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Salutations everyone, I found this picture of a Natal Scottish badge today, and it just so happened to have a tartan backing. Unfortunately, I myself wasn't able to identify what tartan it is. If anybody knows what tartan this is, please let me know. -
Hello everyone, Recently, I downloaded a PDF file of the South African Artillery history. In it, I read something along the lines that other ranks used a universal artillery cap badge, and that officers used a bronze metal version of their regimental badge. I also read that the artillery used a universal pith helmet flash during the second world war. Just for confirmation, is this true?
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Hello all, Recently, I have come across a badge of the 'Natal Scottish'. Apparently this was some sort of infantry regiment of the South African Union Defence Force during the second world war, more specifically 1940-1945(?). I'm looking for some more information about this specific unit, although I have my doubts that there's any available information about it. If someone does have information about it and decides to share it, I would be thankful!
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Greetings all, I've been trying to do some research on South African military camps during the second world war for a while now, but I sadly can't find any good sources/pictures. Would any of you here have any idea where I can find good pictures of Camp Cullinan, or any other camp for that matter?
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Greetings all, This is probably not the right place to ask, but I'll do it anyway. Does anybody know the official name of the Transvaal Horse Artillery during the second world war? I read somewhere that it was called "3 Field Regiment (V) South African Artillery (T.H.A.)", but I'm not quite sure on whether that's true or not. I also don't know what the "(V)" stands for, but I'm assuming it means volunteers. Any and all help would be appreciated!
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Greetings everybody, Recently, I've stumbled across something called the 1 SWA (Southwest Africa) Infantry Battalion. This was a unit of the South African Union Defence Force during the second world war. Does anybody have any information on this unit?
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Greetings everyone, I was looking for somebody that potentially has some information and/or photos about the Thaba Tshwane military complex during the second world war. Many thanks in advance to all those who share their knowledge.
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Greetings everyone, I was wondering on which uniform(s) the South African cloth/metal shoulder titles would be worn. If anybody here knows, do let me know.
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Hello all, Recently, I've started writing about the South African Police Brigade (6th South African Infantry Brigade) during world war two. I have some questions regarding equipment and uniform. Did the South African Police have the standard uniform like all UDF troops? And what kind of pith helmet did they have, did they have any pith flash or badge on it? I've only seen one picture of a South African policeman, and from what I can see, it's just a plain pith. It looks like the Canadian hawley pith, actually. If any of you have any information regarding this topic, please share your knowledge with me.
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Hello everyone, Recently, I was wondering what the white officers in the Native Military Corps and Non-European Army Services as a whole would've worn. Primarily their uniform and hat, and any badges or insignias they would've had on it. If any of you have some knowledge on this topic, please let me know.
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Hello everyone, I am looking for photos of the South African Indian and Malay Corps during the second world war. It's very hard for me personally to find anything online, besides the few standard photos. What I'm looking for primarily is what the Indian and Malay Corps would've had on their slouch hat. Many thanks if any of you do give me some information or photos.
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Hello everyone, Recently, I've come across this rare shoulder title of the South African Native Military Corps. My question is, what uniform did they put the shoulder title on? Khaki drill uniform or P37 battledress?
