{"product_id":"second-world-war-merchant-navy-mn-lapel-badge","title":"Second World War Merchant Navy 'MN' lapel badge","description":"\u003cp\u003eSecond World War Merchant Navy 'MN' , ON WAR SERVICE lapel badge\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn original Second World War Merchant Navy lapel badge: the letters MN\u003cbr\u003ewithin an oval of rope, knotted with a reef knot at the base, the whole\u003cbr\u003esurmounted by a naval crown. Fitted to the reverse with the crescent, or\u003cbr\u003ehalf moon, buttonhole fastener of the official issue pattern.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis small badge carried a considerable weight of meaning. Merchant Navy\u003cbr\u003eofficers wore the uniform of the shipping line they sailed with, but most\u003cbr\u003emerchant seamen ashore wore ordinary civilian clothes. There was nothing\u003cbr\u003eto mark them out. In the First World War that had been a real grievance:\u003cbr\u003eno badge was issued, and merchant seafarers in port were frequently taken\u003cbr\u003efor men avoiding service, despite the merchant fleet losing some 2,500\u003cbr\u003eships and around 15,000 men.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Board of Trade did not repeat the mistake. A lapel badge was approved\u003cbr\u003ein 1939 and the Royal Mint struck 734,000 of them that year, in sterling\u003cbr\u003esilver and approved by the King. Issue began on 1 January 1940 to all\u003cbr\u003eofficers and men of the Merchant Navy, and it served as both an identity\u003cbr\u003ebadge and a National Service badge. It was not restricted to British\u003cbr\u003eseamen: crews of allied merchantmen and foreign nationals serving in\u003cbr\u003eBritish registered ships received it too. Issue ended on 31 December 1946,\u003cbr\u003ethough nobody was ever told to stop wearing one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWorn on the lapel, it said plainly that the man in the civilian suit was\u003cbr\u003ecrossing the Atlantic in convoy. The Merchant Navy suffered a higher\u003cbr\u003eproportional casualty rate than any of the armed services in the Second\u003cbr\u003eWorld War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA well worn, honest example with good age patina and the fastener intact.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gradia Militaria","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54046060806472,"sku":"10159","price":12.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0924\/1103\/5976\/files\/IMG-2404.heic?v=1789217968","url":"https:\/\/www.gradiamilitaria.com\/products\/second-world-war-merchant-navy-mn-lapel-badge","provider":"Gradia Militaria","version":"1.0","type":"link"}