New Zealand's (NZ) famous Onward Badge

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New Zealand's famous Onward badge

many images from Phillip James, New Zealand


Early pattern WW1 NZ hat & collar set.	NZ Onward collar dogs.

<<< New Zealand Expeditionary Force sweetheart badge

circa 1915

New Zealand Expeditionary Force badge, possibly sand cast >>>


Variations of the NZEF "Expeditionary Force" badges


WW1 New Zealand Expeditionary Force silver sweetheart cap badge. Measures 35mm high. Excellent condition with broach fitting.	9 caret gold NZ Onward Second World War Sweetheart Pendent


Early "cut NZ" version	British Section, NZ Expeditionary Force

The "Onward" hat badge & collar dogs started life as the NZ Expeditionary Force badge with matching collar dogs. This was later replaced by the badge originally created for the British Section of the NZEF. Although the Unit was one of the shortest lived Units of all time it's badge went on to make history. There were several variations of the wreath, oak-leaves (originally) and ferns (later).
The British Section of the NZEF was formed by New Zealanders living in England and, with a strength of 7 Officers and 233 men sailed for Egypt on 12 December 1914. It was dissolved the following day and the men were absorbed into the Army Service Corps and an Engineer Field Company.
Their "Onward" badge went on to become the general service badge of the NZEF & 2NZEF.

Some of the early "Onward" badges were made with oak leaf wreaths not the later and more common fern leaf.

This is one of them.

With wear it is sometimes hard to tell the difference but it is very important to collectors.

Note that this bade has a slider, not lugs and a pin. This allowed the badge to be slid down over the puggaree.

Silvered NZ "Onward" general service badge

Enameled "Onward" badge

Onward badge in polished Brass

Worn by 53879 Private Alfred Edward Parker who served in the Canterbury Infantry Regiment of the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces during the First World War. Parker was born in 1878 and he worked as a bank accountant until his enlistment in the NZEF on 17 April 1917. Parker served on the Western Front and was discharged from service on 17 September 1919. Collar badge shown above left, not to scale. Held at the AWM


The YMCA "borrowed" the basic design for it's war time activities in support of the troops.	Note variations in the Crown/s




	This recently appeared on a NZ based auction site. It was advertised as a "Camp Followers Badge". It is made from a genuine Expeditionary Force badge and part of a "Middlesex" shoulder title. It shows that nothing is sacred anymore.

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