Wigan Album
Badges
4 CommentsPhoto: Thomas Sutch
Item #: 13708
That is a rare badge. Never seen one before.
It's Air Raid Patrol, sometmes referred to as Firewatchers.
They checked if any house was showing a light too in the blackout
I see it also has 'Wigan Coal Corporation' on it, I know miners were exempt from conscription. I also know a lot of Miners were ARP's, but I had no idea they helped to form the 'members'? It does make sense, they could also do their bit (beyond keeping the coal coming) for the war Effort.
or I am reading this wrong?
It could mean any of the employees of the Corporation, which was born of "Wigan Coal & Iron Co Ltd.
Office staff, surface workers..etc
The Wigan Coal and Iron Company, was formed in 1865 by the amalgamation of Lord Crawford’s collieries, with those of the Kirkless Hall and Standish companies. This became the Wigan Coal Corporation in 1930 following reorganisation, and remained thus until nationalisation.