Silk worn on old navy jumpers

[stollhofen]

Just wondering what the purpose of this piece of kit is ? It seems to go around the neck and is tied off in the front of the jumper with what looks like a bow ? Thanks

 

[ModlrMike]

I believe that it is symbolic of the "tails" that sailors used to tie their collars. In the original "square rig", collars were a separate from the shirt or jumper and were attached to the ensemble by means of "silk" ties.

See this link for more info on RN uniform history:

http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.3772

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

Thank god we no longer wear it...

 

[ModlrMike]

I agree. As good as it looks, there are too many finicky parts... but then I wouldn't have to wear it anyways.  ;D

 

[FSTO]

Thank god we no longer wear it...

Ya because we look sooo much better on parade now with the odd blue and green tossed into the mix. Even better is the "Walking out work dress" yech!

 

[Blackadder1916]

http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/nav.3823

The "Silk"
The sailor's black silk "handkerchief" worn round the throat, is of far greater antiquity than as a sign of mourning for Lord Nelson. Originally it was worn in action either round the brow to prevent sweat running into the eyes, or as a general purpose sweat rage, or as a pad to cushion the body against hard knocks or chafe. Nowadays it is only a traditional piece of uniform clothing.
Commonly known as a "Silk", it was, until 1935, a square of black silk 36" square, worn with two diagonally opposite corners knotted together (the knot being worn at the back of the neck beneath the collar, and bight (known as a "Duff Bag") being secured in the tapes of the jumper), so that a drowning man's rescuer would have an efficient handgrip. The new pattern silk introduced in 1935 measures 50" x 12"; since 1942 it has been made of rayon. The uniform regulations require the ends of this scarf to be stitched together, thus forming a loop, for the same reason as the old square silk was knotted into a loop.

http://www.readyayeready.com/tradition/customs-of-the-navy/3-uniforms.htm

The silk did not originate as a sign of mourning for Nelson as has often been suggested since in one form or another it antedated the famous admiral's birth. It might have been used as a mourning band for Nelson in the manner the crew of H.M.S. BERWICK in 1749 mourned their captain's death, by cutting their silk scarves in half, putting one piece around the cap and the other around the arm. This seems a sufficient precedent for officers to use seamen's silks for mourning bands.
.....
A rag was often worn about the neck, opened at the back like a kerchief, to protect the back of the neck from tar or tallow on the pigtail. It was also used as a sweat band by the guns' crews. Until the uniform was standardised in 1857 the silk was often a colourful article; one writer describes a pattern resembling a mixture of blood and raw eggs! It was, however, normally of black to show dirt least.

http://www.mpmuseum.org/rcnratings.html

A long black silk handkerchief was worn as a necktie. The ends were joined by sewing or pinning into a loop, the join was concealed under the collar and the loop in front, known as the "bight" was secured by the two black tapes on the front of the jumper. For dress occasions the knot was a bowtie, for duty, in a sailor's knot.

Just wondering what the purpose of this piece of kit is ?

What purpose does any necktie have? (besides catching spills and wiping snotty noses)

 

[ModlrMike]

What purpose does any necktie have? (besides catching spills and wiping snotty noses)

I thought that's why Midshipmen had large white cuffs on the sleeves of their coats (hence the term "snotter").

 

[dimsum]

I thought that's why Midshipmen had large white cuffs on the sleeves of their coats (hence the term "snotter").

I thought that's why they had the 3 buttons on the cuffs? 

 

[cobbler]

I thought that's why they had the 3 buttons on the cuffs? 

Yes. The buttons were to prevent them from wiping ttheir noses with the sleeve.