Figure 1.--Here are some typical English school badges from the 1950s. Note the form captain pin. While prefects were a common position at most schools, individual schools might have positions for the boys that were relatively unique. Prefects were the older boys, but at this school there were boys ith authority in each form.

Schoolboys wore a range of badges with their school uniforms. They identified a variety of acomplishments or positions achieved by the boys. These badges varied from school to school. Boys who had been given positions of authority such as the head boy or prefects might have pins identifying them. The names for these positions might vary somewhat at different schools. Boys who had won their colors in games (sports) often received badges. Commonly they might have the name of the sport such as cricket por football. Other activities might also have pins, sich as library. There might also be pins given as prizes in school competitions. The various boarding houses might also have pins, often in different colors. House pins might also be used in day schools as a way of organizing the boys.

Terminology

We are a little confused here. We note the term both badges and buttons being used. We think that the term button is sometimes used instead of badges, but are still looking into this. An English reader tells us, 'I think the term 'button' is refering to the actual buttons that fasten the blazer rather than badges that are worn on the blazer. My secondary school had them - you could buy them at the school shop. They were silver and as Ian says had the school crest and motto on them. Presumably boys' mothers would have to remove the usual (black plastic) blazer buttons and sew on the new ones. Very few boys had them. In English button has this sense - I believe in the U.S. button is used for what we call badges. My secondary school did not have houses but my primary school did have the 'teams' I told you about with four different coloured blazer badges."

School Award Badges

Schoolboys wore a range of badges with their school uniforms. They identified a variety of acomplishments or positions achieved by the boys. These badges varied from school to school. Boys who had been given positions of authority such as the head boy or prefects might have pins identifying them. The names for these positions might vary somewhat at different schools. They might be called captains are some schools had even more unique terms. Boys who had won their colors in games (sports) often received badges. Commonly they might have the name of the sport such as cricket por football. Other activities might also have pins, such as library. There might also be pins given as prizes in school competitions.

House Badges

The various boarding houses might also have badges, some times called pins. They werecusually plain badges in different colors. The shapes varies. House pins might also be used in day schools as a way of organizing the boys. An Engluish reader writes, "At the Clare House Prep School in Beckenham, Kent, there were four houses and we boys had a small circular coloured house pin attached to the lapels of our blazers. They were Wolfe House (red pin), Drake House (blue pin), Raleigh House (yellow pin) and Clive House (green pin)." The houses were not always idebntified by badges. A reader from Canada writes, "At my prep school in Canada, Crescent School in Toronto, we had house ties with different coloured stripes for each of the school houses on our school ties."

Blazer Buttons

An English reader writes, "As a member of the British Button Sciety I would be very grateful for any available information on the identification of the many schools that had their own metal blazer buttons. In the main I have found that the majority of these buttons only have the coat of arms and the motto but no school name and I certainly have difficulty in finding a publication that has details of both the badge and the motto so enabling a positive identification to be made Please note that the buttons being discussed are NOT the OTC uniform buttons that many schools had but only those worn on the blazer or jacket." -- Ian Scott. HBC would be interested in any information readers might have and will pass the information on to Ian.

Companies

A reader tells us that a company, Thomas Pattorini, in Regent, Birmingham manufactured enamel school badges. He writes, "They were the manufacturers of a brass and enamel prefect badge which I still have."