WW1 SA Shoulder Titles

[sabrigade]

Brian,

Yes, some of them simply just do not appear these days.

I will post some more tomorrow.

Regards,

Will

[iaindh]

Will & Brian,

an excellent thread which is clearing up a few myths eg SATC.

Thanks for sharing and keep 'em coming!

regards, Iain

[sabrigade]

IMG_6961.jpg

The South African Heavy Artillery variations in my collection.

[Brian Conyngham]

Will

The 2 on the bottom left are WW2, same series as the SATC and SAAF straights. I have a pic of these being worn by the SAHA who served in EA.

Brian

[sabrigade]

Thanks Brian, I have one on a orange volunteer tab somewhere.

Where did they serve?

[Brian Conyngham]

Morning Will

East Africa and Zanzibar, an interesting outfit. The first SA chaps to serve in East Africa.

This picture was posted by Stephen in an earlier posting.

Brian

[Brian Conyngham]

Here is a summary of their activities:

1st Medium Brigade, South African Heavy Artillery (WW2). This unit was formed by the combination of the 1st and 2nd Medium Batteries South African Heavy Artillery that were part of the Coast Artillery Brigade. They left for East Africa in October 1940 to take part in the East African campaign 1940-42. The 1st Medium Battery was issued with 60-pounder Mark 1 World War 1 era guns that had been modified for modern warfare by having pneumatic tyres fitted. The 2nd Medium Battery was issued with 4 6-inch breech loading howitzers from the World War 1 era on wooden, iron tyred wheels and with the pieces stamped “Retubed 1916”. These were later all upgraded with pneumatic tyres at Merca, Italialian Somaliland in the field by the Battery. Many of these same guns can still be seen today below the Union Buildings and at the SA War museum and elsewhere.

For movement these guns were transported on ordinary lorry chassis and were hoisted into position with the wheels removed and these were strapped to the Howitzer which was, in turn, bolted to the porte’. This process once practiced took as little as one and a half hours. To unload the drill was reversed.

At their first action at Harrar the 2nd Medium Battery set-up their guns on a forward slope, with Zero lines recorded they waited for orders to fire. With the first shot from No 1 gun the moorings broke free and the gun started rolling downhill towards the enemy and had to be stopped by all the crew who ran off after it, it was soon back in position and carried on with the battle!

In Egypt this unit was sacrificed to provide reinforcements for the SAA field regiments.

It is on record that this unit was reformed from 1946 untill 1954 and known as 1 Medium Regiment, being originally based in Cape Town, and later transferred to Oudtshoorn.

Regards
Brian

[sabrigade]

Thanks Brian,

I will post the next batch in a few hours.

Regards,

Will

[Brian Conyngham]

Thanks Will

You have some fine examples of SAHA S/T I am envious

Brian

[sabrigade]

IMG_6977.jpg

The Artillery have many variations and served on many fronts and campaigns.

These were Heavy Artillery and were worn in the GSWA campaign?

[sabrigade]

IMG_6976.jpg

South African Field Artillery variations.

[sabrigade]

IMG_6984.jpg

IMG_6986.jpg

A SAFA uniform in my collection.

[sabrigade]

IMG_6980.jpg

Some variations worn by the South African Infantry battalions/regiments in the East African campaign.

This should clarify the discussions on the difference between the 1st South African Infantry Brigade insignia and those worn by the other tow South African Infantry Brigades in East Africa.

[sabrigade]

IMG_6981.jpg

IMG_6982.jpg

Variations of The South African Horse/Zuid Afrikaanse Ruiters.

When shoulder titles were worn, they were worn with the "SAH" on the right and the 'ZAR" on the left.

Most variations have the Regimental number above the shoulder title.

The South African Mounted Riffles manned the machine gun sections of the 8th and 9th South African Horse so these examples form part of my S.A.M.R. display.

[Brian Conyngham]

Originally Posted by sabrigade

Attachment 119291

The Artillery have many variations and served on many fronts and campaigns.

These were Heavy Artillery and were worn in the GSWA campaign?

Hi Will

Yes these are GSWA.

Attaching my 3 versions, apologies for pics but they are behind glass

Brian