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Originally Posted by nbroadarrowz
This official extract mentions the badges as being worn by Mechanicians not Mechanics.
My question to ponder - did the RN have Mechanicians and the RNR and RNVR have Mechanics?
Barry
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Hi Barry , I have no real knowledge on this , only what I have found via google.
My "interpretation" is that "Mechanicians" was a title/grade within the Engineer/Stoker Branch.
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Engineer Branch
The Engineer Branch was divided into Artificers and Stokers. The stokers started out doing manual labor in the coal bunkers and stokeholds and could advance to supervisory positions. Engine Room Artificers went directly to training upon entering the Navy and advanced to petty officer level upon completion. They took precedence over stoker ratings and took charge of watches and major maintenance and repair jobs. ERAs wore no distinguishing badges, as described under Class I Uniform. Mechanicians had a level of skill comparable to ERAs but had come up through the stoker rates.
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These grades/ranks wore the three bladed propeller badges.
https://www.uniform-reference.net/in..._1.html#class1
On another site I found a 1914 photo titled "Farewell Dinner Party , Mechanicians" showing the badges being worn.
http://www.ww1photos.org/photo/u299-...oke-june-1914/
Regarding the RN/RNR/RNVR , the same site has a photo of an 'RNVR London' crew and one of them appears to be also wearing the same three propeller badge (not clear but part can be seen in edited photo below).
http://www.ww1photos.org/wp-content/...R-London-2.jpg
From I.W.M
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Motor Mechanic Branch
The Royal Naval Motor Boat Reserve was formed in 1914 and disbanded at the end of the First World War. In 1922 a Motor Mechanic branch of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve was formed, adopting different badges.
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The WW1 Chief Motor Mechanic (RNMBR) badge was a "four bladed-propeller with the letters: 'CMM'." but by WW2 the Chief Motor Mechanic (RNVR) badge was a two bladed propeller (crown + star above and star below).
So, while an RNVR Motor Mechanic would wear the two propeller badge is it possible that if they served in the RN Engineer Branch they could have become a Mechanician and wore the four bladed propeller badge ?
If I am completely off target please let me know as it is the only way I'll learn anything !
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