Mervyn Mitton

I think this top part of a sporran is called the cantle ? You will see they shortened the motto after 1964 to leave off KING. Because S.A. opted out of the Commonwealth at that time a lot of our regiments had to take off their affiliation with the Crown. Not at all popular.

Sporran for the band of the Witwatersrand Rifles - usually known as the Wits. Rifles. They were raised in 1903 on the West Rand - outside of Johhanesburg - and were entirely recruited from miners. There were 8 companies numbering 1200 men. The Boer War had finished in 1902 and many British units had returned home - Wits Rifles were to fill the gap. The centre of their badge shows their origins, since it show mine winding head-gear. They were allied with the Scottish Rifles - hence the Scottish influence. During WW1 they served in the ccampaign in German South West Africa. In WW2 , there were two Battalions and both saw much service - they were joined with other units and became part of 12 S.A. Motorised Infantry Brigade, which was active in the Appenine Mountains of Italy in 1945. Their motto is : Pro Deo Rege Patria - For God King and Country. They are still a serving Territorial unit and were recently serving with the UN in Zaire (old Belgian Congo) 17.5 inches overall (44cm)

Never mind, Kev - if it's an original min. it's still worth ?50. Darrell was lucky - he has only one small chip in the enamel - so often they get beaten-up by others in the group.

Thankyou - Peter. That would make sense since they were para-military. I have never had a great interest in the Irish Police and regret, that I overlooked them in my book - basically, because of the differences from mainland Forces. An old Inspector of mine - Sir Hugh Annersley, became the Chief Constable in Northern Ireland. Are you in the 'job' to have this interest ?

I take it that a District Inspector - 1st class , in the RIC, is the mainland equivalent of a Chief Supt.? Would that make the RUC County Inspector a Supt.?

Leigh - one of the penalties with the Met. Police is that if you were an inner division, you got called out. I was in both Grosvenor Sq. riots - absolutely frightening ! We would be getting on well with the crowd - then cameras would arrive and they changed into savages. We were all hurt to some degree. I can also remember The Strand - them running at us and shouting ' Ho,Ho, Ho Chi Minh'. We were always outnumbered and didn't have the protective clothing available now - just normal uniform and helmet - we used to charge shouting - ' Ho,Ho, up the Met. you're dead meat'. Made us feel better !! I wonder if I'm on film - 'H' Div was always on the right of the Embassy (if you were facing it)

Ritchie - my first permanent beat was Brick Lane and the area around it. Mostly Jewish in those days - now Bangladashi. I used to have three of Jack the Ripper's murder site - the last one they pulled down was at Hanbury Street. Having pull-it down - they have now re-built it as a museum!!! I was a Home Beat or, Community officer - I served from 1967 to 1974, when my Father died and I became a Herbalist.... I agree with you about South London - I had family at Eltham, but couldn't stand that side of the river. Best wishes Mervyn. (see if there's anything in the custom museum you could photograph.) As for being 'everywhere' that is quite true. When people come off the planes, they don't realise plain clothes are mingling to see who is nervous - or, when they come out from Customs, again P.C.' waiting to see who goes ' we got away with that' !!!!! In those days if we did road blocks we used to ask Customs to attend - you had the power to deal with untaxed fuel in lorries. Does that still apply ?

Leigh - nice to have you back. I agree a very nice item with the family connection.. What does amaze me is that they were still making them in 1944 !! Please correct me if I'm wrong , but if I remember the Swordfish was on our early aircraft carriers and were responsible for torpedoing the Bismarck ? However, would'nt we have had something more modern by this date ?

Hat for a Chief Constable - in some Forces, also for the Deputy Chief Constable. Ranks with an Asst. Commissioner in the Metropolitan Police.

Thankyou Ritchie - it would have been strange if we didn't have someone from 'Customs'. All of these name changes are very confusing, and to be quite honest, I can't see the purpose for most of them. After all - how does 'Border Agency' - something borrowed from the US - have any meaning in the UK ??? When I was at Bethnal Green we worked very closely with Customs and I had occasion to visit Lower Thames St.' H.Q. on several occasions - I don't visit London now, so I find it rather 'sad' that I have got old - and the rest of the World has moved-on !!!

