Seadog

Michael R

Hi Michael, I am a Navy collector from Cape Town South Africa and as with most (all) collectors tend to find other badges and buy them without knowing the background.  I was fortunate to find 7 metal and 2 wire bullion small medical badges with kings crown today and while searching found your post with the small badge on the various rank slides, so thanks for posting them.  Then my question is what is the value and would you or anyone you know be interested in buying them from me.  Size 2.5 cm T-B and 2.2 across wings (L-R), lug fasteners on all metal badges.  Payment would be to South Africa and buyer to pay postage.

Hi Will, Long time no contact with you, hope you are well.  Do you still collect Sweet heart items?

Neville Kemp

Hi all,

The attached two badges are from the “old” South African independent homeland of Bophuthatswana. They both have similar cloth backing (same manufacturer) but the wreaths are different. I suspect that one could be Police and the other Defence force but they could be WO1 and WO2 from the same service. Does anyone have more information on the badges of the old “independent and Self Governing” South African homelands?

Neville

The cloth one (top) was a WW2 badge for the RSM of the Durban Light Infantry.

The one below - I'm not sure - but, with the enamel I would think for mess dress - and Army.

Hi,

The bottom is SA Prison Service, also now discontinued.

Funny I just posted this on another thread and was paging through so older posts when I came across this one. Here I have 4 generations but not having children myself it will stop here.

Hi All,

I was just wondering how many members have personal family medal groups and how many generations they go back. I am fortunate that we are a small family and I’m the only one with a interest in Militaria.

The group is as follows:

Maternal great grandfather: R J Britz (named and with service record).

ABO medal

Maternal grandfather :R J Britz

WW2 Southern Rhodesia Service medal (unnamed)

Paternal grandfather: N D Kemp (all named with service record)

WW1 1914-15 Star

WW1 Victory Medal

WW1 British War Medal

WW2 Africa Service medal

WW2 War medal 39-45

Father B E Kemp (Sgt Maj Air Force 1982 - 1988) (numbered with service record)

Military Merito Medal

SADF General Service medal

SADF Good Service medal - silver

SADF Good Service medal - bronze

WW2 War medal 39-45

WW2 Africa Service medal

Son (me) N J Kemp (numbered with service record)

SADF General Service medal

SADF Good Service medal - bronze

Naval Cadet Corps Service medal - bronze

Neville

Hi All,

I was just wondering how many members have personal family medal groups and how many generations they go back. I am fortunate that we are a small family and I’m the only one with a interest in Militaria so I got the following medals:

The group is as follows:

Maternal great grandfather: R J Britz (named and with service record).

ABO medal

Maternal grandfather :R J Britz

WW2 Southern Rhodesia Service medal (unnamed)

Paternal grandfather: N D Kemp (all named with service record)

WW1 1914-15 Star

WW1 Victory Medal

WW1 British War Medal

WW2 Africa Service medal

WW2 War medal 39-45

Father B E Kemp (Sgt Maj Air Force 1982 - 1988) (named with service record)

Military Merito Medal

SADF General Service medal

SADF Good Service medal - silver

SADF Good Service medal - bronze

WW2 War medal 39-45

WW2 Africa Service medal

Son (me) N J Kemp (named with service record)

SADF General Service medal

SADF Good Service medal - bronze

Naval Cadet Corps Service medal - bronze

Neville

Back of badges

Neville, I know the one with the wreath - a picture was posted under Sgt. Mjrs. Insignia. Are you able to post a photo - would probably help one of our army experts ?

Attached is the photos as requested:

Number 1 is the "old" Garrison (RSM) rank badge used from 1910? until 1960, after SA became a republic it was changed to the WO1 badge and from 1985 was worn with a color background by RSM's.

Number 2 is the "old" WO1 rank badge as used until 1960 where after it became the WO2 badge replacing the British crown in a wreath WO2 badge.

Number 3 is the badge that I got it is about 2/3 of the size.

Hi all,

Help needed again. I found a small SA CoA badge in a scrap shop the other day. The badge looks exactly like the Warrant Officer badge (was WO1 until end 50’s and then become WO2 badge until 2002) but a lot smaller (2.5 cm wide and 2 cm high as opposed to the WO badge which is 3.3 cm wide and 2.9 cm high). I have seen a similar badge at another collector a number of years ago but it had a loose wreath around it (Garrison SM before 1960). The badge has two lugs and not pins and is brass not gilt indicating era before 1960’s ???

Any ideas, is it a:

SA Army General Service collar badge?

or UDF WO miniature for mess dress?

or other???

