Help needed with identifying a uniform

[j.sabourn]

Your book Ian is an excellent ref. Book and have learned a lot about the Company I statted off In At sea all those years ago and some of the names I recognise .unfortuanetlly has been packed away for shifting house, for some time now so unable to look at. In 1957 we were much younger and starry eyed and Butterfield and Swires among other Hong Kong companies raised visions of the mystic east and Gin and Tonics for health reasons. Another opportunity at the time was the Army RASC who were looking for MN personnel to man their landing craft running mainly round the Mediterranean with cargo to the various bases , you were giving a temporary commission as a 2 lieutenant . There were oppertunitys galore in those days , today the British maritime industry is barren. Cheers JS

[Doc Vernon]

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

Hello Ian
Thanks for that but to Buy the Book just for the names would be a bit High for me , i wonder if you could possibly give a few though on here?? Mainly i am looking around the 1939/ 1945 Mark
Thank You

Might try and see if i can read it Free ?????

https://www.amazon.com/Shipping-Comp.../dp/0752493426

Added
Ian as you served on Ships owned by Alfred Holt , could you tell me if at all it was possible that a Person of Officer Rank could sail on one of the Ships but with the Badge of Swire and Sons ,namely the badge shown in the Pictures in previous Posts ??????? I know it sounds odd but must ask
Thanks

[j.sabourn]

As regards M.N. Uniforms years ago if went to a naval outfitters the likes of Woods of North and South Shields....
Apart from being asked what side you dressed, the tailor would also ask what Medal Ribbons if any you wanted displayed on same. The post on medals and all of this applying for looks a bit of unnecessary labour , when could just tell a tailor and he would have means of obtaining. JWS.
PS in those days ribbons were sewn onto uniforms . Today our wonderful technology has surmounted this obstacle by having a safety pin attached to the back of a bow rigid emblem. Makes it a lot easier if worn on a shirt which requires washing at short intervals . JS

[Des Taff Jenkins]

Hi John.
I'd have thought that in this day and age of advancement they would have attached washable ribbons.
Des

[Doc Vernon]

With respect Gentlemen can we try and keep more on the actual Subject in question, as this can lead to going away from what the Lady is actually looking for now! Nothing wrong with posts just that???
Thank You
Cheers

[Marc Verlee]

This is a Offr of the Royal Merchant Navy (Chief officer ) the same of my grandfather

[Margaret Dent]

If it is any help, there is a copy of Ian Malcolm's book SHIPPING COMPANY LOSSES OF THE SECOND WAR in the State Library of South Australia, but the record on the Trove system says that it is an electronic copy and that "access conditions apply" so it might not be available on inter-library loan. Margaret Dent

[Pete Laurie]

I bought my first uniform from Miller Rayner in Avonmouth near where I lived and trained as a Radio Officer (at Brunel Tech as it was then) in the early 1970's. The manager was very helpful about the minimum I would need (I was off to join my first ship Oronsay working for P&O as I did for most of my 9 year career). The manager's name was Sid Kennett and although much older than me, we became friends when I returned from my trips to sea and called in for the odd bit of replacement uniform. The friendship continued for some years after I swallowed the anchor until I moved away from Bristol and of courses he is long gone now as is the Merchant Navy outfitters Miller Raynor, the shop was just outside the then Avonmouth dock gate.

Sid was a warm and generous man but with an acerbic sense of humour. One of my fellow students at the college failed, or more accurately partially failed, his final exams and therefore only received a restricted Radio Officers ticket which meant he could only serve on trawlers (the big ones that went to Icelandic waters). When my friend (who's name has sadly disappeared into the mists of memory, as had Sid's until moments ago) visited Sid's shop to buy a uniform, Sid asked what sort of ship he was being appointed too, trawlers was the reply, right said Sid "then that will be 7 boiler suits, 6 brown and white one for Sundays.

Finally, Sid was a great character and well known in Avonmouth where he was known as an ardent Conservative and Chair of the local party (which I suspect was not very large in community mainly comprising seaman and dock workers) and on my first return from sea took me to the Merchant Navy Officers (?) Club which was next door to his shop and entertained me to a fine lunch. However the next time we met he said to meet him in the dockers club (not the proper name which I cannot remember but it was also just outside the dock gate). I was surprised as a knew of Sid's political inclinations and did not think it was 'his kind of place'. When I arrived I found Sid sat waiting for me at a table, having got us some drinks, I joined him and asked him why we were meeting there. He replied that he was a member, seeing my surprise he told me he was also the Treasurer of the Club. When I asked why they had asked an arch-tory to be their Treasurer he said "well Pete" he said "these bloody socialists don't trust each other so they needed a tory to keep the books". Great times.

Peter Laurie

[Ralph Knowles]

I sailed for six years as 2/Eng and had blues supplied by the management company, but I had to buy my own braids. My mum kindly sewed them on to the sleeves. I cannot remember if or when I actually wore the uniform jacket as I was mostly in hot climes or never got out of my boiler suit to be able to eat in the officers saloon. I found that the only use for the jacket was on return to UK via an airport, placing the jacket sleeves with three stripe braid crossed over at the top of the suitcase and picking out the customs desk with a one or two stripe customs officer, nearly always guaranteed a quick entry into the country.

[happy daze john in oz]

Uniform wearing for engineers and other officers varied on UCL depending on the climate.
Between blues and White there were days when Banjo rig was order of the day.
Blue top white trousers.

It was the job of officers steward in the accommodation to put a notice in the engineers engine room entry to the effect of what was dress for the day.

All was fine until one day kit was put up as Jumbo rig, what the hell is that asked the chief engineer of the chief deck officer??????