Description
Physical description
4x badges, 2x labels, 2x seals.
Badges: Two sets of facing pairs (the cord twist faces different ways) of rank shoulder straps to Midshipmen (Air) of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, being dark blue material on a stiff former creating a longitudinal arched shape, at the inward (pointed) end of which a small rectangle of white wool on which a twist of doubled thin white cord over which a small gilded metal button of a St. Edward's (Queen's) crown above a fouled anchor flanked by the Gothic letters R / V with the letter N superimposed over the anchor, all within a rope border, below the button a gilding metal letter 'A'. To the reverse, the buttons are secured by small cotter pins (one of which is missing) through a single central shank. The reverse of the badge is white leather on which printed in gold: "JOSEPH STARKEY / Limited / Manufacturers" / a diamond shaped trademark with a fleur-de-lys at each corner, a star at the inner top with a similar devise lower left / below which: "135 Rye Lane / London, S.E. 15." A cotton tape tie with bootlace ends is threaded through the outer end of the reverse of each badge.
Labels 1 & 2, identical: Small, red printed: Admiralty Duplicate Pattern; Vocab No.: 42876; Comment: "Shoulder Straps for Midshipmen R.N.V.R. (Air) Temporary."; V.T.A. 670/1 of 31/10/1955.
Reverse: Selected by (Stamped) V. Stone, (Stamped): Senior Technical Examining Officer / Royal Victoria Yard / Deptford SE8 / 14 Dec 1955.
Seals 1 & 2, identical: Large lead discs with raised rims, on one side of one of them the lettering R.V.Y., with possibly the same on the other.
Label
The special RNR buttons (RNR superimposed upon foul anchor) were abolished in 1921 and officers were ordered to wear ordinary RN buttons. The buttons were reinstated in 1951 only to be abolished, again, in 1958 when the RNVR was amalgamated with the RNR, under the latter title.
Inscription
RN