BACKGROUND: Generally when a ship was at sea three EM/NCO’s were assigned watch duty under the auspices if the Watch Officer. The Watch Officer was allotted a wide variety responsibilities including navigation and handling, log entries, and overseeing all general routine duties of the crew. The Watch Officer was required to remain on deck until relieved and was issued a Watch Officer’s Badge to be worn as identification while performing his duties. The Watch Officer’s Duty badge was not an award but a sign of position. The introduction date of the a Watch Officer’s Badge is unknown but the lack of a swastika would appear to indicate it was carried over from the Reichsmarine era.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Die stamped, hollow backed, alloy construction, badge with a fire gilt finish is in the form of a roughly, 65mm tall, 52mm wide, vertically oval, oak-leave wreath, encompassing a cut-out, fouled anchor. The reverse of the badge is a mirror image of the obverse. The two original eyelets remain which would have utilized a cotter pin to secure it to the tunic. Fairly scarce and in nice condition!