Michael R

Hi, Anyone interested in US Naval headdress and insignia?? I am starting a thread on US Naval Headdress commencing with the US Coast Guard and the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. I confess to a limited knowledge on the subject of the Coast Guard so I would be most grateful for feed back especially when I get the description or ranks wrong - and I will!! Thank you in advance. Regards and best wishes Michael R Item 1 USCG Junior Officer's Summer pattern tan visor cap. The cap device is of a very attractive bullion embroidered pattern comprising the US National Eagle in gold with the CG shield in silver over it's breast clutching a silver fouled anchor in a horizontal configuration. This is the current standard device worn on both the visor (in full size) and garrison (in miniature) cap. Note the cap band and device field are in a medium blue colour. Item 2 Officer's Winter cap with white cover and blue/black cap band and device field. The logic behind the two shades of blue is not known, at least by me!! In this case the cap badge is finished in silver and gold finished metal. This is a two part constructed badge which is held together and secured by a nut and bolt reverse fitting. Item 3 A second Winter cap but with a bullion embroidered eagle, shield and anchor and again with blue/black cap band and badge field. This is a far earlier cap than the previous items.

Some more soft caps and hats. Item 1 Is an Air Force Officer's fur hat in light grey with the large embroidered hat badge with a metal cockade in silver, very reminiscent of the old metal Luftwaffe cap badge. Item 2 Naval Officer's fur hat in dark blue with Gold embroidered badge and gold metal cockade. Item 3 Army field visor ca pin "rain" pattern camouflage with small embroidered roundel. Item 4 Female Naval Officer's "Pill Box" style hat in dark blue with an all metal gold cap device. Item 5 Female Naval Officer's "Garrison" style had in white with embroidered gold badge and cockade. The fore part of the cap is trimmed in gold piping. Item 6 All ranks combat hood in "Rain" pattern Camouflage.

Hi Long Thrust VI, Thank you for adding your comments to this thread and if you feel inclined, please feel free to add any of your collection to the thread. With thanks, regards and best wishes Michael R Hi Again Paul, Yes, please do add whatever you wish to display to the thread, the more the merrier!! Cheers Michael

Yes Paul, I like them too!!! Regards Michael This next Army cap is somewhat contentious!! I believe it to be a copy others say a private purchase variation. What say you???? Your opinions and reasoning would be greatly appreciated.

Hi, Sticking with the RAF Medical Services and PMRAFNS, the following boards are a bit of a variety. All four boards have a representative and ubiquitous Red Cross Armlet at the base. Board 5 Features flying suit patches all of which bear the Caduceus Of Mercury flanked by outstretched wings and the Queen's Crown. These patches are encountered in a variety of colours including OG subdued and sand etc. most also have a name and squadron details etc. Board 6 Left side are two Number ! Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron RAF patches. Right side are a number of sleeve wings for non-commissioned Flight Medical Attendants. Center are junior Airmen and Airwomen shoulder rank slides. to the left with metal insignia and to the right with gold thread embroidered insignia. The ranks are Leading Aircraftman - LAC. Senior Aircraftman - SAC and Junior Technician - JT (Now obsolete as a rank and badge). Board 7 Left side are a variety of PMRAFNS shoulder mudguards. Right side are more mudguards over a PMRAFNS Nursing Sister's name tag as worn on the Ward Dress Uniform. Beneath that is a Nurse Training School badge. Center are sliders for the ranks of Corporal - JNCO, Sergeant - SNCO and Chief Technician. Board 8 Left RAF Medical collar insignia and a tie pin. Right more collar insignia. Center are sliders for the ranks of Flight Sergeant and Warrant Officer. Hi Paul, Thank you once again for your kind comments. I see no reason why you should not add some of your non-British Medical collection to this thread. If people like Medical associated militaria then what difference does it make where they find it. It is still Medical. Please feel free to join in!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Regards Michael

Continuing with the Senior Officer's caps, The next two are Air Force for the ranks of Major to Colonel inclusive. The Air Force appears to have greater control over the colour shading of their caps which tend to be of a greater degree of uniformity.

