WW1 Home Front - Norwich City (Norfolk) Civilians Emergency White Metal Lapel Badge

Die struck in white metal with original pin fitting.
Embossed with a relatively low service number ''839". Circa 4.9cms tall. In superb condition. Scarce.

This badge is often listed as a Norwich Special Constabulary badge but it is, in fact, a first world war badge for the Norwich Civilians Emergency Corps formed in 1914 and active in 1915. See accompanying photo from flickr which is captioned "Norwich Civilians Emergency Corps Parade" showing a large number of men parading, with relatively big light coloured lapel badges. Not too big a stretch to say it is the same badge as that listed here.

As such, this badge is not specifically mentioned in Wilkinson & Cowdell as a special constable item, but this particular type of shield shape is represented in an advert from Hudson & Co for new badge designs introduced in 1919 (see page 154 of Wilkinson & Cowdell's 'Special Constabulary Insignia of England & Wales' (2nd Edn)) and also the West Suffolk Constabulary pattern in Fig 2 on page 143 which is noted as a private purchase item.

Comm DaMc (573)

Code: 65868