White and Gold RN Cap Tally HMS St Vincent
 

Dear Forum

just acquired this white and Gold ROyal Navy Cap Tally HMS St Vincent I have had the standard patten for some time.

Can anybody tell me the reason for the colour Gold lettering on White Tally and approximate date of use.

Many thanks

Stephen

"From the Sublime to the Ridiculous" By Brian (Bill) Haley

I wonder if in this case, rayon and gold refer to the material used to embroider the name. I have seen many Canadian tallies with rayon or silk embroidery and many RN tallies with the gold wire embroidery, both on the navy blue/black tallies.

Phil

Mike
That’s great do you have any date for this document please
Regards
Stephen

White and Gold RN Cap Tally HMS St Vincent
 

As previously stated the reference to gold wire and rayon refers to the materials used for the lettering and has nothing to do with the colour of the cap ribbon itself. The ribbon was always black. The gold wire tally was used for No. 1 dress and was worn with a uniform with gold wire badges. The rayon (a form of nylon thread - originally silk thread was used) tally was worn with No. 2 dress where the uniform had red badges. A gold and silk/rayon tally continued to be issued to every rating until 1984.

I have a collection of tallies which go back to the late 19th century. I have never seen or found any reference to tallies with a white ribbon apart from those worn by ratings selected for promotion to officers during WWII - and they were plain white without a name.

The style of lettering is also unusual. It doesn't match the style used on any tallies from the 1860s onwards (when tally designs were standardised).

The only other option that I can think of is that it is one of the many variants of cap tallies from the late-19th and early-20th centuries that were designed to be worn with children's sailor suits. Although bearing a genuine ship's name and 'H.M.S.' the tallies were produced in various colours, although predominentlly black, and the ship's name was embroidered in a variety of styles. Sometimes coloured flags (white ensigns or union flags) were also embroidered onto the tally. Usually these tallies bore the name of battleships - and between 1910 and 1922 H.M.S. St. Vincent was a 'St. Vincent' class battleship.

I have no evidence to confirm the identity of your tally either way - i just put the various theories and evidence before you so that you can give them your consideration.

Pete

The quote I posted refers to the 1960's and after rereading it I agree with the others who suggest it relates to the colour of the lettering rather than the ribbon , sorry ! :o

Here is another from a different source relating to the 1950's :

http://www.godfreydykes.info/MY_GANG...ITS_MUSTER.htm



I did find a post from another forum that 'may' be relevent :

.

Many thanks for your advice, see attached image from one of my Displays in Stone Staffordshire, this child’s sailor suit belongs to a pall the cap bears the same style of tally which I have just acquired.

Neither of us was sure if this was produced for RN use or children it would now appear to be the latter,

Admiral John Jervis, 1st Earl of St Vincent Came from Meaford Stone hence my interest in the tally.

The forums combined knowledge has again resolved my question.
Many thanks to all

God Save the Queen this glorious Jubilee weekend

Stephen

Excellent !

.

Totally off subject, but when I see a picture like Stephen has posted, what comes to mind - When people ask me why I collect stuff, that one picture says it all!!! That is always so cool to me and the members here have shared some really beautiful displays or collections, and they always bring the same feeling for me.

And now, back to your regularly scheduled topic.

Terry