transvaal ?

[rmarsden]

Can anyone give positive id on this arm badge? Three clutch pin spikes to the rear. Transvaal Scottish?
Ron.

[Artynut]

7th Medium Regt. South African Arty. Arm or breast badge.

[Madziro]

7 Medium Regt SAA was originally the 3rd Bn Transvaal Scottish during World War 2, hence the arty colours and the thistle. 3TS was converted to an arty unit during the war. This is a unit designation (regimental) arm shield worn on both upper arms at one time on stepping out uniform tunics in the 1970s to date. At one time the new SA government were undecided as to keeping all these unit flashes and many were discarded by 2003. 7 Medium Regt is a part time unit.

[Madziro]

This is the shoulder title worn prior to the arm shield by the unit.

[Brian Conyngham]

I hope this helps?

Brian

7th Medium Regiment SAA (Fd) According to the H H Curzon seniority list, the regiment was formed on the 16th September 1939. After serving in East and North Africa it later merged with the 23rd Medium Regiment (Mining Engineering Brigade), and it was then referred to as the 7/23rd Medium Regiment and served with the 6th SA Armoured Division with distinction in Italy.

In July 1946 the first intake of post-war recruits into the 3rd Battalion Transvaal Scottish were reformed as the 7th Medium Regiment SAA (3 T.S.) with its HQ in Benoni in the Transvaal (now Gauteng). Their first Commanding Officer was Lt- Col. A H Guy. The members continued to wear Transvaal Scottish buttons and shoulder titles but now wore the Artillery cap badge and collar badges. It was equipped with two 8 gun Batteries of 5.5 inch guns until the 28th February 1960 when it was disbanded.

With the reorganization of the Artillery Corps in 1974, it was decided to once again establish a Medium Regiment and this became the 7 Medium Regiment SAA (Fd), a Citizen Force unit with headquarters once again in Benoni. Amongst others the unit comprised members from Regiment Laeveld (previously 2nd Medium Regiment) from Nelspruit, which formed the nucleus of the ranks when it was the 7th Field Regiment based in Pretoria under the command of Cmdt. J.E. (Boet) Coetzee.

It saw action during several operational tours in the South West African / Angolan Campaign. It also had the unique distinction of being the first artillery unit to fire live rounds at the then new Army Battle School range at lohathla during September 1978. During 1979 it fell under the command of Cmdt. K.W.J. Ward and had an effective officer’s strength of 37 with a full complement of Warrant Officers and 650 other ranks. The unit’s three batteries are referred to as 71, 72 and 73 in line with the modern practice of naming batteries after the unit number.

During reorganization of the army in 1991, the Transvaal Horse Artillery absorbed the unit.

Owen F168, C1036 and C1037.

[iaindh]

Thanks Dudley & Brian, for the explanations and background, very interesting. I knew there was a connection between 3TS and Laeveld but I didn't know they were absorbed into the THA.

regards,

Iain

[rmarsden]

Thank you all for the replies.
Ron.

[sabrigade]

Alberton-20120623-01708.jpg

Headdress in my collection.

[iaindh]

Hi Will,

from when would they have worn the SAA grenade as opposed to the standard TS badge with the blue background?

regards, Iain

[Madziro]

For interest a tunic I have in the collection that was worn during WW2 by a 3TS 2nd Lt

[sabrigade]

Hi Dudley,

Does it have the "usual" Transvaal Scottish buttons?

[Madziro]

Hullo William

This tunic has SA Arty buttons on it.

Kind regards

Dudley