National Guard Defense Units (M.E.A.) "National Services Commemorative Badges"
The "National Services Commemorative Badges" were instituted in early 1949, the last year of the war and were awarded to the armed volunteers of the M.E.A., the "National Guard Defense Units", also referred to as "National Security Units".
The awards were designed and awarded after Field Marshal Alexandros Papagos took over the command of the Armed Forces, in an effort to boost the morale for the final year of the war. They are often referred to as badges, in the context of unit insignia, but they are actually awards, in the fashion of the Sacred Band and 3rd Mountain Brigade ones, worn on the right chest pocket of the tunics. They could also be worn on civilian clothing.
They were to be awarded in official ceremonies in the capitals of the Prefectures by the Commanding Officers of Army Corps active in the respective region.
The award criteria were:
- A minimum of 12 months of service in a M.E.A. formation.
- Having taken part in at least 5 battles or operations.
- Conspicuous service.
- Having been wounded in action, even if the above criteria were not met.
The related order set the diameter of the badges to "0.04m". It also mentioned that the region in which the awardees served was to be inscribed on the reverse. Having not seen any inscribed examples, it is not yet known if the order was followed or if all of the badges currently circulating in the militaria market have come from unawarded stashes, such as the ones pictured below.
These two examples present some very clear differences in their details, weight and thickness, one of them having also had a coat of varnish applied, possibly denoting two different makers.
The awards were designed and awarded after Field Marshal Alexandros Papagos took over the command of the Armed Forces, in an effort to boost the morale for the final year of the war. They are often referred to as badges, in the context of unit insignia, but they are actually awards, in the fashion of the Sacred Band and 3rd Mountain Brigade ones, worn on the right chest pocket of the tunics. They could also be worn on civilian clothing.
They were to be awarded in official ceremonies in the capitals of the Prefectures by the Commanding Officers of Army Corps active in the respective region.
The award criteria were:
- A minimum of 12 months of service in a M.E.A. formation.
- Having taken part in at least 5 battles or operations.
- Conspicuous service.
- Having been wounded in action, even if the above criteria were not met.
The related order set the diameter of the badges to "0.04m". It also mentioned that the region in which the awardees served was to be inscribed on the reverse. Having not seen any inscribed examples, it is not yet known if the order was followed or if all of the badges currently circulating in the militaria market have come from unawarded stashes, such as the ones pictured below.
These two examples present some very clear differences in their details, weight and thickness, one of them having also had a coat of varnish applied, possibly denoting two different makers.