Rare WW2 Devon Emergency Land Workers lapel badge.

Rare WW2 Devon Emergency Land Workers lapel badge.

During the war, farm labour was run county by county through the War Agricultural Executive Committees. These were re-formed in autumn 1939 with wide powers over farmers and land in each county.  Alongside the Women’s Land Army, huge numbers of ordinary civilians did part-time and harvest work, including the Emergency Land Corps and the many Voluntary Land Clubs, whose contribution went unrecorded in official statistics.

Gilded brass and enamel lapel badge measuring 20mm x 15mm across. The maker mark reads Thomas Fattorini Ltd, Regent St, Birmingham. The firm became Thomas Fattorini Ltd at Regent Street Works, Birmingham in 1928,  having moved to Regent Street in 1927 and dropped “Birmingham” from the company name.  So the badge cannot pre-date 1927, which rules out a First World War piece.