Help needed with identifying a uniform

[Doc Vernon]

Post #19
Very interesting that Pic , i wonder what that is on the Stripes??
Is is a certain Rank?
Any suggestions i am sure someone will know
Cheers

[Ralph Knowles]

If you look closely at the braid, it looks like the gaps between the gold bands is slightly lighter in shade then the uniform material. I would hazard a guess that it is a 'Second Engineer' braid with purple background. I have identical braid on my thirty years since 'laid up' blues.

[Doc Vernon]

Yes Thank You as i said in my Post#2 ,however what is that showing on the actual Braid Stripes??
Cheers Some thing to do with the Engineer Rank? A Cog perhaps??

[j.sabourn]

Vernon it is what said, is the diamond as per regular MN braid and denotes the wearer has certification for that rank. straight bands and other fancy braid is not regular MN . But company. Livery. A junior. Deck or engine room officer wears half a diamond if has no certification.However could be argued in the case of Engineers they have passed a minister of transports approval by being graded for that particular ship and voyage. However is all water under the ridge these days as no one takes any notice of, similar. To ships arriving and leaving port and not displaying an Ensign. Cheers JS

[Doc Vernon]

Something else help needed with is What Ships did John Swire and Sons have at the time around the 1939 to 45 mark?? I found quite a lot on the Actual Shipping Company,but Alas no Ships !??
There are Ships listed for some of the Subsidery Companies
Thanks
Cheers

[j.sabourn]

#25... I had a job to go to. In 1957 with Butterfield and Swires , both myself and a mate on getting a 2nd. mates cert. I backed out at the last minute as had just met my future wife and it meant being away for 2 years , your home port being Hong Kong. You could always recognise China Coast ships in those days as had the Union Jack painted on the side. Many years llater I was on Swires ships offshore here in Australia but they had to me managed by an Australian company. However on all the Union rules being changed no doubt the world of shipping has receded back to the Stone Age.JS

[Doc Vernon]

Thanks for the info JS now i can carry on with the search for the Lady hopefully ,but its a big ask!
Cheers

Chief Deck Officer.JPG

[j.sabourn]

Forgot to mention MN brass Buttons have an Anchor and Crown on. Company livery probably their house flag on the ones I have seen. JS

[Ivan Cloherty]

#26 The Hong Kong companies started painting the Union Flag on their hulls during the start of the Chinese Nationalist/Communist conflict in 1947/48 because of all their trading areas especially the Yangtse river where they were fired on by both sides. Other vessels (non HK) usually draped their national flags over the side but it didn't stop them being fired on by trigger happy persons on both sides. The HK vessels kept them on for years because they transited the Formosa Straits, then for Korea and then Vietnam

[Ian Malcolm]

Something else help needed with is What Ships did John Swire and Sons have at the time around the 1939 to 45 mark?? I found quite a lot on the Actual Shipping Company,but Alas no Ships !??
There are Ships listed for some of the Subsidery Companies
Thanks
Cheers

My book, SHIPPING COMPANY LOSSES OF THE SECOND WAR, recounts the fate of a large number of Butterfield and Swire ships.