Hi, Moving swiftly on, the next selection belong to the RAF Medical and Dental Services and the PMRAFNS. Board 1 Three armlets as worn by RAF Medical personnel. The insignia embroidered in light blue on a white field comprises the Caduceus Of Mercury flanked by outstretched wings and ensigned by The Queen's Crown. The center armlet is identical to the others but the reverse is stamped with a property stamp saying that it belongs to RAF Hospital Ely which was located in Cambridgeshire prior to its closure. Board 2 Top row comprised PMRAF (Princess Mary's RAF Nursing Service) Ward uniform badges. Left vertical row are shoulder bars worn by trainee nursed in their first and second years of training. Center are reflective jacket titles for RAF Doctors and nurses. Upper right is a mudguard (Shoulder badge) for a hospital train, probably an Army badge and lower right is a Flight Nurses desert pattern arm badge in copper silk on a sand field. Board 3 Medical Service Geneva (Red) Cross brassards and the PMRAFNS badge as worn with civilian cloths. Board 4 A variety of Red Cros armlets. Blood Group notifications for wear on either the combat jacket shirt or helmet. Medical Emergency Response Teams(MERT) badges

An a couple more. Two patterns, late in light grey and early in dark grey. Both have early pattern dark grey backed cap badges. Item two is missing its cockade.

Hi, Back to the Bundeswhehr Army. The next few caps are for Senior or Field Grade Officers in the ranks of Major to Colonel inclusive. Both have the standard Army Officer's pattern cap device on a light grey field and have a floppy crown. the shading of both the covers and of the cap bands vary. Regards MR

Hi Paul, Thank you for your comments and stand by, there are more to follow!! Cheers Michael Semper Fid!!

Hi Again, Some more QARNNS rank and other insignia. Hope they are of interest. Regards MR they are: Board 5 Chief Nursing Officer. The badge is identical in all detail to that worn by a Superintending Nursing Officer save for the outer boarder which is now executed in gold rather than red. The central line of badges are variations of the Enlisted hat badge and the Officer's hat badge. The Enlisted hat badge is of a design unique to the QARNNS. The Officer's badge is identical to the standard RN Officer cap badge but executed in red silks rather than gold wire and has the monogram of HM Queen Alexandra replacing the fouled anchor. Board 6 Principal Nursing Officer. The rank insignia is identical to that of the Chief Nursing Officer with only the addition of a small horizontal gold bar at the base of the badge. Top line second item from the left is both unusual and rare in that it also featured the Royal Cypher in gold. The Royal Cypher may only be worn by the Matron in Chief of the QARNNS when appointed as Honorary Nursing Sister to HM Queen Elizabeth II. I would speculate that the original wearer may have been acting as Matron in Chief or possibly held an appointment as an ADC. To further compound the issue, the Royal Cypher worn by RN Officers per see is finished in silver not gold?? If anyone can add an opinion to this mystery, I would be very pleased to hear from them. Board 7 Matron in Chief. The rank insignia worn by the Matron in Chief is identical to that worn by a Chief Nursing officer but with a double outer gold boarder. The silver EIIR Royal Cypher denoted the appointment of Honorary Nursing Sister to HM the Queen. The third pair in the upper row would be worn, probably by a newly appointed Matron in Chief, who has not yet been appointed to Honorary Nursing Sister to HM the Queen. The lower row are variation Officer's badges. Board 8 Are identical to those detailed above but executed in silver rather than gold and include the word "Reserve". These are worn by reserve personnel. Board 9 In 1982, in preparation for the introduction of male officers, the Nursing Officers' ranking system was changed. The titles "Sister" and "Matron were dropped and replaced with standard naval ranks but with the addition of the Royal Cypher of HM Queen Alexandra surmounting the rank insignia. In addition to the two rank structures detailed above, the earlier structure in use was: 1. Nursing Sister 2 Senior Nursing Sister 3 Superintending Nursing Sister 4 Matron 5. Principal Matron 6. Matron in Chief

Peter, Thank you for your message but I must take exception to the word "posh" Interesting perhaps. I intend posting more medical insignia so please keep watching. Unless I am greatly mistaken, The RAMC has more recipients of the VC than any other corps or regiment in the British Army. Very brave people!!!! With thanks, regards and best wishes Michael

