SILVER WAR BADGE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIII, Issue 74, 28 March 1919, Page 5

SILVER WAR BADGE

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 weaving. Returning soldiers, who will in due course, get the official commemorative- w&r medal after peace is signed ask-why they should ■ have to wait for their mddalNvhen others are already wearing a distinction. But the important fact is that this} round medal is in no; sense a military distinction, but ihore properly a badge of exemption, an improvement upon the arm badges which were bnce 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 sendee. These men have placed themselves at the disposal of the military authorities, they have hot been able to continue to render service in the fighting line, and they were entitled to something which would distinguish them, when in civilian: clothes during war time and the operation of compulsory military service; from Ahose 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 rate, tried to do what they could for the defence'of their country.