Not sure if you lads who read this are aware, but, men and women who Served in HM Armed Forces before and/or during World War II are entitled to a Veterans Badge.

There are other groups who Served during World War II who are included, these are:

* Cyprus Regiment
* Home Guard
* Polish Forces under UK Command

Please note, that Veterans who served in Armed Forces of other Countries and those who served alongside HM Armed Forces are not eligible. Examples of these are Canadian Navy or Royal Australian Air Force etc

Service after World War II
Men and Women who enlisted in HM Armed Forces between 3 September 1945 and 31 December 1994 are entitled to a Veterans Badge. There is no qualifying length of Service.

Posthumous requests
It is regrettable that the badge cannot be issued posthumously. The badge is a survivors’ badge, which is to be worn on civilian attire.

The only exceptions are War Widows and Widowers who are in receipt of a War Widows/Widowers Pension paid by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency.

Extensions to the criteria
It is the aim, eventually, to include all those who Served in HM Armed Forces, however the demand for the badge continues to be high.
Once it is known when the eligibility is to be extended for those whose Service began after 31 December 1994, details will be posted on this website.
Unfortunately, we cannot accept requests for badges at this time from people whose Service began after 31 December 1994.

You can get your application forms at the following web address: www.veterans-uk.com

The badge is an enamelled lapel type and comes with a nice little certificate from the Under Secretary of State for Defence. Also this website has some useful info for ex-service personnel.


Cry Haddock! Let slip the Cod of War! Captain Birdseye.

Good call, Fletchy. I'm sure there must still be loadsa people who are unaware of this.

I picked this up on ARRSE at the beginning of the year and thought I'd send off for mine, thinking it'd take yonks and yonks. Instead, it arrived about ten days later, complete, as you say, with a natty certificate.

Mind you, they probably made an extra effort in my case, since I served from 1754 to 1985.

Only that Highlander geezer's got more service than me.

MsG

A whole plethora of veterans badges on E Bay, think I will stick with regimental/battery tie on Friday’s. Wish HMG would do a little more for veterans than gimmicks like this (apologies to those who like badges) but as a RBL caseworker I see on a daily basis where the money could be better spent.

quote:

Originally posted by CdoGunner:
A whole plethora of veterans badges on E Bay, think I will stick with regimental/battery tie on Friday’s. Wish HMG would do a little more for veterans than gimmicks like this (apologies to those who like badges) but as a RBL caseworker I see on a daily basis where the money could be better spent.

True words indeed, CdoGunner (or can I call you BootyPlank? )

Whatever is offered on EBay, I can back up this lapel-badge with my service in the British Army and I'll proudly wear it at any ceremony for the armed forces of the UK.

I've often thought that the MOD should strike a special gong presentable to all services, but not with Her Maj on the obverse, rather with Saint Jude (the patron saint of lost causes).
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintj03.htm
Believe it or not, my old man (RASC 1939 - 1949. Yesss! He was an Irishman (just like me) and he volunteered his services to the British Army; as did his Da before him for the 1914-18 fiasco!) wore a Saint Jude medallion all through WWII (mainly because our local church in Dungarvan, Co. Waterford, ROI was dedicated to the geezer). He (my old man) did the Dunkirk number, was with the 8th Army in North Africa and Italy, and moved on to Germany for the final push. He only suffered a few shrapnel wounds and a bullet graze from a Kraut sniper at Monte Cassino in all that time. What can you say?

Good idea with the St Jude gong or not?

MsG

RSA after observing Cdo Gunner as a subbie on completion of a set of fire orders, Cdo Gunner says “what would you have added to my orders BSM” BSM “a prayer to St Jude sir”

Always thought St Jude would have been a better patron saint for gunners than St Barbara

quote:

Originally posted by CdoGunner:
A whole plethora of veterans badges on E Bay, think I will stick with regimental/battery tie on Friday’s. Wish HMG would do a little more for veterans than gimmicks like this (apologies to those who like badges) but as a RBL caseworker I see on a daily basis where the money could be better spent.

