Lance Corporal Atkinson-Hall - Certificate of Disabled Discharge

During WW1, if a serviceman was wounded or contracted an illness which resulted in them no longer being fit and able to serve, then they would have been discharged and given a Silver War Badge and a Certificate of Disabled Discharge.

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The Silver War Badge was regarded by many as an honour but it also served a very practical purpose in showing to the public that the wearer had done their duty and so would not be subjected to taunts of cowardice. An example  of a Silver War Badge can be seen in the image below.