Typical 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.

Sailors, being above ordinary mortals, found inventive ways to tie their cap ribbons and yet stay within the letter of dress regulations. One very popular method during the Second World War was to tie the regular bow, then spread out and iron the ends into an upswept teardrop pattern.