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#1
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Bophuthatswana Signal unit
This is apparently a Bophuthatswana Signal Unit Beret Balkie, therefore one must assume there was a beret badge. Can anyone tell me what the badge looked like please? Thank you in anticipation.
Phil. |
#2
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Hi Phil
While there were obviously signallers in the Bophuthatswana Defence Force, I cannot find evidence of a Bop Signals Unit and have never seen a Bop Signals Corps-type badge either. The only "homeland" signals badges that I have seen are a Transkei Signals Cap badge and a smaller version that I believe is a beret badge, while the SWA TF, actually part of the SADF and not "homeland", had distinctive Signals collar badges. Your balkie also does not look like any of the Bophuthatswana beret bars that I have come across before - those that I have or know of were all in the SADF style of vertically divided bars, although at least one had a Bop DF device in the centre as well, more like miniature version of SADF higher formation bars for shoulder flashes. Transkei balkies were also similar to the SADF balkies as far as I know. I did have some slip-on shoulder flashes that I once thought were Bop Signals company (tactical) flashes but I think they might actually have been the colours of Mankwe Base. Regards Craig |
#3
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Thanks Craig, for that information. This bar is described in the book, Border War Badges, A Guide to South African Military & Police Badges 1964 - 1994, as a Bophuthatswana Signals Beret Bar. Following on from that I thought there must have been a beret badge.
Anyway the mystery deepens, thanks once again Craig. Regards Phil. |
#4
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I have not seen the bar before but page 252 of The Royal Corps of Signals Supplement by Cliff Lord gives some details re the subject.
Rgds Quicksilver |
#5
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Yes, thanks Quicksilver, I have read that in the book you mention.
Phil. |
#6
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Hi Phil and Quicksilver
That confirms the badge is Bop signals then, so my shoulder flashes were probably correctly identified. I will have to dig them out and check my old references. Unfortunately my copy of Border War Badges is very far away at the moment. My guess would be that the beret bar and Signals flashes were worn with the Bop Defence Force cap badge by Bop Defence Force HQ staff of the 'telecommunications' staff compartment and the beret bar might also have been worn with unit badges and flashes by signallers permanently attached to units, in the South African style of the time. Since neither Andrew Dines nor Colin Owen listed a Bop Signals badge in their books and I don't recall one in the artwork files that I saw a few years ago, I still think that there was no distinct badge but will be happy to be proved wrong - one more badge to track down, along with that balkie you have. Regards Craig |
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