NIGEL Posted 29 June , 2004 Share Posted 29 June , 2004 Can any of you Navy men tell by this pic what kind of sailor my grandad was or anything about him by the pic-----i know its a long shot but if you dont ask------- ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyDick Posted 29 June , 2004 Share Posted 29 June , 2004 Hello Nigel He is wearing square rig ( traditional 'sailor' uniform), thus indicating that he was a junior rating of either the seaman or stoker branches (senior rates and ancillary ratings wore single breasted jackets like modern POs/CPOs). However, no trade, rank or good conduct badges visible; neither is he wearing a cap tally with name of ship/establishment, so can't offer any more. You can easily get his ADM188 from the PRO(NA), since Navy records were not Blitzed, provided you know at least his name; his service number and/or approximate year of enlistment would also be of help. This would allow you to find out what he did in the RN and where and when he was serving. Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIGEL Posted 29 June , 2004 Author Share Posted 29 June , 2004 Thanks Richard--i know his name obviously and he joined the Navy as a Cadet aged 11 or 12 then joined the Army when the war started i dont know why but thanks for the info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RNCVR Posted 2 July , 2004 Share Posted 2 July , 2004 Nigel, In addition to what Richard has mentioned, I have quite a few of these sailor pics, & it appears as if his rate badge is just barely visible on his right arm - only a bit of it, but from my experience I would guess his rate is one of two possibilities - either stoker (it could be the tip of the right propeller blade-stokers wore a 3 bladed propeller), or Seaman Gunner (the right "butt" of the gun-Seaman Gunners wore a cannon or large caliber ships gun) Just an educated guess........... Bryan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger Posted 2 July , 2004 Share Posted 2 July , 2004 He is wearing square rig ( traditional 'sailor' uniform), thus indicating that he was a junior rating of either the seaman or stoker branches (senior rates and ancillary ratings wore single breasted jackets like modern POs/CPOs). This has been discussed before but I can't find it at the moment but I'm pretty sure some Petty Officers wore square rig, seaman I think. Roger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DirtyDick Posted 2 July , 2004 Share Posted 2 July , 2004 Hi Roger Yes, I think seaman and stoker rates up to and including PO wore sqare rig until the 1930s(?). In old WW2 b/w films POs wear jackets and ties, so presume this was a pre-War change. Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roger Posted 2 July , 2004 Share Posted 2 July , 2004 Richard, I'm pretty sure I've seen an illustration of a Petty officer Gunner wearing square rig during WW2. It was in a magazine that came out in the seventies about WW2. It came out each week and went into a binder. I have all twelve volumes in the loft. Not WW1 I know but might give a clue to who wore what rig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIGEL Posted 2 July , 2004 Author Share Posted 2 July , 2004 In this photo he would be no more than 25 may be not even 20 so the year would be 1908 if he was 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RNCVR Posted 4 July , 2004 Share Posted 4 July , 2004 Concerning the dress of RN Petty Officers - in 1920 Petty Officers of all "seaman" branches were permitted to move into Class I uniform (suit jacket & tie) after attaining 4 yrs service as a Petty Officer. Shortly thereafterwards the time of service was reduced to 1 year. They wore the cap badge formerly worn by CPOs & the CPO cap badge was changed in '20 to a laurel wreath around the fouled anchor. This information comes from "Badges & Insignia of the British Armed Forces" (1974), the Naval section being authored by Commander WE May. I am not sure this is 100% accurate tho, as I have seen & have photos in my collection of Victorian POs wearing the Class I uniform. You can easily tell a PO from a CPO as the POs are wearing good conduct badges (G.C.B's) on their left arms. CPOs do not wear G.C.B's. Bryan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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