They are
definitely not just for the ladies, I have one for each of the sqns I was on and wear the 3 Sqn lapel badge every day.
As John says, we used to wear them on our service ties - with the attachment pin clasp locked solid using a pair of needle nose pliars - even in shirt-sleeve order. Was interesting when visiting other stations/bases to note that other sqns did this as well.
When I was "in", such lapel badges were generally on sale at either the sqn concerned or in the camp's NAAFI (or Malcolm Club). Alongside these were also the lapel badges for the ladies, generally jewelled wings with the RAF crest centred, sqn, base and RAF ties, cufflinks, etc. Nowadays there is an increasing demand for such things from the older ex-RAF types and Sqn Associations.
RAF Hendon (and Cosford) sell these lapel badges but will not get replacments if your sqn isn't in stock due to the cost of mnftr against their projected sales. A year or so back I tried to get the sqn lapel badge of one of my old sqns from Hendon and was told they wouldn't be re-stocking that sqn as there was no demand, also that they had told the previous twenty-odd inquirers this as well!
Anyway, I teased out of them the name of the mnftr (in Birmingham), phoned him and had a special order (placed via Hendon's Chief Buyer) of 25 (min) produced at a £4.50 each. Sold half of them to ex-sqn mates and donated the balance to the actual (current) sqn.
Personally I think that when worn they show you have pride in your past service. Hope you manage to move yours on to people who want them.
