‘Resurgam 1940’

At first glance, these two small enamel badges appear to be identical.

Both date from 1940 and carry the words ‘Resurgam 1940’ over a design combining the Union Jack with the French tricolour. Turn them over, however, and an important difference appears.

One carries a membership number together with a raised ‘S’, denoting a supporter. Badges such as these were issued by Les Français de Grande-Bretagne, a civilian organisation created in 1940 to support the Free French cause through practical help and fundraising.

The organisation brought together French people living in Britain who wanted to continue supporting their country during the war. Its activities were centred in London, with Trafalgar Square playing an important part in its early story – just a short distance from Charing Cross Collectors Market.

The badges themselves are small gilt-brass pieces, measuring around 20mm across. At their centre is the French tricolour, laid over the Union Jack, with ‘Resurgam 1940’ picked out prominently across the front.

Despite its French connection, ‘Resurgam’ is not French at all. It comes from Latin and means ‘I will rise again’ – a particularly powerful choice of words in 1940. The reverses are marked ‘H.W. Miller Ltd, Branston St, B’ham’, identifying the Birmingham manufacturer.

There was also a more temporary version of the design. Paper and foil badges were produced for fundraising, similar to the pin badges sold on flag days during the First World War.

More than 80 years later, these little badges are reminders of the links between Britain and France at one of the most difficult moments in their shared history – and of the civilian organisations and individual supporters who played their own part in the war effort.