Badges of Honour

In the Second World War, official service badges were produced differently for men and women, even the prestigious King’s Badge that was awarded to discharged service personnel.

Here are two silver-numbered Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) “On War Service” badges. The men’s version features a crescent fitting designed to slot neatly into a lapel buttonhole, while the women’s version uses a pin-and-hook fastening for wear on clothing without lapels. This was not only a matter of comfort but also reflected the way uniforms and civilian clothing were tailored at the time.

The same male and female distinction applied to many other wartime insignia, with the Air Raid Precautions (ARP) badge being one of the most common examples. In the set shown here, the left-hand ARP badge has had the crown’s void painted red, a personal touch not part of the original design, which was normally plain in silver or nickel for both men’s and women’s versions.

Each badge was individually numbered, enabling it to be traced back to the wearer. This was partly for security, ensuring that only authorised personnel could access restricted areas, but it also means that today collectors can sometimes link a badge to a specific individual’s wartime service. In the case of the AFS, these badges were often cherished keepsakes long after the war, as the service played a crucial role in battling the devastating fires of the Blitz.