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SAC BADGES,INSIGNIA AND BUTTONS FROM MY COLLECTION This force was established in October, 1900 after it was incorrectly judged that the Anglo-Boer war was over. The SAC served in operations in the field until the conclusion of the war in 1902. They then took over the policing of the Orange Free Sate, Transvaal and Swaziland. In April 1908, the SAC merged with the Transvaal and OFS police. This force was initially formed by Major-General Baden-Powell of the siege of Mafeking and Boy Scout fame. Recruiting was done in the Cape Colony, Natal, the United Kingdom and Canada. Selections standards were very high and this resulted in a very competent force being formed. The Constabulary suffered heavy losses during the Boer War with 9 Officers and 85 men being killed in action. They also had 2 Victoria Crosses awarded to their members. -
I have a QUESTION for the FORUM, please: (Badges are not within my field of expertise......) I have been given to understand that a brass badge which I can best describe as follows: ==================================================== It is of brass. Has two rear lugs for attachment by a sliding pin. It is about 5cm wide and 3.1cm in height The form of the badge is a circular wreath, with a half-wing on each side, left and right. Surmounted by a crown, and within the circular wreath, a crossed bomb and a machine gun. Below is a ribbon on which appears: S.A.A.F. - S.A.L.M. =================================================== is a rare badge, and of possible high value ???????? Is this true? What IS the badge?? When does it date from? What is value? -
COMMEMORATIVE MEDALLION SCANDINAVIAN CORPS AT MAGERSFONTEIN 1899 SHAPE: CIRCULAR OBVERSE: QUARTERED ARMS OF THE SCANDINAVIAN NATIONS WITH SURROUND INSCRIPTION "AT MINNET AV DEN SKANDINAVISKA KAREND STRID VID MAGERSFONTEIN 1899". REVERSE: VIKING LONGBOAT AT SEA, AND LOWER INSCRIPTION, "DE KEUNDE ICKE VIKA BLOTT FALLA KUNDE DE." METAL: BRONZE MAKER: C. C. SPORRONG & CO. SIZE: 90 mm REMARKS / HISTORY: 1. REVERSE, ROUGH TRANSLATION: "THEY COULD NOT SURRENDER ONLY FALL (DIE)." 2. OBVERSE ROUGH TRANSLATION: FOR THE MEMORY OF THE SCANDINAVIAN CORPS BATTLE AT MAGERSFONTEIN, 1899. The following was sent to me by a member of another forum and is used for information / reasearch purposes only..... The Scandinavian Corps in South Africa (An edited translation of a chapter in "Svenska Frivilliga" by Lars Ericson) The Scandinavian Corps was founded just before the outbreak of hostilities at a meeting in Pretoria. Recruiting was mainly among Scandinavian miners around Johannesburg, but the corps also contained a number of sailors. The corps was mounted, and in 1899 they consisted of 9 officers and NCOs and 104 ORs. (45 swedes, 24 danes, 18 finns, 13 norwegians and 13 others) The CO was Captain Axel Christer Helmfrid Uggla (a railway engineer) from Sweden. On 16th October 1899 about 50 men of the corps paraded for President Krüger before leaving for the front. His second in command was fellow Swede (from Sundsvall) Erik Ståhlberg, the only officer who was a trained officer. Lieutenant Ståhlberg got about a week to try to give some basic military training to the force, where previous military- weapons- or equestrian training was scarce. The corps tasks were mainly sabotage operations, but they also took part in the Siege of Mafeking and the battles at Magersfontein an Paardeberg. The were present at the siege of Mafeking, were they served as mounted infantry and clearing mines laid by the defenders. They also demolished railway lines and took horses from the british. The second in command, Erik Ståhlberg wrote in 1901 after coming home about the siege: "The bombardment continues day after day. But it is not impossible getting new friends on the opposite side. Sundays and holidays hostilities cease and it is possible to meet the British in all friendliness, swapping meat for whisky!" At the end of November the Scandinavian corps were part of the force sent out to meet the relief column. On 9th December the boer forces had entrenched