Royal Navy Transport Service?

[DougSA]

Can anyone confirm if the insignia of the gentleman standing in this photo (my great-grandfather) is that of the Royal Navy Transport Service? If so, what rank and date is this likely to be?

Any information about the insignia of the other gentleman (my great-uncle) would also be appreciated. Although I believe he is wearing insignia of P&O Steam Navigation Co.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

[RCN]

Two examples of RN Transport Officers cap badges.
Not great scans but best I can do at this time as my camera is packed.

Worn by RN Officers, Great war, supervising the transport of troops & material to the various theatres of war. They were stationed in the various ports of embarkation/debarkation.

cannot help on the other cap badge.

Bryan

[RCN]

& the current repro being offered on ebay:::

[DougSA]

Thank you very much indeed for the pics and information - much appreciated!

Do you by any chance know when the use of this badge started and ceased?

My great-grandfather was definitely serving as an Engineer with P&O, from Autumn 1916, through to Autumn 1919. So if he became a RN Transport officer, it would have had to have been after this - maybe 1920-1921?

Best regards

[DougSA]

Also, can you possibly tell me what buttons they would have worn & if there was any other particular insignia?

Thank you....

[Paddy]

Doug

Sorry to muddy the waters a bit but there may be other alternatives to this badge identification. Without seeing the lettering on the thick band around the anchor I don't think you can give it a definite id without a bit more information. I have attached a few pictures of possible alternatives, as you can see they are all very very similar and you can probably see what I mean by the need to identify the lettering around the thick band. The alternatives are The Royal Fleet Auxiliary (formed 1905 ish), Mercantile Fleet Auxiliary (in service around the same time) or HM Transport. I have attached pictures so that you can see what I mean. I have also attached a picture of the RN Transport badge I have if it is of any help.

Paddy

[RCN]

Both of the examples I posted above are:: RN TRANSPORT.

[RCN]

Originally Posted by DougSA

Thank you very much indeed for the pics and information - much appreciated!

Do you by any chance know when the use of this badge started and ceased?

My great-grandfather was definitely serving as an Engineer with P&O, from Autumn 1916, through to Autumn 1919. So if he became a RN Transport officer, it would have had to have been after this - maybe 1920-1921?

Best regards

My understanding of the RN Transport badge was in use for the Great war period, but it could have continued past that period. Perhaps someone could better establish the time frame for us,

Bryan

[RCN]

Originally Posted by DougSA

Also, can you possibly tell me what buttons they would have worn & if there was any other particular insignia?

Thank you....

I would have expected as the Transport Officers were serving RN Officers they would have continued to wear their RN buttons, but again, perhaps someone can set us straight on this one too...........

Bryan

[Alex Rice]

Hi all
Paddy has just opened up a whole new range of possibilities that I knew nothing about, and more badges for me to look for. Anyway, even though the photo isn't clear, it still looks to me like there is lettering at the lower half of the circle around the anchor, which would eliminate the RFA & MFA. This may just be wishful thinking on my part though.
Cheers,
Alex

[sailorbear]

Originally Posted by DougSA

Can anyone confirm if the insignia of the gentleman standing in this photo (my great-grandfather) is that of the Royal Navy Transport Service? If so, what rank and date is this likely to be?

Any information about the insignia of the other gentleman (my great-uncle) would also be appreciated. Although I believe he is wearing insignia of P&O Steam Navigation Co.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!

Hi there, the cap badge on the right is of the Orient Line, which was to merge with P&O. Though the badge is no longer used on uniform, P&O used the device on printed materials and crockery on their cruise ships, this I can verify as until recently I was a CPO Coxswain onboard P&O Cruiseships!

Hope it helps

[DougSA]

Thank you for the information.

Do you mean the badge of the gent sitting down, or the one standing?

Best regards

[DougSA]

Okay, have just realised that you already answered this question!

D.

[DougSA]

My great-grandfather served on the HMT (His Majesty's Transport) Malwa, a P&O vessel which was requisitioned for trooping in 1917. Does this mean that the badge is likely that of the Merchant Navy HM Transport - as shown by 'Paddy'?

Also, does anyone know if such crew members were then considered to be members of HM Transport Service or the shipping line by which they had been employed (P&O in this case)?

...and does anyone know where information can be found on uniforms and insignia of the mercantile marine/merchant navy and HM Transport Service in WW1?

Any further insights appreciated!

[RCN]

Doug I am pretty certain that only RN officers {& some of them were recalled pensioners} were members of the Great War RN Transport service, but I could very well be wrong in this..........hopefully someone can tell us for certain.........

Bryan