WW2 Ministry of Health Hospital Service lapel badge.

WW2-era “Ministry of Health Hospital Service” home front badge, made in white metal (nickel-plated) with red enamel around the title band and blue enamel on the central bar. The maker’s mark “W.H.M” on the reverse identifies it as made by W.H. Miller Ltd (Birmingham).

Era and purpose

It dates to the Second World War, issued as part of the government’s Emergency Hospital Service (also called Emergency Medical Service), which the Ministry of Health set up from 1938–39 to prepare Britain’s hospitals for anticipated air-raid casualties. Badges like this were worn by home-front volunteers and staff attached to the wartime hospital service