Black Silk Squares for the Navy?

[Penny Tray]

GLASGOW HERALD
6 FEBRUARY 1915

"SILK SQUARES FOR THE NAVY

The Admiralty have invited the Macclesfield silk manufacturers to tender by next Tuesday for 200,000 black silk squares for the Navy. This is the largest order issued.

Two Macclesfield firms are now busy on the order issued a few weeks ago for 100,000 squares for the Navy. The prospect of another large order aroused great interest in silk circles."

Anyone any idea what they would be used for?

[meekan]

Silk to me suggests flags, black suggests mourning. 200,000 too few for personnel use, too many for shipping unless issued in multiples throughout the fleet.
It was in the early stages of world war one, so might well be to mourn naval losses. I wonder what size of black squares were requisitioned?
I'm only guessing.

[Jim McCreadie]

A matelot’s “silk” is part of his uniform, see 3rd last paragraph at link below where the image depicts a Boy sailor in perfect uniform - as it would have been at HMS GANGES. His silk is not readily recognisable but appears as “creases” on either side of the jumper (not “jacket”) front.

https://nektonix.files.wordpress.com/20 ... s-1910.jpg

I recall one instance while in London on leave, an elderly lady on the Tube asking if she could rub my blue denim collar. When asked why, she replied it was well-known to bring good luck to both parties.

Jim
ex-R.N.

[Penny Tray]

Thanks for that Jim. It led me to the following description. Every day is a school day - AGAIN!

"Commonly known as a "silk", it was, until 1935, a square of black silk 36" square, worn with two diagonally opposite corners knotted together (the knot being worn at the back of the neck beneath the collar and bight (known as a "Duff Bag") being secured in the tapes of the jumper), so that a drowning man's rescuer would have an efficient handgrip."

[meekan]

My guess wasn’t even close and I apologise for it.

[Jim McCreadie]

No need to apologise meekan, you were trying to be helpful.

[Penny Tray]

I agree, I was completely stumped.

[John Donnelly]

I didn't even dare

JD.