Canadian WWII Naval caps with storage box.

[JHoll72]

I have an identical tin - used to be my grandfathers during inter-war & WWII service in the RN. Looks like yours has the same damage - the hasp of the lock fitting broken off?

That's right Leigh! I think maybe this is a common bit of damage on these tins.
I wonder why? I have taken a fancy lately to Navy items, although I am not a strictly navy collector.
I have seen the navy caps on ebay as well, the prices for everything WWII on ebay have sky rocketed and if they don't get you with the shill bidders they get you with the insane shipping charges.
Anyone got any RCN or RN uniforms they can post so I can get an idea of what I need to complete a nice navy set up?

[JHoll72]

applied after since she was paid off in 1970.

But you are right, if the capis dated correctly it is impossibleto tell what tally was really on the cap as worn.

Greg

Greg, am I ever glad you posted this reply. I went to check my cap tally and when I pulled it of the display head I found some old moth cocoons. So off to the freezer they go for a couple of days.
Normally all my new cloth items spend a couple of days in the freezer to kill the hungry little buggers, but I forgot to do it this time.

There is no way of knowing for sure what tally was worn with what cap for sure, but there are signs that point in the right direction.
For example, the tally on my cap has the same amount of wear and dirt as the cap itself and the knot(is that how to refer to it?) has definately been tied for a long time and the top part is actually pinned to the top of the cap itself.
Greg can you post some pics of your caps and Leigh if you have any from your Grandad I would love to see them.
Regards,
Jeff

[Greg Kubasek]

I'm Glad I was able to help you get rid of a potential problem.


The lighting in my place is horrible so please forgive the photo quality, but here are a few of my nicer caps. - Nicer to say as I am pretty confident the tallies belong with the caps and their condition is good. I have a few others that are pretty beat up and ones that old tallies have been added to newer caps.

First off is a cap from the HMCS Lanark - A river class frigate that served in WWII

[Greg Kubasek]

Next is a beautiful little number from the Magnificent

[Greg Kubasek]

And lastly for now is a cap from my all time favorite Canadian Vessel the Bonaventure.



The Bonny holds a dear place in my heart as it is where my Grandfather served most of his time.

[JHoll72]

Very nice Greg. I especially like the one from the Magnificent.

I recieved an email this morning from a fellow member here explaining why the chinstraps have the safety pins attaching them to the cap. I am posting his email with his permission, but will let him identify himself if he wishes so.



Hi Jeff
I will bet my left nut that the "chinstays" (Naval terminology for
chinstraps) are the same as you would have found them in WW2, except for the
moth damage. I am a serving member of the RAN, and when I was a Junior Sailor
and wore this type of cap my chinstay was secured with a safety pin. This is
common practice still, and was then. They are supposed to be sewn, but the
safety pin saved time, for what I don't know !!! It was a system that worked
well until the safety pin failed on parade when the order "Chinstays down" was
heard. Got caught out once or twice myself. Now that I am a Senior Sailor I
don't have to worry about it as I wear a peaked cap, I just yell at the idiots
that have a "safety failure". Hope this snippet of info is of help to you and
makes you feel better about your "lids", feel free to pass it on to other
collectors if you want, or post it.

Thank you to him for the information, it is much appreciated.
Regards,
Jeff