RCN Officer’s Cap badges

[RCN]

The RCN Officer’s Cap badges were identical to their RN counterparts.

The badges are embroidered in heavy gold & silver wire embroidery, & are really beautifully done. They are considerably larger than the PO/CPO cap badges & are well padded.
As with the PO & CPO cap badges, variants of the Officers cap badges are seen, usually the detail of the oak leaves vary, but the oak leaves always have 6 branches on either side of the central anchor device.

The Officer’s cap badge have been repro’d of late but the repros I have seen at shows & on ebay are pretty obvious.

This is a pre Great War example, the badges up to approx to early 1920’s were much smaller than the later interwar period & 2WW period.

[boots and saddles]

Thank you RCN, Quite a difference in some of these badges. It's good to get some info on the Navy side, now if we could get a expert on the Air Force this forum would be more complete, I find it strange that there isn't more on the Royal Navy & RAF, I know they didn't have the badges that the Army had but who would have thought the RCN would have so many not to mention the varieties.

[RCN]

There is conserable variants in RCN rank & rate badges Ray, thats what makes it interesting!

Would be nice to have a knowledgable contributor to the RCAF section.

I know I would like to learn more about the RCAF trade badges.

Bryan

[RCN]

Here is the standard Kings Crown Officers cap badge worn from approx the 1920's thru to the early 1950's.

There are many variants seen in this badge depending upon manufacturer.

[RCN]

The Officer Cap badge is also seen in miniature & came in after the 2WW period:

[RCN]

A comparison of the full size & miniature Officer Cap badges:

[RCN]

In 1944 the war must have been getting very very costly, so as an economy measure 'stamped out' metal cap badges were introduced.

Here is an example of one of these Officer badges. Initially they were quite bright, but with time & exposure to weather & sea conditions, they dulled up very quickly:

[RCN]

There was also a miniature version of the metal cap badge & it is illustrated below.

Metal cap badges in the RN had been around since 1WW & examples are covered in the RNAS section of the Royal Navy threads.

[RCN]

Here is a photo of Commodore Adrian Hope OBE, RCN, & Matron Shirley Beck ARRC, RCN, wearing the Officers KC cap badge, gives an idea of the size of the badge in relation to their caps.

[RCN]

A photograph of an RCN Women's Tricorn hat with King's Crown Cap badge:

[RCN]

In 1953, with the commencement of Queen Elizabeth's reign, a new style of crown was introduced. This badge remained in service up till the 1970 uniform integration of the Canadian Forces period:

variants of this badge are seen as well.

[RCN]

The QC Cap badge existed in miniature, gold wire & in metal, as well. The miniature cap badges were usually worn on the beret cap

[boots and saddles]

Bryan, Was there ever a female flag officer in the RCN, or even RN?, Commodore or higher? That metal badge was a monster in size, in fact the officer badge was a big one anyway but I have a metal one & it's BIG.
Anyone out there with a spare Warrant Officer's shoulder board & don't need it let me know.

[RCN]

Originally Posted by boots and saddles

Bryan, Was there ever a female flag officer in the RCN, or even RN?, Commodore or higher?

Doing this from my head Ray, but pretty certain the top female rank was Commander, I will have to have a look.

Bryan

[RCN]

[QUOTE=boots and saddles;58996]That metal badge was a monster in size, in fact the officer badge was a big one anyway but I have a metal one & it's BIG.

Yes the metal cap badges look big Ray, especially on the Tricorn that Matron Beck is wearing {& I'm not 100% certain she is wearing the metal cap badge, I had a good look at the photo & its really hard to tell, could be tho as the badge she is wearing has a bigger 'backing. & the metal badges I have both have large backing} but actually its only marginally bigger than the regular Officer KC badge, I have two of the metal types compared them to the various KC gw badges I have & its not much bigger.