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#1
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SA Light Horse Badge Questions
Hello All
Most examples of SA Light Horse hat badges that I have seen in pictures seem to have been brass and of fairly crude (or hurried) manufacture. Some appear to have been cast and others engraved. I have, however, also seen one example of a nice die struck white metal badge. The quality of the engraved example below, recently added to my collection, seems surprisingly good and I would welcome any comments on this badge, the unit badges in general and the unit itself. The badge appears to have been cut from a sheet of brass. The SA Light Horse was raised in the Cape Colony in November 1899 and placed under command of Major (local Lt Col) the Hon. JHG Byng of the 10th Hussars. Enrollment was very successful and squadrons were quickly deployed in the Cape and then Natal. After 6 squadrons had been deployed, remaining men who had enrolled were used to form the nuclei of Robert's Horse and Kitchener's Horse. The men and the unit served with distinction during the war. Information taken from "The Colonials in South Africa" by John Stirling. Regards Craig |
#2
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A fairly normal, but, very fine badge, the SALH was one of the original Class C SAMIF regiments and from its inception, in Cape Town, on the 8th of November 1899, it proved itself to also be one of the best, as well as both the Churchill brothers, it attracted a number of other characters too, interestingly, a great many of their badges were made by the famous Rand jeweller, List Brothers, in their Durban workshops.
The SAMIF was disbanded after Vereeniging, in the particular case of the SALH, their disbandment took place at Elandsfontein on the 7th of July 1902, you mention a die struck white metal badge, those were actually made here in Great Britain, for a different regiment, but, of the same name, this latter was part of the Transvaal Volunteers. Again, a very nice badge, I should be very pleased with it if I were you. Last edited by Frank Kelley; 31-07-16 at 08:57 AM. |
#3
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Thank you Frank for the very interesting information. I am very pleased with this badge and hope to eventually get hold of one or two more variations from the unit, along with badges of its contemporaries.
The SAMIF and pre-Union Volunteer units are things that I know very little about and find very confusing but I will take that into a different thread. Regards Craig |
#4
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Craig,
It's a very good badge and certainly not one that is easy to find these days. Regards Frank |
#5
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Hi Craig,
That's a smashing badge you have there. Lovely engraving. It seems there are some wonderful and varied versions of this badge to look out for. Here is my example. Cheerio, Roy
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Collecting: Despatch Rider Insignia & Photographs. Author/Dealer in the Fairbairn Sykes Fighting Knife My website: www.fsknife.com |
#6
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Hi Roy, you do have some nice items. Thank you for sharing. Andrew
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