tally (cap)

The tally on a junior sailor's cap of navies of the Commonwealth of Nations bear the name of the ship or establishment in which the sailor serves. The tally is normally a black ribbon that is fixed around the circumference of the cap, with the name at the front embroidered in gold coloured thread, fixed by a bow at the side. In exceptional circumstances, a generic tally is worn: In time of war the tally will bear their service but not their ship's name;Special groupings of sailors may wear the generic tally, for example the sailors in the tri-service Australian Federation Guard.
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