Lives of the First World War

This photograph was taken in 1914/15. Jack's cap in the lower left hand corner of the photo bears the tally of HMS Ruby. He was posted to HMS Ruby from 16 April 1914 to 8 December 1915, when he was posted to HMS Nessus. The badges on his arm signify as follows— LEFT ARM—Crossed anchors surmounted by crown: Petty Officer. Three stripes: three good conduct stripes RIGHT ARM—Propellor: Stoker Petty Officer. In addition… "A star above a badge in every case indicates a man of superior qualifications, and another star below denotes that a man has passed for and is performing certain special duties." [Source: Manual of Seamanship. Vol 1. 1908, revised and reprinted 1915. HMSO, 1915]