Mystery 'CW' Armlet

[Guzzman]

Hi all

I have a mystery which I hope we can solve between us!

I have recently purchased an armlet (see image below) of a pattern I have never seen before. It consists of a strip of navy-blue serge with a white metal fastening which states on it 'Made in England', 'Trade Mark', an image of crossed swords and some numbers and letters which I am unable to decipher. The design of the 'Crossed Swords' logo looks very like the Wilkinson's Swords logo still used on razor blades today.

The armlet itself has the letters 'C.W.' embroidered on it in yellow thread. Beneath this are the smaller letters 'R.N.' embroidered in red thread. On the back of the armlet, where the letters are embroidered, is a piece of canvas. All four letters are embroidered onto this piece of canvas. The armlet seems to have some age about it - a feeling reinforced by the thickness of the thread used, the style of lettering and the presence of the canvas on the back.

The 'R.N.' obviously stands for Royal Navy, but the only thing I could think of that the 'C.W.' could stand for is 'Commissions and Warrants'. This is where a rating, who displays suitable 'officer-like' qualities, is considered for promotion to an officer. The process starts with a recommendation from a divisional officer that a rating be considered as a CW (Commissions and Warrants, as I stated earlier) Candidate. If this is approved by the captain of the prospective candidate's ship, the candidate commences a year's probation and then appears before an official selection board. During wartime this process was greatly shortened.

I know that men selected as CW candidates during the Second World War either wore a white cap tally or a white band around their peaked cap to signify their status during their probationary period but I have been unable to find any information as to what was worn by candidates before the war.

The scheme for selecting ratings to become officers was actually much older than I thought. It had its origins in 1912 when the then First Sea Lord initiated the first scheme whereby Royal Navy ratings had a chance to gain a commission at a relatively young age.

Even in 1912 candidates presumably had to have something to indicate their status to everyone in their ship. An armlet would be ideal for this. I'm not saying that the armlet is necessarily that old or that that is what it was for. But so far I can come up with no other ideas. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

Pete

[bobbluesboy]

Only other thing I can think of is maybe " Canteen Worker " who may have been in civies.Bob.

[Guzzman]

That's a really good idea Bob! I hadn't thought of that. That's quite possible - especially as I'd say it dates from the First World War. I'd racked my brains for ages to try and think of anything that could be represented by CW - and I never thought of that one. Now I just need to try and find some evidence ... Many thanks!

Pete

[mike_vee]

Possibly something to do with WW2 Royal Navy Coast Watch ?

"One of the units of the Royal Navy's Coast Watch. A team of sailors who are dedicated to the defense of the coast and establishments therin."

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/i...ject/205185170


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[btns]

The crossed swords logo was a trademark owned by Buttons Limited (founded 1907) and earlier by Thomas Carlyle, one of the founding companies of Buttons Limited.

[sailorbear]

Don't know if it has any relevance to the armlet, but in WW2, "CW" stood for Candidate for Wardroom and was used for ratings who were going for a commission at HMS King Alfred at Hove, or at least that's what Peter Bull says in his auto biography "To sea in a sieve" where he details his experience as a "CW" rating.