themselves on a ridge, with the Scandinavians along with two other Boer detachments entrenched as outposts. The Scandinavian force was 3 officers and 49 men. Their task was to give warning and delay a British attack. On 11th December, the Highland Brigade attacked. Captain J. Allum in the Scandinavian trenches tells: "It was a rainy, dark night, the men suffering from the cold, which at this time of the year can be severe. Everything was quiet until around 4.30 in the morning, when a few shots were heard on our right. Then silence for a couple of seconds, perhaps a minute that seemed to us, waiting tensely, as an eternity. It was so silent you could hear your heartbeats. Suddenly a firestorm broke out at the foot of the hill on the Boer right flank, and in the next second the mauser's began to smatter, the wounded screamed and the English hurrahs and commands sounded. This went on for about 15 minutes, then silence fell anew. The first assault was beaten back with heavy losses. The Boers had let the English, marching in formation, come very close before opening a devastating fire." I front of the Scandinavians were 4000 of the Higland Brigade: Black Watch, Seaforths, Argylls and the Highland Light Infantry. After the assault had been broken, the British artillery commenced firing. Before the next infantry attack. The Scandinavians were, according to Captain Ståhlberg, firing 18-20 aimed shots a minute. After half an hour firing 200 men of the Seaforths had worked around the Scandinavian right flank, and the losses among the defenders ros. After renewed attacks with the bayonets the position was overwhelmed. 17 men had tried a countercharge, but only eight Scandinavians managed to get back in the boer lines, the rest killed or wounded. Everyone of the prisoners had been wounded.. It then appeared that the fight had been the result of a mistake. At 3.00 General Cronje had ordered the outposts to get back, but this had never reached the Scandinavians. Captain Ståhlberg again: "After three hours our resistance is broken. Our CO, Captain Flygare falls in the beginning of the battle, shot in the heart. Lieutenant Berentsen is wounded and man after man falls, drilled by bullets. The Highland Brigade, with the Gordons on the right encircles us. In the final act they fell over us like hungry vultures, and our resistance is over. Carl Albert Olsson from Gothenburg tries to save his brother Edvin, shot in the head by pulling him under cover. He is attacked by two scots whose heads he smashes with the rifle butt, only to fall from several bayonet wounds. The Swedish nurse Elin Lindblom, serving with the Scandinavian ambulance with the Boers tells: "Early in the afternoon came the seven men who had succeeded in escaping in the battle at Magersfontein (11), six unscathed, a Dane, Krohn, shot in the heel. The rest of the 49 Scandinavians who had been sent to the forepost, were dead or wounded and the wounded were prisoners with the English. Our ambulance men had gone out with the wagon and in the evening they brought some of the wounded Scandinavians with them, among them Appelberg. He was shot in the stomach and died after a few days and he was buried after a post-mortem examination by a German surgeon. But during the whole day wounded Boers had come in one after the other, some of them wounded who needed bandaging to return to the battle, some in such a state that we had to find place for them in the tent as best as we could. The most seriously wounded man, apart from Appelberg, was perhaps a Boer, named Sauer, who was shot through the throat, and we feared that the spine was injured. We washed and bandaged them as best as we could and gave them water and food. A mobile ambulance cannot do much in these cases, but it was better than nothing. Our tent was entirely full by the evening. The battle continued uninterruptedly and it was impossible for our ambulance men to go to the battlefield where our men had fallen. It became quiet only after three o'clock on Tuesday afternoon and then they could go there, where they found eighteen dead and two