The Saint

My guess is that cap is tailor-made for a Senior NCO (or a wealthy conscious-looking Other Rank), dated from between the wars or later. The shape is Other Rank but the Barathea cloth and lining are similar to officer's private purchase caps - WW1 OR cap had an oilcloth lining. The chinstrap looks odd though, being in one piece. Standard ones were of two piece construction with two brass buckles for OR, two leather slides for WOs and Officers. It might be not the original one. Eric

The cap badge and non-diced glengarry would indicate a Black Watch.

Thanks for your appreciations. Octave, I have completed several other figures of post-WW2 conflicts (French Indochina and Vietnam to date), but not a Soviet yet, though a Desantnik ca 1987 is among my projects. I have acquired the uniform and armament, but have to scratchbuilt the equipment. Another project is an Israeli Sayeret in 1973 - again it needs quite a lot of scratchbuilding. Actually, this is not the projects that are missing, but time ! LOL Cheers. Eric

I'm not a button expert, but I think the design of the 1902 button is different, quite similar to the later WW1 button but rimless. I must check that in my books. Eric

The second button is a GS button worn by all enlisted soldiers starting from 1854. The Staff button had a raised border.

The two top right are not French, no clue about the first (but African state), second is from Tchad. 3rd and 4th top already id'd. Second row : 4e Regiment de Tirailleurs Marocains (late 1940s-50s), 601e Groupe de Circulation Routi?re (1960s), R?giment du Service Militaire Adapt? Antilles-Guyanne (1980s-90s) , 5e Regiment de Tirailleurs Marocains (late 1940s-50s), 20e R?giment d'Artillerie Nord-Africain (late 1940s-early 60s). Hope this helps. Eric

It can't be a Regular Army cap eagle, way too large - it had to be more or less 3in-wide - , so if intended for an headgear, it is probaly Militia. The best reference (if not definitive) is "American Military Headgear Insignia", by J. Duncan Campbell and Michael J. O?Donnell. O?Donnell Publications, 2004. Hope this helps. Cheers Eric

Aside my interest in military history, I have another hobby which is to create original 1/6th scale military figures. I use commercial bodies and parts when available, more often than not reworked, modified, repainted, &c, and make the others in order to achieve as much authenticity as the scale allows. One of my favorite studies is the 1970s-1980s wars in Southern Africa, so here are some related figures. MAG gunner, Rhodesian Light Infantry, 1976 Rhodesian Selous Scout, pseudo-column dress, 1976-77 South-African Recces Operator, intelligence gathering mission, Angola, early 1980s. I hope you'd like them. Cheers Eric

TS, The first regular use of pith helmets I've heard of was during the Indian Mutiny (1857-59), but they may have been worn sooner. For your impression, I think a broad brimmed felt or straw hat would be more period-like. Eric

Thanks for your comments. Chris, From what I have seen, standart cammo jackets sell around GBP 40-50 (60-75 Euros), depending on the condition. Badged ones are rarely seen - I don't own one myself, though I have a couple of shirts -, but depending on the insignia, would commend higher prices. I bought my first items in the early 90s, but really started to collect Rhodie militaria (Army only) some years later. Internet certainly changed many things on the availability and prices, but Special Forces-related items have never been cheap ! Eric

Still no taker ?

Unfortunately not. There are quite a number of berets I'm still looking for : Armd Car Regt, Medical Corps (midnight blue and marroon), Staff Corps, as well as a couple of others - preferably used (there's a message there ! ). One last headdress remains to be posted, a RhSigs SD cap but I must photograph it first. I should done it before the end of the week. James, The only bush hat I have is the standart camouflage one. BTW, it looks like people are crazy about Rhodie bush hat - one offered on eBay recently went over GBP 100 ! Cheers Eric

Rhodesian Army Pay Corps. British-made beret with RNG (Rhodesia & Nyassaland Government) marking. Again from an officer.

Rhodesian Corps of Military Police, post-1978. The midnight blue beret was then replaced by the red. Again, the collar badge denotes its use by an officer (a Captain in this case).

Rhodesian Corps of Military Police, pre-1978.

Rhodesian Army Services Corps. Note : this beret was certainly worn by an officer, as it was standart practice for them to use a collar badge rather than the full-size cap badge on the beret.

Rhodesian Engineers :

Thanks for your interest. Chris, The slouch hat was worn by many Rhodesian Army units from WW2 until the 1960s. The RAR wore a khaki one with No 1 Dress until the early 1970s when replaced by the green version. Paul, 1 POU was a psy warfare unit, created in 1977. See : http://www.psywarrior.com/RhodesiaPSYOP.html Eric

Psychological Operation Unit (unissued) : That's all for now, I will post a couple of others later.

Rhodesia Corps of Signals : South-African-made beret.

Rhodesian Artillery :

Rhodesian Intelligence Corps

Rhodesia Regiment (post-1970)

Royal Rhodesia Regiment (pre-1970) : British-made beret.

Grey's Scouts (this one had seen much service) :