SILVER WAR BADGE.

Taihape Daily Times, 28 March 1919, Page 4

SILVER WAR BADGE.

| o | NOT A MILITARY MEDAL. I _____ | (Special to the “Taiiiape Times.”) I | WELLINGTON, This Day. i A good deal of misapprehension has j arisen over the round silver war badge j which many New Zealanders 'fare I wearing. Returning soldiers, who will in duo course get the official eommo- | rativc war medal aftep peace is signed, , ask why they should have to wait for their mddal when others arc 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 ami badges which wc,re 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 Grown on account of old ago, 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 to render service in the fighting line, an'd they were entitled to something which would distinguish them. when in civilian clothes during war time and the 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 wmar it as an. indication that he, at any rate, tried to do what he could for the defence of his country.