Anthony03

Just put myself out of misery -This is an officer’s MKii  horseshoe case with frog for sword scabbard sewn onThe sword frog attachment for officers was first introduced in 1901/ 1902…MKII This was a conversion of the MKI case by sewing on a frog.
The MKI case without frog would not have had the horizontal steadying strap. MKII has a steadying strap as does the MKIII. Both MKI and MKII had a single strap and buckle for securing to the saddle.
MKIII differed from MKII in having 2 straps and buckles for attaching to the saddle dees. Necessary for attaching to the MKIV saddle with the pair these on each side.

Greetings all.

I have just won an auction with Boer War  Officers campaign item and this is the mystery item 16.5 cm across x 15.5 cm wide. The slot in the front is large enough to take a sword scabbard. Any assistance would be appreciated. Alf

Hi Chris - Yes, I was very lucky to find that rig. A very rare item in that condition.It has the Schutztruppe stamp on the inside. Cheers-Alf

Thank you Peter -Much appreciated. Cheers-Alf

Chris - Many thanks, it could well be. It was in the box with this Schutstruppe Bandolier from South west Africa (SOLD) - Cheers Alf

Greetings all- I bought a large amount of militaria a while ago and this was in the box. The leather is extremely brittle and the only marking is a XXX on the buckle. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards

Alf Boyley

Am I correct that this is a Birmingham sterling silver mark made in 1904 ?

Many thanks Peter - Nothing on the back of the items other than a silver mark on the star.

Greetings all - Are these silver items masonic the one has "silver" on it and they both test out at 9.25 silver. Any help would be appreciated. Kind regards-Alf

Greetings and complements of the season to all. Could anyone shed some light on this masonic piece that I have just received. I am having a problem with the date and manufacturer as well as with the emblem itself- Any assistance will really be appreciated. Alf

14 hours ago, Alan.Cook said:

Hi, I think the honest answer with regard to any plan wood truncheon is that unless they start to talk we will never know. What we can say is this is not the traditional style used in the UK. However, it could have been a one-off bespoke item. 

We also know that collar numbers do not reach this high in UK forces, with the exception of members of the Special Constabulary. Some forces used to have a means of separating regular officers and Specials. One way of doing this was to have SC collar numbers which start at higher numbers such as the 5,000s. 

I doubt this was Plymouth City, but could have been Devon and Cornwall - Special Constabulary? My knowledge of American items is not great so Mike's suggestion is also worthy of consideration. 

Thanks Alan - Any help in solving this mystery is appreciated!Alf

13 hours ago, Robin Lumsden said:

Looks to me like a short British 'Detective's Truncheon' from the Victorian era. 

Small ................. to keep in the pocket of civilian jackets. 

No 'baton pockets' in civvy suits !! 

Think Sherlock Holmes.

I had a similar verified short 'Detective's Truncheon' in my old Force Museum. 

The number is a mystery to me ............... perhaps a later museum reference code addition ???

Many thanks Robin - didnt think of a museum numbered item-Cheers-Alf

On 2015/12/02, 9:18:33, Anthony03 said:

Many thanks Brian - Hopefully as you say I can probably get a positive result. Cheers Alf

I was given this numbered truncheon by an ex Devon and Cornwall policeman about 30 years ago. I have an idea that it might have been a Plymouth City Police one. Any help would be appreciated.

Alf

Very sad news - When I was still in Durban we met on numerous occasions but since moving to the Western Cape our conversations were limited to the odd phone calls -what a knowledgeable gentleman he was - He will really be missed

Next Badge -The Orange River Colony Prisons

Good evening- I hope that one of the forum members would be kind enough to identify this sling- It is 98cm in length x 5 cm wide and made of some sort of webbing material. There are two swivels on the ends with retaining screws.

Many Thanks

Alf Boyley

Next Badge -The Orange River Colony Police

Next Badge is the Helmet Badge of the Orange River Colony Prisons.

Greetings- Mervyn suggested that we discuss a new topic under the Colonial Police Heading as a starting point for Early Prison Services Insignia. The first Badge is one that I unfortunately do not own and is a JPEG from a recent auction. This is the Victorian Cape of Good Hope Convict Police Badge- I have never seen this item in any publication . Does anyone have any information on this Badge please ?
Kind regards
Alf

Hi - This is the Voided Officers Gilt Cap Badge - Very Scarce

Cheers

Alf

Alf - under whichever name - it is a pleasure to have you with us on the Forum. For the benefit of members I should say that Alf ran the Police Force in a South Coast town in Natal - and later, was the Town Clerk. I believe Alf , you are now retired in the Cape ?

With regard to the medallion, I think the rarity is it having an official issuing and naming around the rim. I have never seen that on such a scale for a medallion. Perhaps some more info. will come to light.

The catalogue of the badges was quite exceptional - whoever bought them - I 'hate' them..... See if you can separate the Convict badge and start a thread under Brit. & Commonwealth Police - about the closest for Prisons. Give some history and then I will add my two rare Robben Island helmet plates. Mervyn

Hi Meryn- Thanks for that - I will try and separate that item and who knows another may see the light of day.Alf

Hello Anthony,

I'd like to add my welcome to the forum as well.

While my input is more of a comment to Mervyn's post I hope it may help in the quest for the answer to your question.

I did a very short search on the internet for "serfontein" and it came up as a sir name. That would make sense especially with the initals P D and in the light of Meryvn's comment that it would not be Police Department. My first though was, provided Serfontein was a town, that PD was something like a Postal District but finding only submissions on the interenet stating this is a sir name I am left with the impressin that this is a name of a person.

A very interesting medallion and I wonder if this was part of a pair, the other with King Edward on it. What is on the reverse?

Regards

Brian

Thank you very much Brian. The P.D. and lettering are identical to an impression on a QSA but there are lots of unanswered question.

Cheers

Alf

Hello Anthony, and welcome to the forum.

I'd think that 'P.D. Serfontein' was the recipient's name and 30281 a service number of some kind. Question is: which service? It being such a high number, I'd guess a permanent force such as the Cape Mounted Riflemen, the Cape Police, or the Natal Police.

There's are web pages about this medallion at: http://www.medallion...nmedallion.html

and http://darwincountry...deb42e1c5b5cd64

Hi Arthur-Many thanks- I think that you are closer to the mark but as you say. which service and why?

Cheers

Alf

Hi Mervyn and all who helped with the reply. Thank you for the welcome. It has the obverse with Prince Albert and the south is "South Africa". It definitely looks like a force number. Mervyn -what did you think of that Cape of Good Hope Convict police pic I sent you yesterday.

B.T.W. Anthony is a Pseudonym for Alf Boyley..

Sorry King Edward on the obverse.

I've just had another look at the rim picture and after P.D. - it looks like South ? So, perhaps a pair - as Brian suggests and as Arthur says perhaps a district for a serving unit ?

Hi Mervyn and all who helped with the reply. Thank you for the welcome. It has the obverse with Prince Albert and the south is "South Africa". It definitely looks like a force number. Mervyn -what did you think of that Cape of Good Hope Convict police pic I sent you yesterday.

B.T.W. Anthony is a Pseudonym for Alf Boyley..