HMS Navy WW2

ninatoo · Post by **ninatoo** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 7:21 am

Hi all,

I have two pictures of sailors in my files. My dad believes them to be the same uncle, but I know that two brothers served in the Royal Navy in WW2. The man in the photos does not look quite the same to me. But there may also be a clue in the hat each was wearing.

One has an all dark sailor's hat on, with HMS on the band. The other has a white hat with HMS on a dark band. Is it possible sailors had two different hats? Or was there just the one for each person? Or just one type according to the ship you were on, rank, etc etc.

The rest of the uniform looks quite similar, both have dark tops, three narrow stripes on lapels, and a white shirt underneath with a thin dark band at the neck. I can't compare the pants as one of the photos is only a headshot.

Nina

Post by **emanday** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 10:34 am

I'm not sure if this still applies, but the different cap colours were for different situations during conflicts.

The all dark one was worn at sea as it didn't show up very well at night, and the white one was usually for shore wear or when the vessel was in port.

No caps had the ship's names on the band during the war so that "fifth column spies" couldn't identify any sailor with a ship or know when any ship was in port.

ninatoo · Post by **ninatoo** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 11:30 am

Thanks Mary,

The thing is, the white cap photo is a small portrait, and the dark one is obviously a touristy shot. He is standing beside a huge column somewhere...on shore leave I presume. I can just see another sailor in the background (most of him is cut off) so I can't see any cap on him.

I knew about the HMS only thing; I think I read it on one of your posts a while ago.

Nina

Post by **emanday** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 3:16 pm

Sorry, I should have said that the white cap was unlikely to be worn ashore in foreign ports during the war, except perhaps for formal / ceremonial duties.

ninatoo · Post by **ninatoo** » Mon Sep 25, 2006 11:38 pm

Thanks Mary,

Do you happen to have a website where I could do some reading about this?

Nina

Post by **emanday** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 1:02 am

You could try http://www.royalnavyresearcharchive.org.uk/ but I don't know if they, or a link from them could give you more info.

ninatoo · Post by **ninatoo** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 1:40 am

Thanks again Mary,

I will have a look...I did try to google a site which might tell me specific uniform requirements before I posted about this, but had no luck.

Nina

Post by **emanday** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 1:47 am

You could always try contacting the RN itself

http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/

They might be able to provide details of WW2 uniform standards.