milhistry

Does anyone know ther whereabouts of Group Captain A G "Sailor" Malan, DSO and bar, DFC and bar, etc.'s medal group? I would like to obtain a photograph of the group and/or ribbon bar. The RAF museum does not have it and I assume the authorities in South Africa at the time of his death would not have been interested in it given the disrespectful way in which he & many other ex-servicemen were treated by the government of the day.

Brass shoulder titles MC and 2 MC were apparently worn. I assume worn with general issue cap badges?

During the Second World War, South Africans served in both the RNVR (SA Division) and the (rather curiously named) Seaward Defence Force. The latter was under South African command. RNVR (SA) officers wore RNVR "wavy navy" lace. SDF officers wore RN straight lace an inch wide "Orange, Sealed Permanent Force Shade" diamond above the executive curl of their dark jackets and an Orange tip to their shoulder boards when wearing whites. In 1941 the two elements were combined into the South African Naval Forces which continued wearing the orange flashes. Cap badges were as per the Royal Navy. I have some pictures to attach but haven't figured out how to do so yet :)

You should be able to find a nominal roll for the unit in the "Naamlyste" section at the Military Archives in Pretoria. These were compiled for the 1914-5 star and usually give dates served, rank attained etc. I couldn't help but notice the name of Lt Col Swemmer on the record card. Colonel Ivan Swemmer, DSO, commanded 1st Mounted Commando Brigade in 1940 (a relative of mine was one of his Staff Captains).

The shape of the Hampshire badges remind me of those worn in Scotland. Any connection between them?

Getting back to the Civ. Gd. Apparently their cap was light khaki with a black cap band.

Politie was Dutch. Up to 1926 Dutch was one of the two official languages in South Africa. In 1926 Afrikaans became an official language in place of Dutch. Previously Afrikaans or "Cape Dutch" had been considered a dialect rather than a language in it's own right. The new government of 1924 set about promoting Afrikaans, setting up a language commission, spelling rules etc. Many Afrikaans words were simplified Dutch words or had the spelling changed to better match the pronunciation. In the case of Politie, I understand it to have been pronounced Pol-i-sh-ie in Dutch hence Pol-ie-sie was nearer in spelling to the way it was actually pronounced The s in Afrikaans is generally said softer than in Dutch (probably due to English influences) hence Polisie rather than Polischie.

Hello Mervyn. Thanks for the welcome. We have actually met before. I used to be a member of the SPM in Durban before relocating to NZ a few years ago. Is the society still in existence? I was keen on police career once but my ambitions were soon brought to a halt by failing the very stringent eyesight requirements. Regards Mark

I would like to restore a South African Police medal group in my collection. Unfortunately I need ribbons for the SAP Good Service Medal (pre 1963 version), SAP Star for Merrit and Faithful Service Medal (1963 type). Does anyone know where I can obtain these ribbons? Thank you.

A relative of mine was a "Special Mounted Constable" during the 1922 revolt on the Rand. Anyone have any information on the Specials and their uniform (if any)?

Nice uniform! The star above the chevrons indicates the rank of 2nd Sergeant. The SAP had 1st Sgt (crown & 3 chevrons), 2nd Sgt (5-point star & three chevrons) and Lance Sgt (three chevrons) for many years until they were combined into a single Sgt rank in the early 1960s (three cevrons under a castle device). Lance Sgt made a biref comeback in the 1980s (three chevrons).

Spectacular uniform! So nice to see one in colour for a change. The collar gorgets are the type introduced around 1938 and worn until mid 1940s when the design changed.

Nice uniform. I have been trying (for some time) to find out about the various "Home Guard equivalient" organisations in South Africa during the Second World War. Not much available on the subject it seems. Great to find a picture of a uniform. There were the "Civic Guard" and "Civil Protection Services", each with their own badges but seemingly similar duties (?), which seemed to have been controlled by the Police. There was also a police reserve. Then there were the Essential Services Protection Corps which guarded key points,the Reserve Brigade (mainly guarded airfields), the Coastal Defence Corps (coast gunners), National Volunteer Brigade and National Reserve Volunteers (essentially the home guard) - part-timers who fell under the Army for control.

I saw a new "Durban Metro" cap badge the other day.... it's rather non-descrpt and made of plastic... a far cry from the very professional looking old DCP

I have a SARP officers summer service dress uniform. It is a light sand coloured jacket with three cuff buttons (as per SAP), no expanding pockets below the waistline however. The trousers are a brownnish drab (a browner shade than the SADF "drab" service dress jackets). Unfortunately I do not have a cap to complete it with... I do vaguely remember the SARPs but remember them wearing green uniforms. I have found a few pictures of SARPs in dark green safari suits as well as a dark green tunic that makes them look almost like RUC (SARP green was a lighter shade however and they wore browninsh drab trousers and caps with the green tunics). Perhaps mine is a summer dress of some variety? Any comments appreciated.