V.C. Interest: ‘Sir Alfred Butt’s Invitation to V.C’s’ Badge, obv. Victoria Cross set upon a lyre, with theatrical masks of ‘comedy’ and ‘tragedy’ below, and the inscription, ‘Sir Alfred Butt’s Invitation to V.C’s.’; rev. inscription (name, rank and number engraved), ‘This Badge is issued for the Personal Use of Gds. Sgt. O. Brooks, 6738 Cold. Gds. subject to the conditions signed by him’, 34 x 31mm., silver-gilt, hallmarks for Birmingham 1918, good very fine £100-140

Oliver Brooks was born in Paulton, Midsomer Norton, Somerset, on 31 May 1889. As a Lance-Sergeant (later Sergeant) in the 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards, he won the Victoria Cross (London Gazette 28 October 1915). ‘On 8 October 1915, near Loos, France, Lance-Sergeant Brooks led a party of bombers against the enemy who had captured 200 yards of our trenches. The regaining of this lost ground was entitrely due to the bravery and presence of mind of this N.C.O. who accomplished this task in the midst of a hail of bombs from the enemy’ (Ref. The Register of the Victoria Cross).

Sir Alfred Butt was Knighted in 1918 and created a Baronet in 1929. He was Director of Rationing in the Ministry of Food, 1917-18 and was M.P. for Balham and Tooting, 1922-36. He was also Chairman of the Theatre Royal in Drury Lane and other theatrical companies. It was doubtless in this latter capacity that Sir Alfred had these badges produced and distributed to V.C. recipients. The badge was probably worn as a watch fob. An article on the badge, by J. M. A. Tamplin, is featured in the Summer 1988 edition of the Journal of the O.M.R.S., p.117.