SILVER WAR BADGE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 157, 28 March 1919, Page 8

SILVER WAR BADGE

NOT A MILITARY MEDAL.

A good deal of misapprehension has arisen over the round silver war badge which many New Zealaiiders are wearing. Returning soldiers, who will in duo course get the official commemorative war- medal after peace is signed, ask wliv tliev should have to wait for their medal when others are already wearing p. distinction. But the important fact is that this round medal is in no sense a military distinction, but more properly a badge of exemption, an improvement upon tho arm badges which were worn in tho Dominion. Tlio principle underlying the issuo of tho silver war badge is that this award is for those onlv who have been compelled to relinquish their appointmants with the armed forces of the Crown on account of old age, wounds, or sickness, the disability being such as to render them permanently and totally disabled for further military servico. These men have, placed themselves at the disposal of tho military authorities, they havo not been able to continue to render service in the fighting line, and they were entitled to something which would distinguish t.hem, when in civilian clothes during war-time and the operation of compulsorv military service, from those civilians who had not rendered service. Now the war is over the rea'l value of tho badge has ceased, though the owners conlinuo to wear it as an indication that they, at any- rate, tried to do what they could for tlie defence of their country.