WW2 Steel, Peech and Tozer A.R.P lapel badge

Rare black enamel on chromed metal lapel badge with just the right amount of service wear to be a true “been there” example actually worn by an employee.

The company

Steel, Peech and Tozer, locally known as “Steelos,” was a large steel maker with works at Ickles and Templeborough in Rotherham, South Yorkshire . It formed in 1875 when Henry Steel, William Peech and Mr. Hampton bought the failed Phoenix Bessemer Steel Works, later renaming when Edward Tozer replaced Hampton . During WWI it became a major shell-steel producer, and James Peech convinced the government to fund a huge new works at Templeborough, making it the largest steelworks in Europe by the war’s end . By WWII it was part of the United Steel Companies group, so obviously a company with tens of thousands of employees had an obvious need for its own ARP (Air Raid Precautions) first aid units on site.