| |
VK3BLM > MARINE 23.03.05 23:07l 44 Lines 1688 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 41160_VK3DSE
Read: GUEST
Subj: Insignia
Path: DB0FHN<DB0FOR<DB0SIF<DB0MW<DB0SWR<DK0WUE<SP7MGD<SV1CMG<VK3AYM<VK3DSE
Sent: 050322/2140Z @:VK3DSE.#MEL.VIC.AUS.OC #:41160 [Narre Warren] FBB7.00g25
From: VK3BLM@VK3DSE.#MEL.VIC.AUS.OC
To : MARINE@WW
Andrew VE1.... asked about insignia worn by Communications Officers.
According to an old Collins Royal Merchant Naval diary of mine,
the British Merchant Navy 1st Wireless Officer wore something
on their sleeve (at the wrist) that looked like :-
~~~~~ where the square (?) joined both wiggly lines
<>
~~~~~
The 2nd Wireless Officer had the 2 wiggly lines but not the square (?)
The 3rd Wireless Officer had only 1 wiggly line.
In the Navy.....
Royal Navy (same in R.A.N, R.N.Z.N and probably early R.C.N) Officers
wore no indication of their Branch - only their rank.
On the lower deck, the Communications Branch was divided into Visual
and Wireless. The Branch identifier was worn on the forearm above the
elbow on the right sleeve. The Visuals wore crossed flags with the same
pattern as the J flag, which incidentally meant "I am about to signal
by semaphore". The Wireless guys wore a pair of wings with a vertical
lightning strike at the join. The rank of all sailors was indicated by
stars:-
Ordinary or boy - none
Trained - one above the wings
Leading hand - two, one above, one below
Petty Officer - Crown above
Chief Petty Officer- Crown above, star below.
The feathers on Pilots wings were taller and more numerous.
The training for lower deck communications was identical until the
breaking point for cw (morse) was reached. This varied around 14-16
words per minute. The ones unable to go above that speed were given
visual duties, those able to exceed that speed went on to become
wireless operators and learn basic radio theory.
Hope this is of some assistance.
73 Laurie VK3BLM/mm
Read previous mail | Read next mail
| |
