[Guzzman]

Just checked the details re the 'F.A.A.' badge. It was actually in 1943 that Naval Artificer Apprentices serving with the Fleet Air Arm were found to be wearing the letters 'F.A.A.' in gold on their left cuff. As stated earlier, this carried on the tradition of the 'R.N.A.S.' badge, which was also worn on the left cuff. However, these badges were worn without the permission of the Admiralty and ratings wearing unauthorised badges faced disciplinary action. Wisely no action was taken during the war due to the possible impact upon morale but the Admiralty eventually put a stop to the practice in 1948.

Re the 'RNVR' and 'RNR' cuff badges worn between the World Wars. At the start of World War II many ratings unofficially removed the letters from their uniforms. The use of these letters was terminated in AFO 5643/42.

Pete