First issued in 1916, and awarded retrospectively for service dating back to 1914, the badge had the added purpose of ensuring that men in civilian dress who had served were not mistaken for shirkers. Each recipient also received a Card of Authority to wear the badge and was required to carry and, if necessary, produce the card when wearing the badge. The badge and card of authority were inscribed with a number corresponding to a number in the War Badge Rolls and can be used to identify the individual to whom the badge was issued.

A full list of the conditions governing the issue and wearing of the badge was published in New Zealand papers in February 1918, and readers were advised that “Sufficient silver badges have just been received for issue to every discharged soldier at present in New Zealand, and their issue will commence from 1st March next.” [Evening Post, 22 February 1918, Page 8]

Find out more at the following websites:

http://www.iwm.org.uk/history/silver-war-badge-and-kings-certificate-of-discharge

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_War_Badge

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=EP19180222.2.79