Grandad's Hat?

[Duncan Gibbs]

Here's a picture, below, of my dear and long departed Grandfather on the back of his clinker planked H28 (sloop rigged.. at that time) called Gretel off the coast of Western Australia.

Two questions:
1. My Grandad was in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserves (RNVR) during WWII in coastal convoy protection around the Britain commanding a 120' motor launch (ML). His visor cap seems to have disappeared and I would dearly love to find another like it... If anybody knows where I could find one I would be eternally grateful. Sentimental value! Something solid rather than copies of photos!

2. Has anyone in West Oz (or anywhere else for that matter) seen Gretel recently?

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

Cool hat, worn well. Why is it in old black and white photos from that era guys just looked so damn cool in hats?

Put me in that hat, even on the helm of a 50 ft yacht and I would still look like a dork. As a bald man I really want to look good in a hat other than a friggin baseball cap. But it's not just me, I've seen the inevitable dork trying to pull off the Indiana Jones look to no avail. Why is it guys of that era just knew how to wear a hat ?

Anyway sorry I got off track a bit of google found this place
http://www.kellybadge.co.uk/Stock/navy.htm
I did not see a hat per se but I would imagine a inquiring email might provide a source.

[Duncan Gibbs]

Thanks Joe!

Will fire off an email with the pic and info tomorrow! Bedtime on this side of the Pacific Rim!!

PS: Did you get my PM?
PPS: My Grandad was very cool... And very much the old English salt! Wish he was still here...

[Duncan Gibbs]

Joe,
Still haven't heard a thing from that crew in England you sent me. Will try the RN directly and try and get my Grandad's service records and maybe even a pic of the ML he was on! If I do manage to find a visor cap like the one he's pictured in I'll be sure to try and get two and send one to you so you practice lookin' cool!! I think the thing with hats is that you've just got to wear them like they're not there... If that makes any sense!?!

Cheers

[Duncan Gibbs]

Hey Joe,

Still haven't heard from that crew in England. Will try the RN directly later and see if I can't get my Grandad's service record and a pic of the ML he was on. If I do manage to find a cap the same as he's pictured in I'll be sure to try and get two and have one sent to you to "practice" in! I think the trick with hats is that you've got to where them as if they're not actually there... If that makes any sense!?!


Cheers

[Thorne]

Well, depends on how exact a copy you want -- and how much you are willing to pay. I bet that Dirty Billy would make one up for you...
http://www.dirtybillyshats.com/

There is of course eBay -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/United-States-...QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Royal-Navy-Off...QQcmdZViewItem

Various military surplus places may have hats that could be modified to come close -

http://www.russianarmysurplus.com/so...tary.php?tid=1

http://www.undertheredstar.com/

[Duncan Gibbs]

Nice hats Thorne, but not the winter (black rimmed) RNVR hat I'm after. This one...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Royal-Navy-Off...QQcmdZViewItem

...is the closet yet though, so many thanks for that!! Will still try the RN direct when they're at the office in 5hrs!!

If no luck the summer one you've shown me may be the jig!!

Cin Cin!

[Duncan Gibbs]

Just doing a bit of research and came across this photo of an ML:



One gun and a bunch of depth charges!
I wonder what she would have been made of?....

[Duncan Gibbs]

These things were made of CLOTH over a timber frame with a planking of mahogany (or larch as the War went on): Pump 'em out quickly, because the Germans hit them quickly!! (6 water tight compartments prevented sinking!) Grandad's -ML1066- was hit twice!

Interesting read here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbour...e_Motor_Launch

[Wild Dingo]

Gidday Dunc
Quite likely Gretel is still around over here (if she hasnt been bought by some eastern stater and made the journey east like so many others) there are a fair few H28s of similar vintage around around Fremantle.
The old fellas did look cool eh? bit hard to replicate after so many years and changes but I and me grandhoon are giving it a whirl
Cheers