help..uk naval jacket

[wendy]

hi, naval jacket just given to me by an elderly neighbour. can anybody tell me a good ref book that l can buy on rank lace/buttons ect as complete novice in this area. cheers wen

[ROBB]

Hi Wendy you dont need a book ,just post the pics ,and we will answer all your questions .(or Leigh will ) Rob.

[Adrian Stevenson]

Hi Wendy, the RN is a subject I know very little about so I cannot recommend any books, but I am sure someone here will be able to?

If you can describe the rank lace around the cuff I might be able to tell you a little?

Cheers, Ade.

[Jim Maclean]

I believe the MOD's Royal Navy site has a chart showing ranks and buttons, they've not changed much in the last hundred years. Rating's branch badges are a different kettle though and have undergone many changes.

If you can't find the info there then as suggested, post a pic and we'll see what we can do.

Jim

[wendy]

QUOTE=ROBB]Hi Wendy you dont need a book ,just post the pics ,and we will answer all your questions .(or Leigh will ) Rob.[/QUOTE]l wish l could but camera kaput.thank you anywat.reqs w

[leigh kitchen]

Ah just the man I was going to suggest - you've broken cover.

[wendy]

hi there..wish l could post pic but camera knackered..prob old age like myself..reqs wen

[wendy]

hi ade...cuffs have four rows of gold braid/lace..with purple in between each one...the buttons seem strange as no crown above the anchor but what l can only discribe as a starburst design at the top ...very reminisent to the top part of an ausie cap badge..jacket made by an english tailor.the colour is more black then navy...hope this helps..many thanks.reqs wen

[DJT]

Wendy,

Naval Jackets are usually dated on a label contained in the inside pocket. It might be worth a look.

[Rick Research]

Is there a curl/loop on top of the stripes, or are they flat all the way around?

Purple between the stripes is common for engineering branch in a number of European navies... so it comes down to the buttons.

[wendy]

Wendy,

Naval Jackets are usually dated on a label contained in the inside pocket. It might be worth a look.

................hi des...l wish l had thought of that....guess what...no label...wen

[wendy]

Is there a curl/loop on top of the stripes, or are they flat all the way around?

Purple between the stripes is common for engineering branch in a number of European navies... so it comes down to the buttons.

........yep flat all around.....where could l find ref work...best of all pic ref on the buttons.....as l already said no crown above the anchor but design very reminisent to the sun burst rays of an ausie cap badge.......think l had better get a new camera sorry lm a pain !!! thanks for pointing me in the right direction though..cheers

[Jim Maclean]

As Rick says purple between the rings signifies Engineer Officer. What you have sounds like a Chief Engineers jacket from one of the merchant lines. Royal Navy engineer officers were certainly wearing the 'curl' in 1915 which is the oldest manual of seamanship I have.

The button sounds like the Peninsular and Oriental Line as pic

Jim

[leigh kitchen]

.....The button sounds like the Peninsular and Oriental Line as pic

Jim

Just what I thought when I just read the bit about a sunburst, I have a few of those in white metal.

[Rick Research]

Great to know about the button design. I thought all your Mercantile Marine used those "inside the stripes" diamonds... was thinking something strange like Latvian Navy In Exile sort of thing.

Absent ribbons sewn on there, any way to DATE such a Mercantile Marine jacket? 1910? 1980?

I'd have thought a "four striper" too senior for the enine room of even the biggest Blue Ribbon liner... so would whoever this was have been the Line's Chief Engineer back at the Main Office?