British Legion Associate & Honorary Badge
Honorary Membership
Honorary Membership started in an around 1922 and 1923 for the Women's Section.
At that time this membership category was primarily civilians who a branch
thought worthy were awarded Honorary Membership, or who felt strongly about the
cause that they volunteered there services to assist those who at fought in The
Great War. Latterly this membership included serving servicemen, servicewomen
and in the 1960s membership to British Legion Clubs. Honorary membership had a
limitation placed upon them initially that no more than 10% of the membership
could be Honorary Members, from 1969 onwards it became a 60: 40 rule.
Associate Membership
After 1973 non serving Honorary Members became Associate and Honorary Membership became the
sole province of serving members of HM Forces only, but in 1981 this all changed when
they were admitted to Ordinary Membership.
Enamel Badge Manufacturers
In this online exhibition of Royal British Legion (RBL) and British Legion (BL)
Honorary & Associate membership numbered badges, examples can be found from the
following enamel badge manufacturers:
Birmingham Medal Company - BL
J. R. Gaunt, London - RBL, BL
Premier Badges - RBL
Badge Construction
The construction of 1922-1947 British Legion Honorary Member Badge is of naval
blue enamel over polished brass, with a horizontal white enamel crossbar with
the wording "HONORARY" in uppercase and measuring 1" x 1" (26mm x 26mm) in size.
The design of the badge was registered RD 688125 can usually be found at the
bottom of the badge. The Women's Section version of this badge dates from 1923.
The design of the British Legion Associate & Honorary badge has remained the
same there are some variations mainly in the design of the corporate lion logo
and of course the metal of manufacture. Post WW2 in around 1947 the British
Legion badge became noticeably smaller from 1" x 1" (26mm x 26mm) to 0.75" x
0.75" (20mm x 20mm) this is assumed to have taken place due to metal shortage
caused.
The Royal British Legion now has a Single Membership, giving all members equal
rights to participate in Branch, County and National decision-making processes
of the organisation. The Associate Member's Badge, has become obsolete and has
been consigned to history...
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Royal British Legion
Associate Member
Premier Badge Company
Polished Gilt
(1987-2005)
20mm x 28mm
