RCN RANK structure

[RCN]

I have now completed the RCN Branch Trade Rate badge structure.

My next effort will be to try to describe & illustrate the RCN RANK BADGE
Structure. This, hopefully, will provide readers with an idea of how the “mysterious” Navy ranks {to most non naval collectors} operated.

& this project, like the Trade badge articles, will be an ongoing process…………….

Bryan


The Rank structure of the R.C.N. - 1950

During 1948 & 1949 a committee was formed, chaired by Vice Admiral Rollo Mainguy. The purpose of the committee was to reorganize the R.C.N. & to recommend changes be made in order to modernize & ‘Canadianize’ the service.
As a result of the recommendations of the committee, contained in what was to become known as the ‘ Mainguy Report’, both the rank & rate/branch structure of the R.C.N. changed considerably, with those changes coming into effect in late 1949 & early 1950.

[RCN]

Prior to 1949 the RCN rank structure followed that of the RN & the badge devices were as follows –

Boy Seaman. ----- no badge of rank

Ordinary Seaman ----- no badge of rank

Able Seaman ----- no badge of rank

Leading Seaman ---- a single anchor worn on the left sleeve

Petty Officer ----- a pair of crossed anchors surmounted by a Kings Crown

Chief Petty Officer ---- 3 brass buttons worn on the lower cuffs of the uniform Jacket


Illustrated below are {L to R}:

Leading Seaman

Petty Officer

Chief Petty Officer

Note that there are many many variants & styles of these badges in existance. this being due to the number of different manufacturers producing them.

[RCN]

[COLOR="Indigo"]
Effective 1 Feb 1949 the rank structure of the R.C.N. was changed to conform to the equivalent Army & RCAF ranks.
This meant two new ranks had to be created.

The old Petty Officer {PO} rank was split into 2 classes – Petty Officer 2nd class{PO2}, & Petty Officer 1st clas {PO 1} respectively, the PO2 wearing a new rank badge of crossed anchors; & the PO1 wearing a crown above the crossed anchors.

The old Chief Petty Officer{CPO} rank was also split into 2 classes – Chief Petty Officer 2nd class {CPO2}, and Chief Petty Officer 1st class {CPO1}; the C.P.O 2 wearing the 3 brass buttons as before, & the C.P.O 1 adding a Kings crown above the centre button.

The two new ranks of PO2 and CPO1 are illustrated below:

A note concerning the blue on white badges:

Initially these were issued in royal blue embroidery, but later changed to a navy blue embroidery, both types are illustrated below for the PO2 badge:

[RCN]

With the two newly introduced ranks of PO2 & CPO1,
gave a rank structure as follows -

The rank of Boy Seaman was abolished

Ordinary Seaman – equivalent to Private

Able Seaman - “ to Lance Corporal

Leading Seaman - “ to Corporal

Petty Officer 2nd Class - “ to Sergeant

Petty Officer 1st Class - “ to Staff Sergeant

C.P.O. 2nd Class - “ to WO class 2

C.P.O. 1st Class - “ to WO class 1

[RCN]

Illustrated below is the rank structure for the RCN post 1949-----

L to R:

Ordinary & Able Seaman still have no badge & never will have one,

Leading Seaman,

PO2.

PO1,

CPO2,

CPO1.

[RCN]

Now some will have figured out by now that introducing two new ranks into the RCN caused some problems for those serving that had some time in their current rank already put in, how did they fit in with the overall scheme of things?????


The way this change in ranks was affected as follows –

Ordinary & Able seaman remained in these ranks.

Leading Seaman of a certain number of years seniority (they needed 3 yrs in the rank of LS) were promoted to the new rank of PO2.

Petty Officers of a certain seniority(below 3 yrs) became PO1’s,

& those with greater seniority were promoted to the new rank of CPO2.

& senior CPO’s became CPO1’s.

Branch requirements were taken into account as well & no doubt affected some advancement in the new ranks.

This was the RCN's rank scheme until the fateful yr of 1968 when Integration of the Canadian Forces took effect.

[boots and saddles]

Very informative & clear. Don't go any farther Bryan, I want to keep my eyes closed & believe we still have a Navy.

[Phillip Herring]

In spite of unification, even in today's Canadian Navy, our sailors cling to their old customs and traditions. I was posted with "purple" trades people who wore the Navy uniform and had served on ships. They still referred to Leading Seamen as Killicks, the storesman in charge of rations was still the "Vittler" and many had taken part in the Crossing the Line Ceremony.
Now that we have the three uniforms and are "operationally focussed", the Canadian Forces is very different for its members than it was in 1968.

Phil

[RCN]

With the commencement of Queen Elizabeth’s reign in 1952, the crown on the PO1, & CPO1 insignia changed to the “Queens crown”, & also on the buttons for the CPO2 & 1 ranks.

Again, one sees variants in the style of the PO1 insignia, depending upon the manufacture. The basic design remained the same but the embroidery of the anchors & crown could vary. Many of these gold wire badges were produced by military/naval tailors.

Examples of the “Queen’s crown badges are illustrated below::

[RCN]

Circa 1960, the style of the anchor(s) changed somewhat for the LS, PO2, & PO1 insignia. They were somewhat ‘modernized’ & these are illustrated below:

[RCN]

Circa the late 1950's a contract was let for gold embroidered badges to a firm in West Pakistan. I dont know any details of this contract, however it may have been done for economy purposes.

The embroidery was done in a finer 'gold' type of thread, but the workmanship was inferior & the design (especially for the trade badges) was terrible.
These badges could not even compare favourably to the current gold wire embroidered badges. The embroidery did not stand up to sea conditions, or Canadian weather, & rapidly turned a dull, somewhat greenish colour. The badges did not last long (fortunately) & were not favoured by ratings.

Example sof the LS, PO2 & PO1 rank badges are shown below:

[RCN]

When the RCN adopted the summer Khaki uniform, it also developed three new metal insignia for wear on the collars of the khaki summer shirts,

the rank insignia was for PO1, CPO2 & CPO1, & are illustrated below:

The KC was changed to QC after 1952