Canada, Challenge Coins.

The Canadian Armed Forces have taken part in the Vierdaagse every year since 1952.

While Canadian Forces are not authorised to wear the Vierdaagse Cross in uniform, a number of special Challenge Coins have been presented to those participating in, and supporting, the March.

The presentation of Challenge Coins began in the US Armed Forces to mark membership of a group or to recognise achievement at a local level. Most are designed and awarded at unit or facility level and depict a unit badge with an appropriate inscription. Those receiving a Challenge Coin are expected to carry it with them in order to prove group membership if challenged by a fellow member. They are seen as a means to enhance group identity and morale.

In addition to Challenge Coins produced for the Vierdaagse, commanding officers of a number of Canadian Forces training centres now present challenge Coins to those who obtain key qualifications.

2002. Coins of broadly this design have been presented by the contingent commander to all Canadian Forces teams that have participated in the Vierdaagse since about 2002.
It is of enamelled bronze coloured metal and has a circumference of 41 mm.

2006. Each Canadian Forces team is drawn from a different unit or command. This coin was presented to members of the MARLANT (Maritime Forces Atlantic) Team who completed the March in 2006. It is of bronze coloured metal and has a circumference of 37mm.

United Kingdom. Air Training Corps Nijmegen Brassard Badge.

The Air Training Corps (ATC) is the British Royal Air Force's cadet force. The ATC send about 20 teams to the Marches each year, each of 2 adults and 10 cadets.

ATC uniform includes a brassard on the right arm on which qualification badges earned while a cadet are worn. With large numbers of cadets completing the Marches, an unofficial practice developed of wearing the Vierdaagse Cross or its ribbon bar on the brassard.

In 2003 the system was regularised when the Vierdaagse Cross ribbon bar was authorised for wear on the brassard. In 2005, a committee reviewing ATC badges decided to replace this with a specific ATC brassard badge, to be awarded to each cadet who successfully completed the marches from 2006. As the marches that year were cancelled after the first day, the badge was first awarded in 2007.

The cloth badge is 4cm wide and is 3cm at its highest point. It is only awarded once, even if a cadet completes the march again in a subsequent year. It is not given to adult staff, who are not permitted to wear it even if previously earned while a cadet. The exact position to wear the badge on the brassard depends on the cadet’s other badges.

With thanks to Richard Courtney for supplying relevant information and the close up photograph of the badge.