Dating Nursing Badges

[backman]

As discussed in a neighbouring thread,it can be difficult to put definitive dates to specific patterns of badges inless they are inscribed with an issue date or are hallmarked.It might therefore be useful to start a thread to discuss some of the pointers to narrow down the dating of unmarked badges.
   The most obvious indicator of issue date will be formal engraving on the badge,i.e. K.Lane 1940-44 (rear of Brass Poplar Hospital),the only caveat is that sometimes the badge may date to later than the training dates.The good example being the St Thomas's Badge which can carry training dates to the 1890s despite being first isssued in the 1920s.
   Silver hallmarks are yet another useful dating tool although this can take a good magnifying glass and a simple reference book such as "English Silver Hallmarks -Judith Bannister".Caution needs to be taken not to confuse similar styles of hallmark which may skew dates out by 25 years.
    Some clues may lie in the terminology used on the badges.Many older Infirmaries, which were often associated with the workhouse system,changed their titles to become Hospitals in the 1920s( One medal I have for St Maylebone Infirmary is dated 1920-23 whilst the same design with the title changed to Hospital is dated 1923-26) Many of the Workhouse Infirmaries finally changed to hospitals with the transfer of these to Local councils in 1930.Probably the most known of this group are the London County Council enamelled blue cross designs which were in use from 1930-48.
.................To be continued