WW"2 RN Khaki battledress

[redadmiral]

Sorry guys, not so much a badge enquiry but....and forgive the apparently silly question...but are there any pictures or is there any evidence that RN officers wore khaki army type peaked caps with matching battledress during WW2?

Would be grateful for any help.
Thank you

Regards Shaun...Here's to a bloody war or a sickly season .....Ooops have to be PC these days....Here's to Our Navy

[JerryBB]

The Royal Marines did, and I have a vague recollection of reading that for some RN units they did as well.

[Sonofacqms]

RN Commando's wore battledress jackets, not sure of the headgear.

Rob

[graham]

Captain Colin Douglas Maud DSO DSC (1903-1980) Beach master on Juno beach on D Day. Played by Kenneth More in The Longest day is portrayed wearing khaki Battle dress in the film but with a beret. Other RN officers [in the film] Seem to be wearing RN officers caps with Army style Battle dress.

This proves nothing of cause, but maybe an avenue worth exploring.

Graham.

[graham]

All the images I can find show RN Commandos wear Navy headdress.

[redadmiral]

Cheers Jerry, Rob, Graham, much appreciated

Have gleaned some evidence over the years of beach masters like Colin Maud in battledress and beret and of beach commando in battledress and regular blue headdress....Sure though I had heard tell of RN officers in Army service caps with RN cap badges on regular black mohair bands such as may have been worn I think by bomb disposal and rendering mine safe officers such as Commander Ouvry RN (HMS Vernon) or other EOD personnel?? Definitely an avenue to explore, Graham, Thanks, Really grateful for your input

[Mike B]

Fair point about actual army service caps - I guess you have looked at 30 Assault Unit/Commando - there again Officers wore Naval peaked caps from recollection
Mike

[Postwarden]

Martin Brayley's recent book on RN uniforms has no evidence of khaki SD caps worn by RN officers but does record RN caps worn with khaki covers like the example attached whilst in BD.

RN Commandos did adopt green berets but their widespread but unofficial use was banned in August 1943 "Combined Operations Temporary Memo, 20th August 1943; ‘Green berets are only to be worn by RN personnel forming an integral part of an RM Commando and then only when in battle dress’." National Archives file DEFE2/1038.

Jon

[Guzzman]

I have an Army style khaki peaked cap in my collection which is badged for a Chief Petty Officer. The CPOs badge is attached to a black mohair band.

The badge and mohair band have obviously been attached to the cap for many years. Both are firmly stitched into place.

The cap appears to have been privately purchased as inside it has the makers/retailers label 'Moss Bros of Covent Garden - the Complete Man's Store'.

I'm away from home till Sunday but after I get back I'll take some photos and put them on the site.

Pete

[redadmiral]

Thanks guys your help is much appreciated.
Thanks for the heads up Mike will look into 30 assault unit.

Fascinating image Jon, much appreciated, Thank you. for the useful info

Look forward to seeing your SD cap Pete, thank you. Hope you've had a good holiday?

Best Wishes all
Shaun

[Guzzman]

Hi everyone.

Finally back from break in not so sunny Norfolk!

Had a quick look at the CPOs cap as soon as I got back. The body of the cap is made from khaki material (not a cap cover). It has a black peak (presumably leather). The CPOs badge is the flat wartime economy version.

Checked the makers/sellers label. It IS Moss Bross as I remembered.

I must admit that I have never seen another one like it or any illustration/photograph depicting anything similar. I would be very interested in finding out more about it myself.

I'll take some photos and post them over the next couple of days.

Pete

[Guzzman]

Here are the pictures of the cap. I apologise for the quality - I'm not a very good photographer!

As I said earlier I know nothing whatsoever about the cap and have never seen a similar one.

Pete

[redadmiral]

Excellent Pete, Thank you. Yeah would be fascinated to know something of the history of such a cap too. Thank you for sharing, much appreciated.

Regards
Shaun

[NEMO]

HI , Sorry im late coming to this thread considering R.N special forces is my main area of collecting ,I will add more details as I can but for now please see this photo of a Royal Navy Commando wearing khaki BD and green Beret , the arm not visible ( his right ) will no doubt have a Combined ops sign stitched on , notice the Royal Signals arm of service strip been worn on naval uniform , it was common to see RN Commando and other Royal Navy commando trained ( two completely seperate units ) wear the simple Royal Navy cloth title rather than the full R.N Commando this was due a desire for security , it appears the R.N signal units were far more security aware than the army or RAF counterparts but also recognition of their Royal Navy loyalties in much the same way , thow hard to believe that R.N Commando`s would rather wear the normal naval head dress instead of the coverted Green Beret

[redadmiral]

Thank you Michael for your response and excellent pics...... much appreciated, thank you.

Willing to accept your opinion on the PO's beret colour tho' looks a little dark to me. However I have to admit to being a complete novice in regards to WW2 RN/RM commando and most things "Royal"...More of a latter day EOD - submarine interest.

Do you know of any evidence that RN officers wore army SD khaki cap?

Kindest regards and here's to our men
Shaun