Masters of Yard Craft

[nbroadarrowz]

Hi to all,
Does anyone know what these badges look like?
Masters of Yard Craft (Qualified Admiralty Pilots), pattern 56.
1st Class Masters of Yard Craft (not qualified Admiralty Pilots), pattern 57.
Pattern 56 cost 13/5d while pattern 57 cost 13/.
Both badges were issued as 'each' indicating that they were worn on the arm.
The badges were expensive to make compared to a gold P.O. badge (pattern 1) at 7/2d so will be impressive to look at.
Thanks
Barry
(reference 1942 NZ Navy Stores list)

[nbroadarrowz]

This is a clue.
Does anyone have an example in their collection?
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/30066560
A flag consisting of an Union flag and horizontal anchor embroidered in blue onto a purple background, surrounded by gold wire laurel leaves and surmounted by a King's crown with red, blue and green detail. Embroidered onto a padded, black, cut-to-shape background
Thanks
Barry

[Tinto]

Hi Barry,
Here is such a badge.
I have a gilding metal version of this badge.
Cheers, John

[Guzzman]

The badges you describe above are both cap badges.

In order to explain their significance I had better give a bit of background history. The Admiralty Yard Craft Service was the civilian service which operated auxiliary vessels for the Admiralty, mainly in H.M. Dockyards or the vicinity. The service operated tugs, harbour ferries, launches and lighters. The Fleet Coaling Service (subsequently renamed the Fleet Fuelling Service) and the Admiralty Dredging Service were separate but closely related services, but by 1947 they had both fully amalgamated with the Admiralty Yard Craft Service. The Blue Ensign defaced with a horizontal anchor (later known as the Government Service Ensign) was designated the ensign of all auxiliary vessels owned by the Admiralty in 1864. The cap badge of 1st Class Masters of Yard Craft not qualified as Navy Department Pilots contained the Government Service Ensign surrounded by laurels and surmounted by a crown. The same badge continued to be worn (with slight variations in design) until the successor of the Admiralty Yard Craft Service, the Royal Maritime Auxiliary Service, was disbanded in 2008. In that year its vessels and personnel were transferred to Serco Denholm Marine Services Limited which now provides services in and around the dockyards under contract to the MoD.

I presume that after the establishment of the RNZN the history of the Yard Craft Service followed a slightly different route in New Zealand.

Yard Craft Service craft (and the craft of the later RMAS) were manned entirely by civilians (classed as civil servants). The cap badges worn by the officers of the service (known as Marine Service Officers) were as follows: -

Cap Badge of 1st Class Master of Yard Craft not qualified as a Admiralty/Navy Departmant Pilot: the Government Service Ensign (a blue ensign defaced with a horizontal anchor) surrounded by laurels and surmounted by a Crown).

Cap Badge of 1st Class Master of Yard Craft and Qualified Admiralty/Navy Department Pilot: Flag of the King's/Queen's Harbour Master (Union Jack with a white border containing in it's centre a crown with the letters KHM/QHM beneath it) surrounded by laurels and surmounted by a Crown.

I attach images of two Queen's Crown versions of these cap badges.

Pete

[nbroadarrowz]

Hi Peter,
Thank you for the explanation and photos.
I was surprised to find the badges mentioned in an NZ Navy List.
No to find examples with Kings crowns.
Barry