The senior instructional staff at all of the RN's training establishments were Warrant Officers, while the bulk of the staff were instructors ranging from PO 2nd Class to CPO. In this photo all but one of the WOs in the front rank with rings are WOs (Gunners) with 10 years seniority (thin stripers) but the big chap on the viewers' right is a Chief Warrant Officer (Chief Gunner). Their somewhat "rumpled" appearance contrasts sharply with the standards of appearance demanded from the 1920s onwards.

With thanks to Dave Perkins ©

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