RAF Voluntary Musician Badge, 1933 Pattern

This pin, mounted on a gold plate, bears the 1933 pattern badge of the Royal Air Force Band: a 5-string lyre flanked by sprigs of oak leaves.

The gold-embroidered lyre and oak leaf badge was first issued by Air Ministry Order A83, 23 March 1933, and largely replaced the drum and crossed trumpet pattern badges that had been in use since 1924. It was rapidly adopted by musicians in the RAF Volunteer Band, RAF Central Band, RAF College Band, WAAF Band, and WRAF Band, and has remained in circulation well into the 2000s.