Silver War Badge

Silver War Badge: FOR KING AND EMPIRE: SERVICES RENDERED
Image courtesy of Clive Gilbert

The Silver War Badge was authorised on 12 September 1916 for issue to members of the armed services, and military nursing services who were permanently no longer fit to serve in the Great War, due to age or physical infirmity arising from wounds or sickness caused by military service, at home or overseas and had been discharged from the service. Having been discharged from service, all recipients were therefore civilians.

All those discharged since the start of the war on 4 August 1914 were entitled to a badge. It was to be worn on the right lapel and could only be worn on civilian clothing.

The badge protected the wearer from being accused of being a coward and having a white feather waved at them. They had ‘done their bit’ and had been honourably discharged from service.

Each badge had a number engraved on its reverse and the name of the recipient can be found using the ‘Ancestry’ website.

It has been estimated that some 1,150,000 badges were awarded, none were issued after 31 December 1919.

Note: With similar intent to the First World War’s ‘Silver War Badge’, commencing in November 1941, the Second World War saw the issue of the ‘King’s Badge’.

Clive Gilbert September 2024

Source: ‘The Great War Medal Collectors Companion’ by Howard Williamson.