Rare Original WW2 Royal Navy Youth Entry Shoulder Badge

A rare original Second World War Royal Navy Youth Entry scheme shoulder badge.

During the Second World War, all three of Britain's armed services were competing for recruits, and most particularly officer recruits, particularly in the Royal Navy where expansion in coastal forces and the landing craft fleet had created enormous demands for junior officers. The Royal Navy were already looking for their potential officers in public schools, grammar schools, and even from within the ranks, but there was constant competition with the other two services for the pick of the talent.

To overcome this they began the Royal Navy Youth Entry scheme aimed mostly at grammar school boys who were in the home guard or cadets and not yet old enough to join the Royal Navy. The successful candidate would be guaranteed a place in the Royal Navy as an officer once they were old enough to join and complete their training. For the recruit it was a way of avoiding the lottery of conscription, potentially ending up in the infantry and missing the chance for a commission. For the navy it was a way of getting the best and brightest before the other services had a chance to snap them up.

Those boys who signed up and passed the interview stage were then given a badge like this to wear on their home guard or cadet uniform as a sign that they were destined for a commission in the Royal Navy.

The badge itself is in good condition and displays well. An interesting badge from a lesser known part of Second World War history and the Royal Navy.

This is a vintage item which is 'sold as seen'