The Silver War Badge (SWB), often referred to as the Wound Badge, Services Rendered Badge or Discharge Badge, was introduced in September 1916 and was awarded retrospectively to service personnel who had been honourably discharged, usually due to wounds or sickness, since the outbreak of World War One in August 1914. Designed to be worn on civilian clothes only, the main purpose of the badge was to provide visual evidence that the recipient had undertaken military service in some capacity but was now no longer physically or mentally fit.
Approximately 1,150,000 badges were issued during the First World War, with those suffering disability in operational theatres of war also eligible for an official certificate of entitlement, colloquially called the King’s Certificate, that was introduced in May 1918. Qualification for the Silver War Badge did not necessarily entitle the recipient to the certificate if he had not served overseas. The most common reason for discharge fell under King’s Regulations Paragraph 392 (xvi) – No longer physically fit for war service – however, an indiviual could be discharged for a wide variety of reasons (see below). Those discharged on expiry of normal terms of engagement did NOT qualify for the SWB.
King’s Regulations 392
- (i) References on enlistment being unsatisfactory.
- (ii) Having been irregularly enlisted.
- (iii) Not likely to become an efficient soldier (with subclauses as below).
- (a) Recruit rejected both by Medical Officer and Approving Officer.
- (b) Recruit passed by Medical Officer, but rejected by a Recruiting Officer stationed away from the headquarters of the recruiting area, or by Approving Officer.
- (c) Recruit within three months of enlistment considered unfit for service.
- (cc) Recruits with more than three months service considered unfit for further military service.
- (d) Recruit who after having undergone a course of physical training is recommended by an examining board to be discharged, or in the case of a mounted corps is unable to ride.
- (e) Soldier of local battalion abroad considered unlikely to become efficient.
- (f) Boy who, on reaching 18 years of age, is considered to be physically unfit for the ranks.
- (iv) Having been claimed as an apprentice.
- (v) Having claimed it on payment of £10 within three months of his attestation.
- (vi) Having made a mis-statement as to age on enlistment (with subclauses as below).
- (a) Soldier under 17 years of age at date of application for discharge.
- (b) Soldier between 17 and 18 years of age at date of application for discharge.
- (vii) Having been claimed for wife desertion (with subclauses as below).
- (a) By the parish authorities.
- (b) By the wife.
- (viii) Having made a false answer on attestation.
- (ix) Unfitted for the duties of the corps.
- (x) Having been convicted by the civil power of_____, or of an offence committed before enlistment.
- (xi) For misconduct.
- (xii) Having been sentenced to penal servitude.
- (xiii) Having been sentenced to be discharged with ignominy.
- (xiv) At his own request, on payment of _____ under Article 1130 (i), Pay Warrant.
- (xv) Free, after ____ years’ service under Article 1130 (ii), Pay Warrant (with subclauses as below).
- (xva) Free under Article 1130 (i), Pay Warrant.
- (xvb) Free to take up civil employment which cannot be held open.
- (xvi) No longer physically fit for war service.
- (xvia) Surplus to military requirements (having suffered impairment since entry into the service).
- (xvii) –
- (xviii) At his own request after 18 years service (with a view to pension under the Pay Warrant).
- (xix) For the benefit of the the public service after 18 years’ service (with a view to pension under the Pay Warrant).
- (xx) Inefficiency after 18 years’ service (with a view to pension under the Pay Warrant).
- (xxi) The termination of his ____ period of engagement.
- (xxii) With less than 21 years’ service towards engagement, but with 21 or more years’ service towards pension.
- (xxiii) Having claimed discharge after three months’ notice.
- (xxiv) Having reached the age for discharge.
- (xxv) His services being no longer required.
- (xxva) Surplus to military requirements (Not having suffered impairment since entry into the service).
- (xxvi) At his own request after 21 (or more) years’ service (with a view to pension under the Pay Warrant).
- (xxvii) After 21 (or more) years’ qualifying service for pension, and with 5 (or more) years’ service as warrant officer (with a view to pension under the Pay Warrant).
- (xxviii) On demobilization.
