ARM BADGES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2860, 26 August 1916, Page 11

ARM BADGES

>* NEW KEGULATIONS TO BE ENFORCED ON SEPTEMBER 4

As previously indicated, it has now boon decided to niako now regulations under tho War Regulations Act, 1914, with respect to tho issuo and wearing of aiin badges. This decision is largely tho outcomo of representations that have been mado by roturnod discharged themselves, who have complained of unauthorised persons wearing badgos which, though not official, are indicative to the public mind of honourable servico and discharge. Tho chairman of tho Recruiting Board (the Right Hon. W. F. Massoy) has issued the following notification:—Badges of various sorts havo been adopted and worn- on the arm in place of the distinctive official khaki and red badges by men entitled to.wear them, and it is this practice which has enabled the abuse to creep in. There is only one effective method of preventing tho improper use of war badges, and that is by absolutely prohibiting any person, whether a volunteer who is waiting to be called up or has not been accepted for service, or a returned discharged soldier, from wearing on the arm any badge other than the official badge issued by the Defence authorities as a token of willingness to servo, or of honourable service in the great war. This is. to be done by the amended war regulations, and the new rule' is to take effect from Monday, Septe'niber 4. Thereafter, until the end of tho war, it will be an offence for any man to wear any badge on the arm' other than the approved badge, or a badgo indicative of military, naval, or official rank, or a badge indicatives of mourning. The principal provisions of the proposed regulations will be found in paragraphs 8 and.9, which will read:— . "8. No man, whether a badge has been so duly issued, to him or not, shall wear upon his arm any badge of any description other than; "(a) An approved badgo lawfully issued to him under these regulations or under tho war regulations of March 29, 1916, relative to the officers und crews of transports; or "(b) A badge indicative of military, naval, or official rank; or "(c) A badge indicative of

mourning. "9. No man to whom an approved badge, has been issued under theso regulations shall ■ wear that badge, whether on his arm or otherwise, in any mutilated or substantially altered form." In order to guard against unauthorised persons wearing an approved arm .badge, it is proposed to make full uso of the power conferred by the regulations to challenge any man wearing an arm badgo to produce his card of authority to wear it. This card is to bo produced at the request of any military officer, constable, or non-commissioned officer of an Expeditionary Forco, or of the Permanent Staff.. All men, therefore, to whom official arm badges have boon duly issued are warned that they must, on aud after 'Monday, September i, wear only the official arm badge and uofc any mutilated or altered form of it, and that at all times while wearing this official badge they must have the card of authority to wear in their personal possession. In order to meet an objection that has been raised to tho appearance of tho arm badge after it has been worn for some time, it lias been decided to fix a period as the fair wearable life of a badge, and to renew the issue at the expiration of that period. Such renowal will be mado tree of cost, but will bo subject to tho return of the worn-out badge.. Tho new regulation Will not in any way interfere with the'wearing on the coat lapel of • the silver devico which has been adopted by the Returned Soldiers' Association, or> of any other badge or token.-The prohibition applies to the wearing on the arm of a badge of any description other than tho official badge.