wounded; all the others had been brought by the English to their ambulance. The wounded were two Finns, Backman and Viklund, who were in such a bad state that the English had bandaged them provisionally and left them on the battlefield. They had considered them as hopeless. We also thought this, when they were brought to us on Tuesday evening. Backman was delirious with three bullets through the leg, the whole legbone splintered by a bomb, one bullet in the breast and out through the back which was fearfully torn; it was a miracle that he had not bled to death. Viklund was seriously shot through his tender parts and had one flesh wound in the arm as well as heatstroke owing to sunburn. We feared that his spine was injured. They had lain on the battlefield from 5 o'clock Monday morning to 3 o'clock Tuesday afternoon in the burning sun and bitter night cold, robbed of all their clothes. For even here pillagers are found. We had a German surgeon who had no ambulance to work for and helped us to bring those who could be transported, to the hospital. The nearest hospital was at Jacobsdal, one day's travel away or a little farther from our spot. They were sent toJacobsdal with some of our men. Because Viklund was so seriously wounded we thought it better to keep him with the ambulance until we could see how his condition developed." The dead were buried on the battlefield, where a monument was erected in 1908. After Magersfontein the Scandinavian Corps was sent to Bloemfontein, where they reorganized and received 80 men as reinforcements. They were part of General Cronjes command, which capitulated at Paardeberg on 27th February 1900. The Scandinavian POW were sent to St Helena, three of them escaping before the ship left Simonstown. Two let himself be buried in the sand while bathing, and a third jumped overboard with a lifebelt and a knife. All three reached the boer lines safely. The Scandinavian ambulance continued to serve until the end of the war. In 1920, 15 members of the Scandinavian corps received the medal "voor de anglo-boeroorlog" at a ceremony in Stockholm, three of them nurses. Another 30 Swedes got their medal at the South African legation in Stockholm 1937, six of them receiving a "Dekoratie Voor Trouwe Dienst" as well. The monument, which still stands at Magersfontein, was an initiative of the Swedish officer Erland Mossberg, who had served in the Cape Town Town Guard during the war. He was an officer originally in "Jämtlands Fältjägare" (translates roughly as "Jämtland Rifles"), the medical officer of Jämtlands Fältjägare was Josef Hammar, who hade served in the boer forces. Mossberg started to collect subscriptions for a monument. The money were quickly raised, with support of national newspapers. The monument consists of a 6.5 metres high steel, with four corner stones 15 metres high representing the different Scandinavian countries. The names of the men killed is on the monument, which was inaugurated on 25th april 1908 by Pime Minister (and former Boer general) Louis Botha, an honour guard of the Kimberley Regiment present. The monument is placed some distance away from the scene of the actual battle, as the land owner of the battleground ( a scot) didn't want a monument to former enemies. The countries are represented by different inscriptions: SWE: De kunde icke vika, blott falla kunde de (They could not falter, only fall) DK: Nu hviler deres ben bag höjen Bautasten. (Now their bones are resting beneath high stele) FI: På tappra män ser tappra fäders andar ner. (On brave men, brave fathers spirits looks down) NO: Nu tier stridens larm paa valen, I mindet lever heltens ry (Now the battles din is silent on the ramparts, in the memory lives the heroes reputation) Killed in the battle or DOW: 11 December 1899 Magersfontein Danskar 1 Goetterup, Arthur, Naskov 2 Jacobsen, Peter Marius, Köpenhamn 3 Olesen, Frede, Torskind Finnar 1 Kruts Gustavsson, Matts, Nykarleby 2 Mattson, Emil, Nykarleby 3 Hägglöf, Henrik, Wexala (avliden 14 dec) Norrmän 1 Dahlén, Johannes, Larsnäs 2 Nielsen, Oluf, Drammen (avliden 12 dec) 3 Olsen, Einar, Mandal