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Need British uniform identification

Need British uniform identification

Posted: 4 Apr 2015 3:02PM GMT
Classification: Query
Hello,
Before I apply for service records I need to be sure which branch of the military to apply to. One source says these men were British Royal Navy Marines but the uniform looks like army to me. The shoulder cover should help but I haven't found any photos or descriptions of them.
Thanks!
Kathy
Attachments:

Re: Need British uniform identification

Posted: 4 Apr 2015 7:55PM GMT
Classification: Query
"Royal Navy Marines". The term is incorrect. Either Royal Navy OR Royal Marines, not both. As to the "shoulder cover" you typed of, that is their headwear, not a cover of some sort. In my opinion, to choose between the two, Royal Marines. Pattern 1937 & Pattern 1940 Battledress, but no Pattern 1937 Web Belt, blanco-ed for Walking Out.

Happy Easter,
Richard V. Horrell
WW 2 Connections

Re: Need British uniform identification

Posted: 4 Apr 2015 8:17PM GMT
Classification: Query
Fantastic, thanks! The photo was taken at the Marine's wedding so would that be "Walking Out"? I don't know what blanco-ed means . . . unless it means they left it off? And thanks for the info about Navy and Marines. My source did mention that his father was a Marine. I mistakenly assumed Navy.
Happy Easter to you, too.
Kathy

Re: Need British uniform identification

Posted: 5 Apr 2015 12:53AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 5 Apr 2015 1:12AM GMT
This is what Blanco is... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blanco_(compound)

As stated, they're not wearing web belts, blancoed or otherwise, and blancoed web belts were sometimes, but not always, worn with tunics, but not always, and anyway in a none military situation even if they had worn web belts, they could have removed them to be more comfortable.

So basically there is no difference between Battle Dress uniform, which is what it is, and walking out uniform.

This is what a full set of WW2 era beige Blancoed webbing looks like.
http://www.paddelaters.com/WW2%20British%20army/home-page.jp...

Standard WW2 and pre and post WW2 era British Army Battle Dress uniform, the man on the left has no pleats on his breast pockets, and he has exposed buttons on his tunic, which is a utility pattern tunic, i.e. an economy version, first introduced in 1942 to save material, before that the buttons were concealed behind cloth and the breast pockets were pleated.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_Dress

The same battle dress uniform was worn by both the British Army and by the Royal Marines.

British Marines are never called either Royal Navy Marines or British Royal Navy Marines.

They're always called Royal Marines or just Marines for short.

Although the Royal Marines and the Royal Navy are both administered by the British Admiralty and Royal Marines are a part of the Royal Navy and not a part of the Army.

There is only one clue in the picture to whether or not they are WW2 era Army soldiers or Royal Marines.

As was said, the objects on their left shoulders are hats, placed under their epaulettes, and they look like berets...
http://thumbs2.picclick.com/d/w1600/pict/181097429525_/100-W...

They appear to be black, and prior to September 1943 when a baggy variant of the beret called a General Service Cap was introduced...
http://www.warrelics.eu/forum/attachments/cloth-headgear-wes...

the standard British Army Service dress uniform hat was a type of side cap called a Universal pattern Field Service Cap, the American term for similar hats is a Garrison Cap. http://www10.tx8.cn/photo/piecemark/gds34001.jpg

apart that is from the Royal Armoured Corps...and the Royal Marines, who both wore black berets, at least the Royal marines did from mid 1943, prior to that they had worn either the fore and aft style field service cap, or else a khaki peaked cap.

http://tauranga.kete.net.nz/remembering_war/topics/show/483-...

http://www.combinedops.com/814%20LCV(P)/Roy%20Nelson%20R.jpg

When someone marries in Britain, their occupation has to listed on their marriage certificate, and sometimes when a serviceman marries he will list his regiment and sometimes also his service number, but he might also just list his occupation as H.M. Forces.

Same thing with the birth registrations of his children.

U.K. marriage and birth certificates cost about £10, applications for service records cost £30 whether or not the correct record can be identified or not, except for spouses or parents, for whom there is no charge, and for a deceased service person, who didn't die whilst in service, proof of death must be supplied.
https://www.gov.uk/requests-for-personal-data-and-service-re...

Re: Need British uniform identification

Posted: 5 Apr 2015 1:12AM GMT
Classification: Query
Wow! Very complete information. Thanks!

Re: Need British uniform identification

Posted: 5 Apr 2015 1:30AM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 5 Apr 2015 1:31AM GMT
You're welcome, don't know how much help it will be to you though, but the person saying that his relative was a Marine sounds pretty specific.

Forgot to mention, the cap badges aren't fully visible, but the size and shape is consistent with Royal Marines.

If you have sufficient information about the marriage, you can get a copy of the certificate from here... http://www.gro.gov.uk/gro/content/ and marriage registration records for England and Wales are available online.

Presumably they survived the war.

Re: Need British uniform identification

Posted: 5 Apr 2015 2:13AM GMT
Classification: Query
Yes, the man in the photo's father was a Marine and his son was told his father was a Marine so it's likely he was. And your information and mine points to Marine. I'll pursue a marriage license for him and see what it says. Thanks!
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