Gook said:
It looks like the one the Americans wear in all their films, accompanied by cliched salutes and quotes such as "You can be my wingman any time!" - there again I suppose if its RN tradition then why not?
While we're on this subject can anyone shed any light on another query, I have a photgraph of my grandfather in his seamans suit from the Second World War, his jumpers collar is the same black colour as the rest of the jumper and there are no three white lines on it. The whitefront underneath isnt white at all but looks black as well (its a black and white photo). His cap is black too and he has no lanyard either. What uniform was this?
Also the badge on his arm is of a lightning bolt with 2 wings either side of it. What trade does this denote? He was something to do with wireless I have been told.
Edited to add: His cap tally doesnt bear the name of a ship but just HMS. Was he waiting to be posted to a ship when this was taken then?
A few of the points I can answer - the black jumper is winter rig - a relatively corse jumper that is supposed to be worn in place of the white front in cold weather. I've only ever seen it worn once in the '90s and is/was very unpopular with the JRs - is it still issue?
The caps in winter were black, with a white cover over them in the summer. During the uniform revamp in the '50s caps went to permanent white cover.
In wartime, to prevent identification of units by enemy spies, all ratngs wore just 'HMS' on their cap tallies.
The difference with the jumper and wearing of the lanyayd may be down to a daily working rig, not as ornate as the best rig, in the same way that until relatively recently Officers had a much better quality reefer jacket for ceremonial occasions.