A First War Canada Food Board "Soldiers of the Soil" Badge

Canada; Bronze, unmarked, 23.3 mm x 27.5 mm, screwback, light contact and surface wear, near extremely fine.

Footnote: During the First World War, farm labour shortages led the authorities to ask older children and adolescents for help. "Soldiers of the Soil" (SOS) was a national initiative run by the Canadian Food Board. It encouraged adolescent boys to volunteer for farm service, and recruited 22,385 young men across the country. Many came from urban high schools and lived on rural farms for terms of three months or more. In exchange for their labour, SOS recruits received room and board, spending money, and, in the case of high school students, exemption from classes and final exams. On completion of their term and "honorable discharge", they also received an SOS badge acknowledging their service, often at a community ceremony.[C:17]