Uniform & Clothing Regulations

H.M. Canadian Naval Service publication

for POs, Men and Boys 1918

The sketches featured in this page were scanned from a publication titled “Uniform and Clothing Regulations for Petty Officers, Men and Boys”, published for His Majesty’s Canadian Naval Service in 1918.

They include drawings for uniform items such as the serge jumper (with and without cuffs), blue jean collar, serge trousers, and flannel (a type of short-sleeved shirt). They include drawings for uniform items such as the serge jumper (with and without cuffs), blue jean collar, serge trousers, and flannel. The shapes of the garments are shown, and their proportionate measurements are given. These measurements would vary according to the size of the man, but their ratio had to be maintained.

Sketch for serge jumper with cuffs. From “Uniform and Clothing Regulations for Petty Officers, Men and Boys 1918”.

Sketch for serge and duck trousers. Duck is a type of heavy, plain woven cotton fabric. From “Uniform and Clothing Regulations for Petty Officers, Men and Boys 1918″.

Sketch for blue jean collar.

The sketches don’t provide details of stitching and other finishing required. For this information it was necessary to consult the sealed patterns for each piece of kit.

More sketches from the uniform and clothing regulations for 1918 are available here in PDF format for you to download:

Serge jumper without cuffs
White Uniform jumper
Flannel (a type of shirt)
How to position badges on the sleeves of jumpers, with and without cuffs

His Bark is Worse Than His Bight …

Every aspect of a seaman’s appearance was covered by the uniform regulations, even down to the seemingly smallest detail. For example “neck-handkerchiefs are always to be worn except by men coaling or refitting. They are to be tied behind the collar, the bight* in front being confined by the strings, which, having been first tied together, are to be tied tightly in a bow over the handkerchief, leaving a bight about 3 inches long. The handkerchief should thus be firmly secured to the jumper.”

*In knot tying, a bight is a curved section or slack part between the two ends of a rope, string or yarn.