RCN - the Miscellaneous badges

[RCN]

The Miscellaneous badges were not rate/trade badges, but were rather additional qualification badges, denoting that a rating had obtained an additional qualification in an area that was represented by a Misc badge.

The Misc badges were worn on the RIGHT CUFF of the tunics, ie: the same sleeve that this rate/trade badge would have been worn on.

Misc. badges were awarded for: Bugler, Marksman, Diver.

Any rating could qualify for a Misc qualification badge, altho he had to pass whatever the qualification requirements for that badge which were in force at the time.

At one time a rating received an additional "per diem" sum as long as he held & performed the duties of the respective qualification.

Bryan

[RCN]

The Bugler's badge had been in use in the RN since 1897, & presumably the first Buglers appeared in the RCN in 1910. At that time Buglers were quite important as many of the orders on board ship (& shore) would have been passed by bugle.

The "Bugle Calls" indicated in BRCN 1701 (of 1944) show 59 separate calls.

Shown below is the Buglers badge.

[RCN]

BRCN 1701 Some examples of the Bugle Calls.

If you read music & youwere ex RCN you will recall some of these calls......

[RCN]

The Marksman first appeared in the RN in 1890. This badge was primarily for Gunnery qualified ratings but as time went on any rating who could shoot accurately could qualify.

When I was in the RCN in the '60's a score of 90% was required on three targets to qualify & you had to requalify regularly. If you failed to requalify you lost yr Misc badge.

Marksman badges of the wartime/'50's era are shown below. The design of the Marksman badge has remained pretty constant for the many yrs the badge has been in existance, but one does see variants in the style of the rifles & I have shown a few as well.

[boots and saddles]

Interesting Bryan,Informative also. It's amazing the little bits of info we can pick up here.

[RCN]

The Ship's Diver qualification had been around since the late Victorian period, but did not receive their distinctive "helmet" badge until after WWI.

Divers took a rigourous course of qualification & had to be very physically & mentally fit to undertake diving duties in sometimes very hazardous conditions. They had to pass regular medical & physical checkups & requalify regularly.
The Diver misc badge was worn on the right cuff of the tunic sleeve.

The Diver badges are shown below & also a photo, taken from the RCN magazine "The Crowsnest", of a Cook wearing the Diver badge on his right cuff.

[RCN]

In 1959 a new Misc badge was designed specifically for the newly created SCUBA diver additional qualification - this being double diving tanks & diving flippers.

By this time the old "hard hat" diver badge had been replaced by the Clearance Diver rate badge, described earlier in these writeups.

Similar to the old "hard hat" Diver qualification badge, ratings qualifying for SCUBA divers had to undertake a rigorous training program & be very physically & mentally fit. The RCN Diving Tender was HMCS Granby in Halifax dockyard.

I have the medal group of Lt Commander C.S. Smedley CD*, Fleet Diving Officer of the 1950's -60's period. Lt Cr Smedley was the first Diver to qualify in the RCN in 1931. His photo is attached also.

Bryan

[Unknownsoldier]

Interesting how out of order his medal ribbons have been placed in the picture......

Tom

[RCN]

I noticed that too Tom, middle row should be on top, wonder if he knew it?

Smedley had a very interesting career joining as a Boy in '28, gaining rapid promotion, Warranted, Commissioned, etc. I'll post a photo of his group when I get a photo of it & perhaps his career as well.

Bryan

[Unknownsoldier]

Yeah please, it's always a wonder to me that servicemen don't realise when they are out of order, especially no naval uniform where the medal rows shorten at the top and lengthen as they get further down the jacket....

ATB,
Tom