Engineer Branch: purple
Medical Branch: scarlet
Accountant Branch: white
Dental Branch: orange
Instructor Branch: light blue
Shipwright Branch: silver-grey
Ordnance Branch: dark blue
Schoolmaster Branch: light blue
Wardmaster Branch: maroon
Electrical Branch: dark green
Special Branch RNVR: emerald green

The Shipwright, Ordnance, Electrical, Schoolmaster and Wardmaster Branches consisted of personnel who had come up through the enlisted and warrant ranks.

On greatcoats, white uniforms, tropical khaki and working dress/battledress, rank was shown on detachable shoulder straps. Flag officers' shoulder straps were covered with gold lace, with silver devices to indicate rank. Shoulder straps for captain and below bore the same rank lace as on the blue uniform. In the interest of space, only the flag rank shoulder straps are illustrated in the following tables.

 

See also:

Reserve and Air Officer Insignia

Petty Officer and Rating Insignia

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Executive Branch

Admiral of the Fleet	Admiral	Vice Admiral	Rear Admiral	Commodore First Class

Commodore 2nd Class	Captain	Commander

Lieutenant Commander	Lieutenant	Sub-Lieutenant, Commissioned Gunner, Commissioned Gunner (T), Commissioned Boatswain, Commissioned Signal Boatswain, Commissioned Telegraphist, Commissioned Master-at-Arms	Gunner, Gunner (T), Boatswain, Signal Boatswain, Warrant Telegraphist, Warrant Master-at-Arms

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Engineer Branch

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Vice Admiral (E)	Rear Admiral (E)	Captain (E)	Commander (E)

Lieutenant Commander (E)	Lieutenant (E)	Sub-lieutenant (E), Commissioned Engineer, Commissioned Mechanician	Warrant Engineer, Warrant Mechanician

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Medical Branch

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Surgeon Vice Admiral	Surgeon Rear Admiral	Surgeon Captain	Surgeon Commander

Surgeon Lieutenant Commander	Surgeon Lieutenant

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Accountant Branch

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In October 1944 the Accountant Branch was re-named the Supply and Secretariat Branch. Commissioned ranks were re-titled with an "S" suffix, for instance Paymaster Lieutenant became Lieutenant (S)

Paymaster Rear Admiral	Paymaster Captain	Paymaster Commander

Paymaster Lieutenant Commander	Paymaster Lieutenant	Paymaster Sub-Lieutenant, Commissioned Writer, Commissioned Supply Officer, Commissioned Cook, Commissioned Steward	Warrant Writer, Warrant Supply Officer, Warrant Cook, Warrant Steward

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Dental Branch

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Surgeon Captain (D)	Surgeon Commander (D)	Surgeon Lieutenant Commander (D)	Surgeon Lieutenant (D)

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Instructor Branch

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Instructor Captain	Instructor Commander	Instructor Lieutenant Commander	Instructor Lieutenant

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Shipwright Branch

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Shipwright Commander	Shipwright Lieutenant Commander	Shipwright Lieutenant	Commissioned Shipwright	Warrant Shipwright

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Ordnance Branch

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Ordnance Lieutenant Commander	Ordnance Lieutenant	Commissioned Ordnance Officer	Warrant Ordnance Officer

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Electrical Branch

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Electrical Lieutenant Commander	Electrical Lieutenant	Commissioned Electrical Officer	Warrant Electrical Officer

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Schoolmaster Branch

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Headmaster (rank of Commander)	Headmaster (rank of Lieutenant Commander)	Headmaster (rank of Lieutenant)	Senior Master	Schoolmaster

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Wardmaster Branch

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Wardmaster Lieutenant Commander	Wardmaster Lieutenant	Commissioned Wardmaster	Warrant Wardmaster

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Midshipmen and Cadets

Royal Navy midshipmen wore a traditional white collar patch with a button and white "twist" buttonhole. Cadets wore the white buttonhole only

Midshipman	Midshipman (E)	Paymaster-Midshipman	Cadet	Paymaster-Cadet

 

See also:

Reserve and Air Officer Insignia

Petty Officer and Rating Insignia

 

All text and images © Justin T. Broderick, 2005 unless otherwise indicated.

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