James D.N.MacKenzie

Can anyone help me identify who "J.L.B." on the commando dagger is. It was presented to John D. Profumo, the British Minister for War, but I am trying to find out who gave it to him. I bought it from the estate of the late Michael Leeston-Smith, who served as the Liason Officer with the Greek Sacred Squadron during WW2.

Many thanks, James

I have been fortunate to have met quite a few of the ex-5 Commando soldiers up to now. What period Congo items do you collect? Cheers James

Hi Brian, thanks for that. I also thought cavalry when I saw the shape of the blade and the bugle. As Stuka f says, it looks like the bugle has been added. Real little puzzle. Cheers James Stuka F, I see you collect Congo items. I have researched and collected Congo Mercenary items for around 45 years now, ever since meeting a friend of my father, Johnny Hoy, who was Mike Hoare's driver in the Congo, with 5 Commando, until he was wounded and sent home.

Afternoon Gents, I recently bought this sword and have not been able to identify it yet. The elderly gent I bought it from, when I told him it looked early German to me, told me that makes sense as his family moved to South Africa from Germany many years ago and the sword has been in his family for as long as he can remember. There are no markings on the blade, none at all. I have not been able to identify the emblems on the hilt, can't find this exact sword in any of my sword books. Please help. James MacKenzie

Hi Peter Thank you. Yes, I also heard about the renaming of the medals. Have seen no documentary proof of it, but it means there are less QSA's and KSA's out there named to Bushveldt Carbineers than what the rolls tell us. I have some documentation, attestation form, rolls, copy from the BVC/PLH book, but that is all, no other mention of him in the books. Cheers James

Just out of interest sake, here is a group of medals to 620 Tpr.M.J.Condon, from my collection.

Hi Mervyn Hope you are well. I was hopeful, after seeing the Royal Marine rolls for the Southern Africa Medal, that I would be able to get the rolls for the Para Regt as well. Kind regards James D.N.MacKenzie Southern Africa Militaria

Dear Odin Mk 3 Thank you for the information, I will just have to be patient and live in hope that these files will be released one day - in my lifetime!! Best wishes James D.N.MacKenzie Southern Africa Militaria

Can anyone help me to find a copy of the South Atlantic Medal (Falklands) roll for the Parachute Regiment and for any of the clasps for the General/Campaign Service Medals? I have a number of printed rolls for the Royal Marines, including the SAM for Falklands, but have never come across any for the Para's. Would appreciate any help. Kind regards James D.N.MacKenzie Southern Africa Militaria

Hi Darrell I agree, I like those type of photos, like history is standing still. It is really very hot there at Gibeon, don't think they get much rain at all, so the trees and bushes don't grow much. All that seems to grow are the weeds and a long brown grass. Sometimes I have to use my machete to cut the weeds and grass that grow right through the grave, to get a better photo of the gravestone. Sometimes there are thick bushes or small trees, even aloe plants, growing through the grave, covering the gravestone. I don't know how far I can go with the clearing of the site before I get blamed for damage or desecration of the grave. If the plants keep growing like that the graves will be seriously damaged. The attached photo is one of the graves in Windhoek. Cheers James

Hi Peter Many thanks for that. Lots of work, but I have enjoyed the research so much, as well as hunting down the gravesites in Namibia. They are not all in cemeteries, unfortunately, some are on farms, private land, some far out in the bush - and I don't have an off road car. One town I went to, that I knew there were German graves in, far off the national road, nobody could tell me where the graves were. After driving around this small town, and spending about an hour or so going through the cemetery, I gave up, only to find out, when I returned home to Cape Town, that I had a photo of the graves, out in the bush close to the town, but not looked after and none of the towns people I spoke to knew about it. Another town, Gibeon, not Gibeon Station, I drove around for hours, also spent over an hour in their cemetery, but could not find the German grave. As I was about to give up a chap came past in his van and I stopped him to ask him. He took me to the German cemetery, way off into the bush, no signs marking the place at all, only to find that every gravestone had been removed. I know there are seven war graves there, and can see where the graves are, but don't know which is which, and which are civilians. Very sad, and I am told that the German Government pays the Namibia to look after the German graves!! Best wishes James

Many thanks James

Hi Kapten Windu, thanks for that info, but I can only do the graves that are within driving distance for me, and Namibia is already a day's drive away. Out of interest sake, would you be able to email me some photos of the grave stones some time? My email address is on my website. Many thanks James

Hi Brett Many thanks for that. Best wishes James

Hi Andy That sounds great, thank you so much. Could you scan then for me and email them? Any photos of the casualties? I am not sure how it works, am I allowed to enclose my email address in these letters? If not, please go to my website, below my name, and my email address is on there, Best wishes James D.N. MacKenzie SAM - Southern Africa Militaria http://southernafricamilitaria.com

Hi Joe Many thanks. James

I have done three trips to Namibia in the last two years and have taken over 1300 photos of both British, South African and German war graves. There are a lot more that I have not been able to get to, to photograph yet, but hope to do those in the future. My aim is to add a section onto my website that will cover the German war graves as the British and South African graves seem to be well covered by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and The War Graves Photographic Project. I am sure that most German family members have never had the opportunity to travel to Namibia to visit the graves of their ancestors and they will be able to view them on my website. I would like to add in a brief history of the different campaigns in the German South West Africa, any information as to how the soldier was killed or what disease he died from, photos of the soldiers, and any old photos of the graves, possibly taken at the time of the burial. My request is to anyone who may be able to help with photos or information, to please contact me. I have attached two photos of the Gibeon Station Cemetary, where there are both German and South African WWI graves, one old photo and a recently taken photo from the same angle. Kind regards James D.N. MacKenzie SAM - Southern Africa Militaria http://southernafricamilitaria.com

Hi Lorenzo Many thanks, just hope someone can help with info and history on the medal. Cheers James D.N. MacKenzie SAM - Southern Africa Militaria http://southernafricamilitaria.com

Can any collector help me with information on this 7th Battalion Middlesex Regiment Medal? I just bought a WWI trio named to 179 W.O.Class 1 G.S.Burlock Middlesex Regiment and there is a number of sports and shooting medallions that came in along with the group. This medal appears to be a shooting award, with a year date for each year he won the medal. His grand daughter, from whom I bought the medals, told me he used to shoot a lot. Many thanks James D.N.MacKenzie SAM - Southern Africa Militaria http://southernafricamilitaria.com

I will be listing the Civil version on my new website in a month or so, do a search on Southern Africa Militaria and email me for a photo. Best wishes James MacKenzie

Hi Steve Lovely, thanks very much. Cheers James

Hi Steve Very kind of you to add the photo, thanks. Any chance of a nice close up of the back of the badge as well? Cheers James

Hi Tynesideirish Many thanks for the info, I have already found their webiste. I think I have found every website on the LRDG that exists. Cheers James