South African Militaria

[stefan9633]

these are very interresting

i have 3 of these, one bronze, one silver and one that appears to be brown (this is in fact bronze, but it appears to have been treated in some way)

the silver and brown ones have an attached wheel that spins around, the bronze is a solid 1 piece

[attachmentid=45490]

the bronze one

Edited June 30, 2006 by stefan9633

[stefan9633]

[attachmentid=45491]

the silver

[stefan9633]

[attachmentid=45492]

the brown

[stefan9633]

[attachmentid=45493]

unknown

[stefan9633]

[attachmentid=45494]

unknown

[stefan9633]

[attachmentid=45495]

unknown

[stefan9633]

[attachmentid=45496]

this has me completely stumped

[stefan9633]

[attachmentid=45497]

now this one could be from either an engineer or grenadier regiment, no idea

[stefan9633]

[attachmentid=45498]

now these are very interessting

made from brass, very very soft. should have heard me cursing, trying to mount these without bending them.

WWI issue maybe?

[stefan9633]

[attachmentid=45499]

another puzzle

has a pinback mounting wich appears to have been added later as there are obvious signs of other mounts that have been removed.

all for now

the other pieces i was able to id myself because they were fairly common

having a heck of a time trying to photograph the buttons, any hints?

if any body can clarify any of these badges for me, please qoute the post as well.

Thanks guys.

Edited June 30, 2006 by stefan9633

[Dave Danner]

if any body can clarify any of these badges for me, please qoute the post as well.

Thanks guys.

#25 - South African Army Service Corps cap badge

##26-28 - South AfricanArtillery cap badges

#29 - Special Service Battalion cap badge

#31 - Citizen Force Commando beret badge

#33 - South African Artillery collar or beret badge

#34 - South African Artillery title

#30 is British, probably 1960s, for the The Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire), which was amalgamated in 1970 into The Queen's Lancashire Regiment.

[DutchBoy]

Stefan,

Very interesting badges from the RSA that you have there! Do you have more?

As per your request a few posts back, I've posted my South African medal collection in the collector's showcase:

http://gmic.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=9458

Edited June 30, 2006 by DutchBoy

[stefan9633]

Dave, thanks for helping out man. Any idea about #32

Mattijs, thanks for your post mate, very nice collection

[Guest Carl Hoehler]

. . . . either an engineer or grenadier regiment . . . .

Stefan

Nothling in "Ultima Ratio Regum" (A history of SA Artillery) gives a sketch of a similiar badge as "South African Anti-Aircraft" BUT in Buchan "The South African Forces in France" the picture of Lt-Col W H L Tripp DSO MC of the Royal Marine Artillery (Commanding the 75th (SA) Siege Battery and and later the 50th (SA) Brigade) clearly shows a very similiar cap badge as well as similiar but less clear collar badges.

My own copy (40mm by 20mm) is similiar but has a SMOOTH grenade (Tripp's could also be smooth).

I have edited your picture and attached it.

[attachmentid=63264]

Carl Hoehler

[DutchBoy]

Hi Stephan,

You may want to look into buying the following book if you're serious about collecting South African badges:

THE MILITARY BADGES AND INSIGNIA OF SOUTHERN AFRICA by Colin R. Owen.

pm me if you want one, I know a dealer who sells it.

[Guest Carl Hoehler]

. . . .THE MILITARY BADGES AND INSIGNIA OF SOUTHERN AFRICA by Colin R. Owen. . . .

Guys

Stefan's badge as edited in my post could be a South African Artllery Beret badge (Owen 846).

The Royal Marine Artillery cap badge remains a mystery. I found a picture of Lt C S Walker RMA 1914 wearing what seems to be the tall, narrow (40 mm by 20 mm ???) 7-flamed smooth (?) grenade.

[attachmentid=63538].

However some of the pictures of the RMA cap badges (found on eBay which is not necessarilly authoritative or even authentic) when edited look like these

[attachmentid=63539] [attachmentid=63540] [attachmentid=63541] [attachmentid=63542]

Carl Hoehler

[Laurence Strong]

If I am not mistaken 7 flames would be indicative of an Engineer grenade.

I just picked up this hat badge was this used after WW1?

[Guest Carl Hoehler]

. . . . 7 flames would be indicative of an Engineer grenade.

. . . . used after WW1?

Laurence

This is the South African Engineering Corps cap badge 1959 - 1970 - there could be 7 flames but they look more like an aspargus tip (I was there in 1963) - Pic from Frank Green.

[attachmentid=63797]

The badges in the pictures of Lt-Col Tripp and Lt Walker (who were definitely Royal Marine Artillery) look like this but with a smooth grenade - Pic from Stefan

[attachmentid=63796]

Your badge is the WW2 version (Afrikaans motto) - the WW1 version had the Dutch motto ("EENDRACHT MAAKT MACHT")

Carl

[Laurence Strong]

Hi Carl

Thanks for the info, Is it still used as an infantry hat badge?

[Guest Carl Hoehler]

. . . still used as an infantry hat badge?

Lauurence

Sorry about the delay but aliens kidnapped my PC and PC Tools Spyware Doctor is not compatible with GMIC.

The generic South African Infantry badge is the springbok head marked "SAI" shown in Stefan's post no 3.

The (what used to be called) Citizen Force regiments such as the Transvaal Scottish had there own badges.

Carl

cahoehler@gmail.com

[peter monahan]

Guys

I think #32 is modelled on the badge of the (British) V Dragon Guards: large "V" with entwined 2 initials and a crown on top, so I'd guess (emphasis on "guess") it's a SA cavalry units: S.... Carbineers, S... Cavalry or summat. For what it's worth.

Peter