Rare Khaki pre-WW2 S.A.A.F. full dress uniform
 

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Attachment 112285

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I purchased this uniform a while back and I have not seen any other references to it.

The owner's son has a photograph of his father wearing the uniform and apparently it was worn with the white pith helmet with eagle. I am still waiting for a copy.

Fortunately, I do have such a helmet in my pith helmet collection.

Does anybody have any more details?

Hi SABrigade,
I dont have definate answer for you, but the 1934 dress regs talk of a drab full dress as apposed to the blue full dress of the 1924 dress regs. This could be the uniform you have. It is definately of the cut/style of a permanent force officer full dress frock. The SAAF had white stand collars with gold trim and gold embroidered collar badges. The waist sash is also as for permanant force staff officer.

Not a lot of info, but something to work with.

Steven

I have no info on such a tunic, but it seems plausible to me, and is one hell of a smashing garment! You are lucky to own that!

Wonderful and very interesting looking jacket, very similar in style to the one shown in the Rathbone Musuem

http://www.rathbonemuseum.com/SAAF/S...APopeFull.html

Really fascinating

Hi Will
Great uniform and also answers the question I have had about when the bullion on blue collars were worn. I have one which I've been meaning to post on the forum for info, which I now don't need to do :D
Cheers,
Alex

Will

Found this pic of Sir Pierre van Rynevelds uniforms I took a few years back at the SAAF Museum in Pretoria, see to the left there is the Khaki version, sadly did not take a full pic of it! It seems the fancy waist sash is on the dress uniform and on the Khaki uniform is a Sam Brown.

BC

Thanks Brian,

I have never taken notice of this uniform so will visit the museum on my next trip home.

I have the "black" uniform as well.

Regards,

Will

Nice Will

You will have to display them both, top drawer stuff when it comes to uniforms, did they come with a sam browne as it appears the Khaki uniform did not go with the fancy sash?

Regards
Brian

Hi Brian,
Both the Khaki and blue/black uniforms are UDF full dress and worn with either the sash in Review order B or without the sash in Review order A. I dont see any reference in the regulations to wear this uniform with a sam brown belt and if that is what the museum has on display then it appears they have got it wrong. Wont be the first time that they have done this.

Steven

Thanks Steven,

Can you quote the full dress regulations?

I think I have a copy of the 1923 regulations back home.

Regards,

Will

Hi Will

I was looking at the 1923 dress regs with regard to the orders of dress when I responded to Brian's message, but know taking another look, the UDF 1923 regulations only mention a JACKET (ie. Service dress in drab with step collar)
and a FROCK (Modified jacket with stand collar in blue serge).
The blue FROCK was worn in Review Order B with sash and in Undress order with Sam Brown belt.
The sash in 1923 was a gold and crimson silk sash for General officers and blue and red silk for staff officers. Other officers dont appear to have worn a sash.

The two uniforms you have (Blue/Black and khaki) are in fact full dress TUNIC's and this appears to have been adopted c.1934 (or at least referenced to in the 1934 regulations)
The 1934 regulations only mention a gold and crimson net silk sash to be worn by all staff officers in Full Dress Review order and Modified Full Dress, so the blue sash appears to no longer be worn.
I was given a very scattered (missing many pages) photocopy of the 1934 regulations, so am unable to give precise details as to the orders of dress. The sash is mentioned on page 15 (item number 35) and the Full dress tunic on page 17 (item number 47). I dont have the pages of the officers dress orders, so cannot elaborate on the whether the Sam Brown was worn with the Tunic or not. With that I retract my statement regarding the Museums display of the khaki Tunic with Sam Brown :o

Regards
Steven

Guys

Surely there are pictures around with chaps wearing these uniforms?

Brian

Thanks Steven!

Brian, the owner's son apparently has a photograph of his father wearing the uniform.

I am still trying to contact him to get a copy.

Regards,

Will

Hi Will
Could you show a close up of the collars please? Are they a matched pair?
Here's a picture of my single.
Cheers,
Alex

I echo Alexs post. Does anyone have a close up pic of the collars on the 2 uniforms? I'm interested to see what detailing they would have had?