Material: Sterling Silver
Size: 15 mm × 25 mm
Design: This original pre-WWII period military insignia was produced by the Royal Mint to be worn on civilian clothing by enlisted members of the British home defense reserve units. The circular openwork emblem features the stylized, interlaced block letters "TA" suspended inside a protective silver ring. At the top of the design sits a finely detailed Tudor King's Crown, which reflects the reign of King George VI, while the very bottom of the ring is anchored by a front-facing, roaring British lion's head mask flanked by delicate stylized scrollwork. Measuring 15mm in width by 25mm in height, this compact badge features a wide, crescent-shaped brass buttonhole backing designed to fit securely into a jacket lapel.
Reverse: While the primary front emblem of the badge was officially struck in solid sterling silver by the Royal Mint, the reverse buttonhole clip was manufactured as a separate component out of durable gilding metal or brass. Because these metals carry a distinct golden hue, the Royal Mint treated the final assembly to a chemical plating or "silver-wash" bath to give the entire piece a uniform, professional silver finish before it left the factory. Stamped 210107.
Circa: 1930s – 1940s
Notes:
Announced officially to Parliament in March 1938, the War Office authorized this specific token so that members of the rapidly expanding Territorial Army could proudly demonstrate their voluntary military commitment to the public while dressed in daily civilian business suits. The distribution program ceased abruptly in September 1939 upon the outbreak of the Second World War, when the reserve units were mobilized into active service and fully absorbed into the regular British Army.
Because these badges are individually serialized, advanced military researchers can occasionally trace the stamped number back to regional enlistment ledgers or master roll archives to discover the exact unit or soldier it was issued to. While the front badge component was officially struck by the Royal Mint out of high-grade sterling silver, it was left completely devoid of standard hallmarks, making the distinctive stamped typography on the reverse brass clip the key identifier of an authentic government contract piece.