RNAS uniform info

[Purser]

The Overseas Service Dress was formalised by Admiralty Weekly Order No. 2842 of 11 November 1916, although RNAS officers in France had been wearing a khaki uniform similar to the Army Service Dress from 1915 with naval rank shown by khaki braid.

A pale khaki cap cover was worn on the standard blue cap. Some caps apparently appeared in khaki fabric.

The AdWO noted that distinction marks were to be worn as on the dark blue uniform, which should have meant that the eagle badge was worn on the sleeve above the rank lace rather than on the left breast.

Royal Marine officers wore the eagle on the left breast (AdWO 756 of 21 April 1916).

Ratings (ie non-officers) in France wore a khaki unform from 1916. Rate (ie rank badges) were generally the normal red on blue embroidered style.

Much more detail in British Royal Air Forces 1914-18 Vols 1 and 2, in the Osprey Men at Arms series (Nos 341 and 351 respectively).