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Came up on another forum - a lamp marked 'WO 2' and there is speculation that 'WO' stands for War Office as some of these lamps were used during the blackout in WW2. Has anyone come across 'WO' on military kit?

Redcat

isn't WO 2 a warrant officer?

BSA made War Office Pattern "WOP" .22" training rifles.

redcat wrote:Came up on another forum - a lamp marked 'WO 2' and there is speculation that 'WO' stands for War Office as some of these lamps were used during the blackout in WW2. Has anyone come across 'WO' on military kit?

Is the 'WO 2' hard stamped into it or a painted stencil type marking?

Thanks for the input guys. GeeRam, it is stamped into the brass. Question is now academic as the thread has been closed. They seemingly did not like my idea that the only way to come up with a credible answer is research. Someone suggested it could mean 'War Office', with the '2' meaning might be seconds (the mind boggles!) so that's good enough for them. I was just getting my teeth into it too.

Redcat

Oh well......

Must admit in 30+ years of collecting WW2 era tat and 'stuff' I've never seen WO or WO2 stamped into anything.
Even equipment issued to civilian services like the ARP etc, was usually stamped with the W^D broad arrow and War Dept marks.

Just admit first thing that came to my mind was Warrant Officer too.

If it's a hammer punch type marking in the brass, I'd be inclined to believe it was done by a pee'd off gentleman of considerable non-commissioned standing, making sure his lamp doesn't get nicked again by some scrote.

I like that thinking RDC.

Redcat

RDC wrote:Just admit first thing that came to my mind was Warrant Officer too.

If it's a hammer punch type marking in the brass, I'd be inclined to believe it was done by a pee'd off gentleman of considerable non-commissioned standing, making sure his lamp doesn't get nicked again by some scrote.

My Uncle did his 22 in the Army, retiring as a WO2 in the REME, and so I can very much relate to that notion

I believe my grandfather retired as WO in REME too.