Svenskar 1 Ahlström, Conrad, Lilla Malma 2 Andersson, Julius, Stockholm 3 Appelgren, Carl David, Oskarshamn, fältkommissarie 4 Benson, Albert, Göteborg 5 Benson, Edvin, Göteborg 6 Flygare, Johannes, Natal, Captain 7 Johnson, Nils Alfred, Brunsby, sergeant 8 Landgren, Oscar August, Göteborg 9 Lindström, Emil, Ronneby 10 Mark, Oswald, Göteborg 11 Nykvist, Nils Harald, Göteborg 12 Olsson, Carl Albert, Göteborg 13 Osberg, Fredrik, Göteborg 14 Stael von Holstein, Otto, Kristianstad Tyskar 1 Lindeberg, Gustav 2 von Rassau, Frans Nominal roll of known participants in the Scandinavian corps: The Scandinavians Sw = Sweden Dan= Denmark Nor= Norwegian Fin = Finaland Abrahamsen, A.B. R. (Nor) Ahlström, Conrad F (Sw) ( Died 11/12/1899) Ahlström Carl (Sw) Allum, Captain Julius (Nor) Andersen, Anders (Nor) Andersen, Thorvald (Dan) Andersson, J.C.W. (Dan) Andersson, Johan Alfred (Sw) Andersson, Carl Gustav (Sw) Andersson, Julius (Sw) ( ? 11/12/1899) Andersson, Pontius Alexus (Sw) Andersson, H (Sw) Appelgren, Carl David (Sw) (? 13.12.1899) Backman, Otto (Fin) Backman, Otto (Fin) Baerentzen, William Joseph (Dan) Bagger , H (Dan) Bakman, Sunnion (Fin) Bengtsson (Sw) Benson, A. Edvin (Sw) ( ? 11/12/1899) Benson, C. Albert (Sw) ( ? 11/12/1899) Berg, Ernest (Sw) Bergstedt, K. Pedersen (Nor) Bergström Oscar (Sw) Besseling, Johannes Reinierus (S) Björkman, Axel (Sw) Blombergsson, Elof A (Sw) (? 18/02/1900 Paardeberg) Breckan, Thomas (Nor) Burén Nils (Sw) Carlsson, Carl Albin (Sw) Cederström, Baron Oscar Frederick (Sw) Christense, Wilhelm (Dan) Christensen, Jens F. (Dan) Christensen, Gotthardt (Dan) Christenson, S.W. (Sw) (died 24/01/1900) Clason, Axel (Sw) Claudelin Adolf Wilhelm (Sw) Dahlen, Johannes (Nor) (diedMagersfontein, 11/12/1899) Dahlquist, Frederick (Sw) Eggeling, N (Sw) Einhardt, Rudolf (Sw) Eklund, Johan Alfred (Sw) Eliasson, Hans Peter (Sw) Erikson, Isaac (Fin) Erikson, H. (Sw) Eskilson, Erik A (Fin) Fägerskjöld, Baron Helge Alex (Sw) Field, Einar (Nor) Flindthoff, J.F. (Sw) Flygare, Johannes (Sw) (died Magersfontein 11/12/1899) Fredericks, S.A. (Dan) Friis, Jens Jörgen (Dan) Friis, Aage Jens (Dan) Fröhling, C.G.A. (Sw) Frölén, Lars (Sw) Fromén, Georg Wilhelm (Sw) (died 24/01/1900) Goetterrup, Arthur (Dan) (died Magersfontein 11/12/1899) Grafvert, Gustav Adolf (Sw) Gustafsson, Axel Wilhelm (Sw) Gustafsson, Carl (Sw) Gustafsson, Matts (Kruts) (Fin) Gustafsson, Wilhelm (Sw) Hägglöf, Henrik (Fin) ( died 14/02/1899) Hallberg, Theoblad J. (Dan) Hammar, Josef (Sw) Hammerstrand, Albert F (Sw) Hansen, Adolf (Nor) Hansen, Karl M (Nor) Hansen, Emil Ferdinand (Dan) Hanson, A (Sw) Hatcher, Rymond (Sw) Hedberg, E (Sw) Hoyer, A.G. (Nor) Huet, Gustav (Sw) Hult, Gustav Adolf (Sw) Hultin, Carl (Sw) Ihlen, C. (Nor) Jacobsen, Peter Marius (Dan) (died Magersfontein 11/12/1899) Janek, Hjalmar Petterson (Sw) Johansson, Per Erik (Sw) Johansson, Jacob (Fin) (died St Helena 11/09/1900) Johansson, Charles O. (Sw) Johansson, David (Sw) Johnnson , H (Sw) Johnson, Herman (Fin) Johnsson, Erik (Fin) Johnsson, Nils Alfred (Sw) ( died Magersfontein 11/12/1899) Johnsson, Ole (Nor) Jörgensen, H. J (Dan) Jungmarker, Viktor (Sw) Kemp. Charles I (Sw) Kielland, Hjalmar (Nor) Knauer, Harald (Dan) Knutsen, Charl (Nor) Korhenen, Gabriël (Fin) Kramer, Maurits (Sw) Krohn, Peter (Dan) Landby, H. (Sw) Landgren, Oscar August (Sw) (diedMagersfontein, 11/12/1899) Lang, Carl Magnus (Sw) Larsen, Einar (Dan) Larsen. Hans (Nor) Larsen, Ludvig Holge Christian (Sw) Laursen, Laurs (Dan) Lindblom, A.S. (Sw) Lindblom E.C. (Sw) Lindquist, Arthur (Fin) Lindström, Emil (Sw)(diedMagersfontein, 11/12/1899) Lindström, Otto Erik (Sw)) Lindwall. Karl (Sw) Lundberg, J. (Sw) Mark, Osvald August (Sw) (diedMagersfontein, 11/12/1899) Matson, Mats (Fin) Mattson, Emil (Fin) (died Magersfontein 11/12/1899) Mellquist, Carl Emanuel (Sw) Michelsen, C.J. (Nor) Michelsen, Frans H (Dan) Mickelson, Johan (Fin) Möller, August Gustav Otto. (Dan) Mortensen, J. (Dan) Nepken, Dobe (Dan) Nielsen, Carl Peter (Sw) Nielsen, Hans Peter Christiaan (Unknown) Nielsen, Ingvold Schröder (Nor) Nielsen, I.E.P.S. (S) Nielsen, Jens (Dan) Nielsen, L (Nor) Nielsen, Matts (Fin) ( died St Helena 07/06/1901) Nielsen, Oluf (Nor) (died Kimberley 21/07/01) Nielsen, Peder Hans Christiaan (Dan) Nielsen, Sören (Dan) Nilsen, N O. (Nor) Nordahl, Evrard (Sw) Nykvist, Nils Harald (Sw) (diedMagersfontein, 11/12/1899) Nyman. Jan (Fin) Odman, Andrew John (Sw) Ohlson, Charles (Sw) Ohlsson, John Martin (Sw) Oleson, Frede (Dan) (died Magersfontein 11/12/1899) Olsen, Einar (Nor) (died Magersfontein, 11/12/1899) Olsen, Johannes (Nor) Olsen, J. P. (Dan) Olson. Anton (Sw) Olsson, Carl Albert (Sw) (diedMagersfontein, 11/12/1899) Onsum, Axel Frank (Nor) Osberg, Fredrik (Sw) (diedMagersfontein, 11/12/1899) Overland, Johannes (Nor) Paulsson, Ole (Nor) Pedersen, Carl (Nor) Petersen. Peter (Fin) Petersen, Jörgen Peter (Dan) Petterson-Janek, Hjalmar (Sw) Randers, E.R. (Sw) Randers, Norman (Nor) (died Magersfontein) Rank, Johannes (Fin) Rasmussen, Sofus J.L. (Dan) Raw, Aage (S) Reinholdt, W.H. (Dan) Reismüller, H.G. (Sw) Rohdin, Hugo (Sw) Roissdorf (Sw) Ronning, Andreas (Nor) Rossan, G.L (Sw) Rubech, Ludvig (Dan) (died Jacobsdal, 17/03/1900) Rudbeck, August B. (Sw) Ruthström, John Rudolf (Sw) (died Modder River, 15/02/1899) Rydholm. Carl Herman (Sw) Rydström. John (Sw) Samuelsson. Carl (Sw) Sandoen, N. (Nor) (died 24/01/1900) Sauer, Louis (Dan) Schaedtler, Victor (Dan) Schaedtler, O. (Dan) Schiönning, Aage From (Dan) Schmidt, Carl (Dan) Schröder-Nielsen, Peter Einar Ingvald (Nor) Schutz, John (Fin) Schultz, Carl Paul Frederick (Nor) Söderström, Johan Axel E. (Sw) Stålberg, Erik (Sw) (died Magersfontein) Stael von Holstein, Otto (Ole) Wilhelm (Sw) (died Magersfontein, 11/12/1899) Steenberg, Schack (S) Steenberg, Anders Wilhelm (S) Sten, J (Sw) Stenberg, A. W. (Fin) Stenberg, Schack August (Dan) Stenros, Karl Anders (Fin) Stolze, Wilhelm Ludwig (Sw) Svensson, Hildur Charlotta (Sw) Svensson, Johan Emil (Sw) Tholyorn (Nor) Thomsen, Julius (Dan) Thorén, Arthur (Sw) Ueckerman, Sigurd (Nor) Uggla, Axel Christian Helmfrid, comdt (Sw) Van Aken, Johannes Arnoldus (Sw) Von Holstein, Stael (Sw) Van Kal, Hugo Cornelis (Sw) Viklund, Johan Niklas (Nils) (Fin) Walldon C.O. (Unknown) Wallenberg, Nils (Sw) Wehlan, Frank (Sw) Werner, I.E. (Sw) Werner, Sven Erik (Sw) Widhom. F.V. (Fin) Wiklund, Andreas (Fin) Wiklund, Johan Nikolas (Sw) Winberg, Anders, Efraim (Sw) Wipam, William (Sw) -
Collecting Police Truncheons / batons is not a specialist collecting area for me. However, recently, whilst I was on a visit to a Cape Town boot sale market, I saw (and bought) the S.A. Police truncheon shown below. Although I cannot say for certain, some people I have consulted think that the widespread USE of this MODEL of Truncheon / baton by the S.A.P. ended "around 1985 - 1986" (but I think that those are, at best, just guesses.) Is there a MEMBER of this GROUP, who can please tell me, with some authority: (A) The PERIOD during which this Truncheon was IN USE by the South African Police. (and I mean THIS specific model) That is, the DATE that use of this MODEL STARTED, and the DATE when use of this model ceased and it was withdrawn from use. (B) Does this MODEL have a specific NAME / TYPE / MODEL Number ??? ..................... and, (C) What are the TECHNICAL DIFFERENCES / DEFINITIONS between: (i) A Truncheon, and (ii) A Baton. Thank you very much, David Bennett, Durban North ==============================
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Hi everyone I am looking for any helpful information on 2nd Batt Kimberley Regiment that served in the German South West Africa theatre in 1914/15. I acquired a 1914-1915 Star to a PTE CWC Campbell, service number 147 and would love any help in finding records of his and a unit history. Thank you in advance and it's great to find this forum! Regards -
