Imperial War Service: |
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| The Territorial Force (TF) was created on 1 April 1908 from the old
Volunteers and Yeomanry and was a pure home defence force. In 1910/11
the Government polled units to see if there were members willing to
serve overseas in time of crisis. Individual members who accepted this
commitment joined the 'Imperial Service Section' and were entitled to
wear the silver 'Imperial Service' badge (instituted in 1912) on the right breast. There are no records to who the badge was issued to.
The Imperial Service badge is worth between £12 to £15 and part of my
collection of medals and badges. Shown here larger than life, the
actual size is 10mm x 43mm.
If a unit had 90% of its establishment volunteer, the soubriquet' Imperial Service' was conferred. Prior to the outbreak of WW1 only three Territorial Force infantry battalions met this challenge, the first was the 7th (Imperial Service) Battalion, the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) followed by the 8th (Imperial Service) Battalion, the Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex Regiment) and the 6th (Imperial Service) Battalion, the East Surrey Regiment. |
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