Merchant mariners.
Toughy, Huffy and Snuffy, ship's kittens aboard an unidentified British tanker, taken at Brooklyn, 1944, as they plumb the mysteries of a heavy diving helmet. These kittens may well have been born on the ship - ship's cattery tended to run in families (for obvious cattish reasons ...). Best regards, JR.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.ww2incolor.com/gallery/british-forces/43840/merchant-mariners.
going to take a look at that site.