sabrigade

British Medical Generals Cap and private purchase officer's leather trench coat, in the foreground is a officer's cap/helmet tin.

http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2009/post-3034-1237292717.jpghttp://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_03_2009/post-3034-1237292745.jpg

An original signature and portrait photograph of Sir Douglas Haig.

Hi Mervyn,

After a few posts on this Forum, my approach is to post something that may even only interest a solitary forum member. Militaria, etc is such a dynamic and vast field and there are as many varied interests as there are topics.

The effort is validated when someone takes an interest or even just reads the post!

Sharing information, enthusiasm and knowledge is what it is all about.

Post Away!

Regards,

Will

P.S. Should be in SA over the next few days, so hope to see you again.

Thanks for the response. Any information is very helpful so we are looking forward to your article.

Regards,

Will

This is the uniform and equipment that was carried into battle by an Officer of the 1st South African Infantry Regiment. He still wears the rank on his cuff and carries the typical equipment used by an Infantry Officer on the Western Front. This is the last posting for now.

Detail of the Staff Officer showing trench periscope in leather carrying case, blue Brigade brassard on right arm, camera in pouch on belt, in front of him is a folding officers chair with map case and map instruments.

The Brigadier-General has a private purchase officer's Brodie helmet in his hand.

This showcase houses the display of the uniform of the Staff Captain of the 1st South African Infantry Brigade, a Brigadier-General and a Line Officer from the 1st South African Infantry Regiment. The light reflection makes it difficult to take a clear photograph but the officer's private purchase Brodie helmet carry/sling bag can be seen.

I have a very small American WW1 collection but the collection is starting to take shape now. This is the uniform of a WW1 American Engineer Sargeant.

I have two variations of the hooked quillon bayonet in the collection.

This is an overview of my rifle and bayonet collection. I have tried to find a de-activated example of the variations used by South African forces in WW1. All the firearms in my collection are de-activated in accordance with South African laws. The Pattern 07 bayonets in the collection were manufactured by the various contracted companies and the collection is almost complete. Amongst the firearm collection are variations of the bayonet practice rifles or "lunges" which were used to teach bayonet fighting and competitions were also held to promote the dexterity and interest in this aspect of warfare.

Some Protective clothing/equipment:

1. A machine gunners waistcoat with padded shoulders to provide periection when carrying the machine gun or tri-pod etc. This was later replaced by using sandbags rolled up to cushion the load.

2. A bayonet-fighting mask and protective jacket used during bayonet fighting training and competitions.

3. Private purchase body armour.

Scarce pipe striker that was part of some of the gift tins. The rest of the display contains various Christmas cards sent home by South Africans as well as some South African fund raising organizations, etc.

1914 Christmas tin with contents, all original. Some Boer War Christmas tins to the left with the original chocolate from 1900.

An attributable uniform to a South African medical doctor who served in Salanika.

Some Trade and Proficiency Badges

Some of the death plaques in my collection. This also includes two pairs awarded to two seperate families who lost both their sons on the Western Front.

Closer view for the more knowledgeable members in this field.

I have dressed this so-called trench raider into a method for displaying the limited German/Turkish items I have in my collection.

Some trench raider equipment including bayonets that have been converted into trench daggers.

A snow camouflage type "ghillie" suit?

Some items from the official opening ceremony of the Delville Wood memorial in France in 1926 including a bronze plaque given to VIP guests,records of speeches, albums, some trench art, various gas mask varieties(some reproduction), wirecutters and barbed wire from Delville Wood.

Some relics from the Somme and in particular from Delville Wood near Longueval in France. I had the privilege to visit these battlefields on various occassions in both my private capacity as well as during my official military career.

A frame with some tank corps insignia, etc

A tank officer with tank splash mask.

A selection of early South African Police Forces, South African Mounted Rifles, Cape Mounted Rifles and Prisons insignia and medals.