RN Writer Branch Badge

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know when the branch badge for the S&S Writers changed from crossed quills to the 6-pointed star with the letter ‘W’ in the middle?
I have seen a photo taken in 1919 of a WRN writer wearing a crossed quills badge.
Peter Ashley

[Anonymous]

The crossed quills badge on the WW1 WRNS uniform is indeed correct and official; when first formed the WRNS had its own set of branch badges, distinct from the men’s equivalents, the crossed quills being that for a Writer (or, as they were denoted at the time, Clerical Staff).
These uniforms would have ceased to be current when the WRNS were disbanded at the end of WW1.
However, they were reconstituted in 1939 with some uniform changes, one of which was to adopt the same badges as the equivalent branch for the men – in other words, the Star-with-a-W badge would have been official from the beginning of WW2 onwards.
I hope this satisfies your query.

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