Okay, I've got a couple more Commonwealth items I want to 'clear'. This is one of them, an Royal Navy (or Royal Canadian Navy) high ranking officer's blue-top cap. It is essentially mint. I believe that the insignia is right on, but the cap? I just don't know enough about WW2 Royal Navy gear to call that one. It is made by the Hamilton Uniform Cap Company, Ltd of Canada. The interior is very similar in build to a WW1 Royal Navy cap that I know is correct (that one LOOKS old too). But this one I'm posting is just so mint, it bugs me! I guess it could have just been sitting around in a warehouse or someplace--what do you guys think?
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Here's the inside. -
And a side view.Comment
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Hi Lee,
Nice cap, I dont know about anyone else, but I think that this one looks spot on. Brilliant condition.
Im not too familiar with the liners of these caps so maybe someone else would like to comment.
But from where im sitting, the outside looks fine. Nice KC embroidered badge.
Have you got any other caps lee? I am always interested in seeing more WW2 Commonwealth Caps, BD, SD and KD uniforms.
Keep em coming
RobComment
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Thats a strange peak ,it looks all furry ! All looks to brand new for my liking ,the badge looks old but the rest is just to new to be 50 years old ,RobGod please take justin bieber and gave us dio backComment
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Lee,
The internal construction of the cap looks good to me. I can't see anything wrong with the peak, consistent with a 'scrambled egg' type. The badge looks fine and in the same great condition as the rest of the cap.
My one reservation is with the chinstay buttons, they seem just a little on the large size and appear shiney in the photo. Might be my eyesight or a quirk of this particular maker. I remember from my time in the R. N. there was a great number of different appearances to officers caps as most purchased from outfitters rather than official sources.
JimComment
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Hi Lee, I can only say I like the "look" of your cap.
What I know about Naval items I can write on the back of a postage stamp and still have room to spare
Cheers, Ade.Comment
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Well, for comparison, here is my unquestionable (great provenance) WW1 Royal Navy (actually RNAS!) Chief Petty Officer. Similar interior, similar deep navy blue wool--the cap buttons are NOT as shiny on this one? Could that possibly be the difference between officer and noncom? the difference between WW1 and WW2?Comment
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WW1 inside.Comment
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WW1 side (note button).Comment
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Well Lee, the buttons look a bit on the large side on that as well to me, so I'm going to put the size down to my eyesight.
I still like the Officer's cap, but don't have any explanation for the strange buttons. War time shortage maybe ( they also look slightly domed to me).
Could you please enlighten me as to why you attribute the second cap to a Chief Petty Officer of the R.N.A.S.? If I was to describe that cap I would say that it was a Class III uniform cap of the type worn between 1902 and 1952, for a Leading Rate or below.
I was under the impression that the R.N.A.S. badge had the anchor replaced with the eagle or albatross or whatever that bird is that Crab Air wear on their uniforms.
Another under documented subject that we can possibly explore.
JimComment
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Well, the only way I know that this is RNAS is that it came from the grandson of an RNAS pilot: Bolton, I believe his name was. I have a few of his of his photo albums as well, he flew a DH9 in Egypt during the war.
NCO's in the RNAS often wore cap badges the red anchor with a black background, as evidenced by the two pilots on page 47 of Peter Cooksley's "RFC/RNAS Handbook 1914-1919", and as evidenced by my avatar, a cartoon from 1917.Comment
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Here's the DH9 in Aboukir.Comment
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Here's a shot with entertained locals.Comment
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Lee, I don't have the book you refer to unfortunately. References to R.N.A.S. badges on the web are few and far between. I have found pictures of an officers badge and a ratings badge with 'budgies' instead of anchors, but no reference to what ratings wore what cap badge. Neither can I find any reference as to when these badges were introduced.
I think it is reasonable to assume that the R.N.A.S. wore the same uniform as the rest of the R.N. therefore a Petty Officers badge would be similar to your but in gold/silver bullion and a Chief Petty Officers badge would be bullion with an outer ring of laurel leaves.
On a personal level, when I joined the Royal Navy as an Artificer I wore the red Class III cap badge albeit with a Queens crown and was glad to be promoted to P.O. and get a 'proper' cap badge. I find it hard to believe that a C.P.O. would give up or even be made to give up a hard earned head dress badge that denoted rank, for one that was worn by Stewards, Sick Berth Attendants and others 'Not dressed as seamen'.
Let me make perfectly clear that I'm not disparaging your cap, which I like very much but merely saying that I doubt that it was worn by a C.P.O. with that particular badge.
I hope we can gather more information on this subject, as I'd certainly like a definitive answer.
JimComment
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