sabrigade

POLICE OFFICER'S CROSS BELT BADGE WITH LT COL DEVENISH'S UNIFORM

SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE LT COL DRESS UNIFORM WORN BETWEEN 1913 TO 1926

This uniform can be attributed to Lieutenant Colonel Devenish

VERY EARLY SOUTH AFRICAN PRISONS SERVICES CAP

WW2 ERA CIVIC GUARD UNIFORM?

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INTER-WAR SOUTH AFRICAN PERMANENT FORCE OFFICER DRESS UNIFORMS

The SAAF uniform can be dated to about 1922 given the collar badges on the tunic.

This was also known as the Battle of Belfast and was the last set piece battle of the Anglo-Boer War. It started with a cavalry strike and artillery barrage. Buller had seen the tactical or key terrain in Botha's position. It was a big red koppie near a farm called Bergendal.

The koppie could not be supported from the sides or rear so Botha entrusted the defence to 60 members of the Johannesburg Police or the ZARPS.

Following a three hour bombardment by some 40 guns of various calibres, 4 battalions of Infantry attacked the position. The British expected the ZARP Resistance to have crumbled but they had merely being holding their fire.

Fourteen ZARPS were killed and nineteen captured. The ZARPS had been annihilated as a fighting force. The gallantry of the ZARPS was applauded by the British.

"NO ORDINARY DUTCHMAN WOULD HAVE HELD ON LIKE THAT. IT MUST BE A PERFECT INFERNO"

General Lyttelton, British Assault Commander at Belfast.

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Josef Jacobus Coetzee was a member of the Johannesburg Foot Police or ZARPS. His service in the Anglo-Boer War commenced on 5 November 1899. He participated in various battles and also was present at the Siege of Ladysmith. He was present at the Battle of Belfast and managed to escape capture when the ZARPS made their heroic stand against overwhelming British Forces. Other engagements included Pretoria, Witrand and many skirmishes. On 25 April 1901 he was captured at the Secoecoeiberg and sent to India as a P.O.W. He was interred at Trichipoly and was given the P.O.W. number of 18554. He only returned home in 1904.

ZARP TUNIC 1895 VERSION

In 1895 a contract was concluded between the company of Gordon Mitchell of London and the Transvaal for the manufacture of uniforms for the ZARPS. The tunic is of dark blue serge wool edged with black mohair braid. This was also continued and completed on the epaulettes and collar. It is fastened with hooks and eyes.

VERY RARE TRANSVAAL REPUBLIC FOOT POLICE FORAGE CAP

This cap is very similar to the British 1871 forage cap. The cap band is made from mohair braid and bears the brass monogram of the Boer Republic.

BADGES TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN REPUBLIC POLICE - ZARPS

EARLY SOUTH AFRICAN POLICE PATTERN HELMETS WITH VARIOUS BADGE VARIATIONS

SOME OF MY REFERENCE BOOKS

PITH HELMETS CONTINUED

I AM NOW AN OFFICIAL MILITARY SUN HELMET COLLECTOR AFTER PURCHASING THE EXCELLENT BOOK BY PETER AND STUART ON THE SUBJECT

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ORIGINAL INSPECTION LAYOUT PHOTOGRAPH OF MY GRANDFATHER'S INSPECTION STANDARDS FOR THE SPECIAL SERVICE BATTALION THAT WAS WELL-KNOWN FOR IT'S VERY STRICT DISCIPLINARY STANDARDS

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SPECIAL SERVICE BATTALION UNIFORMS AND POLO STYLE WW2 SOUTH AFRICAN PITH HELMET

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BOMBADIER LIONEL ENDLEY WW2 MEDAL GROUP

This medal group was given to me by my uncle a few years before his death at the age of 94.

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THE 6TH SOUTH AFRICAN ARMOURED DIVISION AND 24TH INDEPENDENT GUARDS BRIGADE GROUP

My grandfather was part of this famous division which fought under General Mark Clark during the Italian campaign. The Guards Brigade Group was under the command of the Division.

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SOME OF MY GRANDFATHER'S WW2 UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT

The uniform on the right is a dress uniform to a Sargeant in the Special Service Battalion. The equipment used was the standard British Pattern 37 webbing.

MORE IMPERIAL GERMAN ITEMS

SOME IMPERIAL GERMAN AND OTTOMAN WW1 ITEMS (FOR MY FRIEND CHRIS B)

MY UNCLE'S DEATH PLAQUE, CAP AND COMMANDO PILOT WINGS

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SOUTH AFRICAN DEFENCE FORCE DEATH PLAQUE: MY LATE UNCLE

My late uncle, Candidate Officer Michael Zeller, was a Reserve Pilot in the South African Defence Force. He was killed in a flying accident in 1981.

MY MEDAL GROUP

MY GREAT-GRANDFATHER'S MEDALS FOR SERVICE IN THE ANGLO-BOER WAR 1899-1902 - BURGER WILLIAM WALLACE

My great-grandfather fought, as a Scot, for the Boers as part of the Irish Brigade. This is one of very few medals to this scarce unit. He was wounded in the Natal campaign and spent nearly three years as a P.O.W.

MY GRANDFATHER'S MEDALS FOR WW2 SERVICE