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This painfully young officer is wearing no medals, so I can see this as a photo to mark joining the Royal Navy Reserves. There is another photo that appears to have been taken at the same time of a young man who looks very much like him (Card L1038). Could they be brothers?

The Royal Navy Reserve (RNR) was a reserve of professional seamen from the British Merchant Navy and fishing fleets, who could be called upon during times of war to serve in the regular Royal Navy. Fishermen of the RNR(T) section (this sailor has that insignia on his cap) served bravely onboard trawlers fitted out as minesweepers for mine clearance operations throughout the war. Lowestoft was the home port of several minesweepers. This branch of the reserve suffered heavy casualties and losses and if you look at the record of lost fishing vessels due to mines and U-boats, you can see that Lowestoft had its share.

This photo came from a group of photos that included Card L1042, Card L1046, Card L1040, Card L1038.