Order in Council of 4 September, 1918

The Order in Council of 4 September, 1918, enshrined a "National Standard Uniform" for the British Mercantile Marine (granted the name of Merchant Navy in 1928.

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WHEREAS it is expedient that a National Standard Uniform shall be adopted for the British Mercantile Marine:

Now, therefore, His Majesty is pleased, by and with the advice of His Privy Council, to order, and it is hereby ordered, as follows:—

(1) The Uniform of the British Mercantile Marine shall be such as is set forth in the Schedule to this Order: Provided that where, at the date when this Order comes into operation, the Masters and Officers of the Ships belonging to any Company or Firm are accustomed to use a cap with a distinctive badge, that badge may, if the Company or Firm so desire, be substituted, in the case of persons whilst serving on board, or employed on the business of, Ships belonging to that Company or Firm, for the cap badge prescribed in the said Schedule.

(2) The persons entitled to wear the Uniform so prescribed shall be Masters and Officers of the Mercantile Marine holding Certificates from the Board of Trade, Uncertificated Junior Officers of the Mercantile Marine qualifying for their first certificate, and Surgeons, Pursers, Wireless Operators, Cadets, and Apprentices of the Mercantile Marine, and Petty Officers and other Ratings of the Mercantile Marine specifically mentioned in the said Schedule, but no other person whosoever.

(3) The Uniform to be worn by any person whilst employed in any position or rank on board any Ship shall be the Uniform appropriate to that position or rank, without reference to the class of certificate which he may hold.

(4) A member of the Mercantile Marine employed ashore, or temporarily unemployed, shall be entitled to wear the Uniform appropriate to the highest rank in which he has at any time been previously employed.

(5) No person entitled to wear the Uniform shall, when on board Ship, in port, or on shore, be dressed partly in Uniform and partly not in Uniform.

(6) This Order shall apply only as respects persons who are or who have been employed on British Ships registered at ports in the British Islands.

(7) This Order shall come into operation on the day of the promulgation thereof.

(8) This Order may be cited as "The Mercantile Marine (Uniform) Order, 1918."

 Almeric FitzRoy.

Schedule.

MERCANTILE MARINE STANDARD UNIFORM.

A. FOR MASTERS, OFFICERS, CADETS, AND APPRENTICES.

1. DISTINCTION LACE OR RANK STRIPES.