Brett Hendey

Thank you for another excellent contribution, Brian. Like you, I am old enough to have known veterans of WWI. In the early 1950s I even shared a hospital ward with a Boer veteran of the Anglo-Boer War. Like you, I regret not taking the opportunities of learning about their experiences in those far off conflicts. Kind regards, Brett

Very impressive! It would be interesting to see a photograph of the man. Thank you for sharing. Regards Brett

Dante Congratulations on the reunite! It is always a great occasion when this happens. Doubling the size of the group has multiplied everything else about it. I am very happy for you. Regards Brett

Very impressive! Thank you for sharing it. Regards Brett

Sorry, Stef. I know of 'Rosie' only by his reputation. My wife had an uncle (now deceased) who was a SAAF pilot seriously burned in a crashed aircraft during the Abyssinian campaign, and, after several years in hospital, he was desperate to get back on active service. After many disappointments, his friend 'Rosie', who was by then a senior officer, intervened and arranged for him to see out the war flying Spitfires in Italy. Uncle Neville was most grateful to 'Rosie' and was effusive in his praise for the man. Regards Brett

Mike and Ian, thank you both for you replies. Mike - There is no maker's name on the truncheon. It has been suggested that it was a specially imported presentation piece for the Chief Constable. In the mid-1850's and for a hundred years thereafter, Natal tried hard to be more British than the British. Ian - It is reassuring to know that Mervyn had one of these truncheons. It would be a sad irony for him to have lived in Natal for so long and missed out adding one to his collection. Regards Brett

http://gmic.co.uk/topic/36876-pietermaritzburg-borough-police-badges/ The Pietermaritzburg Borough Police, about which very little has been published, has come to my notice again. A friend in Cape Town has given me a decorated truncheon of the type typical of mid-Victorian police forces in Britain. It's origins are clearly with the Pietermaritzburg Borough Police (see below). In spite of enquiries, no-one has seen anything like it for any other Colonial police force. Sadly, it is too late to ask Mervyn Mitton. I am sure that he would have had something to say about it. The truncheon is colourfully decorated with representations of an Imperial crown, a large curliqued 'V', and red cartouche depicting elements from the PBP badge - 'UMGUNGUNHLOVU', the Zulu name for Maritzburg, and an elephant. There are also the dates '1838', '1848' and '1854', which are significant in Maritzburg's civic history. I would be very grateful for any comments on this object. Regards Brett Composite batton pictures.docx

Very well done in my opinion. Thank you for posting the link. Brett

It worked for me.

The member you refer to is Audrey Portman and she posts under the name 'aud'. Brett

Dan Thank you for bringing me back to earth! I have spent so much time recently learning about the 45th and other British regiments in mid-Victorian times, it never occurred to me that the soldier could have been a Natal Colonial. That indeed is what he was, and his regiment was almost certainly the Natal Carbineers, a mounted infantry regiment armed with the Martini Henry carbine, just as Bayern surmised. The illustration below is from the history of the NC by the Rev John Stalker, which was published in 1912. Adding to my embarrassment is the fact that I use the helmet badge of this regiment as my avatar. During the Anglo-Zulu War (1879), the men in the photograph below would have worn this badge on a white helmet. Than you again to Mike, Bayern and Dan. Regards Brett The illustration below, which was painted by the late Andy May, shows the active service helmet worn by the Natal Carbineers during the Anglo-Zulu War. Although it is not clear in this picture, the helmet badge is that shown in my avatar. Brett

Mike & Bayern Many thanks for your comments. I also felt that the soldier must have been post-1850's. For many months now, I have kept busy gathering information on the 45th Regiment during the 16 years (1843 - 1859) it spent in the Colony of Natal, and I have yet to find any depictions of its men in the uniforms of the period. Regards Brett

Based on his uniform and rifle, can anyone suggest dates for when this British soldier served? It is exhibited in a museum devoted to the 45th (Nottinghamshire) Regiment in the 1850's. Brett

Here is another relevant publication. http://www.freeworldpublications.co.za/SERVE TO SAVE The South African Air Force at Sea.htm Brett

Tony, a very interesting development! Thank you for sharing your discovery. The Union Club of South Africa was another local patriotic society that produced enamelled brass badges for its members - a new variant each year. I had a small collection of them that is now with my younger son in the UK. Regards Brett