British Legion Women's Section Honorary & Associate Member Badges
Honorary Membership
Women's Section
Honorary Membership started in 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 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 were allowed to keep their Honorary status as they had
the right to vote new members became Associate and Honorary Membership became the
the province of serving members of HM Forces only, but in 1986 this all changed
when the membership fees were introduced.
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 1923-1946 British Legion Women's Section 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 42 mm x 28mm in
size. The design of the badge was registered RD 688125 can usually be found at
the bottom of the badge.
The design of the British Legion Women's Section 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 1946 the British
Legion Women's Section badge became noticeably smaller this is assumed to have taken place due to
the war time metal shortage.
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Royal British Legion
Women's Section
Associate Member
(1973-1987)
J.R. Gaunt London
42mm x 28mm
Donated By
Mr Jeff King
