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The Austro-Hungarian navy wore a uniform very similar to most other
European navies of the period. Officers wore several different
uniforms, a blue double breasted jacket, a blue, frock coat or a white
single breasted tunic. Matching blue or white trousers were worn. Rank
was shown in the form of gold bars around the cuff and on the shoulder
straps. Headgear consisted of a peaked blue naval cap with a black
hatband, a similar white cap or a kepi style cap. All of these
headgear were worn with a gold embroidered badge showing an anchor
surrounded by a laurel wreath below a Hapsburg imperial crown (see
below).
The figure on the left is based on a
photograph of an Dr Leo Arbesser von Rastburg, an Officer on "SMS Kaiserin Elisabeth"
taken onboard in 1914. He wears the blue officer's peaked cap with imperial insignia, blue naval frock coat with his rank indicated on his
shoulder straps and by gold bars on his cuffs and blue naval trousers.
Dr Leo Arbesser von Rastburg was
a
ship's doctor on board the SMS Kaiserin Elisabeth from 1913-14. Throughout his
travels in North Africa and Asia with the SMS Kaiserin Elisabeth he took many
interesting photographs. The photo on which this illustration is based was taken
in Shanghai in January 1914. More of his photos can be seen at
Die Fotos von Dr Leo Arbesser Website. In August 1914 he travelled via San
Francisco and New York back to Austria, arriving home in November 1914. In the
1960's he was still a member of the Tsingtao Comrades Group (Tsingtau-Kameradschaft).
Austro-Hungarian Naval Officers Cap Badge
(See
Port Arthur Collection Page)
Photo Copyright Private Collector |
