The scheme, introduced in 1915 by Lord Derby, 

Director General of Recruiting, 

represented a final attempt to avoid full-scale conscription

early in the Great War.

Men aged between 18 & 41 were asked to attest 

their readiness to serve in

the British Army, on the understanding that 

all single men would be called up, 

before the youngest married volunteers were.

Unfortunately by the scheme’s closing date of December 1915

more than a million men had failed to come forward, resulting in

compulsory military service being introduced in 1916.

This cracking example of this famous armband

featuring a red felt King's crown sewn onto a khaki back ground

is stamped on the inside:

ISSUED UNDER

AUTHORITY

OF

ARMY COUNCIL

Once issued, it would have been worn on civilian clothes

by those first young volunteers who had willingly come 

forward in 1915, to show they were ready to serve when called..!

(Measures approx  17" open.. end-to-end.. and 8" folded)