“Services Rendered”
It was issued and worn to avoid the dreaded "White Feather".
The Silver War Badge WW1
This was first authorised in September 1916. It was given to personnel who had been discharged ill or wounded whilst in Military Service in a theatre of war or at home. The badge was issued as a defence against the women of Britain, as up till then if a man was thought not to be in the Services, then they would give him a white feather to show he was a coward.
Authorised by the King for both Navy and Army and granted to Officers and men of the British Indian and overseas forces who had served since August 4 1914 and who had, in the case of Officers, retired or relinquished their commissions or in the case of men had been discharged on account of age, wounds or sickness, such as to render them permanently unfit for further service.
Services Rendered, more commonly called the Wound Badge, was for those who had served and had been discharged through illness or injury which made them unfit to continue serving. When worn, it prevented a man being given the White Feather for cowardice.
The King's Badge was the only "disabled emblem" which was officially awarded during both the Great War and World War Two, though the designs differed slightly. It was also known as the War Badge and Discharge Badge. It was awarded to Service personnel who were invalided out of the Armed Forces before they could qualify for any medals.
In 1914-18 there was a tendency for young ladies to stop men in the street and present those who were not in uniform with a white feather for cowardice for failing to join up. The idea behind this badge was probably to discourage these ladies from publicly embarrassing wounded or disabled men. These badges, designed to be worn in the civilian buttonhole, were issued on a medal roll type list, and were individually numbered on the back. Some holders of these badges rejoined.
A similar badge was instituted for 1939-45 but these were not numbered. After the 1939-45 War the issue was taken over by DHSS. It now lies with the War Pensions Agency.
It would not be right to tar the women of war time Britain with the wrong brush, they actually played a major part in the war effort including recruitment, mistakes were made in many fields.
“His brother was sent a white feather when he was fourteen for not involving himself in the war. The white feather meant cowardice. He joined up and lied about his age. Six weeks after this particular woman sent him the white feather he was shot dead”.
“SILVER BADGE”
By Dave Molyneux.
Secretary of the The Blue Funnel Association
When we look at the restless sea--- Remember Them,
For they are not restless anymore--- They are at last
At peace in the never ending restless sea.
They gave so much.
“SILVER BADGE”
To those who served - our thanks
"But for the Merchant Navy who bring us the food and munitions of war, Britain would be in a parlous state and indeed, without them, the Army, Navy and Air Force could not operate."
(Winston Churchill, January 27, 1942)
No uniform for these brave men, despite the losses, they sailed again,
A Silver Badge simply worn, these are the men that we should mourn.
Never did a ship fail to sail, although the dangers would not curtail,
A Country called and they obeyed, remember them this Merchant Navy Day.
Keith Greenway.
From: ON MERCHANT NAVY DAY
Much of the included content has been found in numerous sources, too many to mention here, any offending material can be removed if necessary, the objective is both remembrance and tribute. I thank all that may have assisted in any way. hernamewas.ss@googlemail.com
www.ss-tregenna.co.uk/Images/ON%20MERCHANT%20NAVY%20DAY.pdfThe badge of Merchant Navy men took the form of a small silver badge that could be worn in the lapel of a jacket and was intended to protect the wearer against any suggestion that they had avoided service. Ships' officers in the Merchant Navy wore uniforms, but the other members of the crew (stokers, deckhands, etc.) did not have an official uniform. If they were employed by a large shipping company, however, they may have been issued with a company uniform. Ashore, the men would wear this badge to identify them as merchant seamen.
The Silver War Badge was awarded to Merchant Seamen who were no longer fit for sea service as a result of sickness or wounds contracted or received during the war, either at home or overseas.
The British Merchant Navy lapel badge was issued to all merchant seamen in World War II.
“We had a small silver badge -the letters MN with laurel leaves-and meaning the wearer was in the Merchant Navy. We had as much pride in wearing that small badge, as did men in the services in wearing their uniforms”.
“One survivor recently told me how they even had to pay for the tiny MN badge that was the only recognition they had that they were part of the serving manpower. Yet another survivor told me how giggling girls would approach them on leave and present them with a white feather. They would be asked if MN stood for Maternity Nurse”.
“A girl came up to me and said 'No uniform?' I'll have to send you some white feathers. I was wearing civvies, but she didn't notice my little M.N.(Merchant Navy) Silver Badge in my lapel”.
“Many years ago I was given a solid “Silver Badge” by a friend which I keep with pride. I often wonder who that badge belonged to. I hope he survived. I will never know. Most of us only experienced being in a lifeboat at sea during the Board Of Trade drills, but we knew that our ship was coming back to pick us up again”!
“If any of you see a “Silver Badge” with MN in an antique shop or a car boot sale – buy it. It would have been worn by a Merchant Navy Veteran who will sadly never be known. Perhaps thrown out by house clearance with not a thought, or, perhaps given away by a distant relative who did not know the significance of the letter MN”.
(“Today most people would not know what those letters mean” ! )
“A sour note to this story is that when my shipmate and I were in a pub in Liverpool, two young girls asked us to buy them drinks. We refused, and received a lot of abusive language, and some time later they came over to us again and handed us white feathers, calling us army dodgers, this, in a huge port like Liverpool where many of their seamen became casualties of the war”.
“Many of my pals experienced similar shameful incidents, simply because they wore no uniform. Some of them resorted to buying navy-blue battledresses to wear when in ports where they were not known. It avoided confrontation”.
“Well, we did have a small Silver Badge”.
“We had a small “Silver Badge” - the letters said “MN”,
no uniform to pin it to, for we were Merchant Men.
So much pride in its Silver Tone, a symbol of respect,
apart from our red ensign, had no real battle dress”.
The insignia of our profession clasping to our chest,
off in to the conflict, we sailed to do our best.
We helped to feed a Nation and ferry troops and arms,
backing up the forces, avoiding enemy harms?
The symbol of our fellowship, enhancing our lapels,
saved us from feathers, but not from threat of klaxon bells.
No shield was it to hide behind, no defence from the war,
many men with emblems on, adorn the Ocean floor.
Often shaped into a Sweetheart Brooch,
for a loved one back at home.
Created during hunted time, when the enemy approached,
a keepsake for a loved one, from our danger zone.
It was important to ensure, that your badge was worn,
especially, on home visit or anytime at Port.
Best to have your badge adorned, it would to show all,
of your important duty and of your war support.
Alongside our Captain, and all our fellow crew,
our graceful steel old lady and a duty we must do.
We sail with our ensign and our infamous entity,
remembering the many that are for ever with the sea.
Noted being upside down, a badge was not quite wrong,
remembering a craft destroyed and long since gone.
No Work or not Wanted, also has been displayed,
although most often remembers that there is “No Known Grave”.
We had a pride in wearing that very simple adornment,
as much as our brothers in arms, and their military deportment.
We gave our all and expected little in return,
Just a little remembrance for those of us adjourned.
“Well, they do have a small Silver Badge”.
THE MERCHANT NAVY WAS THERE EVERY DAY
