How Badges of the British Navy came into being
The first Badges of the British Navy's were often the Captains Personal Badge made by a Ships Carpenter in King Henry VIII Navy Royal. Through the 16th, 17th and 18th Century British Navy Figureheads often reflected the ships name and with their official demise in 1894 the Admiralty wanting to keep an ornamental fashion in its ships sought badges.
Badges were first tabled in 1916 but it was not until 1918 that the Admiralty officially established The Ships Badge Commitee to design, uniform, regulate, approve and issue its Ship Badges.
Leading the way for the Admiralty in 1918 was the Curator of the 'Tower of London' Armouries Charles Ffoulkes (1868 - 1947), Lt RNVR (1914 -1918), Mjr Royal Marines (1918 - 1920), Sgt Home Guard (1940 - 1945), Hon DLitt, OBE, CB who was appointed by The Ships Names & Motto's Committee (1913) to devise and standardise the Admiralty's Badge's.
In 1935 Charles Ffoulkes retired from his Admiralty appointment having created 500 badges to become Master of the 'Tower of London' Armouries, his designs were held by the College of Heraldry who became involved with the colouring of badges and advising the Committee on Coats of Arms and Emblems. Sir Arthur Cochrane (1872 - 1959) succeed Charles Ffoulkes and in 1983 the MOD merged the Committee with the Ships Names Committee.
Before 1940 the shape of the badge denoted the type of ship. Battleship/Battlecruiser circular, Aircraft Carrier/Submarine diamond, Cruiser pentagonal, Destroyer shield.
For security reasons in 1940 the Admiralty ordered that all its ships will have circular badges.
Its not true that ships which served and survived WW2 were an exception to the 1940 order.
A further badge change happened in 1976 which was Royal Fleet Auxillary pentagonal and Shore Establishment diamond.
There are 1,654 official British Navy ship badges each one is different, no two are the same.
I have not included badges for Dockyards, Repair Yards, Hospitals, Commands, Reserves, Divisions, Flotillas, Squadrons, and Parties as these are NOT sea going ships!
Since the 20th Century the British Navy Ships Badge is found on the superstructrue below the bridge screen.
It was common to see replica ship badges or their images in wardrooms, messes on a ships treadplate, on fittings and on paper.
If you watch the 1956 movie Battle of the River Plate you will see in the background of the wardroom scene a Pentagonal Badge.
There are 4 types of replica badge,
Plaster a cheap, easy, ready use gift made by sailors and dockyards.
Herculite modern eqivalent to plaster, a ready use gift, made commercially under MOD license and privately.
Resin, durable made by dockyards to ornament ships.
Metal, durable made by dockyards to ornament ships.
Before todays consumer society Ship Badges were only occasionally given to VIPs and Organisations visiting ships. It is INCORRECT to call these ornaments crests, emblems or motifs they are BADGE'S!