SILVER WAR BADGES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1958, 29 March 1919, Page 1

SILVER WAR BADGES.

NOT A MILITARY MEDAL,

Wellington, This Day

A good deal of misapprehension has arisen over the round silver war badge which many New Zealanders are wearing. Returning soldiers, who will in due course get the official commemorative war modal after peace is signed, ask why they should have to wait for their medal when others are already wearing a 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 the arm badges which were once worn in the Dominion.

' The principle underlying the issue of the Silver War Badge is that this award is for those only who have been compelled to relinquish their appointments 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 service. These men have placed themselves at the disposal of the military authorities, they have not been able to continue tc render service in the lighting line, and they were entitled to something which would distinguish them, when in civilian clothes during war time and (he operation of compulsory military service, from those civilians who had not rendered service. Now the war is over, the real value of the badge has ceased, though the owner continues to wear it as an indication that they, at any rale, tried to do what they could for the defence of their country.