I was just trying to pass on some gen mate, not get a lesson in how crap the government are. This was put on here just to show some guys who have served and not heard about the website or the badge and certificate might like get something from the government. It really does'nt need you to come on here and rubbish a badge and certificate presented for honourable military service.

If you aint got nothing nice to say then maybe it is best not to say it. If you want to bleat and knock the government then start your own thread and do not hijack other peoples to get you political message over.


Cry Haddock! Let slip the Cod of War! Captain Birdseye.

You seem to miss interpret my comments if you like veterans badges marvellous! My point was I could see many other ways that the cash spent on badges could have been spent more directly in aiding veterans in need.

Now since I spend at least three days every week working on behalf of veterans in need I am at least entitled to my view and the number of VB’s on E bay would seem that a fair number of veterans feel the same.

As to governments I cannot think of one in at least the last thousand years that have not treated servicemen with disdain including Elizabeth 1 and her treatment of seamen after the Spanish Amada and up to and including having to collect a recently discharged from hospital Telic veteran who was discharged with no method of getting home.

I am not arguing with over the way we have been treated by an ungrateful and uncaring government and country. What I am saying is, start your own thread if you want to have a go at the way our shameful government and people treat us.

I did not say I particularly needed or wanted Veterans badges, I have a shed full of medals if I want that sort of thing, which incidentally currently reside in the back of a cupboard in one of the bedrooms I think. However for blokes that served when there was not the opportunities for getting medals a Veterans badge and a certificate saying that at least someone was grateful for the time and effort they put in, I think is a nice touch.

We can all point out the shameful way serving as well as ex-serving members are treated, I myself have returned on a few occasions from overseas and have been informed by my own unit MT that they had forgotten us, but that someone would probably be with us in about 6 to 8 hours time.

Transport to hospital by MT is such a pain in the ar*e, that most blokes just say stuff it and use their own transport because MT transport is just so random.

In my 29 years of service I have seen and experienced so many unfair things and been treated like sh*t by the average civilian that I do not expect to be treated any differently now that I have retired. To précis I was sh*t on and treated like sh*t while in the service, I fully expect to be treated the same now I am out of the service.

The average civilian does'nt want to know you while you are in the service, so they will not want to know me now I am out, people like me are a social embarrassment. So to most of the civilians I meet, I do not mention I was ever in the service or what I did, only a few close friends know.

There see now you have me going completely off topic.


Cry Haddock! Let slip the Cod of War! Captain Birdseye.

Um did not think I was getting off topic, glad you have a shed full of medals I seem to have only five plus two rather over the top from our gutra wearing allies. Now I am totally not interested in getting a base metal badge and a meaningless piece of paper from Des Brown. I am only interested in the welfare of serving personnel and the ex service community. If you think that your service re the medical facilities offered to wounded returnees from Telec and relevant to TA soldiers dumped back in the UK rather than a lift back to Waddington from Lincoln County Hospital I do not.


I find civilians quite helpful once the situation of the service community has been explained and have raised £450.00 for the RBL from the local masons this week on the strength of a 10 min talk after one of their festive boards. I am sure that we are never to agree on the VB I am quite happy with a nice letter from Her Maj thanking me for my 29 years service that I added to the collection of citations photographs and commission etc that I display in the downstairs cloakroom possibly because I do not have enough to fill a shed.

Can't be bothered to argue with you.

Get on with it, you know better than anyone else!


Cry Haddock! Let slip the Cod of War! Captain Birdseye.

Ah only to true.

I saw a picture of this badge at
http://www.veterans-uk.info/vets_badge/vets_badge.htm .

I thought they were being sold at
http://www.kellybadge.co.uk ,
but their picture of the badge is just a link to the site shown above.

In the USA, an image like this would wind up on coffee mugs, teacups, t-shirts, mousepads, and bumperstickers. Do military members, retirees, or veterans do much of that in Great Britain - is there much wearing of Army t-shirts, unit t-shirts, ships t-shirts? Do people display their ranks, appointments, unit crests, or qualification badges on shirts, mugs, mousepads, stickers, etc.?

