RANK AND RATE: ROYAL NAVY OFFICERS' INSIGNIA SINCE 1856

RANK AND RATE: ROYAL NAVY OFFICERS' INSIGNIA SINCE 1856 For over a century & a half, since the Uniform Regulations of 1856 were introduced, identification of rank among officers in the Royal Navy, its branches & its reserves has not been restricted to a single or even small number, of insignia. Rank may be seen on jacket cuffs, on shoulder badges, on shoulder boards & on epaulets. It may be seen on swords & buttons, & in the manner in which buttons are worn. Cap peaks indicate rank, as do collars, cocked hat ornaments & cuff slashes. Rank insignia varies just as much between officers of similar rank. Cap badges & variants of gold lace stripes divide Executive from Civil branches, & from the Royal Navy & its reserves. Civil branches were further divided, & some remain so to this day, by the addition of color between the gold lace stripes. For the first time the complete range of Royal Navy Officers insignia may be seen & studied in a single, comprehensive guide. The badges, buttons, stripes, wings & stars are cataloged separately in order of rank & date of introduction. Where possible, actual examples are used, & where not, an accurate as possible reproduction is offered. In addition, original photographs show the insignia being worn over the past 150 years. ISBN: 1-84797-138-5 publish date: 01/31/2010