Gazette June 1940 – In various ways B.B. Boys are playing their Service part in the national effort and already hundreds have qualified for the B.B. National Service Badge. No Boy should be encouraged to regard its award to him as the goal of his ambition. Boys should seek to carry on their national service, whatever it may be, with unflagging zeal, and Officers should think out further ways in which their own Company can help the country during these stern times.

Brigade Executive January 1940 recorded: The following regulations for the National Service badge were approved

1. A badge for National Service may be awarded during the period of the Year on the recommendation of Captains of Companies to Boys of the Brigade for voluntary and unpaid national service for the community,
2. Boys shall have given a total of not less than 100 hours satisfactory service.
3. The badge shall be worn on the right arm between the position of the Bugler’s and Ambulance badges.
4. Application for the badge shall be made on the special form provided stating clearly the nature of the service and the number of hours occupied, the Officer commanding the Company certifying that the conditions have been fulfilled,
5. In cases where Battalions control the issue of badges applications for the badge must be forwarded by the Battalion authorities.

A year later, the Brigade Executive agreed that service in the Home Guard by Boys over seventeen years of age should be one of the alternative forms of service for the National Service Badge, with A.R.P become an additional subject for the Education. It was also announced that as a war provision the National Service Badge has been made an alternative qualification to the Fireman’s Badge in the regulations governing the award of the King’s Badge.

The early badges were finished in a frosted silver finish in keeping with the finish and style of the pre-war award badges. As war restrictions tightened this also affected the production of BB badges, and later versions of the National Service badge were produced as a non fretted version and later the frosted silver finish was also abandoned in favour of a nickel finish. Following the war, the BB continued with the nickel finish on all the award badges up until 1968.