[johnG]

Roger, the more I think about this the more I think you could be on to something. From memory I do believe Malta sent men to South Africa during the Boer War, so now for some Googling to try to pin that down.

Malta would most certainly be a better alternative to my original suggestion of the bayonet having a Kommando connection - somehow I cannot visualise the farmers in a bayonet charge, although I am sure they would have been very efficient at it, or even a Lee Metford finding favour over a Mauser or a beloved Springfield.

Regards,

John