M.W.S. Cap Tally

[sailorbear]

Hi all, Can anyone identify this cap tally?

It is modern and British and seems of the construction of the latest monstrosities now being issued! But I dont know if it is an official item.

Mostly however I am interested in what it is supposed to be?

I have been told it stands for Mine Warfare School and others have said it is Maritime Warfare School and worn at HMS Collingwood (I was there in 2007 and it definately was'nt being worn there then!)

So I dont know what it is but would be interested in any infornation anyone may have?

Regards Tony

[Phil2M]

I always thought it was Mine Watch Service.

Phil

[sailorbear]

Originally Posted by phil2m

I always thought it was Mine Watch Service.

Phil

Interesting and a good thought! Are we talking about the Royal Naval Mine Watching Service that was alalglamated with the Admiralty Ferries Crews Association to form the Royal Naval Auxiliary Service (RNXS)?

if it is then the tally is definately a reproduction as it is of a totally different construction to any 1950s tally but I was of the belief that the RNMWS wore berets and a cap badge exactly the same as the RNXS (an exploding mine) with with RNMWS underneath?

Regards Tony

I wonder could it be 'Maritime Warfare School'?

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operatio...arfare-school/

PJ

[Phil2M]

You are of course correct sailorbear, I wasnt thinking. RNMWS is above the mine though. There is a NATO mine warfare school in belgium, is that a possibility?

Phil

[Phil2M]

I have just sms messaged my mate on hms clyde. May be a while for a reply.

Cheers
Phil

[Phil2M]

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operatio...last_visit.htm

Tallys are clearly 'Collingwood'

quote from RN website

''In 2002 HMS Collingwood became the lead establishment for the Maritime Warfare School (MWS), in support of the closure and transfer of warfare training from the former HMS Dryad.

The MWS is now part of the Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) organisation, delivering Warfare Training on five sites; Horsea Island, HMS Temeraire and HMS Excellent all in Portsmouth, Hampshire and HMS Raleigh in Cornwall and of course HMS Collingwood in Fareham, Hampshire.''

So currently ''MWS' does refer to the Maritime Warfare School in RN circles.

Hopefully my Navigations Officer friend will have a mobile signal at some point. Maybe I should try the dreaded Facebook!!!!

Phil

Originally Posted by phil2m

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operatio...last_visit.htm

Tallys are clearly 'Collingwood'

quote from RN website

''In 2002 HMS Collingwood became the lead establishment for the Maritime Warfare School (MWS), in support of the closure and transfer of warfare training from the former HMS Dryad.

The MWS is now part of the Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) organisation, delivering Warfare Training on five sites; Horsea Island, HMS Temeraire and HMS Excellent all in Portsmouth, Hampshire and HMS Raleigh in Cornwall and of course HMS Collingwood in Fareham, Hampshire.''

So currently ''MWS' does refer to the Maritime Warfare School in RN circles.

Hopefully my Navigations Officer friend will have a mobile signal at some point. Maybe I should try the dreaded Facebook!!!!

Phil

Quite right, Phil, as can be seen from the photos in the link:

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operatio...last_visit.htm

PJ

[sailorbear]

Originally Posted by phil2m

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/operatio...last_visit.htm

Tallys are clearly 'Collingwood'

quote from RN website

''In 2002 HMS Collingwood became the lead establishment for the Maritime Warfare School (MWS), in support of the closure and transfer of warfare training from the former HMS Dryad.

The MWS is now part of the Flag Officer Sea Training (FOST) organisation, delivering Warfare Training on five sites; Horsea Island, HMS Temeraire and HMS Excellent all in Portsmouth, Hampshire and HMS Raleigh in Cornwall and of course HMS Collingwood in Fareham, Hampshire.''

So currently ''MWS' does refer to the Maritime Warfare School in RN circles.

Hopefully my Navigations Officer friend will have a mobile signal at some point. Maybe I should try the dreaded Facebook!!!!

Phil

Hi there, thanks for that, any info would be of interest but it could simply be a made up tally? I dont think it is belgian as the construction is totally different from any belgian tally I've seen, unless it is MoD produced for ratings drafted to the mine warfare school in Belgium? It is of the horrible new construction of the presently issued RN tallies (cheap material, over sized lettering, does'nt steam shrink to fit, cant tie a decent bow in it and keeps slipping down over the brim of the cap!) although like I said in my original post, I was serving at HMS Collingwood in 2007 and it definately was'nt being worn then! interestingly enough I also have a SCU cap tally (Special Communications Unit) that is also now located in HMS Collingwood having moved from Leydene several years after HMS Mercury closed down and re located to HMS Dryad! this one is of the old construction and I assume it is authentic but dont know for sure?

Regards Tony

[Phil2M]

Thats Ok, you helped me out already.

Much like the new issue tallys for sea scouts then, bows look awful, it drives me spare.

Thats what i was trying to get at, I wonder if it is worn on joint training excercises, to avoid confusion, or maybe similiar to the old wartime 'HMS' tally.

Phil

[sailorbear]

[QUOTE=phil2m;123358]Thats Ok, you helped me out already.

Much like the new issue tallys for sea scouts then, bows look awful, it drives me spare.

Thats what i was trying to get at, I wonder if it is worn on joint training excercises, to avoid confusion, or maybe similiar to the old wartime 'HMS' tally.

Phil[/Q

Hi, thats a thought! I have seen a ROYAL NAVY tally that was supposed to have been worn by RN personnel on joint exercises? As for RN personnel drafted to foreign navies or establishments (such as Naples, the US and SHAPE in Belgium) to my knowledge they wore HMS Warrior tallies as they were technically detached from the joint headquarters at northwood, thought what they wear now I dont know? maybe the JSU Nothwood tally that replaced the HMS Warrior tally?

Regards Tony

[Paddy]

Tony

Apologies for arriving late on this one, too much time working away from home. The cap ribbon you have shown is a genuine issue version and as you have seen the standard leaves a lot to be desired. I have attached 2 pictures of a close up of the lettering on the ribbon I have. My ribbon is 100% genuine issue as it came from the stores in Collingwood when I was there in 2002. The ribbon was short lived, and unpopular, and I believe it was produced as a result of a whim of the then CO and then replaced with the standard Collingwood/Excellent cap ribbons when he moved on to pastures new.

Paddy

So, unless I have (embarrassingly) missed something here gents, could somebody clarify exactly what M.W.S. stands for please? .

PJ

[Paddy]

PJ

Definitely Maritime Warfare School

Paddy

Thanks, Paddy.

All the best,

Peter.