Hello All
Most examples of SA Light Horse hat badges that I have seen in pictures seem to have been brass and of fairly crude (or hurried) manufacture. Some appear to have been cast and others engraved. I have, however, also seen one example of a nice die struck white metal badge.
The quality of the engraved example below, recently added to my collection, seems surprisingly good and I would welcome any comments on this badge, the unit badges in general and the unit itself.
The badge appears to have been cut from a sheet of brass.
The SA Light Horse was raised in the Cape Colony in November 1899 and placed under command of Major (local Lt Col) the Hon. JHG Byng of the 10th Hussars.
Enrollment was very successful and squadrons were quickly deployed in the Cape and then Natal. After 6 squadrons had been deployed, remaining men who had enrolled were used to form the nuclei of Robert's Horse and Kitchener's Horse.
The men and the unit served with distinction during the war.
Information taken from "The Colonials in South Africa" by John Stirling.
Regards
Craig