RL - what does it stand for

[Insignia]

Is anyone able to identify what RL stands for? The photo is from the 1914-1918 period and of Royal Navy origins. Any thoughts would be gratefully received.

[wright241]

Originally Posted by Insignia

Is anyone able to identify what RL stands for? The photo is from the 1914-1918 period and of Royal Navy origins. Any thoughts would be gratefully received.

Not into the RN - as it were. Was the word Rating used in those days?
I am aware of Able/Leading Seaman etc.
We did have an ex-RN Officer here. I am sure he wold have known
Sorry Mate - you will have to excuse the pun, I am working and
puns are only allowed here on a Saturday afternoon.
david

[sarmajor]

Are you sure that he is Royal Navy

The US navy have what they call Restricted Line (RL) Officers who have specialist roles in such departments as engineering, human resources, nuclear propulsion etc to differentiate them from URL officers (Unrestricted Line Officers) who are responsible for the sailing/fighting aspects of a ship.

Perhaps he is a yank - I can't see his other badges.

If he is definately RN then perhaps you could look at Rocket Launcher as rockets were a common style of seagoing weapon - even back to the wooden ship days.

He could have been a member of the gunnery branch - specialising in rockets

The other possibility is that he could be a marine.

The Royal Marines currently - and could have had during WWl - a rating of Recce Leader and the initials RL is an official RM abbreviation

Good Luck

[Lee R.]

You can barely see the bottom of his hat badge and it sure looks British to me. It's definately not U.S. Navy.

[Eddie Parks]

His uniform and cap badge is that of a RN rating "not dressed as a seaman".

[mgc]

I agree that the uniform is definitely not US Navy. The cap badge probably has a Kings Crown above the part we can see. Could he have worked for the merchant navy or a passenger ship line? Perhaps the "L" in R.L. refers to Line. Just speculating.

[dragonz18]

Possiblity..... Range Layer ?

Cheers !
Steve

[Insignia]

Reporting this to see if anyone has seen the letters RL used in connection with the RNAS 1914-18 period. Any comments welcome.

[Phil2M]

He is a Petty Officer RN, in my opinion, RL could be Reserve List, possibly?

Phil

[royston]

Not on my list, however, I know of badges from the 1WW that were definately used but do not appear in any general description. Interesting & almost certainly RN.

John

[RCN]

Just a guess but perhaps Royal Lifeboat (Institution)?

RCN Bryan

[fougasse1940]

Another guess: Royal Launch???

Rgds,

Thomas.

[SAS1]

Werent small ships used to ferry goods from ship to shore called 'lighters'? Maybe something along that line...

[Mike Jackson]

Ramped Lighter perhaps?

[ORISKANY]

No help but sorry I could not resist Roya Lyacht.
2 more strikes and am I banned?