Leading Rating

This badge is embroidered in gold on blue with a fouled anchor, signifying the rank of Leading Rating. The badge belonged to Duncan Turnbull, who served in the Royal Navy between 1980 and 1989. He became an Acting Leading Weapons Engineering Mechanic (Ordnance) in June 1984.

The Museum holds documents and journals relating to Turnball's career (AML/Z/36), as well as his identity tag (ZBB0022) and arm badges (ZBB0023–24).

Duncan Turnbull joined the Royal Navy in 1980 and began his training on HMS ‘Collingwood’ as a Junior Weapons Engineering Mechanic 2nd Class. He joined HMS ‘Glasgow’ in 1981 at Portsmouth and travelled to North America and the Caribbean, where he served at the Atlantic Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre in the Bahamas. From 1981–83, he served as Weapons Engineering Mechanic (Ordnance) in HMS ‘Hermes’, which was the flagship of the Royal Navy during the Falklands War in 1982. In 1983, he joined the HMS ‘Cochrane’ shore establishment to work at the Fleet Maintenance Group. In 1984, he was promoted to Acting Leading Weapons Engineering Mechanic (Ordnance). From 1985–89, he served in HMS ‘Glasgow’, during which time he performed songs and produced the ship’s magazine. In 1987, he was reported for ‘gross indecency’, which he denied. He returned to HMS ‘Cochrane’ in 1989 and was discharged on 16 June of that year. He gave 18 months’ notice and joined the Royal Fleet Reserve from 17 June. Turnbull, as a gay man in the Royal Navy, faced hostile treatment and bullying [homophobia] and was forced to conceal his relationships. He joined ‘Rank Outsiders’, an organisation that supported LGBTQI+ servicemen and women. The ban on homosexuality in the Armed Forces was lifted in 2000. Turnbull has now retrained as a counsellor and psychotherapist and works with Veterans Aid.