Naval slang name for a Leading Hand. A Killick is a small anchor: the badge of a Leading Hand is an anchor. The word is said to come from the Erse word for a wooden anchor. It was introduced in the RN in 1853.

The original Petty Officers badge was a single anchor and crown but changed in 1857 to a twin fouled acnchor and crown. The rate of PO was properly regularised in 1808 but had been in use for some time before that.

The rate Chief Petty Officer was introduced in 1853, the badge being an anchour surrouned by a laurel wreath with a crown above. When the uniform of the CPO was changed in 1893 from 'square rig' to 'fore and aft' it was then worn as the cap badge.

Reel Brew mentions chevrons. These in the RN were worn by naval rating (Petty Officers and below) as a sign of long service and good conduct. One chevron, up to a maximum of three, was awarded every four years to be sewn below the on the left sleeve of the jacket.

We use to refer to these as marks of four years of undiscovered crime. If a rating was busted (reduced in rank) he could loose one or all good conduct stripes plus his rank of killick or petty officer.

I used to hear the term 'swallow the anchor' which meant your time in the RN was up and you could retire. I do not think it is commonly used these days.

The term Killick of the mess is still used today. Modern warships have different messes for differnt type of junior rate. Stockers, electrians, seamen etc. The Mess Killick is responsible for the good order of the mess and for making sure that ratings are appointed each day to clean the mess decks and make sure that all is stowed and properly secured.

Chiefs and Petty Officers have their own individual messes and have a junior rate appointed as a 'mess cook'. His job is to clean up.

On RN submarines messes are common, i.e the ratings all mess together as do the Chief's and PO's. Not enough spaces for lots of different mess decks.

Mess in navy slang can mean living or eating depending on context. Not sure where the term originates though.