I ask because my search of Google for American images always returns links to shirts, mugs, mousepads, stickers, etc. I don't see it as much if I research United Kingdom images. I see the images on association websites but no so much on merchandise.

Laurion, I know in the USA veterans have all sorts of merchandise to choose from, however here in the UK that just does not happen. I think there are a few reasons as to why this is, some of the main ones are, if you have been in the British military in the last 30 years we have always had a terrorist problem the PIRA being the main one for us. This has made us adopt a low profile for a long time and therefore we do not show out and draw attention to ourselves.

The other main reason is that most of the civilian population in the UK do not like the military very much, they have never liked the military very much. It has always been the case in the UK that everyone wants to know someone in the military, but you would not want one living next door to you. So again most veterans will think it is probably best to adopt a low profile.

To sum up there is not much veterans merchandise here in the UK because the market simply does not exist.


Cry Haddock! Let slip the Cod of War! Captain Birdseye.

quote:

Originally posted by Fletch238:
Laurion, I know in the USA veterans have all sorts of merchandise to choose from, however here in the UK that just does not happen. I think there are a few reasons as to why this is, some of the main ones are, if you have been in the British military in the last 30 years we have always had a terrorist problem the PIRA being the main one for us. This has made us adopt a low profile for a long time and therefore we do not show out and draw attention to ourselves.

The other main reason is that most of the civilian population in the UK do not like the military very much, they have never liked the military very much. It has always been the case in the UK that everyone wants to know someone in the military, but you would not want one living next door to you. So again most veterans will think it is probably best to adopt a low profile.

To sum up there is not much veterans merchandise here in the UK because the market simply does not exist.


Cry Haddock! Let slip the Cod of War! Captain Birdseye.

Absolutely true, Fletch. And to add to your comments, I would say that it is very much linked to our attitude to the flag: some people don't like it because it reminds them of the less noble things done in its name (and any major power has some skeletons in its closet)l another group doesn't like it because it reminds them of what this country once was, and is no more.

With respect to your original post, is such a badge also available to those who served in the Merchant Navy during WWII, and who saw action?

Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by BritishAlly:

quote:

Originally posted by Fletch238:
Laurion, I know in the USA veterans have all sorts of merchandise to choose from, however here in the UK that just does not happen. I think there are a few reasons as to why this is, some of the main ones are, if you have been in the British military in the last 30 years we have always had a terrorist problem the PIRA being the main one for us. This has made us adopt a low profile for a long time and therefore we do not show out and draw attention to ourselves.

The other main reason is that most of the civilian population in the UK do not like the military very much, they have never liked the military very much. It has always been the case in the UK that everyone wants to know someone in the military, but you would not want one living next door to you. So again most veterans will think it is probably best to adopt a low profile.

To sum up there is not much veterans merchandise here in the UK because the market simply does not exist.


Cry Haddock! Let slip the Cod of War! Captain Birdseye.

Absolutely true, Fletch. And to add to your comments, I would say that it is very much linked to our attitude to the flag: some people don't like it because it reminds them of the less noble things done in its name (and any major power has some skeletons in its closet)l another group doesn't like it because it reminds them of what this country once was, and is no more.

With respect to your original post, is such a badge also available to those who served in the Merchant Navy during WWII, and who saw action?

Thanks.

You are quite correct of course BritishAlly with your stated reasons as well.

To answer your question, yes a UK Merchant Seafarers Veterans Badge is available using the same web address, which is as follows: http://www.veterans-uk.com/vets_badge/vets_badge.htm

Cry Haddock! Let slip the Cod of War! Captain Birdseye.

quote:

Originally posted by Fletch238:

.......To sum up there is not much veterans merchandise here in the UK because the market simply does not exist....

I accept and understand what you are saying, however I did see some merchandise in the various Regimental and Squadron Museums throughout the UK but certainly not to the same degree that you would find in the USA.

quote:

Originally posted by Fletch238:
You are quite correct of course BritishAlly with your stated reasons as well.

