HMS LST Cap Tally Bullion

[Phill Lockett]

Hi Team

What your opinion on this bullion cap tally.

My thoughts are theatre made but where?

Also are these types of cap tallies rare, tried google but nothing turned up.

cheers

Phill

[dumdum]

I once heard an American humourist refer to "LST" (Landing Ship,Tank ?) as "Large Slow Target".

He has served on one of these around June 6 and probably had reason for his suggestion...

[Phill Lockett]

Thanks dd
Yes that was the common nickname for LST.
Hoping there would be cap tally collector who could shed more light.
I don't think it's a common tally.
Cheers
Phill

[Guzzman]

This is certainly an unusual tally.

It certainly isn't a standard 'Admiralty' issue tally. Ratings were also allowed to buy their own tallies from naval outfitters. At the start of WW2 the Admiralty stopped issuing gold tallies but private manufacturers were able to go on issuing them as long as they could get the gold wire.

Manufacturers in the UK had to follow quite strict regulations in the way they made their tallies. They had to conform to the Admiralty design and follow standard patterns.

This is not the case with your tally. Some of the letters seem slightly different in shape from normal and the use of 'dashes' instead of 'dots' between the letters is most unusual.

And then you turn to the back of the tally! I have never seen a tally with a backing like that!

This suggests that this is indeed a theatre made tally. Many LSTS operated in the campaign to liberate Burma and so it could be made in India. But they also operated all around the Mediterranean so it could have been made anywhere there. I doubt if it was from an LST that operated in Northern Europe as they were far too near the main stores depots in the UK! Unless you knew which LST it came from I guess you'll never know where it was made.

I have been collecting Royal Navy tallies for many years and I have at least two thousand in my collection but I have never seen one like this before. A very interesting tally! Thanks for showing it.

Pete

[Phill Lockett]

Thanks Pete

My thoughts were of CBI made based on the thatched reverse.This doesn't have a European look to it.
My next question how do you store 2000 tallies!
Would've to see sometime tallies.

Thanks again mate.
Phill

[Guzzman]

Morning Phil

If I'd been pressed I'd have said it probably wasn't European either!

Most of my tallies are kept in plastic wallets in binders. But I'm ashamed to admit that at the moment some are kept carefully folded in shoe boxes. I've been having problems getting hold of the plastic wallets.

And the tallies form only a small part of my collection!

Pete

[Phill Lockett]

Much appreciated Pete.
The cap tally is part of my WWII Allied combined ops display along with other RN cloth insignia of the era.
Always good to hear that extra info you have provided.
Cheers
Phill

[Bronzestar]

Hello I was wondering if you could help regarding a tally as I'm currently looking for one that my grandad would have worn in ww2 he was on the hms petard. I've been looking for awhile with no luck.

[mike_vee]

From Royal Museums Greenwich :

During the Second World War, cap ribbons bearing only the letters 'HMS' or 'HM Destroyers/Submarines' were in use.

Any examples of an HMS PETARD tally would probably be from post WW2.

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthoped...tard-163108590

.

[Bronzestar]

That's why I haven't found one then. Thanks for the info