Thanks

Neville

Hi All,

Hope someone can help. I think the attached badge is a KwaZulu Police badge (old South African homeland), is it a rank or cap badge?

Thanking you in advance,

Neville

SOUTH AFRICAN NAVY WO2 BADGE 1956 TO 1961

The SA Navy, in line with the Royal Navy abolished the Warrant Officer (WO) rank in 1949 with all existing WO’s moving into various Commissioned Officer posts. Because the SA Army and the SA Air Force still had the WO ranks there was a move to create similar ranks in the SAN. The SAN wanted to introduce a “Fleet Chief Petty Officer (FCPO)” rank equal the other WO’s. This was rejected by SADF and stated that a FCPO rank would be equal to CPO’s and Staff/Flight Sergeants. The SAN then fell in line with the other services except that although the WO1 badge was the same (plain Coat of Arms, the wreath was only for RSM’s) they used the Lion of Nassau (SAN Logo) within a wreath as the WO2 badge the Army and Air Force were at that stage still using the CW crown in wreath badge). With the formation of the Union in 1961 the badges changed to be the same throughout the SADF, plain CoA for WO2, CoA with in a wreath for WO1 and WO1 on a colour back ground for RSM/MAA (after 1985). The first WO2’s (6 in total) in the SAN were appointed in 1956, so only 6 people ever used this badge and only for about 5 years. It is very scarce and I only know of 4 badges in collections. Please note that the above is in my humble opinion and only based on hearsay from relatives of those WO’s, if any one has added information I would really appreciate it.

Neville

The last one for this session is the SM:Special Forces, this I dont have in my collection as they are very scarce. Only one person wore this badge and for only 3 years, so only about 5 pairs were made. I have a copy in my collection and if anyone has a spare available please let me know.

Neville

This is the SM: Quartermaster General

Neville

The next 3 badges were not arms of service but divisions reporting directly to the Chief of the Defence Force and as such also had there own "Senior" Sgt Maj. All these were appointments so the rank stayed WO1, only in 2008 were the 5 levels of WO made ranks and I will show those rank badges later. This is the SM: Inspector General.

Neville

The SM:Medical Health Service, this badges also changed in 1985, the first was with a maroon bachgroun and the next with black background.

Neville

The SM:Medical Health Service, this badges also changed in 1985, the first was with a maroon bachgroun and the next with black background.

Neville

Next up is the Master at Arms: SA Navy, up until 1985 he wore 2 badges (white for summer and black for winter) but after 1985 they standerdised and only had the one (black background).

Neville

Next up is the Master at Arms: SA Navy, up until 1985 he wore 2 badges (white for summer and black for winter) but after 1985 they standerdised and only had the one (black background).

Neville

This is the Sgt Maj: SA Air Force badge, my father was the 2nd SM:AF from 1982 to 1988, thus the interest in WO badges.

Neville

This Sgt Maj: SA Army badge was worn from late 70's to 2002.

Neville

Next is Sgt Maj: SA Army first badge changed in late 1970's.

Neville

First up SA Defence Force most senior Sgt Maj. Please note all the badges changed in 2002. Will add the new ones later.

Neville

At last if found a thread on the web for people with the same interest. My main collection is Warrant Officer badges of Southern Africa with a sub collection of SA Navy mustering and qualification badges. A large part of my collection can be viewed at: http://community.web...ser/seadog73021. I will over the next couple of posts list some of the more interesting badges I have.

Neville

Hi Mervyn,

As far as i know the Medics, when they were still part of the SA Army (up to 1979) wore the same chevrons as the Army. After 1997 they became a seperate arm of service and had maroon chevrons. Can you give me more information on the "Society for the Preservation of Militaria ", I would be interested in joining.

Neville

Good Morning all,

I have just discovered this forum and have been going through the “old” posts and replied to some. Thought I should introduce myself before posting any more. I am Neville Kemp, presently working as a guesthouse manager in Stellenbosch (just outside Cape Town) South Africa. My military career included 22 years as a cadet and officer instructor in the SA Naval Cadet Corps and 21 years in the South African Navy (Marine Dog Handler). I have been a military badge “hoarder” for about 35 years but only started formulating my collections about 3 years ago. My main collection is Warrant Officer badges of Southern Africa with a sub collection of SA Navy mustering and qualification badges. A large part of my collection can be viewed at: http://community.webshots.com/user/seadog73021. I will over the next couple of posts list some of the more interesting badges I have. Looking forward to a happy relationship with the forum.

Neville