the letters H.M.S. being the abbreviation of “His Majesty’s Ship.”
Rating badges to indicate the rank or rating of petty officers and men on special duties are worn on the sleeves between the shoulder seam and the elbow and are very numerous and complex, some of the principal ones being, in red,
| Petty officer first class | Two crossed foul anchors with
a crown above and three chevrons, points down, below. |
| Petty officer second class | One vertical foul anchor with a crown
above and two chevrons, points down. |
| Petty officer third class | The same, omitting the crown and with but one chevron. |
| Gunner’s Mate and Gunlayer first class | Two crossed cannon with one star below
and a star and a crown above. |
| Gunner’s Mate | The same, omitting the lower star. |
| Gunlayer first class | Two crossed cannon with a star above and a star below. |
| Gunlayer second class | The same omitting the lower star. |
| Gunlayer third class | The same omitting the stars. |
| Seaman Gunner | A horizontal cannon with a star above. |
| Torpedo Gunner’s Mate Higher Grade | Two crossed torpedoes with a star and
a crown above and a star below. |
| Torpedo Gunner’s Mate
| The same omitting the lower star. |
| Torpedo Coxswain | Two crossed torpedoes with a steering wheel above. |
| Leading Torpedoman | Two crossed torpedoes with a star above. |
| Seaman Torpedoman | A horizontal torpedo with a star above and
a star below. |
| Chief Signal Yeoman | Two crossed flags with a star and a crown
above and two stars below. |
| Signal Yeoman | The same omitting the crown. |
| Leading Signalman | The same omitting one of the lower stars. |
| Signalman | The same omitting the lower stars. |
| Ordinary signalman | Two crossed flags. |
| Mechanician | A propeller with one star and a crown above
and a star below. |
| Chief Stoker | A propeller with a crown above and a star below. |
| Stoker petty officer | A propeller with a star above and a star below. |
| Leading stoker | The same omitting the lower star. |
| Stoker | A propeller. |
| Chief Telegraphist | A bar of forked lightning with wings
on each side and a crown below. |
| Leading Telegraphist | The same design but with a star above
in place of the crown and a star below. |
| Telegraphist | The same omitting the lower star. |
| Ordinary telegraphist | The same design omitting stars. |
| Blacksmith, Plumber, and Painter, first class | An axe and a hammer crossed with a star above. |
| Other Artisans | The same design omitting the star.
|
| Physical training instructor, first class | Two crossed Indian clubs with star and a crown above and a star below. |
| Physical training instructor, second class | The same design omitting the lower star. |
| Sick Bay attendants | A Geneva cross surrounded by a circle. |
| Bugler | A bugle horizontal. |
| Markmanship badge, first class | Two crossed rifles with a star above. |
| Markmanship badge, second class | The same without the star. |
| Markmanship badge, third class | A rifle horizontal. |
The Royal Marines perform duties similar to those performed by the United States Marines both afloat and ashore and hold a high record for efficiency and loyalty. They are divided into two branches, the Royal Marine Artillery and the Royal Marine Light Infantry, the former being popularly known as the “Blue Marines” on account of the fact that their dress coats are of blue cloth and the latter as the “Red Marines” since their dress coats are of red cloth.
Both branches are also provided with khaki-colored uniforms for field service ashore.
The rank of the officers is indicated by insignia of rank worn on the shoulder straps, these insignia being the same for the various ranks as those worn by officers of the British Army.
The titles for the different grades of rank of the officers are the same as those for the British Army, namely, General, Lieutenant General, Major General, Brigadier General, Colonel, Major, Captain, Lieutenant and Second Lieutenant.