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    Brett Hendey

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    Everything posted by Brett Hendey

    1. Mervyn Rather belatedly my younger son now living in the UK has become interested in the Zulu War, and the weapons used by the British and the Zulus at that time. I have given him the residue of my collection of Zulu artefacts, and I recently bought a few more for him. These are shown in the photograph below. The small assegai at the top is recently made for the tourist trade, but the other three seem to have some age. The assegai that interests me the most is the large one third from the bottom. It is long (155 cm or 61 inches) and heavy. It has an ox-tail hafting, which I have always taken to be mainly a 19th Century method of fixing the blade securely to the shaft. I have seen lighter, hunting assegais of this length, but this one seems to be unusually heavy and perhaps not easily used for hunting. I would value your opinion on this matter. Regards Brett
    2. Peter Thank you for some very interesting observations on 'oral history'. History has always been a subject that is disadvantaged by the views of the people writing it, irrespective of the irrefutable records that might exist. 'Oral history' lends itself to a manipulative recorder of past events. We are seeing this in South Africa today now that the 'boot is on the other foot'. I had not heard of Martini-Henry bullets being modified into dum-dums in the Zulu War. This suggestion could create two new factions amongst the armchair historians that have the Zulu War as their chosen field of study! Regards Brett
    3. Mervyn You are perfectly correct in your analysis. The Zulu King has latched on to a study undertaken by certain Zulu academics involving 'oral tradition', which is the only way that the Zulus have of establishing their history, other than through the records made by European Colonists in the 19th and early 20th Centuries, and the records made by 'western' archaeologists of the 20th and 21st Centuries. Inevitably, all these findings are subject to manipulation by politicians for their own ends. Regards Brett
    4. Demir I am pleased to see that you are still adding to your collection. Many thanks for sharing with us. Regards Brett
    5. I like the new insignia - some of the British tradition evident, but unmistakeably Canadian. I hope the people who will be wearing the uniforms will feel the same way. Regards Brett
    6. Bernhard Thank you for an interesting post. The British used X-rays during the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), but I do not have any details to hand. Perhaps this was the first military use of X-rays. Regards Brett
    7. This is a very worthy addition to what must now be a collection of medals to POW's that is second to none. As usual, the accompanying informative text is in the high standard we have come to expect. Congratulations and kind regards. Brett
    8. In South Africa, the main preoccupation is with local affairs. In spite of all that is happening in the world, the front-page large-headline story in Durban's morning newspaper was: "Golf estate in court over dog" The second important story on the front page was: "Chad swims into Durbs with record haul" - about a local swimmer who did well in the Commonwealth Games. The rest of the page was taken up by international news: "Naked truth of a home for sale" - about the advertisement for a house for sale in Austin, Texas. "Ebola fears clip soccer team's wings" - the Sierra Leone soccer team will not be going to the Seychelles to play a match. The Ukrainian situation is covered by a page 3 account of the local memorial service for a MH17 aircrash victim. Then there is a report critical of Israel on page 6. The leading editorial article is critical of the KwaZulu-Natal government for having had contraceptive implants placed in woman students leaving to study medicine in India. This was done to prevent a repeat of the return from Cuba to KZN of pregnant medical students, all of whom were evidently too stupid to use their medical knowledge to prevent their own pregnancies. There is no mention of the centenary of World War I. Thank goodness for foreign newspapers and satellite TV news bulletins. Brett
    9. Mike It must have been a great feeling when the bells and whistles sounded! Congratulations on an excellent find and excellent detective work. Regards Brett
    10. Congratulations on a great piece of research! This result is an example of the best possible reason for the hobby of medal collecting! Leonard Edward Francis died tragically and was forgotten by all but a few, but now he can be remembered and respected by many because of the medals he earned, but never saw. Regards Brett
    11. David The ribbons are without the central claret stripe. Presumably, there must be correctly-ribboned medals somewhere. Perhaps someone in the local numismatic society can help? Regards Brett
    12. David The site has evidently closed down. I do not know what has become of its contents - it was a very valuable source of information on the Siege. I suppose this is one of the perils of the Internet. After closing, the contents of the site are gone forever. At least in the good old days the published word almost always survived somewhere. Regards Brett
    13. Mervyn I have the medals of a South African seaman who was lost when the HMS Gloucester was sunk. I never met the man but his name lives on with the medals and all the documents that go with them. I hope he will be remembered far into the future as the medals and papers pass to new owners. Regards Brett
    14. Last year, there was a well-publicised massacre of 30+ striking miners by South African Policemen. This event had been preceded by the killing of two policemen by miners. The policemen had been hacked to death with 'pangas' (machetes) and their bodies burned. Gruesome photographs showing the horrific injuries inflicted by the 'pangas' circulated on the Internet. There was an element of 'a score to settle' in the subsequent massacre. Brett
    15. Some of us in South Africa hoped that when this country rejoined the Commonwealth at least some of the anti-British changes in the military would be undone. Perhaps even the 'Royal' would be restored to my favourite regiment, the Natal Carbineers (see my avatar). No such luck! The new 'Democratic' government rejoined the Commonwealth for the hand-outs. Sentiment, tradition and loyalty to Queen had nothing to do with it. Brett
    16. A partial solution to the UK's financial problems is simple - stop wasting taxpayer's money on 'foreign aid'. In the cloud-cuckoo land occupied by politicians there is the persistent belief that foreign aid is essential to the UK's continued existence as a 'world power'. In fact it feeds the 'culture of entitlement' that goes with mindless charity and mainly benefits the wrong people. Brett
    17. It might be the ribbon of the Corps of Commissionaires Medal (MYB 362). A bilingual Victory Medal would reveal the group to be South African. Regards Brett
    18. John The medal and badges are a wonderful addition to your collection! Congratulations! As usual, the background information adds lustre to the objects. Regards Brett
    19. Timo Hartug Carl Ludwig Ahrens of the Johannesburg Commando is recorded in the DTD/ABO/LVW roll compiled by D R Forsyth. Regards Brett
    20. Jean-Sam I suspect your interpretation is correct and that British servicemen were not allowed to wear the Zimbabwean medal while in uniform. However, your pair of medals is highly collectible. The Rhodesia Medal is comparatively rare and is worth about 400 GBP, while the Zimbabwean one is common and not in itself worth much. Regards Brett
    21. John Another great addition to your POW collection! Congratulations and thank you for sharing with us. Regards Brett
    22. Paul Congratulations on a great addition to your collection and thank you for sharing it. Although it would be completely out of place in my collection, I would happily make a place for it! Regards Brett
    23. A number of Natal Policemen did indeed receive the QSA with two date bars. They were mostly recruits from Britain who arrived after the Natal Campaign was over. None were awarded the KSA, with or without clasps. If the miniature group did belong to a Natal Policeman with a self-awarded KSA, he would have had to leave the NP shortly after the Boer War and enlist as a part-time soldier in one of Natal's Volunteer Regiments (e.g. Natal Carbineers, Natal Mounted Rifles, Durban Light Infantry). It was men of the Volunteer Regiments who qualified for the Colonial Auxiliary Forces LS Medal. Policemen were not "auxiliary" servicemen. Instead, they could qualify for the award of the Permanent Forces of the Empire Beyond the Seas LSGC Medal. An example of a medal group to a man who served in the Natal Police and transferred to the SA Mounted Rifles in 1913 is shown below. Regards Brett
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