Can you identify this medal?

[Womble_Lancs]

This medal was awarded to my friend, Dick Robinson's Great Aunt, who served as a Nursing Sister on the front lines of France from 1915 to 1919. They have no idea where it is from and what it signifies, or even if it is an official medal.

She was a member of the Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service Reserve, and she was also awarded the Military OBE, the Royal Red Cross First Class, the 1914 Star, British War Medal 1914-1918, the Victory Medal 1914-1918 and the Medaille de la Reine Elisabeth.

My friend has published her diaries on the Internet, and some of you may be interested to read them here: Edith Appleton.

If anyone knows what the mystery medal is, please could you let me or Dick know? Dick's contact details are on the Edith Appleton website.

 

[Shambling Shaman]

Looks like the Kings crown, so date would be right, have posted on a different forum so if the vast knowledge of BcUk fails we have a back up

 

[scanker]

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080909163726AANp1ws ?

 

[Barn Owl]

Don't suppose w v stands for womens volunteers or that ilk?

 

[Womble_Lancs]

I've just been on to the Army Medical Services Museum, and they don't know what it is, but said it is definitely British.

 

[Womble_Lancs]

If you're interested, the tale is on BBC Radio 4 now, in the programme 'Making History'.

 

[crazydave]

I would say its not a medal as such but a pin similar to a cap or lapel badge to identify the service the wearer was in. just a guess but probably a womens voluntary corps and be supplimentary to the quaranc and ramc. similar to red cross nurses.

 

[Womble_Lancs]

I have a bit more info now. You're right, Dave, it's a badge and has "JWGaunt London" and the number 76403 stamped on the back.

I've found out that JW Gaunt were taken over by Firmin Ltd, so I've e-mailed them to ask. I've also e-mailed the WRVS (formerly known as WVS) to see if it's one of theirs, although they didn't come into being until the late 1930s but, as the man at the Army Medical Services Museum said, she may have volunteered during WWII too - she died in 1958.

 

[Womble_Lancs]

I've just had a reply from the WRVS:

"The badge in question is not actually anything to do with WVS. It is a First World War Badge for women volunteers."

Other than that, unfortunately, they don't know anything about it.

 

[scanker]

You could also try asking on this forum: http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/forums/

 

[crazydave]

so basically its what nowadays would be a red cross badge. it will have been to let people know that she was meant to be there and was staff.

bit like proper quarancs wore nursing whites instead of a uniform like the ramc

 

[Womble_Lancs]

I now know exactly what it is, and it's not a women's badge at all - another friend has one in his collection.

The 'WV' stands for 'War Volunteer' and were worn to prevent ignorant people calling them cowards for not being in the armed forces, and being given white feathers.

It would appear that the badge did not belong to Edith Appleton because she was military personnel, although it was found in the same box as her medals, which is what threw us off-track.

 

[Shambling Shaman]

Got this from a mate..

Womens Voluntary Services Cap Badge.
http://www.kellybadge.co.uk/images/J5E891.jpg you can see the similarities in this button
apparently quite rare as most had the S included but some were made without the s.

One more bit of info.