SAAF Uniforms To "Fourie".

[leigh kitchen]

A spin off from this thread:

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=31514

I bought this Service Dress along with a Mess Dress a few years ago, included in the grouping are visor cap, sidecap, shirts, gloves, belts etc, about everything except the footwear.

My "research" has been limited to a to a little time spent Googling, & the uniforms have languished in my garage since I got them.

[leigh kitchen]

A closer view:

[leigh kitchen]

The Ribbons:

[Arthur R]

Very nice. The uniform and ribbons look as though they're in first-class condition.

It looks as though Commandant Fourie retired some time in the 1980s: the fore-and-aft cap was introduced in the early 1980s IIRC, and the SADF Good Service Medal ribbons are the pre-1986 pattern.

Top row:

- Korea Medal

- Pro Patria Medal (no Cunene Clasp rosette, but as that was introduced in 1986, he may have been an Angola veteran all the same)

- SADF Good Service Medal Gold (30 years)

- SADF Good Service Medal Silver (20 years)

Lower row:

- Permanent Force Good Service Medal (18 years)

- Chief of the SADF Commendation Medal*

- UN Service Medal for Korea

- South Korea War Medal

* renamed 'Military Merit Medal', with post-nominal letters MMM, and moved up to rank before campaign medals in 1993

[leigh kitchen]

Thank you, I had'nt any idea what the ribbons were, I'd simply bought this & stashed it away for later exploration - the half wing, does it signify any particular role, such as Observer, Navgator, that sort of thing?

Presumably it does'nt indicate Pilot?

The pin holes above the ribbons I assume will be from pinning on the medal bar.

Edited October 30, 2008 by leigh kitchen

[Brett Hendey]

Hi Leigh

Thank you for taking the trouble to make this post. Fourie had an impressive post-1950 group of medals - a type that I would very much like to add to my collection. I will put copies of your pictures in my SA Korea file.

The half wing is for a SAAF Navigator.

Regards

Brett

[leigh kitchen]

I'll add more photos, it's a pity hs medals were'nt with the uniforms.

One of the collar badges on his Service Dress tunic is missing, although brass, unplated "replacements" were included with the various items that came with the uniforms.

I don't think that any item n the grouping is actually named to Fourie, apart from the SD tunic's plastic name badge.

[Brett Hendey]

Leigh

If you want brass collar badges, I can probably get them for you.

Regards

Brett

[leigh kitchen]

I've got a pair of brass collar badges that came loose with the uniforms, the Mess Dress jacket has it's badges, the SD tunic has only the one chromed or plated badge as seen in the photo, so I need to get my hands on its mate, thanks.

[Brett Hendey]

Leigh

I will look for the chromed badge on Monday and I will contact you again.

Regards

Brett