Torpedo branch badge 1942-47

[David B]

Hi, can anyone identify this badge? I can't find any reference to the letter Q below the torpedo. My copies of the appendices to the Navy List for 1942, 1944, 1945 do not list this one.
Badges with letters CM, CMS, J, L, LC, MS are well documented in various reference sources.
Thanks, David

[Markus Bodeux]

Very mysterious!
I have the most of the changes of rating badges from the AFOs 1940-1948 printed out in a hand binder, but i can´t find this combination. So far i can see the Q is embroidered directly on the backing, no "spare" letter.
Black or burlap backing ?
Regards
Markus
P.S. Still searching for a complete store-list from AFO 1948 ! (digital or paper)

[mike_vee]

Originally Posted by David B

I can't find any reference to the letter Q below the torpedo.

Only mention of 'Q' I can find relates to gunnery badge ?

.

[royston]

I had this combination a while ago, but again a not listed variant. Q usually means A Quarters rating. During the war there were probably short lived specialists. Indeed the most interesting one I still hold is a torpedo and star with W over CP where the initials are hand sewn.

I could, of course, be a commonwealth badge., but again I have found no reference.

I have copied some funnies and a close up of the W CP.

John

[David B]

Thanks all for your replies, and to John for the images of the oddities. I had a list of these from a collector many years ago, but have not seen them until now. Additionally, I have an Air Fitter badge (4 blade airscrew) with star above and R below. Apparently, there is also another with an F below.

My torpedo branch badge has a black backing and the Q is part of the woven design, not added as a spare letter stitched to the front. Apart from the gunnery branch post 1938, I can't find any other branch using a Q in their badges. Given that the torpedo branch were responsible for electrical matters until the Electrical Branch was formed in 1948, could it be that some ratings provided electrical services to the Quarters and Anti-aircraft sections of the gunnery branch, hence the torpedo badges with Q and with A below?

However, the mysterious letter Q also appears in the Air Mechanic and Air Fitter branches as shown in John's images. Could Q have a wider meaning, perhaps standing for 'Qualified' after initial training? I'm sure the answer must lie within an AFO for the period up to end 1947, but are AFOs searchable other than going to the National Archives and ploughing through them?

Finally, John I've no idea what W over CP might relate to. That's really odd! The Canadian Navy used RN badges until 1948, as I think did Australia and New Zealand.

David

[nbroadarrowz]

Hi David,
Yes, a lot of the AFOs are searchable. Thanks to the RAN.
As you will see some years are missing, so if anyone can fill the gaps, I am sure it would be beneficial to everyone. I have previously searched the AFOs extensively for all badge and uniform extracts but have not found a reference to your badge.

https://www.navy.gov.au/media-room/p...y-fleet-orders

Good luck.

Barry

[royston]

Hi David

Thank you for your reply and, like me, you are no further forward. I have a few first world war badges, my main collection now, again not listed but I have photographs of them being worn. Also photographs of odd badges and odd combinations, but it is nice to have proof that they existed. Reference the W.C.P all I can think of is Warden Cinque Ports. Maybe they had some guided torpedoes there!! Who knows?

John

[nbroadarrowz]

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