I collect (mainly) MILITARY MEDALS - specialising in trying to assemble a collection of every issued Clasp of the India General Service Medal Series (1854; 1895; 1908; 1936) and one of every Clasp issued of the Army General Service Medal (1918 and 1962). So far I have just 39 of these Clasps - so a long (and expensive) way to go....... I have been a serious Collector of Military Medals since 1980. But being a medal collector in general, and a South African - it is only natural that I should have a fair selection of South African medals and groups, too. I obviously have some South African WWI trios and pairs. Similarly, I have a good representative sample of South African WWII Groups. NOTE WELL: In the discussion which follows, we will IGNORE any medal groups which contain Gallantry, Long Service and similar medals in the groups. So, in WWI the VAST MAJORITY of South African soldiers were awarded either the WWI Trio, or, at least a WWI Pair. And, in WWII MOST South Africans earned, probably, FOUR, FIVE or SIX medals - this would depend on HOW LONG you served "up north" and whether you went to Italy or not. SO, the most common South African WWII Groups are: FOUR: 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; 1939-45 War Medal; Africa Service Medal FOUR: 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; 1939-45 War Medal; Africa Service Medal FIVE: 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; 1939-45 War Medal; Africa Service Medal, and, SIX: 1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Italy Star; 1939-45 Defence Medal; 1939-45 War Medal; Africa Service Medal And I KNOW that there are variations of these - where just two or three medals were awarded, but in my experience, THESE are the four MOST common groups to South Africans. Also when one considers that South Africans earned over 60,500 Italy Stars, and more than 105,000 Africa Stars then the 7,200 or so OTHER STARS (excluding of course the 1939-1945 Star) awarded to South Africans do not merit discussion here. And I am also excluding things like the "8th Army" and the North Africa 1942-43" Clasps, as well. And, we are also not including in this discussion the possibility of Anglo-Boer War / Zulu Rebellion / and Korean War medals as well. Such groups are VERY scarce......... Now, if you will agree with me, based on the criteria I have defined above, then it IS, and WAS most certainly POSSBLE for a South African soldier, under the "RIGHT" conditions, and IF he served in BOTH WARS, to earn what I call a "FULL HOUSE" - THAT IS the WWI "TRIO" and all SIX of the WWII MEDALS. But in reality, how easy was this? To qualify for what I call the South African "FULL HOUSE" for the two World Wars, would mean a group of NINE medals - excluding gallantry, long service, coronation / jubilee medals, etc. So I checked my collection. I have South African WWI pairs and trios. Some WWI groups which include a couple (or more) WWII medals, but until a recent auction acquisition by me, NO S.A. GROUPS which give us the NINE MEDAL "FULL HOUSE" - the best I had were some five, six, seven and even eight medal groups. BUT NOW, AT LAST, a NINE MEDAL "FULL HOUSE" Group in my collection. So as a result, please show us (with names / details) YOUR "Full House" WWI / WWII groups in your collection - excluding, as I say, gallantry, long service, etc etc. This would be an interesting exercise. And I would say that - when compared to your full collection - the number of "full house" groups is probably quite small................... ??? I have ILLUSTRATED a few groups from my own collection ("The David Bennett Collection") including the new "FULL HOUSE" group - merely to show some representative examples of what I am talking about. Thank you for reading this. All the best, David Bennett Durban North ============================================== There are three groups illustrated below, without details: The first (with a North Africa 1942-43 Clasp) is to Sgt H.J. Whitebooi, 24 Bomber Sqdn, S.A.A.F. The next group (of five medals) is to F/Sgt E.F. Williamson, S.A.A.F. and, The third group (with the 8th Army Clasp) is to Gnr. H.F.P. Combrink, S.A. Artillery. (I have yet to "lable" these 3 groups.) By the way, the group to COMBRINK is interesting, because his parents named him after the THREE LEADING WWI ALLIED MILITARY LEADERS: So his name is HAIG FOCH PERSHING Combrink ............ not something you see everyday !!!!!!!
