sabadgeman

Does anyone have info on this pattern of ZARP helmet plate

This was a common tactic, especially by PF instructors..... there was not a separate collar issue made with separate dies.

I realise that this was posted some time ago but as an EX SAP member who wore both patterns of this summer uniform I can say that the two uniforms were different patterns altogether. The Blue grey belted "safari Suit" uniform was mainly a shorts issue, (although towards the end of its life was issued with longs) worn from the 1960's through to late 1970's early 1980s when all the uniforms were standardised. Before this Non-White police wore Brown (khaki) uniforms and brown collar & tie, brown shoes without this form of summer dress and their insignia was of chrome. Whites wore a two-tone uniform of grey trousers with blue tunics collar & tie in the winter and the grey summer uniform with grey shorts and grey knee high 'golf" socks and black shoes with brass insignia. In then late 1970's all police wore the same uniform and at the same time, the summer dress changed from shorts to long trousers as by then "Safari Suits" were a popular civilian attire but with long trousers and the colour changed to a more "blue" colour and the top was altered to make a more pleasing fit without a belt. All Insignia also changed to voided, the cap badge having previously been of solid brass and it was slightly smaller. The Insignia was also given a gilded finish. As your uniform was purchased by you and given a two-year life the changeover was gradual. In the mid-1980's the so-called field dress was issued this basically being modelled on the camouflage uniform worn by the riot and counter-insurgency units but in more french blue colour with brown leather or blue canvas boots. This replaced the both the summer and winter uniforms as working dress with only the winter uniform being retained for non-field work. The old summer uniform was no longer authorised for wear after I think 1985. The difference is therefore not a manufacturers variant, but two distinct patterns of uniform one worn by only white members and the other worn by all members. Steve

Hi James Well amongst the stature of the guys here my stuff is pale in comparrison. Have posted off and on some homelands stuff under my usual moniker Steve

Who let you in eeish the tone has just gone down heh heheh Welcome aboard we are no longer alone us South Africans! Steve

Hi This is a good reference for SA Ribbons http://www.geocities.com/militaf/oview.htm Best wishes Steve

I once attended a Crown Imperial lecture given by Ian Crowe (now sadly deceased) on the subject. He was on Kitcheners staff in Boer war there were a number of unfounded allegations of the old rear gunnering but he also had a drink problem and a huge problem with Colonel Plummer and others. There was also something adrift in his rather strange marriage but after all these years about 10, I cannot recall the whole lecture. Regards Steve

Hi Chris Many years but I have been very lucky as dealers don't often know what they have and it is not my job to tell them their junk box item is a rare piece! I t has also taken many years of picking up odd snippets of research here and there and combining them into knowledge! Sticking with the Transkei theme to my collection here are a few more bits over the next couple of days I will post more but tonight having driven well over 450 miles I am a bit pooped! [attachmentid=47888] 1 Arm Patch worn by the Honour Guard 1 Transkei Defence Force Battalion at the Independence Parade in 1966. 2 Second Pattern Enamel Arm Flash worn circa 1968/9 onwards. 3 Third pattern Arm Flash worn from the mid 1970's by now the unit was known as 1 Transkei Infantry Battalion. 4 Brass Tunic Button 5 Shoulder title worn by members of the TDF whilst traing with the Rhodesian force in Rhodesia. This was worn on the Rhodesian Green Pattern Field Dress. 6 Senior officers Cap and beret badge. Staff trained officers wore the badge on a 2mm red backing or red hat band 7 The "Tupperware" pattern arm flash, taken into use SADF wide in the mid 1980's the badge is of a flexible plastised rubberon a fabric covered pastic hanger which went onto the epualet. They were a cost saving measure although they cost significantly more than the hand painted luctite covered flashes they replaced. They did however last up to 10 times longer. 8 Junior ranks cap and collar badges of 1 Transkei Infantry Battalion 9 Brass Standard pattern nutton of the Transkei Defence Force post 1971 10 Cap Badge of Transkei Mounted Battalion. This was a seperate and earlier battalion of the TDF not the same as the Mounted Infantry battalion. The cloth beret badge is below. 11 The collar badge of both the mounted Infantry and the Transkei Mounted Battalion. 12 Cap badge of the Transkei Mounted Infantry.Those of you who know Rhodesian insignia will see the Grey Scouts influence. Officers wore a sterling silver badge and O/R's a chrome one. 13 and 14 The Tupperware Arm Flash and earlier luctite covered arm flash of the Mounted Infantry Unit. More to follow tomorrow as I have to disassemble various panels to do these . regards Steve

Hi Paul, As you collect collar gorgets I thought you may be interested in these from left to right Bophuthatswana Police Commissioners Rank 2nd Pattern, Major's, Colonel's and Brigadiers. The first pattern in blue was Brigadiers and Colonels. I am missing the majors rank. There was no commissioners ranks in this period. KwaZulu Police Major's and Colonel's Lebowa Police Brigadier's, Transkei Chaplains Department, Ciskei Chaplain with a rank of Brigadier and Ciskei non staff qualified Colonel. This is the last posting for tonight. Cheers Steve [attachmentid=47825]

Part two of the Transkei insignia [attachmentid=47824]

Hi Paul, It was nice to see that someone is interested in these! The basic ranks follow that of the South African Defence Force (SADF) which follows that of the UK i.e single stripe Lance Corporal two Corporal three Sergeant etc. In field and working dress rank is always worn on a brassard following the SADF tradition. In the first pic I have included a Warrant Officer used on parade dress and a collar tab for a Colonel to Brigadier and a arm brassard working dress pattern. Most of the homeland armies used the SADF brown called "Nutria" for their work dress the exception being Bophuthatswana which wore green. I am fascinated by the Homeland forces as they were all volunteers just like the SA Army in both world wars whereas we were all conscripted. I have loads more insignia from the Ciskei, Bophuthatswana and Venda as well as the various Police Forces of the Area. If you or anyone else is interested I will post them. They are no longer in use the Homelands having been reincorporated into South Africa in 1994. Regards Steve [attachmentid=47823]

Part two of post The next image again from left to right shows the Cap Badge of the Police Special Task Force a unit which dealt specifically with urban terrorism and riots, below this are the berte badge and the camofluage field dress Kepi badge. Nest to this is the insignia of a Warrant Officer worn on working dress. Below are the same ranks for step out dress for male and female ranks and below these the rank insignia for jumior and senior officers. The same rank insignia is shown on the Working Dress slip ons for Commissioner Ranks and Brigadier General . Below that is a Step Out Shoulder Board for a Lieutenant. The final row of badges are that of a Maksman sniper and a qualified Police search diver. I hope these are of interest to collectors. Regards Steve [attachmentid=46671]

A few more bits from my collection. From left to right first type badge worn by all units with collars, the second type badge and collars, the final badge with smaller letters and female police officers collars also worn as mess dress collars, the Traffic section badge and a single collar, The badge of the Commissioner and Sub-Commissioners, the shoulder titles for all units English worn on right , Traffic Police section Senior officers Badge. Dog handlers badge, Senoir Officers (Major and above) the two patterns of breast badge for traffic police the 8 pointed one being the first pattern and finally a first type officers cap badge. [attachmentid=46638]

Final post for tonight a few Luitenant's slip ons. The Special forces were based on the Rhodesian SAS and the Mounted unit on the Rhodesian Grey Scouts Regards Steve[attachmentid=46566]

A set of Captains ranks for various formations. As can be seen the ranking structure follows the British pattern. [attachmentid=46564]