BRITISH WWI ROYAL NAVAL DIVISION CAP TALLY.

A scarce naval cap tally worn by the Royal Naval Division circa 1915-16. Full length gold wire lettering on black silk ribbon in very good condition. At the outbreak of WWI Winston Churchill was First Lord of the Admiralty and announced the formation of the Royal Naval Division to be sought from naval reservists and to be used as infantry. After an initial period of action on the Belgium coast in the defence of Antwerp the division was withdrawn to England for training and refitting, at which stage they were issued with khaki army uniforms but with the addition of a khaki sailors cap fitted with a Royal Naval Division cap tally, the reason for this was to identify the sailors as individuals apart from the army. The Royal Naval Division went on to distinguish itself in the Gallipoli campaign along the western front as the 63rd Royal Naval Division. Photograph of the tally in wear on its khaki naval cap included.

Code: 86320