SA Garrison Institute

[Chris Boonzaier]

Am not sure if I posted this before.

Just after the Boer war the South African Garrison Institute was founded, a South African Version of the NAAFI (Which I am told was the motto of the units soldiers? No Ambition And F-all interest)

"The South African Garrison Institutes Fund was created in 1902, with the object of supplying the regular troops in South Africa with goods at favourable rates. Shortly after the conclusion of the Great War it was decided that regular troops should no longer be maintained in South Africa, and the balance of the fund, together with the value of certain buildings sub- subsequently sold (a total of approximately £24,000), was remitted to England and has been partly expended and partly invested by the Army Council for the benefit of the British Army."

[Brett Hendey]

Very interesting, Chris. This is the first I have read of the SAGI. I wonder if this is another obscure "collectibles" field and, if so, what besides ginger beer bottles are to be found?

Regards

Brett

[Mervyn Mitton]

Yes - I agree - an interesting subject. I've never seen one of these bottles. Mervyn