Having spoken to Paul, Coast Guard, it transpires that we share an interest in Medical insignia so I thought that other members may also shore our interest?? Some medical insignia to view! Hope you find them of interest Regards and Best Wishes Michael R To start the first set of rank insignia is that of Royal Navy Nursing Officers. Although part of the RN proper, they have their own Service title. Queen Alexandra's Royal Navy Nursing Service commonly referred to as QARNNS. Their ranks and RN equivalents are: 1. Nursing Officer. Sub Lieutenant RN 2. Senior Nursing Officer. Lieutenant RN 3. Superintending Nursing Officer. Lieutenant Commander RN 4. Chief Nursing Officer. Commander RN 5. Principal Nursing Officer. Captain RN 6. Matron in Chief. Commodore RN Rank is worn on the Nursing Tippet, as sliders on epaulettes and as shoulder boards. Board 1. Nursing Officer. The badge either embroidered in silks or gold wire comprises the Monarch's crown in this case the Queens or King Edward Crown surmounting the monogram of HM Queen Alexandra superimposed on a ship's anchor itself surmounting a gold outlined white disc onto which is centered a Geneva (red) Cross. The other badges are RN blazer badges. Board 2. Senior Nursing Officer. As above with the addition of a small red bar at the foot of the badge. Bottom left is a sealed pattern and the third badge in bears the Kings or Imperial Crown in use until 1953. The upper row are QARNNS Nurses cap badges L to R Junior Rates, Petty Officer, Chief Petty Officer, PO and OR. Board 3. The QARNNS badge on this board are all variations of those on board 2. Board 4. Superintending Nursing Officer. The badge is identical to those on board 1 but with a red round top boarder. All bear the Queen's Crown. The two cap badges are worn by QARNNS Warrant Officers are are as per the the CPO badge but with a larger wreath. Your comment are welcome.

Some Luftwaffe Company officer's caps. All are of standard patter with minor variations of shade and insignia. The first cap is a fairly early item and of a more "floppy" style. Hope they are of interest. And a couple more. Once again, only minor variations.

Continuing with junior officer's caps Item 3 is again a later pattern cap in light grey with a dark grey cap band of a ribbed materiel rather than smooth. The light grey is several shades paler than Item 2 and the cap device is of the older style executed on a dark grey field. Item 4 is an earlier dark grey cap but with an inter changeable cover. The cover is piped in white, the badge is executed on a dark grey field and I believe this to be for wear by Military Police officers? If I am wrong on this description, please let me know as I am here to learn. Many thanks. The final cap that I will show in this section, Item five is again of a later pattern cap in light grey with an earlier style cap badge executed on a dark grey field. The cap is identical to Item two but of a higher build standard with a very high crown. The National roundel is of the metal type and is probably a replacement??

A minor change to the visor caps worn by Bundeswehr Army officers. Both caps are for wear by junior or company officers. Item one is an early dark grey cap with silver piping and dark grey backed officer's pattern cap device. Item two is is the later light grey cap of identical style to one but manufactured in light grey materiel with a dark grey cap band. The badge, although in style, identical to item one, is executed on a light grey field.

Hi, Three more Enlisted Ranks caps to view for those interested. They are a later patter pattern light grey signals cap with bright yellow piping and two Air Force caps. The first is the current pattern cap with golden yellow piping followed by an earlier cap with grey piping.

Hi Colin, Thank you for your latest post and the information concerning the disposal of the effects of the conspirators following their execution and of course your recommendation for Peter Hoffmann. At the risk of repeating myself, congratulations on your outstanding thread and of course the input of all of your other contributors. Probably the best thread on any of the Forums that I have had the pleasure of reading. Keep it up!!!!!!!!!!!!! With thanks, regards and best wishes Michael R

Hello Uwe, Thank you for your message. I will agree to disagree with you but no more. Gordon's photos clearly show chaplains wearing BW uniforms in varying styles both protective, combat and every day. The cap is clearly German military. Badges from China I have no idea. Certainly, from a quality point of view they are far superior to some of the other badges that I have which are or were worn by the BW?? So perhaps they are Chinese, too good for German?? Finally, the below passage clearly states that "They are members of the Bundeswehr". They are paid by the Bundeswehr and wear uniforms but no ranks. As is the case in the British forces and German, chaplains are independent, non combatant and not soldiers however they do participate in exercises and no doubt on the battlefield and will be subject to most military laws etc. Civilians in uniform perhaps or as you would have it not in uniform. In any event, I like them so hay ho!! By the way, if I an correct, then you have no need to apologize. Although a little heated, this is none-the-less only a discussion. And as I said earlier, the fact that you can find no evidence of their wear, is not in its self proof that such items are spurious. With thanks regards and best wishes Michael R The military chaplains are (usually for at least 6 years) from their national churches and diocesesoptional for this service. They take part in exercises and Bundeswehr operations abroad. The military chaplains have no military rank, are not soldiers or combatants , and are under the special protection of the international law of war. They are members of the Bundeswehr, federal officials on time and be paid out of the Bundeswehr budget. There are so-called denominational state offices, the State may exceptionally consider the religious view or an agreement of the ecclesiastical authority in the occupation; This is constitutionally by Art. 140 GGin conjunction with Article 141. WRV justified. [5] In use, wear military chaplains - like the soldiers - the battle dress with a cross instead of rank insignia.

