The HM Armed Forces Veterans' Lapel Badge was launched in May, 2004 by the then Minister for Veterans. Its purpose was to raise the profile of veterans by helping the wider public to recognise them.
The badge is an enamelled, engraved, and pinned, lapel badge featuring the words 'HM Armed Forces - Veteran'. It encompasses the Tri-Service, Anchor, Crossed Swords and Eagle motif.
Applications for those who served in the Women’s Land Army (WLA) and the Women’s Timber Corps (WTC) to receive the Veterans’ badge have now reopened.
Find out more about the Veterans' Lapel Badge on GOV.UK.
If you are due to be discharged soon, you will receive your HM Armed Forces Veteran Card and Veterans Badge as part of your Service Leavers Pack.
All who have served in HM Armed Forces, including Volunteer and Regular Reserves, are eligible to apply.
Those who served in either the Women’s Land Army (WLA) or the Women’s Timber Corps (WTC) at any time up until the corps were disbanded in 1950 are eligible to receive the Veterans’ Badge.
Additionally, you can apply for the badge if you are the spouse or family member of a deceased veteran, but only if they died after 6 December 2007.
Exceptions - Veterans who served in the Armed Forces of other countries, and those who served alongside HM Armed Forces (for example Canadian Navy or Royal Australian Air Force) are not eligible.
The Veterans’ Lapel Badge is not issued posthumously. The only exception is for war widows and widowers who are receiving a War Widow's/Widower's Pension. This includes those who have received a Survivor's Guaranteed Income Payment (SGIP). This is in recognition of the fact that their death was due to their military service.
Read more about the eligibility criteria for the Veterans Badge on the GOV.UK website.
Apply online
If you wish to apply for a Veterans Badge online please complete the online application using the link below.
Apply by post
To apply using a paper form return a completed form by post to:
MOD Medal Office, Room G36, Innsworth House, Imjin Barracks, Gloucester, GL3 1HW.
If you are applying for a Veterans Badge as a Veteran of the WLA or WTC, or as a family member of a deceased veteran you will need to apply using a different form. The application form can be downloaded and submitted via post or email.
Find out more about the application process for a WLA or WTC Veterans’ Badge and how do download an application form on GOV.UK.
