WW1 Medals, Awards & Groupings
The Pennsylvania Home Defense Police were an auxiliary police force to supplement the Pa. State Police and other existing police forces during war time. They were created on July 18, 1917. These men did not wear a uniform, but rather civilian clothes with a black & white striped armband and a metal badge that was named for the county they were in and each one had an issue serial number for that person. The first issue badges had the county name embossed at the top and the serial/issue number was stamped at the bottom. In subsequent issues, since they had no idea of how many men they needed per county, all badges had the serial/issue number and the county name stamped into the badge. An interesting area to collect from WW1. They are priced at $100 each, or take two or more at $90 each. The seven pictured in the top photos are all 1st issue badges, the other 2 in the lower pictures are second issue. They measure 1 7/8" wide by 2 " high and are of magnetic steel.