[2 Black Bands]

Time for another helmet methinks.....

2" stripes aren't overly common....they stopped being "a thing" in '42 but were allowed to remain after that. "R" is Rescue....and the rank/position is Clerk of Works or Depot Supervisor (or similar). So this guy probably wasn't a digger himself but either managed the guys or managed their vehicle pool. That said, period film footage never ceases to amaze me re who turned up and pitched in when the chips were down....tho they ALL tipped their helmets back onto the back of their heads before they looked in the direction of the cameras so the lettering/markings couldn't be seen!! :-)