Royal Canadian Navy Regulating Branch
And Naval Police

Rating's Cap Ribbons

The cap ribbon or tally was worn on the headwear by all seamen in Class II Rig. According to the 1918 dress regulations it was to be:

"Of black silk, 1 3/16 inches broad and 45 inches long, the name of the ship, &c. being embroidered in gold letters 1/2 of an inch deep, according to sealed pattern. Tied in a bow over the left ear, the ends of the bow of equal length not more than two inches long".

By the 1950s, the pattern had changed slightly:

Bemberg yarn, plain weave, 1 1/8 inches wide by 40 inches long, woven letters 9/16 inch high.

For security reasons during wartime, the ribbons bearing the ship's names were withdrawn and a simple HMCS was normally worn. In shore based training establishments or "Stone Frigates" other ribbons were sometimes permitted, according to local dress instructions.

DOYLE
Photo credit: DND/PAC. Photographer unknown.
Ordinary Seaman Ledwell Doyle of the R.C.N.V.R. at Halifax, 1 November 1940. He is wearing an RCNVR TORONTO cap ribbon. Upon assignment to a ship or division, this ribbon would be replaced by the standard HMCS ribbon.

Examples of Rating's Cap Ribbons

tallies

tallies

tallies

tallies

tallies

tallies

tallies

tallies

tallies

A few examples of Royal Canadian Navy Cap Ribbons 1910 - 1968. HMCS Rainbow was a light cruiser bought from the British in 1910. The RNCVR (Royal Navy Canadian Volunteer Reserve) ribbon was worn by Canadian volunteers serving in the Royal Navy during the First World War. In 1923 the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve was formed, and the RCNVR ribbon was worn by reservists. The HMCS ribbon was worn by both Regular and Reserve Royal Canadian Navy ratings during the Second World War for security reasons. The Royal Canadian Navy ribbon was worn after the Second World War, primarily by recruits and sailors not yet assigned to a ship or station. HMCS Bonaventure and HMCS Athabaskan are typical 1960's examples of the ship's name worn on the rating's cap by a member of her crew. The "Bonnie" was the last aircraft carrier to serve in the RCN.

List Of known Cap Ribbons

This list is not complete and there may be unofficial or privately produced ribbons listed. Corrections and additions would be appreciated. There are additional ribbons known for the Departments of Transport and Fisheries as well as Sea Scouts. These are not listed.

H.M.C.S. ACADIA
H.M.C.S. ALBRO LAKE
H.M.C.S. ALDERGROVE
H.M.C.S. ALGONQUIN
H.M.C.S. ANNAN
H.M.C.S. ANNAPOLIS
H.M.C.S. ANTIGONISH
H.M.C.S. ARMENTIERES
H.M.C.S. ASSINIBOINE
H.M.C.S. ATHABASCAN
H.M.C.S. AURORA
H.M.C.S. AVALON

H.M.C.S. BEACON HILL
H.M.C.S. BEAVER
H.M.C.S. BLAIRMORE
H.M.C.S. BLUE HERON
H.M.C.S. BLUETHROAT
H.M.C.S. BONAVENTURE
H.M.C.S. BRAS D'OR
H.M.C.S. BROCKVILLE
H.M.C.S. BRUNSWICKER
H.M.C.S. BUCKINGHAM
H.M.C.S. BYTOWN

H.M.C.S. CABOT
H.M.C.S. CAPE BRETON
H.M.C.S. CAPE SCOTT
H.M.C.S. CAP DE LA MADELINE
H.M.C.S. CARIBOU
H.M.C.S. CATARAQUI
H.M.C.S. CAYUGA
H.M.C.S. CARLETON
H.M.C.S. CEDARWOOD
H.M.C.S. CHALEUR
H.M.C.S. CHAMPLAIN
H.M.C.S. CHARLOTTETOWN
H.M.C.S. CHATHAM
H.M.C.S. CHAUDIERE
H.M.C.S. CHIGNECTO
H.M.C.S. CHIPPAWA
H.M.C.S. CHURCHILL
H.M.C.S. COLUMBIA
H.M.C.S. COMOX
H.M.C.S. CORDOVA
H.M.C.S. CORMORANT
H.M.C.S. CORNWALLIS
H.M.C.S. COUGAR
H.M.C.S. COVERDALE
H.M.C.S. COWICHAN
H.M.C.S. CRESCENT
H.M.C.S. CRUSADER