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Can someone please help me identify the history of my two zulu spears please!!!!email is deanespach@yahoo.com
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j Thought I would share just the small amount of South African Police memorabilia I have in my collection. Not sure what the Transvaal helmet plate is made of. The badge has a light golden sheen to it. I thought it might be brass but it is too light so I think it must be an alloy of some type. As can be seen, the detail has remained beautifully intact. -
Hi Can anyone help me with information regarding this organisation? The Burgher Unie of the Zuid Afrikaansche Republiek. Apparently there were 300 members who all received a 9ct gold medallion with membership number stamped on the back, and only 12 female members? Genl Jan Smuts was also a member and his membership number was No 218. There is a full members list, but none of the museums could help... Any info would be appreciated. Thanks
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Until 2003, most aircrew brevets were available in a bilingual format. It seems as though only English abbreviations have been used since 2003. Two musterings with only a single abbreviation are EO and ET but I wonder if these, like Load Master / Laai Meester are the same in English & Afrikaans. Using a dictionary, which can be a very dangerous thing, I can get to: Elektronika Operateur for the EO Electronics Operator or Electronics Warfare Operator (Elektronika Oorlogvoering Operateur). ET (Electronics Transmitter) first appeared in the 1993-2003 series of brevets but would seem to translate into Afrikaans as ‘Elektronika Sender’. Is there an alternative translation which would fit ET in both languages? The EO has been replaced by EW (Electronics Warfare Operator) in the English-only series post-2003. FA (Flight Attendant) also appears as a new English-only brevet post-2003 (possibly translated as Vlug Hangende). I would be grateful if an Afrikaans speaker could point out any errors in my crude guesses and supply the official SAAF Afrikaans titles for these musterings. -
Just wanted to draw your attention to these booklets for sale for one more day on Cata Wiki..... (they are not mine!;-) ) http://veiling.catawiki.be/kavels/1228675-geschiedenis-boon-s-ge-llustreerd-magazine-8-losse-delen-met-foto-s-en-tekeningen-1899-1900
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I originally discovered this forum while researching my Grandfathers German medals (GSWA), and have returned hoping to find some guidance in my search for information on another relative who served in WW1 in the South African armed forces. My Grandmother's uncle Joseph Styles was an elderly gentleman when I knew him as a small child, so my information is limited to that gleaned as a child only. There was a group of medals (mounted on a bar) consisting of between 6 and 9 medals sitting in my Grandmothers sideboard, these were referred to as "Joey's medals" and remained behind the locked glass door always. My parents emigrated to Australia when I was 16 in 1982 ( a number of years after Uncle Joey had passed away 1973 - 1974) and the medals were still in that sideboard. However, following my Grandmothers passing, and sometime during the next few years those medals were discarded or lost. My parents generation being pacifists had no respect or understanding of what those medals mean, and when I queried their whereabouts were unable to even remember them being there. Basically they threw them in the trash when cleaning out the house. The address of the family home, which Joey lived in prior to enlistment (the family bought it in 1910) and subsequently until he passed away in the 1970's is: 67 Kitchener Ave Bez Valley Johannesburg I have no information regarding what unit he enlisted in, nor the extent of his service. All I know is the medals existed, and that when he met my Dad, he immediately befriended him upon discovery that they (Joey and my German Grandfather) had been at many of the same GSWA battlefields. What I am hoping to discover is some form of documentation that can tie together his name to his unit, and hopefully some way to identify what those medals on that rack were. Any guidance is appreciated. -
http://gmic.co.uk/uploads/monthly_12_2014/post-6209-0-13954400-1418304517.jpgclick A few weeks back we had a very sad event. Local SAP (South African Police) were chasing a group of robberery suspects and a Police Dog was released in rough bush to try and flush them out. He never returned. There was a really big search for him - and eventually they found his body - stabbed numerous times. I cannot describe the out pourings of sympathy that this has occasioned - Churches , schools, Rotary, just so many clubs and groups of all description have been raising money for the Dog Unit and for a replacement puppy for the Handler. The last I heard enough had been raised to purchase a number of new dogs for the unit. This picture shows one of the local security guard companies - Blue Security - who I use, presenting a cheque for nearly 34000 Rands (approx. 2000pounds - $3200) to a representitive of the SAP Dog Unit. I think his Rottweiler is one of the biggest I have ever seen. Craig will know better then I do - however, I think at one time the Met. used them, but found them dangerous. I think we only use German Shepherds now. This is not the first time a Police Dog has been injured or killed in Sth. Africa - our criminals are heavily armed and always carry knives. I did offer them Tia - my min. Dachsie - they thought she could be a mascot - big mistake she'd take on anything. Mervyn
