Odd Ratings Cap Badge

[Alex Rice]

Hi All
Can anyone tell me if this is an RN PO's cap badge? The anchor is smaller than the normal cap badges, about the same as that on an officers badge, so I was wondering if it was just a makers mistake or possibly a badge used by one ofthe auxilliary formations, RN Transport or something.
Thanks in advance. Cheers,
Alex

[seadog]

Hi Alex,

Looks like a standard RN PO's cap badge to me (IMHO).

Neville

[Alex Rice]

Hi Neville
Thanks for the reply, I know what you mean, but when you compare it to the usual cap badges, the anchor is a totally different size, the same as the officer badges and it is the only one like this that I have seen. I have put the pic up again with a couple of regular ones for comparison.
Cheers,
Alex

[Nozzer]

Hello Alex,

It is certainly different. The anchor is as you say used on officers badges and also CPO badges. It is a post 1920 badge and seems to only have one ring instead of the normal two. I don't suppose that it has a makers label on the reverse?

Andy

[Alex Rice]

Hi Andy
Yes, just one ring around the anchor, I hadn't noticed that. No makers name or label on the back.
Cheers,
Alex

[DougSA]

What is the significance of one ring round the anchor vs two?

D.

[DAVID B HOWELL]

Originally Posted by DougSA

What is the significance of one ring round the anchor vs two?

D.

Hi

One Ring - Petty Officers not dressed as Seaman with under one years service as Petty Officer and other ratings who wear Class III uniforms

Two Rings - Confirmed Petty Officer with over one years service as Petty Officer

David

[Alex Rice]

Hi David
That's very interesting. I have never seen a PO's badge with one ring, so was that a short-lived variation from the early 1920's when PO's were first granted the distinction of wearing cap badges? Do you think this could be one of those badges, though I still think the anchor is wrong.
Cheers,
Alex

[royston]

POs badges have two rings, it's just that when photographing the badge, if it has a large padded area which the anchor sits on, then it appears to be one ring. Note identical for C.P.Os badges pre 1920 (the badge became the P.Os badge after that when the C.P.Os received laurel leaves)

John

[DougSA]

Would the requirements for one ring also apply to RN engine room artificer (or FAA air fitter) cap badges with one ring, rather than two, as on the one below?

D.

[RBJ MIlitaria]

Originally Posted by DougSA

Would the requirements for one ring also apply to RN engine room artificer (or FAA air fitter) cap badges with one ring, rather than two, as on the one below?

D.

That appears to be an Artificer Apprentice badge or ratings not dressed as a seaman.
The one to look out for is the blue wrens version with one ring which was worn by female Arificer Apprentices and the only branch using them was Fleet Air Arm prior to Wrens joining ME and WE branches.