H.M.C.S. D'IBERVILLE
H.M.C.S. GIGBY
H.M.C.S. DISCOVERY
H.M.C.S. DONNACONA
H.M.C.S. DRUMMONDVILLE

H.M.C.S. ELK

H.M.C.S. FESTUBERT
H.M.C.S. FORT ERIE
H.M.C.S. FORT FRANCIS
H.M.C.S. FORTUNE
H.M.C.S. FORT WILLIAM
H.M.C.S. FRASER
H.M.C.S. FUNDY

H.M.C.S. GANANOQUE
H.M.C.S. GASPE
H.M.C.S. GATINEAU
H.M.C.S. GIVENCHY
H.M.C.S. GLOUCESTER
H.M.C.S. GODERICH
H.M.C.S. GRANBY
H.M.C.S. GRIFFON
H.M.C.S. GRILSE
H.M.C.S. GUELPH

H.M.C.S. HAIDA
H.M.C.S. HALIGONIAN
H.M.C.S. HALLOWELL
H.M.C.S. HOCHELAGA
H.M.C.S. HUNTER
H.M.C.S. HURON

H.M.C.S. INCH ARRAN
H.M.C.S. INUVIK
H.M.C.S. IROQUOIS

H.M.C.S. JAMES BAY
H.M.C.S. JONQUERIE

H.M.C.S. KAPUSKASING
H.M.C.S. KENORA
H.M.C.S. KENTVILLE
H.M.C.S. KOOTENAY

H.M.C.S. LABRADOR
H.M.C.S. LA HULLOISE
H.M.C.S. LAKEWOOD
H.M.C.S. LANARK
H.M.C.S. LAUZON
H.M.C.S. LLEWELLYN
H.M.C.S. LLOYD GEORGE
H.M.C.S. LOON

H.M.C.S. MACKENZIE
H.M.C.S. MAHONE
H.M.C.S. MAGNIFICENT
H.M.C.S. MALAHAT
H.M.C.S. MALLARD
H.M.C.S. MALPEQUE
H.M.C.S. MARGAREE
H.M.C.S. MEDECINE HAT
H.M.C.S. MICMAC
H.M.C.S. MIDDLESEX
H.M.C.S. MILLTOWN
H.M.C.S. MINAS
H.M.C.S. MIRAMICHI
H.M.C.S. MONTCALM
H.M.C.S. MOOSE

H.M.C.S. NADEN
H.M.C.S. NANOOSE
H.M.C.S. NEW GLASGOW
H.M.C.S. NEW LISKEARD
H.M.C.S. NEW WATERFORD
H.M.C.S. NIAGARA
H.M.C.S. NIOBE. - orginal
H.M.C.S. NIOBE - 1967 Tattoo reproduction
H.M.C.S. NIPIGON
H.M.C.S. NONSUCH
H.M.C.S. NOOTKA

H.M.C.S. OBERON
H.M.C.S. OJIBWA
H.M.C.S. OKANAGAN
H.M.C.S. ONONDAGA
H.M.C.S. ONTARIO
H.M.C.S. ORIOLE
H.M.C.S. OSHAWA
H.M.C.S. OTTAWA
H.M.C.S. OUTREMONT

H.M.C.S. PATRICIAN
H.M.C.S. PATRIOT
H.M.C.S. PENETANG
H.M.C.S. PORTAGE
H.M.C.S. PORTE DAUPHINE
H.M.C.S. PORTE DE LA REINE
H.M.C.S. PORTE QUEBEC
H.M.C.S. PORTE SAINT JEAN
H.M.C.S. PORTE ST. JEAN
H.M.C.S. PORTE ST. LOUIS
H.M.C.S. PORT HOPE
H.M.C.S. PRINCE DAVID
H.M.C.S. PRINCE HENRY
H.M.C.S. PRINCE ROBERT
H.M.C.S. PRESERVER
H.M.C.S. PRESTONIAN
H.M.C.S. PREVOST
H.M.C.S. PROTECTEUR
H.M.C.S. PROVIDER

