Ordnance Insignia of the British Army

Royal Ordnance Factories

The Royal Ordnance Factories (ROF’s) were during the two world wars (and until recent years), owned by the British Government, and controlled by the Department of Trade. ROF’s were of three main types: Explosive Factories, Engineering Factories & Filling Factories. Between them they manufactured all types of Guns, Weapons and Ammunition, except Motor Vehicles and Tanks which remained the preserve of the motor manufacturing industry till after W.W.II when ROF’s also made Armoured Fighting Vehicles as well.

During World War One “Royal Filling Factories” personal wore a ‘On War Work’ badge to denote that they were not at the front because of vital war work, The badges acted as a security measure.

Examples of ROF Badges with Woolwich Arsenal and Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield being named, with later ROF Factories being identified by number only. With at the right a example of other uses of the Ordnance Arms, Here by the Mobile Industrial Mobile Squad.

Not all ROF Badges used the Ordnance Arms, Others used ‘Crossed Bombs’ & Front Line Duty

The last badge on the right is an interesting example, as it is for an ROF Auxiliary Bomb Disposal Unit. Whose job it was (In Factories with more than 500 employees) to identify and cordon of the area of factory at risk, and start with the necessary preparatory work (including digging down to a bomb) and to assist the Royal Engineer Bomb Disposal Team if required. These squids transferred duties to the Home Guard in 1942 (Usually the same people carried on the task)

M Comerford - July 2004 - HTML Revision 1