Physical description

This merchant navy officer's cap has a black woollen felt hat band, black woollen felt fixed top cap and a black patent leather peak. Along the top of the peak there is a black patent strap. At the left hand of the peaked cap is a non-standard black plastic button and on the right side is a standard black cloth button.
Above the peak there is a black wool badge of an Officer of the Merchant Navy. This insignia has a central, oval reserve of red velvet edged with gold metal coil with base metal anchor at the centre. The oval is surrounded by oak leaves of gold purl with stems of applied gold coil, and surrounded by a stamped base metal crown. The badge is backed with a wool blend fabric and attached to the top cat by brown cotton.
Along the base of the hat band there is a bias hem.
Inside the cap, the hat band is lined with hessian. Crimson silk is fixed to the top cap and hand stitched to the hessian as a lining to the cap.

Inscriptions & markings

British merchant navy officer's cap insignia.