H.M.C.S. QUADRA
H.M.C.S. QU'APPELLE
H.M.C.S. QUEBEC
H.M.C.S. QUEEN
H.M.C.S. QUEEN CHARLOTTE
H.M.C.S. QUINTE

H.M.C.S. RACOON
H.M.C.S. RAINBOW. - original with period
H.M.C.S. RAINBOW
H.M.C.S. RED DEER
H.M.C.S. REINDEER
H.M.C.S. RESOLUTE
H.M.C.S. RESTIGOUCHE
H.M.C.S. REVELSTOKE
H.M.C.S. RIDEAU
H.M.C.S. ROCKCLIFFE
H.M.C.S. ROYAL ROADS

H.M.C.S. SACKVILLE
H.M.C.S. SAGUENAY
H.M.C.S. SANS PEUR
H.M.C.S. SARNIA
H.M.C.S. SASKATCHEWAN
H.M.C.S. SAULTE STE. MARIE
H.M.C.S. SCATARI
H.M.C.S. SCOTIAN
H.M.C.S. SHEARWATER
H.M.C.S. SHELBURNE
H.M.C.S. SIOUX
H.M.C.S. SKEENA
H.M.C.S. SKIDGATE
H.M.C.S. STADACONA
H.M.C.S. STAR
H.M.C.S. ST. BONIFACE
H.M.C.S. ST. CROIX
H.M.C.S. STE. THERESE
H.M.C.S. STETTLER
H.M.C.S. STONETOWN
H.M.C.S. HYICINTHE (printed)
H.M.C.S. ST. LAURENT
H.M.C.S. ST. STEPHEN
H.M.C.S. SUSSEXVALE
H.M.C.S. SWANSEA
H.M.C.S. SWIFT CURRENT

H.M.C.S. TECUMSEH
H.M.C.S. TERRA NOVA
H.M.C.S. THIEPVAL
H.M.C.S. THUNDER
H.M.C.S. TORONTO
H.M.C.S. TRINITY

H.M.C.S. UGANDA
H.M.C.S. UNGAVA
H.M.C.S. UNICORN

H.M.C.S. VANCOUVER
H.M.C.S. VENTURE
H.M.C.S. VICTORY
H.M.C.S. VICTORIAVILLE
H.M.C.S. VIOLETTA

H.M.C.S. WALLACEBURG
H.M.C.S. WENTWORTH
H.M.C.S. WARRIOR
H.M.C.S. WESTMOUNT
H.M.C.S. WHITETHROAT
H.M.C.S. WILDWOOD
H.M.C.S. WINNIPEG
H.M.C.S. WOLF

H.M.C.S. YORK
H.M.C.S. YPRES
H.M.C.S. YUKON

Miscellaneous

ROYAL CANADIAN NAVY
C.N.A.V. - Canadian Naval Auxiliary Vessel
C.F.B. BORDEN
H.M.C. DESTROYERS
H.M.C. DOCKYARD
H.M.C.S. DOCKYARD
H.M.C. MINESWEEPERS
H.M.C. RADIO STATION
H.M.C.S.
H.M.C.S. CORNWALLIS
R.C.N.A.S.
R.C.N.R.
R.C.N.V.R.
R.C.N.V.R. CARTIER
R.C.N.V.R. MONTREAL
R.C.N.V.R. PORT ARTHUR
R.C.N.V.R. PRINCE RUPERT
R.C.N.V.R. QUEBEC
R.C.N.V.R. REGINA
R.C.N.V.R. SAINT JOHN
R.C.N.V.R. TORONTO
R.C.N.V.R. VANCOUVER
R.C.N,V.R. WINDSOR
R.C.N.V.R. WINNIPEG
R.N.C.V.R.
R.C.N.V.R. ATLANTIC - Crown and Anchor between the words
R.C.N.V.R. PACIFIC - Crown and Anchor between the words
CANCOMCORTRON THREE - Canadian Command Escort Squadron
CANCOMCORTRON FIVE
CANCOMFLEET - Canadian Command Fleet

Sea Cadets

ROYAL CANADIAN SEA CADETS
RCSC
RCSCC FALKLAND
RCSCC LION
RCSCC WARRIOR
RCSCC QUINTE
RCSCC CORNWELL VC
NAVY LEAGUE CADETS
NAVY LEAGUE OF CANADA
NAVY LEAGUE WRENETTE
NAVY LEAGUE WRENETTES
RAINBOW SEA CADETS
BOYS NAVAL BRIGADE

If you accessed this page from an outside link or search engine and do not see a navigation bar on the left side of the page, click HERE to go to the Canadian Military Police Virtual Museum main page.