Themes

Article Highlights

• Introduction

• Issuing of uniforms

• Rules for naval dress

• World War Two uniform

• Post War changes to uniform

Rules for naval dress

During the early 20th century the Admiralty set out rules for naval dress and punished sailors if they did not wear the correct uniform at the right time. In 1935 an officer’s wardrobe contained 12 different types of uniform. For example, the Navy would expect officers to wear a different uniform for completing his daily tasks, going to evening meals, and during ceremonies. Gieves, a company which made naval uniforms, published a ‘dress wheel’ for officers to help them choose what to wear.

The Navy expected sailors to go ashore on leave dressed in their uniforms. A person called the Master-at-Arms was responsible for conducting an inspection of sailors’ uniform. He or she would make sure that the uniforms were clean and correctly worn. During the 1970s, following the threat from the IRA, the Navy discouraged sailors from wearing naval dress when going ashore.

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