Sorry, I didn't look closely enough - saw the colours and assumed MC. Probably not the same person - but, always possible he transferred to the RUC?

Helen - on the bolt grip - it is very hard to make out details - I don't see any direct links with a lancer regt. - the 'X' usually means sold out of service - but in this span of time seems unlikely.... Tom's point is very valid re cutting down - but why ? In many Countries after WW2 there were so many old .303's that they were cut down to use as hunting weapons - but this early??? The other point is that the Enfield was not common - at the time of the Boer War it was the Lee Metford - later it became the Lee Enfield when it was made at the Enfield armouries - I think Lee was the inventor. Perhaps someone with more firearms knowledge could confirm this - or, put us right ???

If the two uniforms and the helmet are to the same Ch. Supt., it is interesting that he wears the MC bar on his service tunic. Assuming that he was detached for War Service that only gives a few years prior to 1922, when the Force was disbanded with the dissolution of Ireland. Could he have earned it for the Dublin rising ?? Would he even have been eligible, with the criteria for awarding an MC ? Without a name I don't think we'll ever know - perhaps you could contact the museum and ask them ?

Roger - you're turning 'up' some lovely items. I can see the I.O.W. and the Needles from the Bournemouth flat - if I ever come back will come and have a look at your auctions !!! Seal was not unknown for headress - but, is certainly not common - to have the extra pieces makes it even more interesting. Tell us a little more about the IOW contingent ?

I was looking back over some old posts and had a 'flash' of memory' !! When you are facing Trafalgar Square - with the National Gallery behind - there are two large glass lanterns on either side of the square - the side that will be nearest to you. These are the stern lanterns that were on Victory during the Battle of Trafalgar. Nelson's tomb is in the crypt of St.Paul's and most of the bronze on the monument is from captured French guns from the battle.

Found this Boer War picture of a rare Rhodesian unit wearing either this bandolier - or, the cavalry version. However, I think it looks like this one.

Helen - this is really rather a strange item. Issue marks from 1898 and captured in 1902 - near the end of the War. I wonder who Judge Hugo was ? Do you have any biographical info. on him ? The question of course, being, what was he doing with a British rifle and how did he acquire it ? I don't know a lot about these weapons - perhaps a member will add comments? With the barrel exposed is not the normal pattern - or, at least I don't think so. The one I used to carry had stock right to the top?

There was a canvas version - don't know if your history is correct - perhaps someone can tell us ? The Boers Mauser cartridge belt was very similar to the British - I always have to look twice - must see if we have one. I thought cane toads were only in Aussie - did we have them in West Africa???

Richard - I think everyone will be pleased that you posted these. They are magnificent - being for an earlier period they were always a little 'showy'. The rank is Chief Superintendent and the last one is his ceremonial uniform.

Second band of carving

Top of stick ornamentation

A difficult item to photograph and to fit as a post. This is the central support pole for the largest Zulu war shield - the ISHILUNGU. This shield - made from the Royal Nguni bulls' hides , can be as high as 5' 5'' ( 165cm). They were colour coded for each particular Impi - or, regiment. In fact, the Ishilungu was so heavy, that when fighting at a distance from their base, they carried the smaller Umbumbululu. One of the difficulties with a big item like this, is how do you store it ? What they used to do , was to take out this strengthening stick - roll up the hide and store it in the thatched roof of the hut. This lead to a very high damage rate, since rats, mice, cockroaches and other Nunnu's (Zulu for insects) would eat the hairs off and also, the leather. The result is that historical shields are one of the rarest items. The sticks - since they are separated from the shield - are highly sought after and are valuable. This one has two bands of amazumpas and is 59 inches overall (151cm)

Chris - trust you to spot the - 'deliberate' - mistake. I was hoping to get away with-it ....

Did you see that a Danish Doctor - a kidney specialist - has decided that Napoleon died of kidney failure. He is a Dr. Soerensen. I was under the impression that the concensus of opinion was that he died of asrsenic - possibly from the paste used in wallpaper , at that time ?

I thought it must be a first. Overlooked NZ - but, obviously, know of the medal issues. Thanks. You raise a good point with separate issue - but, would that make it a 'broken group' ??