Material: Gilt metal with blue, white, and red enamel
Size: 20 mm
Description: This attractive nautical pinback badge features a vibrant gilded house flag waving dynamically within a textured, gold-grained central circle. The flag displays a white swallowtail field bisected by a bold red saltire cross, representing the classic maritime standard of the British India Steam Navigation Company. Framing the central design is a deep blue enamel outer ring detailed with thin gold borders, cleanly showcasing the embossed text "S.S. 'UGANDA'" arched across the top field.
Reverse: Plain gilt metal with single horizontal pin fitting.
Circa: Mid to late 20th Century
Notes:
The S.S. Uganda originally launched as a luxury passenger and cargo liner in 1952. In 1968, she underwent a massive refit to transform into a dedicated educational cruise ship, taking hundreds of thousands of British school children on memorable journeys around the Mediterranean and Scandinavia.
In 1982, the vessel was abruptly requisitioned by the British government for service in the Falklands War. It was quickly refitted into a hospital ship, complete with a helicopter landing platform, and went on to care for over 700 casualties during the conflict.