Natal Light Horse shoulder title, clearly not!

[Brian Conyngham]

Fellow collectors

At our local medal meeting held yesterday, this photograph came to light, and I just had to share it to further assist SA badge collectors. It just goes to show the VALUE of "period pictures"!

It clearly shows the NLH shoulder title being used as a cap and helmet badge during the German South West African campaign. If this was the case with the NLH, the question can be asked 'how many other units wore there shoulder titles as headress badges?'

Clearly colonial troops.....doubt the British Army would have allowed such variations in uniforns and use of insignia to be worn whilst on active service?

Thanks to Mike Conradie for lending me the picture.

Regards
Brian

[Frank Kelley]

Hello Brian,
Super picture, I like the forth pic you show with the NLH on the front of the helmet!
Regards Frank

Originally Posted by Brian Conyngham

Fellow collectors

At our local medal meeting held yesterday, this photograph came to light, and I just had to share it to further assist SA badge collectors. It just goes to show the VALUE of "period pictures"!

It clearly shows the NLH shoulder title being used as a cap and helmet badge during the German South West African campaign.

Clearly colonial troops.....doubt the British Army would have allowed such variations in uniforns and use of insignia to be worn whilst on active service?

Regards
Brian

[Brian Conyngham]

Frank

The chap with the peak cap also has a NLH shoulder title as his badge, I was very chuffed to find this picture.

Brian

[Frank Kelley]

Hello Brian,
The campaign was a fast moving one, I am confident that dress regulations never came into it at any point, I like this photograph, whilst it shows the extensive use of the title, the Natal Light Horse also had fine cap badges.
Now then, my friend Mr H, has told me all about these meetings, I feel somewhat robbed and cheated to think that I cannot be there with you all!
Kind regards to you all in the last outpost!
Frank

[Brian Conyngham]

Originally Posted by Frank Kelley

Hello Brian,
The campaign was a fast moving one, I am confident that dress regulations never came into it at any point, I like this photograph, whilst it shows the extensive use of the title, the Natal Light Horse also had fine cap badges.
Now then, my friend Mr H, has told me all about these meetings, I feel somewhat robbed and cheated to think that I cannot be there with you all!
Kind regards to you all in the last outpost!
Frank

Frank

Yes, we enjoy our these meetings but numbers joining have dropped off due to date clashes and other obligatons, difficult to please all.

However there is always something new to view and learn, and thats what count's. Very informal and thats the way we like it, no committees, minutes just the nitty gritty and a few jokes and beverages (hot and cold ) You and any other visitors to our shores are most welcome to attend.

Regards
Brian

[iaindh]

Hi Brian,

Nice photos, thanks for sharing.

The NLH was only formed by Royston in 1914 and disbanded in 1915; could this not account for the use of the title? Although of course there was also quite an array of different headgear worn in the GSWA campaign, by the SA troops.

regards, Iain

Originally Posted by Brian Conyngham

Fellow collectors

At our local medal meeting held yesterday, this photograph came to light, and I just had to share it to further assist SA badge collectors. It just goes to show the VALUE of "period pictures"!

It clearly shows the NLH shoulder title being used as a cap and helmet badge during the German South West African campaign. If this was the case with the NLH, the question can be asked 'how many other units wore there shoulder titles as headress badges?'

Clearly colonial troops.....doubt the British Army would have allowed such variations in uniforns and use of insignia to be worn whilst on active service?

Thanks to Mike Conradie for lending me the picture.

Regards
Brian

[Frank Kelley]

Hi Iain,
The cap badges were made buy a jeweller, normally, in three pieces and then had wire loops or a pin attached to the reverse, I have never believed these were standard issue across the regt, they are just too good, in the way they were made, the titles are simple and were normally just made in a single piece, though, of course, not always.
Kind regards Frank

Originally Posted by iaindh

Hi Brian,

Nice photos, thanks for sharing.

The NLH was only formed by Royston in 1914 and disbanded in 1915; could this not account for the use of the title? Although of course there was also quite an array of different headgear worn in the GSWA campaign, by the SA troops.

regards, Iain

[Traist]

Hi, I have this helmet in my collection and thought that I should add a picture here, also the NLH cap badges. Regards Andrew

[Brian Conyngham]

Andrew

Very nice helmet and cap badges, these helmet must be rare!

Thanks for sharing these to add value to the thread.

Brian

[Traist]

Hi Brian, thank you. I bought it for the sole purpose of having proof that the titles weren't only worn as shoulder titles. I have got rather fond of it since. Have fun. Andrew

[Frank Kelley]

Hello Andrew,
Is there any provenance with the helmet, which I like very much, it is as good an example as you are ever likely to see and a rare tale of survival.
Regards Frank

Originally Posted by Traist

Hi, I have this helmet in my collection and thought that I should add a picture here, also the NLH cap badges. Regards Andrew

[iaindh]

Hi all,
excuse the error, I meant to say, "could account" not "could not account!"

Andrew, nice helmet with title, nogal.
I wonder if the titles were specifically made for the helmet, (as well as for STs; Brian's original pics show STs being worn,) or just used as a best alternative?

regards, Iain

Originally Posted by iaindh

Hi Brian,

Nice photos, thanks for sharing.

The NLH was only formed by Royston in 1914 and disbanded in 1915; could this not account for the use of the title? Although of course there was also quite an array of different headgear worn in the GSWA campaign, by the SA troops.

regards, Iain

[Frank Kelley]

Hello Iain,
My own thoughts would have to be as the badges were made in three pieces and then had to be hand finished, I would suggest that a far greater number of titles were made and worn.
Regards Frank

Originally Posted by iaindh

Hi all,
excuse the error, I meant to say, "could account" not "could not account!"

Andrew, nice helmet with title, nogal.
I wonder if the titles were specifically made for the helmet, (as well as for STs; Brian's original pics show STs being worn,) or just used as a best alternative?

regards, Iain

[Alex Rice]

Hi Guys
Great thread, very interesting. I think dress regs in WWI were unable to be followed in many theatres, there are a lot of cases where shoulder titles were used as cap badges on the Western Front as well, and I'm sure this happened in other areas too.
Cheers,
Alex

[Frank Kelley]

Hello Alex,
I really can't imagine that members of the NLH would be at all concerned about badges and titles, I am quite sure they would have been far too preoccupied with getting those wretched huns.
After reading Brian's original post and looking at his photograph, I now look upon these titles in a differant way.
Regards Frank

Originally Posted by Alex Rice

Hi Guys
Great thread, very interesting. I think dress regs in WWI were unable to be followed in many theatres, there are a lot of cases where shoulder titles were used as cap badges on the Western Front as well, and I'm sure this happened in other areas too.
Cheers,
Alex