First World War period Liverpool Pals Sweetheart Badge, frosted silver, the obverse depicting the Liver Bird of Liverpool, and the Latin motto ‘Sans Changer’, the reverse is impressed ‘STERLING SILVER’, and no makers mark, and the badge measures 30 mm from top to bottom and approximately 28 mm across the face. The reverse is also fitted with a horizontal needle pin and catch. A most attractive badge.
Condition: Good Very Fine or better.
With the outbreak of the First World War, the 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th Service Battalions of the King's Liverpool Regiment were formed. The 17th and 20th Battalions were famously raised by the Earl of Derby. He personally gifted solid sterling silver cap badges to all volunteers who joined before October 16th, 1914. These early badges feature the crest of Lord Derby above a scroll inscribed "Sans Changer". The reverse will often bear an official UK silver hallmark (such as the lion passant) or a stamp reading "Sterling Silver". Many of these were made by silversmiths like Elkington & Co. In addition to cap badges, miniature or scaled-down versions were produced as sweetheart badges. These were highly popular during WWI, bought by soldiers to give to wives, mothers, or girlfriends as tokens of affection. They usually feature the same "Sans Changer" ribbon but are slightly smaller in scale and frequently modified with a pin and clasp fitting on the reverse instead of traditional lug fastenings. They are often impressed with "Sterling" or the maker's mark.
