Mounted 'On War Service 1916' Women's Munition Workers badge

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c. 1918

Overview

World War One official issue 1916 Women's Munition Workers brass triangular pin badge which has been gilded and mounted on a circular piece of painted timber. It has the King's Crown on the voided centre, with '1916' below. The words 'On War Service' appear on the three sides of the triangle.
The badge is attached to the stand by three brass pins. The timber is decorated with silver dots around the perimeter. The back of the display stand has a matching, shaped timber foot to keep it standing upright.
Presumably, the pin attachment has been removed to facilitate the badge sitting flat on the timber background.

Historical information

Thousands of British women from all backgrounds worked in munitions factories during World War One.
Badges such as these were worn by civilians in order to indicate that the person wearing it was engaged in important war work.
Several of these badges were officially produced and distributed nationally, but many more were produced privately by companies to support their employees.

According to the Imperial War Museum : "Before conscription was introduced in 1916, the army relied on voluntary recruitment. It was assumed by many that a man not in uniform was avoiding joining up and was therefore often accused of shirking their duty to their country. The famous white feather campaign saw men not in uniform presented with a white feather as a symbol of cowardice.
The official badges were intended to prove that the wearer was doing their duty to their country in a time of war in a different way. They were not in uniform, but they may have been working in munitions factories or in the dockyards carrying out work that was vital to the war effort.
After conscription, the need for these badges faded, along with the white feather campaign. However, many continued to be worn throughout the war, especially by female shift workers for whom the badge could give priority boarding and fare concessions on public transport, as well as indicating that there was nothing disreputable about these ladies travelling alone at night".

The woman to whom this badge was issued has had it mounted on a piece of timber for display purposes, perhaps at war's end. She was presumably proud of her service.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-119-RoW00236

Item type

Themes

Social History
War and Conflict
War and Conflict > World War 1

Material