RNAS Arm Badge Engineer Star?

[royston]

Hi

I have just acquired a RNAS postcard (sorry if I outbid you) which shows a combination of insignia I have never seen before, Engineers badge with star. Any thoughts?

John

[JimD]

Hi John

Nice pic, can you post an enlarged section of the cap badge please.

Cheers
Jim

[royston]

Hi Jim

The Cap Badge is the standard RN Anchor and Crown (Red). The red with Eagle, which some think as an RNAS cap badge, is in fact RAF 1918.

[JimD]

John

Thanks for that always interested in RFC/RNAS/RAF WW1....

Cheers
Jim

[zob]

Originally Posted by royston

Hi

I have just acquired a RNAS postcard (sorry if I outbid you) which shows a combination of insignia I have never seen before, Engineers badge with star.
Any thoughts?

John

Hi John,

Interesting photograph. I don’t think that the arm insignia is in actual fact an official trade but, moreover something that eludes from an earlier RN “Leading Rate” that would suggest perhaps an unofficial R.N.A.S. rating of say something like: “Leading Engine Fitter”; as it would not be uncommon in early days of this fledgling service for there to be a lack of clarity from the transposition of R.N. ratings to that of those within the establishment of R.N.A.S. My guess being therefore, that what we are looking at is an: “Engineer” – Eagle and Prop, with the Star added probably later from an earlier R.N. Leading Rate – “Leading Engine Fitter”.

Best regards,

Zob.

[royston]

Hi Zob

I would tend to agree with you, except that the star above a Leading Hands device is about 1,6cm across and going by the size of the eagle, of which I have copies, the star above the eagle would be about 2 - 2.5 cm across, much larger than a normal star.

John