Lord Derby Scheme official issue armbands
1915Two Lord Derby Scheme official issue armbands made from khaki and brown wool and featuring a red, felt 'King's Crown' sewn on in the centre.
The inside cream cotton lining is stamped in purple ink 'Issued under authority of Army Council' contained within a rectangular border. The official issue number is printed in either dark blue or black, and an upper case letter is stamped in purple ink.
There are two button holes at one end of the armband and two matching buttons on the other to secure the band around the upper arm.
The two armbands are slightly different in size and colour and one is missing the two buttons.
The Lord Derby Scheme armbands were worn by men who had formally volunteered for Army Service but who had yet to be issued with a uniform.
The scheme was introduced in November 1915 by Lord Derby, Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby (1865–1948) after which it was named. He was Lord Kitchener's choice for Director General of Recruiting.
The scheme represented a final attempt to avoid full-scale Conscription.
Men aged between 18 & 41 were asked to attest their readiness to serve in the British Army, on the understanding that all single men would be called up before the youngest married volunteers.
Unfortunately by the scheme’s closing date of December 1915, more than a million men had failed to come forward, resulting in compulsory military service being introduced in January 1916.
Details
Details
Both armbands:
"ISSUED UNDER
AUTHORITY
OF
ARMY COUNCIL"
Armband 1:
:Q"
"80289"
Armband 2:
"S"
"5517"
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