WW1 uniform & insignia?

[BabaAndrew]

My great-grandfather served with P&O as a 6th Engineer during 1916-1919. The vessels he served on included RMS Caledonia (1916), HMHS Sicilia (1916-1917) and HMT Malwa (1917-1919).

I have recently obtained the attached photo, which I am told is of my great-grandfather (standing) and his brother (sitting). I would like to learn more about the uniform and insignia that they are wearing, with a view to learning more about their service and the photo itself.

As I understand it, the cap badge of my great-granfather could be that of HM Transport Service, rather than of the P&O Steam Navigation Company. Can anyone tell me if this is consistent with his service on HMT Malwa?

If so, were crew members then seen as members of HM Transport Service or employees of P&O, or...?

Also, can anyone tell me about the insignia of his brother, my great-uncle?

Generally, I would be interested to know of any sources of information regarding uniform and insignia of P&O and HM Transport Service during WW1?

Any insights shal be appreciated!

[Bob Sendall]

I think the last cap badge is P&O, but not 100% sure, 49 50 years on the memory fades,

Bob Sendall

[Doc Vernon]

Hi and Welcome to this great site!

Hope the following will help to clear the second Pic up!
That is definately one of HMAT Ships!
The Link tells it!
Interesting as well!
Cheers

The other one sitting has the Badge of catering Crew(Officer) on the P&O LINES!


http://www.diggerhistory.info/pages-...transports.htm


ss CALEDONIA
built by Caird & Company Greenock,
Yard No 273
Engines by Shipbuilders

Port of Registry: Greenock
Propulsion: Five cylinder triple expansion steam engine, 11000ihp, single screw, 18 knots.
Launched: Saturday, 19 May 1894
Built: 1894
Ship Type: Passenger Liner
Ship's Role: UK/India mail service
Tonnage: 7558 gross; 3529 net; 4234 dwt
Length: 486ft 0in
Breadth: 54ft 3in
Draught: 26ft 11in
Owner History:
Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company
Status: Scrapped - 1925, Bombay

Remarks:
19/05/1894: Launched by Miss Ethel Barnes, daughter of P&O Managing Director Mr F D Barnes. The largest yet P&O ship, and the 40th built for the Company by Caird’s.
21/08/1894: Registered.
25/08/1894: Ran trials (19.5 knots) and delivered. She cost £233,729 and received an auxiliary cruiser subsidy. She was a fine sea boat with considerable comfort but rather restricted cargo space. She could carry 365 First Class and 175 Second Class passengers. She originally had a white hull, yellow funnels and red waterline but reverted to conventional P&O black hull and funnels and khaki superstructure after about two years.
05/10/1894: Maiden voyage London/Bombay.
08/06/1895: Visited in the Royal Albert Docks by HH Nasrula Khan, Shahzada (Crown Prince) of Afghanistan.
1895: Broke the outward record to Bombay and homeward easily beat the Messageries Maritime’s ERNEST SIMON, a notable French rival.
1897: Present at the Diamond Jubilee Review.
1903: Became the first P&O ship to use Tilbury Docks.
1907: Broke the London/Calcutta record. Brought the Duke and Duchess of Connaught and their daughter Princess Patricia home from India.
1913: Made three Mediterranean cruises.
08/1914 to 12/1917: Bombay mail service with troops and passengers.
14/12/1916: Struck two mines 3 miles E of Planier Island Light, off Marseilles. Her passengers were discharged within fifteen minutes and a skeleton crew took her into Marseilles where she was repaired and returned to service.
29/12/1917: Commissioned as a troop transport (No. C.6021) in which capacity she carried over 104000 troops without loss.
1920: Refitted by Alexander Stephen and Sons Ltd, Linthouse, Glasgow and returned to commercial service.
1925: A routine examination at Bombay showed her propeller shaft was cracked.
25/07/1925: Sold for demolition to Goolam Hossein Essaji, Bombay, for £10000.

IDNo: 1127543 Year: 1908
Name: MALWA Keel: Type: Passenger/cargo (rf) Launch Date: 10.10.08
Flag: GBR Date of completion: 20.12.08

Tons: 10883 Link: 1583
DWT: Yard No: 315
Length overall: Ship Design:
LPP: 164.6 Country of build: GBR
Beam: 18.7 Builder: Caird
Material of build: Location of yard: Greenock
Number of
screws/Mchy/
Speed(kn): 2Q-18

Naval or paramilitary marking :
A: *
End: 1932

Subsequent History:
[LD as MEDINA]

Disposal Data:
BU Osaka 12.32

ss SICILIA-
built by Barclay Curle & Company Glasgow,
Yard No 425
Engines by Shipbuilders

Port of Registry: Glasgow
Propulsion: Two triple expansion three cylinder steam engines, 4500ihp, twin screws, 14 knots.
Launched: Saturday, 22/12/1900
Built: 1901
Ship Type: Passenger/Cargo Liner
Ship's Role: 'Intermediate' passenger services, and trooping
Tonnage: 6696 gross; 4174 net; 8462 dwt
Length: 450ft 4in
Breadth: 52ft 4in
Draught: 26ft 8in
Owner History:
Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company
Status: Scrapped - 1926, Osaka

Remarks:
22/12/1900: Launched for The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, London.
05/02/1901: Registered.
09/02/1901: Delivered. The first of 5 sisters delivered in 1901~02, followed by SOUDAN (Caird), SYRIA (Stephen), SOMALI (Caird) and SARDINIA (Barclay, Curle). As built, SICILIA could carry 90 First Class and 70 Second Class passengers.
1901: Maiden voyage trooping to Calcutta.
1901~03: Boer War trooping.
1903~04: Indian trooping.
1904~05: Indian trooping.
1905: Laid up.
1906: General trooping.
1907~08: Indian trooping.
1907: Rumour aboard that a Sergeant had been murdered by lascars, whereas in reality he had deserted to the Chinese Army.
1908: UK/India and Chinese services.
10/09/1914: Hired by the Admiralty for service as a hospital ship (No. E.0261), and served for some time in the Dardanelles.
01/1926: Sold to Kishimoto Kisen K K., Japan for demolition at Osaka.