Hi, As a sister thread to the Bundeswehr cap insignia, I have decided to try an NVA thread along similar lines to see if anyone is interested. Your comments, be they critical or affirmative, are welcome and any input you feel would be helpful would be appreciated. Cheers Michael R The first four items are all "soft" caps and hats. They are all Army and the first three are for female wear. The first is an officer's dress "pill box" style hat without visor. Item 2 is an enlisted "garrison" style hat again without visor. Item three is a cold weather visor cap badged to an officer and finally, a male's visor "field" cap. In my experience, most NVA items of headdress are not rank orientated. The rank group usually shown by the cap/hat badge.

And a few more. The first two are late pattern light grey with bright red piping for the Artillery. The third is also of later pattern but with golden yellow piping for Reconnaissance etc. Hope that they are of interest.

Hi Gordon, Thank you for your input on this subject. The photos, although not conclusive, do prove that the wear of military uniform and insignia is correct. The narrative is also very interesting and I have selected the one statement which, at least to me, clarifies the whole military aspect of chaplains. "They are members of the Bundeswehr". Ergo they are, or I would assume they are subject to military regulations and laws and will be uniformed and equipped to military scales of entitlement?? I would extrapolate that with military uniform they will also wear appropriate headdress. I do not find it surprising that few photos show chaplains wearing hats as in the performance of their duties and whilst indoors, headdress is usually not worn? Hi, A few more Bundeswehr caps to view for those who may be interested. The first two are early pattern Panzer enlisted caps in dark grey with pink (rose) piping and the third is a later pattern cap in light grey with white piping for Musicians.

Hi again, I have just read what Ewe has said re Chaplains not wearing uniform or military insignia and he is patently wrong as the subsequent photos from Gordon prove?? I too went through the net last night and like you Gordon I could only find one photo of headdress in wear and it is the one you have shown. However, a lack of evidence is not proof. More digging is necessary on our behalf. Given that we are talking about a few badges, perhaps this discussion is getting a bit out of hand. Sweeping broad brush statements should, in my opinion, be avoided. " The marine cap in Post 18 can not be (German) military". On what grounds can this statement of fact be substantiated?? The attached photos show the label details in the cap. The NATO codified number shows "8405" Military clothing. "12" Of West German military issue. The seven digit number, the military item reference number. The manufacturer logo, made in Germany. Other details include military/government contracts etc. I repeat my question, on what grounds can the above statement be substantiated????? I joined this Forum to learn and educate by the use of facts and credible opinion and discussion, not sweeping statements of incorrect and unsubstantiated opinion.

Hi Again Gordon. May I suggest that from a logical point of view rather than a regulation stand, a chaplain working with the Air Force will wear an AF uniform and with the Army, an Army uniform. If you take a logical extrapolation, I would suggest that an Army Chaplain serving with an Medical regiment is likely to wear the beret of his parent arm of service ergo a blue beret with a an appropriately coloured Chaplain's insignia? Certainly with the British Army, corps and regimental personnel attached to the Army Air Corps for example, wear the powder blue AAC beret with their corps or regimental cap badge. Whilst based in the Falklands I personally witnessed attached troops (REME, RE and others) wearing the Tam-o-shanta rather than their berets but with their own cap badges. I can not argue the German point as I do not actually know the comprehensive answer. One suggestion I would make is that it may be possible that this is a relatively new regulation in the lee of the adverse comments made some time ago about the Bundeswehr not having their own Chaplains?? What I can tell you is that all the other German badges that I purchased from the same collection, a number of which are shown in the above photos, have all been accepted as original. Having said that, I must agree with you that photographic evidence would end the discussion. On a different Forum, I read with great interest a thread entitled "They would never have worn that" showing WWII original German photos of military personnel wearing an amazing variety of non-standard bits of uniform and accoutrements etc. Indeed, Having had command of a clothing store on an RAF base, I have seen some of the mismatched bits of uniform in wear. Ergo, these badges may be an accepted if not regulation adaption?? There must be a German military person on the Forum who can check a current copy or the Reibert or ask a Chaplain in order to get a definitive statement of fact?? I appreciate that my response is less than satisfactory with regard to a definitive answer but it is the best I can do at the moment.. However, I will pursue the subject!!!! With thanks, regards and best wishes Michael R

Some additional Chaplain's insignia??