Bushveld Carbineers shoulder title ?
 

I have had this somewhat crudely made title for some while now. I always thought that it might be for the Bushveld Carbineers, but then it might be something else entirely. I showed it to a badge collecting friend who said it was to the Bushveld Carbineers. He said that he had seen a similar title in the Bushveld Carbineers Museum , a private museum situated in an hotel near Pietersburg which specialises in historical tours of the area. Evidently someone had excavated a couple of these titles from a dump behind a building which had been used by the Carbineers in the Boer War. I like the story ( but then I would, wouldn't I ?). What do you think ?

The Bushveld Carbineers normally simply wore BVC to the best of my knowledge, a cast BC would be rather odd, subsequently the Pietersberg Light Horse wore PLH, but, again, a cast example would be strange, what are the two fittings on the reverse?

Here is a pic of the reverse showing the fittings. I have seen a pic of the BVC title that you mention, and always thought that it was the only one. The more I get into this hobby, the more I realise that all the standard reference works have missed a number of badges and variations. Not surprising , I suppose, but it has made me reluctant to dismiss anything until it has been carefully investigated.
Regards
Mike

Hi Mike, I have visited the museum in question. It was close to 10 years ago, but I am sure that this was the same as the badge that they had there. I have one like this in my collection and have it down as Bushveldt Carbineers. Regards Andrew

Hello Mike,
I think those fitting are rather strange, certainly not something I'd expect to see on any SAMIF badge, regarding their badges, the use of BVC as a badge was certainly documented at the time, with collections being made at the time of Vereeniging at the conclusion of hostilities, there was certainly more than "one" badge produced in Johannesburg.
For example, there was more than one variation of the badge shown in the MHS "Bulliten" in the 1960's and those were in a handsome frame which had existed since to was created at the end of the Anglo Boer War.
What people should understand is that this particular Corps was really little more than a normal Class C unit on a par with others like the Eastern Province Horse and Nesbitt's Horse, yes, I take into account the area in which they operated on anti commando duties, but, others such as Franz Steinaecker had similar issues, it was simply that they gained notoriety after the need to actually be seen to deliberately appease, both the enemy and the German Government.

I would be inclined to keep an open mind about your badge, but, I would like to see proof of the Pietersburg story.
Regards Frank