

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. The example below of a miniature Women's Section badge against its full size sister.

Round Celluloid Button

1944 Issue Women's Section Celluloid Ordinary Members Badge

In 1944 because of a shortage of metal, new members were issued with a round celluloid button (see below in the exhibition) with the Legion badge overprinted and exchanged after the war .

New Layout: Run your cursor over the badge to find out more about it, then click to enlarge the photograph.

APRIL 2008

Exhibits -
British Legion Women's Section Standard Bearer - Bronze and Enamel - Birmingham Medal

The British Legion Women's Section Exhibition

Take a visit to
British Legion Memorabilia Collectors Club a dedicated web site for the serious collector of British Legion History.

British Legion Women's Section Member & Honorary Badge