Founder Organisations of the British Legion Badges
The
Silver Badge Party (The National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized
Sailors and Soldiers) was the unofficial title for a political movement existing in
the United Kingdom during and immediately after the Great War 1914-1918. The
unofficial party consisted of several groups representing the political
interests of former service personnel who had fought in the war. A silver badge
was issued to all servicemen on their discharge in recognition of their service.
First to be formed was the National Association of Discharged Sailors and
Soldiers
,
established following a meeting in Blackburn in September 1916 and initially
linked to the labour and trade union movement. In April 1917, the Asquith
Liberal MP James Hogge sponsored a meeting at the National Liberal Club over the
Military Service (Review of Exceptions) Bill, which proposed to reclassify those
invalided out of the army to identify those who might be recalled to service.
This meeting led to the formation of the National Federation of Discharged and
Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers.
The National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers
decided to fight by elections to put its message across. In the Liverpool
Abercromby by election in June 1917, the National
Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers candidate polled a
quarter of the vote. In the 1918 UK general election its National Executive
approved five candidates, and local branches sponsored 25 more, considered
Independent National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and
Soldiers candidates. In three Leeds constituencies, the candidates were
nominated jointly by the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized
Sailors and Soldiers, the
National
Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers and the Comrades of
the Great War. None of the candidates were elected although many polled
substantial votes. In addition, the National Association of Discharged Sailors
and Soldiers sponsored a candidate in Sowerby in unusual
circumstances in which he inherited the position of unofficial Conservative
Party candidate, and won.
The groups were politically diverse. Hogge was a left-wing Liberal, and most of
the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers were
similarly left wing: among the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized
Sailors and Soldiers candidates was Ernest Thurtle, who later became a Labour
Party MP. Henry Hamilton Beamish was a member of both the Vigilante Society and
the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers
. In the 1918 general election he was one of the candidates sponsored by the
National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers
branches but not approved by the National Federation of Discharged and
Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers National Executive, again in
Clapham.
Following the election, none of the groups continued in active party politics.
James Hogge resigned as President of the National Federation of Discharged and
Demobilized Sailors and Soldiers in January 1919. Following pressure
from Earl Haig, the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilized Sailors
and Soldiers lifted its ban on officers being members in June 1919
and the three* groups together with the Officers' Association began merger talks.
At a Unity conference on May 14-15, 1921, they merged to form the British
Legion.
*Although not strictly speaking a founder organisation of the Legion, the
National Union of Ex-servicemen is worth a mention if only by way of their
badge which comes in two version metal & enamel, gilt & enamel. The National Union of Ex-servicemen did play a small part in British
Legion history. The National Union of Ex-servicemen initially took part in the
unity talks of August 1920 having previously been excluded from taking part, but
decided to go their own way. Graham Wotton's book "the official history of
the BRITISH LEGION" 1956 implies that were a very militant far left almost
Marxist organisation that had been excluded from some of the early talks because
of their political leanings.
Click on images to enlarge them
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National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers (1916)
Members Lapel Badge
Batty & Sons Manchester
Enamel Badges