To answer your question, yes a UK Merchant Seafarers Veterans Badge is available using the same web address, which is as follows: http://www.veterans-uk.com/vets_badge/vets_badge.htm

Cry Haddock! Let slip the Cod of War! Captain Birdseye.

Thanks Fletch - I have an elderly relative who would like - and who truly deserves - such a badge.

If you visit any of the regimental web sites for British units the PRI shop will have rather nice tie pin/lapel badges at very reasonable prices. Also most regimental museums web sites have articles linked to their regiments have a look at the RA museum at:
http://www.firepower.org.uk/shop.php?PHPSESSID=32e38be5...b6cc2f47d8a07609418e

I understand lesser regiments also have similar items even dare I say the Household Brigade at: http://www.guards-shop.com/

Meanwhile I will go back to my wind up musical RA mug which plays a selection of regimental marches.

On a more serious note if any merchant seamen who served on the Russian convoys who has not received the medal issued by the Russian government they can be applied for at: www.veterans-uk.info/medals/russian.html

Fletch238, BritishAlly, and Irish Guard, thank you for your well-reasoned answers that take your culture into account. (It is said that we're two peoples divided by a common language.)

As to terrorism, I think most Americans feel insulated - September 11 memories hovering. I think a difference is group terrorism versus individual terrorism. I'd guess that common thinking is terrorists who infiltrate the US will attack something major to justify the expense and effort. It didn't really matter what coffee mugs or mousepads were displayed in the World Trade Center before it was attacked. I think we fear attacks on large infrastructure, vice a random person wearing a USMC t-shirt.

Your other issue of public perceptions is probably a shared one, particularly Fletch 238's comment: "everyone wants to know someone in the military, but you would not want one living next door to you." In the US, I think, it's not so much dislike as class prejudice that service members are too young, too immature, and too low class. "Thank you for your service, but I'm glad my son got into computers."

During the Vietnam War, American soldiers were called "baby-killers" and were denied homecomings because individuals rotated into and out of units. The whole unit didn't go together and didn't return together.

Today, when units return from Iraq or Afghanistan, there may be some homecoming efforts by the city in which the base is located, but the soldiers or sailors are recruited from all over the country and don't really see hometown festivities of any kind. An exception is emerging, though. Since the present administration relies on Reserve Units and National Guard Units to an extent not seen since World War II, local groups of people are travelling as a single entity and returning 18 months later. Individual communities seem more welcoming of "their" troops than of people just garrisoned here. But after the parade is over, the unit members are expected to dissolve into civilians again.

Most Americans "support the troops" by putting a magnet shaped like a yellow ribbon on the surface of their car. They don't contribute to the USO or the individual service relief agencies, and they hope their own children don't enlist. Because most are not highly paid, many service members live aboard bases in a housing area or in military blocks of housing off base. There are well-intentioned civilians who will say "thank you" and offer a handshake in an airport.

Military veteran merchandise mostly draws remarks only from other veterans. "I see you were a Chief in the Coast Guard. I was in the Navy. What rating were you in?"

Veterans and military retirees usually continue working as civilians in jobs that won't allow t-shirts, but a mousepad or coffee mug will usually serve to display past affiliations.

We in the UK probably have a different reaction to terrorism; we had thirty years or so of the various factions of Irish republican terrorists (or freedom fighters if you come from Boston MA). Our military has been reduced to its lowest strength since the end of WW2 with a level of commitment in both Afghanistan and Iraq, which cannot be met with the manning levels of our regular forces. We now have to use our reserve force which have been slashed to a level of less than 35000 and will now be even further reduced to save a paltry GBP5 million.

Our soldiers are appreciated by the civilian population in a rather distanced way, the chances that any Brit will know a soldier is rather low with an army of roughly 100,000 in a of population of 60 million and with the amalgamation of many county regiments into “super regiments” with very little local contact with the local civil population. We have no designated military hospitals and are dependent on our National Health Service to look after our wounded servicemen and certainly reservists returning from active services get very little or no support.

However when we go out to raise money for service charities we seem to be able to raise a goodly sum of cash so our civilians do seem to appreciate the effort of our servicemen and woman.