The Saint

Selous Scouts :

Special Air Service (unissued) :

Rhodesian Light Infantry, post-1970. The cap badge, actually a collar badge, is in the odd side (the large side of the horn should be on the right), but is original to the beret.

Rhodesian Light Infantry, pre-1970. British-made beret with SRG (South Rhodesia Government) marking.

RAR beret, cap badge variation :

RAR beret :

I have gathered over the years a collection of post-UDI Rhodesian militaria and think that the following might be of interest to some members of the forum. Rhodesian African Rifles Other Ranks slouch hat : If other members want to add their own contributions, they are most welcome. Eric

Don't know if that is of interest, but "Blouse, heavy duty dress" is the RAF name for BD, so your blouse is a Air Ministry contract. Eric

James, There is the same kind of comment in Chris Cocks' "Fireforce", though on the rubber & canvas so-called "clandestine" boots.

Nice catch with that shirt, James.

Very few items in my collection (covering the whole Rhodesian Army 1964-80, insignia, uniforms & equipment) are indeed id'd. Other than Mike Kerr's shirt, I have some berets, one RhSignals Greens plus some equipment which have the owner's name written on it, but the great majority is either unissued or anonymous. The thing is - as with any collection - is to be patient ... stay in the OP. Still, you could kit him like this (1:6th scale figure) : Cheers Eric

Double-buckle combat boots, with anti-tracking soles. This pair come from Inkomo Barracks QM stores. Again, their use was not restricted to the Selous Scouts. Eric

Olive-green shirt and trousers. Thay can be seen in photographs of Scouts taken in Mozambique during the externals. The set was also worn by the Reconnaissance Teams.

The following pictures show some items that were used by the Scouts, but also by the RhSAS, during the cross-border operations. Olive-Green flap cap, with a day-glo panel for aerial recognition sewn in the inside :

Sure it is always nicer to get something named. It becomes much more than a simple piece of metal or cloth, whatever their historical value. Eric

Yes, James, I know. Unfortunately, the Wings did not come with the lot (the price would have rocketted). But there's the ribbon of the BCR on the shirt. His citation for the medal while he was in Support Cdo, 1 RLI, is quoted in 'Contact'. I also own one of his paybook, as a Cpl of the RLI. Eric

Cover of Jump Log Book, first issue (here first records are dated 1976). The second issue has a brown cover. That's all for now. Eric

Lieutenant rank slip-ons that came with the shirt :

Stable belt, 1st issue (no markings on the back) :

Beret, Other Ranks, issued :

Beret, Officer's (silk sweatband), Lobatse label, unissued. The cap badge is not an officer's pattern, but standart anodised.

Beret, unissued :

James, The shirt and Para Jump log book are named to Mike Kerr, BCR. He is pictured in 'Pawme Chete'. I'm not focusing on the Scouts, so I've very few things, ie 1 used beret (named but not on Wings list) & 2 unused, one stable belt, and that's it. Other items I have which were used by both the Scouts and the RhSAS are a set of OG combat uniform (cap, shirt and trousers) worn for Cross-Border Ops, a pair of flat soled leather combat boots (came from Inkomo Barracks QM Store), and a Chicom chest webbing with Rhodie provenance. Cheers Eric

Hello James, May be you should contact Craig Fourie in SA. After all, he co-wrote the book LRDG RHODESIA and there are some badges pictured in this book. It seems to me that the original cap badges do not have a raised rim on the circle. But as there were several manufacture and I'm far from knowing it all, this may not be conclusive. Another thing I may suggest is to contact the LRDG Association in UK to enquire about BLOOR H., RAMC. Cheers Eric

Well, that's a much clearer picture. Now I would say this trooper was a volunteer, either Yeomanry or Colonial, because the Light Dragoon jacket closed with toggles, not buttons as on the picture. Morever, the buttons look silver (but I may be wrong), which was traditionally associated with Volunteers in the British Service. Barry, do you know where does this photograph comes from ? Eric