Red CPO badge
 

hi all
any information on when and what branch wore this would be appreciated.
also, would the Australian navy have worn them?
cheers
\BC

Hi BC
Not a CPO badge. These were worn by ratings, petty officer and below who were in in non-seamanship branches, so didn't wear the square rig uniform but had peaked caps. Clerks, storemen etc. This is likely a wartime economy issue, so WWII period I think.
Whether worn by RAN or not, I don't know.
Cheers,
Alex

thanks Alex
looks to be made of bakelite, so war time economy it probably is.
im not sure the RAN would have worn it now i know its war time economy.
dont think the Aussies wore anything economy/bakelite?
cheers
BC

HI,
Your badge was originally a pattern 49E as worn by Class II Petty Officers with over 4 years in that rate. (an all metal economy badge).

Being painted red indicates that the badge has been converted to be worn by a Class III rating, who wore red badges. This would be unofficial and done by an individual.

I see no reason why your badge could not have been worn by a RAN Class III rating.

Barry

Hi BC & Barry

I am sure this was not individually painted as I have seen a few of these over the years and have a couple in my collection. I don't know what 'pattern 49E' is but assume you mean the type I have attached. The all-metal (not bakelite) red badge is all brass/gm under the paint, and not the bi-metal version.
I am happy these are another wartime economy type of badge.
Cheers,
Alex

The badge in the first photo, is it Bakelite? Looks metal to me.
I have never seen or heard of a Bakelite version before.

I have seen blue painted badges.

Yes, pattern 49E is the economy PO cap badge. All badges had individual stores numbers, and this is an easy way of identifying badges.

Barry

Its probably Australian. CNO 475/1943 appears to be the authority for a red metal version of the pattern 52 Class III cap badge

METAL CAP BADGES FOR RATINGS—CLASS III.
A metal cap badge, pattern 52, similar in design to the embroidered
badge, has been adopted in the Royal Australian Navy for the period
of the war.
2. The issuing price is Is. 9d. each, and the necessary addition is to
be made to the " Official Memorandum—Prices of Clothing, &c., maintained
for issue on repayment to Ships' Companies " dated 1st May,..
1943.
3. Stocks of the embroidered badge held in H.M.A. ships and
establishments are to be issued to exhaustion at the current rate of.
2s. 6d. each.

Hope this is of help.

From the same CNO 234/1943 : :confused:

Awesome info thanks all
Will put it in my RAN collection
Best wishes
BC

Metal cap badges patterns 48 (CPO) and 49 (PO) were introduced into the RN in Mid 1941 by AFO 2303.

The Pattern 52 badge was the red embroidered cap badge worn by Class III rating and by Class II petty officers after 4 years.
Pattern 52E badges are the flat red embroidered cap badge.

Because CNO475/1943 specifically mentions pattern 52 badges then I do believe that your badge is a red metal PO cap badge and specific to RAN.

Left is pattern 52, right pattern 52E
Barry

I am not a big Navy collector but do have a blue painted badge - image for interest.

A blue one that has been painted red.

Just a thought, but is the blue one possibly a WRENS badge?

Terry

Hi Terry,

To answer your question, no. Worn by junior ratings on the sun helmet, introduced in 1902 and phased out in 1920. Reintroduced in 1939 for ratings not dressed as seamen.

Links to earlier threads;

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...9&postcount=11

https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/fo...9&postcount=12

Andrew