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    milhistry

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    Everything posted by milhistry

    1. Photographs recently shown on the Bid or Buy auction site confirm this to be the collar badge of the Karroo Schutters. The cap badge was the general service badge of the time i.e. union arms in garter surmounted by crown. The OC KS was Lt Col Steyn. See: http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/197439192/RARE_Framed_photo_of_the_14th_Dismounted_regiment_KARROO_SCHUTTERS_with_names_and_rare_badges.html
    2. Badge is Auckland Regiment (Countess of Ranfurly's Own) a territorial infantry unit.
    3. They were enigmatic to me too. Fortunately I found some books with good photographs from the era. C 86 still confuses me a bit. I have not come across any photos showing it being worn. Also no mention in 1934 Dress regs. I suspect it may be a creation of an enterprising Egyptian or Italian tailor, possibly to go on the khaki beret SAAF crews often wore in Europe in WW2. C 94 seems to be more common (worn on the SD cap. Photos show it being worn in 1971 already. I suspect C93 may have been tge earlier version but am still looking for confirmation.
    4. Regiment Oos Rand. HQ'd in Benoni. The white metal rose is however missing off the badge.
    5. 'Dress blues' can refer to either the old Full Dress as above or more often to the simpler 'Undress' uniform that was plain blue with a high collar. The collars are for full dress c. 1930s. Gilt collar badges were worn with 'Undress' uniform. Cap badge you posted with them is circa 1952 colonel and brigadier cap badge.
    6. Brilliant! The things dreams are made of! The khaki one matches the desciption for "Tunic, Full Dress" under the 1934 Dress Regulations for the Union Defence Forces. The 1934 regs also mention Blue Full Dress, presumably for winter wear. Very few occasions that these would be worn. Perhaps the wearer was an ADC to someone important.
    7. "A West pointer with the Boers" by Colonel F Blake is worth a read in this regard. He headed the Irish Brigade which included a number of Americans
    8. Green grey uniforms were worn by army and air force 1920s to 1930s in review order.polo pattern helmet was worn 1934 onwards. Flash is not the usual sky blue air force one....
    9. Thanks! I've managed to get a copy of his citation from the National Archives in the UK, although it doesn't add much more than we already know. It says he "showed great determination and bravery during the approach battle to the river Po. Period 1 Apr 45 - 3 May 45" briefly mentions the minefield incident and capturing "10 germans" (but virtually no detail on how he did it) as well as some general comments about having "shown great initiative and resourcefulness and has displayed courageous leadership". Yesterday I managed to find a photograph in a book "War in Italy" by Jack Cross. Although he is not indexed he appears in a photo with two other Sapper officers. I will collate what I have thus far and add some detail to the post in due course.
    10. As it's all metal my guess would be a Warrant Officer cap badge rather than an officer. Economy versions were worn by some officers in WW2 that were all metal on a black felt padding but this is not one of those (the economy version unlikely to have had the jewels coloured etc.). The RFC did not wear this design it only came out once they were the RAF. I suspect this is a more modern badge. Judging by the size of the crown relative to the rest it could even be a beret badge. My guess would be post war but pre St Edward's crown era.
    11. I am after additional information about Major Edward "Ted" Pavitt, MC. He was O/C 11 Field Park Company, SAEC, in 1945 and involved in the "Springbok Bridge" over the River Po. He apparently captured some Germans while armed with only a torch. More detail about that incident in particular would be most welcome as well as a photograph of Maj Pavitt if anyone has one. Also any photographs of the Springbok Bridge, 11 Fd Coy and other units that were there would be welcome. Thanks!
    12. 3rd pattern? This version is orange and blue in common with other Armoured Corps units. Anyone able to provide details/dates for this one?
    13. 2nd pattern shoulder arc, worn from 1967. >>> Can anyone confirm date when these were discontinued? Thanks.
    14. 1st pattern shoulder arc, worn c. 1962-67 (see photo of Commandant Jack Dutton printed in Presentation of Colour pamphlet, 1966). English was wornon left, Afrikaans on right shoulder. During the 1960s the unit was known as "1 SSB Training Regiment" (the School of Armour was only established later). This particular set from my own collection are in bullion wire and were reputedly worn by the bandmaster. (As an aside, Dutton was one of a handfull of SA Army officers who served in the Korean War. Attached to the Royal Tank Regiment his Centurion tank had a leaping springbok motif on the side. After commanding 1 SSB TRG REGT, Dutton became the first Director of Armour as a Brigadier. He retired as a Lieutenant General).
    15. Wartime cap badge. This one has been silvered. Badges were "silvered" when SSB became an armoured unit c. 1943. Previous versions were brass or bronze.
    16. Brilliant collection! I especially like the pre war KD kit. >>> For the benefit of others, three of South Africa's divisional commanders in WW2 had previously commanded the SSB: 1. Lt Col George Edwin Brink (OC SSB: May - Dec 1933) - D Mil Ops at start of WW2, then GOC 1 SA Div in East Afirca as a Maj Gen, GOC Inland Area, last post was Dir Gen Demob. Was responsible for mobilising the Union Defence Force in 1940 & demobilising it again in 1945! Retired as Lt Gen, CB, DSO, KStJ. 2. Maj W H Everard Poole (OC SSB Feb 1934 - Oct 1937) - Served as a Brigadier in Desert War, GOC 6th SA Armoured Division in Italy as Maj Gen. Dep CGS post-war as Maj Gen, CB, CBE, DSO. 3. Maj Gen Hermanus B Klopper (OC SSB Apr 1938 - Oct 1939) - Succeeded Maj Gen de Villiers as GOC 2 SA Div a few days before being ordered to hold the doomed former fortress of Tobruk. Later became a Lt Gen and Commandant General of the SA Defence Force. >>> Mention also needs to be made of the legendary Lt Col C E G "Pappa" Brits who commanded SSB during most of the Second World War. He had previously served as Adjutant 1937-1940 and prior to that RSM 1936-1937. I am not sure whether any other South African soldier fulfilled all three those roles within the same unit in their career!
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