Uniform Query
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RNAS/RAF Uniform Query
Last year I published my book: RAF Catfirth 1918, in which I describe how a Canadian pilot, Captain Arnold Bonnell Massey, flew the first aircraft to Shetland in 1918. He returned to Canada in 1919 and died in 1984. I am in touch with his grandson, who provided me with several photos from his grandfather’s WW1 photo album, among these was this one of Felixstowe F3 4407.
I am curious about the uniform of the man in the picture, whom I believe was probably a naval pilot, a lieutenant in the RNVR. Can anyone confirm this please, and tell me why he wore a white cap? Was this something to do with time of year, or seniority, was it just used by RNVR or just personal choice? In my book I have a photo many airmen on and next to Porte Boat 9907 just after its arrival at Catfirth in June 1918, none of the men in the photo have white caps.
Simon Gunn
Ross-shire
Naval officers had a white cover to be worn at certain times. Naval Uniforms : General Instructions in the Navy List states “White Cap covers. To be worn 1. With white trowsers (sic). 2. With Blue trowsers (a) At Home – From 1st May to 30 Sept inclusive. (b) Abroad – At the discretion of the Senior Naval Officer present.
Current naval caps (all ranks) have white tops as an integral part of the cap.
Army officers had similar white covers for dress caps.
RFC (and so, presumably, Army) officers had a ‘foul weather’ cover for the Service Dress (khaki) cap. These are quite rare, i.e. the IWM uniform curator had never seen one before I showed him the cap which belonged to Humphrey Verdon-Roe (brother of AV Roe) who served as an observer with 100 Squadron.
When I think of it, I’ll scan the pages in the Navy List and send them to Mick as it is the basis for a (potentially) useful Journal article.
The subject is quite complicated and misunderstood: some years ago I provided uniform information for a museum ‘costumed interpreter’ dressed as Jack Alcock. When he came back from a session at the Farnborough Airshow he complained that some serving Navy types had claimed out that his khaki service dress tunic was incorrect. To spare the blushes of the Navy at not knowing their own history, ‘Jack Alcock’ appeared in RAF uniform from then on.
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