Could someone explain the conspicuous black scarf that USN sailors under the rank of petty officer wear? The USN generally follows the Royal Navy in matters of uniform and rank insignia, but the significance of the scarf is a mystery to me.
shareAre you talking about the neckerchief, rolled diagonally and tied in a square knot, worn with the square rig?
shareDear kkuger:
Yes. I am interested to know the story of this item of uniform. There is something similar to this neckerchief in Royal Navy Ratings' uniform, a feature that is said to date from the days in which RN gunners -- in the age of Nelson -- tied their handkerchiefs around their heads to keep the sweat from their eyes. The story goes that when the seamen of the fleet heard, at Trafalgar, that Nelson had been killed, they tied their, black, head-bands around their arms as a sign of mourning.
The United States Navy takes, as I am sure you know, many of its ritualistic features from the Royal Navy -- and, since 1815, there has, I gather, always been a friendly relationship between the two services; and it must be said that the American Naval uniform, over the centuries, has tended to reflect that of the Royal Navy.
But, knowing that the peculiarities of naval and military dress and customs seldom arise by chance, it seemed to me that the USN Black Scarf was probably not there by accident. And that is why I was asking for some enlightenment about its history or background.
Yours,
TGOC
The RN changed from the rolled neckerchief to a flatter strip of black silk in the late 1950's. The RN always had a deeper and wider v-neck on the jumper, plus tie down tapes and bosun's lanyards for all, so the neckerchief wasn't as visible anyway. In theory, it was originally a functional item, worn bandana style over the face to offset gunpowder smoke, sea spray etc. or, it could be worn bandana style backwards, to keep the greased up pigtail from soiling the shirt, in the same manner that the the denim and/or wool 'sailor collar' did later. Maritime forces were late to the party as far as standardized uniforms were concerned, but most sailors dressed alike based on what was practical.
As far as the modern day U.S. Navy, the neckerchief is retained mainly to break up the all white square rig, and to cover the ugly mass of stitching on the blue square rig, right at the bottom of the v-neck. With the white uniform, wearing it with the neckerchief made it into a dress uniform, without the neckerchief it was working rig (undress whites).
As with most pieces of naval rig, there are a myriad of 'origins', and an equal number of debunkings for the same origins. I've heard about the black neckerchief being a mourning symbol for Lord Nelson, I've also heard that there is no truth to that story. Same with the three strips of white piping on the USN and RN jumper collars representing Lord Nelson's three great victories, and the thirteen buttons of the square rig trousers representing the original thirteen American colonies. One old salt will swear it's all true, another will say they're just myths.
Offically, the USN denies all three of the above 'origins'.
Dear kkruger:
Many thanks for your lucid and informative response. As you say, most of these matters are in the nature of myths, but they are no less interesting on that account. Everything that you say on the subject tallies with with what I have gathered over a life-time of reading about naval matters.
It is interesting, don't you think, in looking at these matters of uniform and general tradition, to explore the bond, if I may call it that, between the USN and the RN? You no doubt know about the famous naval action off the coast of China -- in perhaps the 1880's ? -- when USN sailors went to assist a RN gunboat, contrary to orders. The American Admiral in his report on the matter simply remarked that, "Blood is thicker than water."
Thanks again,
TGOC