A very nice original solid silver & enamel private purchase Civil Nursing Reserve 1940 cap badge manufactured by Lionel Smith & Co of Birmingham. The badge in used original condition is a private purchase example for perhaps a senior rank in the C.N.R, great condition and stamp markings to the rear.
The Civil Nursing Reserve was a government department set up as part of the Civil Defence Service in 1938, it's aim to have fully trained nurses available to be sent anywhere they were needed. Only trained nurses were enrolled and paid a weekly government salary of 48 hours paid work ! These badges were issued as part of their blue official uniform, Senior ranks could order theirs to wear as cap badges and at least 4 official manufacturers are known, of which Lionel Smith & Co being one of the authorised government makers.