Natal Mounted Rifles cap badges and titles

[Frank Kelley]

Hello Iain,
I like the middle example with it's green backing, looks like it's original to the particular badge from looking at the photograph, worn too, I don't think that I've seen an example shaped to the badge before, they are normally rectangular.
Very nice, is there a story behind this one?
Kind regards Frank

[Brian Conyngham]

Originally Posted by Alex Rice

Hi Brian
Have to disagree.... CTH definitely wore badges on the Border and they were painted black for the time up North. It's quite possible NMR did the same thing.
Cheers,
Alex

Alex

I would like to see proof of this, I spent 3 months at Rundu which was a big base and never once saw any unit badges except rank. We once had a group of Omega Bushmen stop over for a day or two and they had their odd hat with unique badge but that is the only time I recall seeing a headress badge.

Brian

[Traist]

Hi Brian, you can look at 648,649 and 1963 in my book. Regards Andrew

[iaindh]

Hi Frank,

it's certainly an original backing, sadly, I dont have a story behind it. Rather macabre though, there is a hair attached to the backing.

kind regards, Iain

Originally Posted by Frank Kelley

Hello Iain,
I like the middle example with it's green backing, looks like it's original to the particular badge from looking at the photograph, worn too, I don't think that I've seen an example shaped to the badge before, they are normally rectangular.
Very nice, is there a story behind this one?
Kind regards Frank

[Frank Kelley]

A hair?

Originally Posted by iaindh

Hi Frank,

it's certainly an original backing, sadly, I dont have a story behind it. Rather macabre though, there is a hair attached to the backing.

kind regards, Iain

[Alex Rice]

Originally Posted by Brian Conyngham

Alex

I would like to see proof of this, I spent 3 months at Rundu which was a big base and never once saw any unit badges except rank. We once had a group of Omega Bushmen stop over for a day or two and they had their odd hat with unique badge but that is the only time I recall seeing a headress badge.

Brian

Hi Brian
Sorry, should have been more specific, the blackened badges I have were collars, not headdress badges. I think they also blackened titles as well and there was even a special Drum Majors badge made on nutria for the trip up North. I was told the guys were instructed to paint the badges themselves, they weren't issued blackened. I don't know if the blackened badges were only for the band or for the whole regiment, but even if it was just for the band, there is no reason why NMR wouldn't have done the same for their band. I also don't know if they were issued with extra badges to be painted or were just expected to paint their own badges and then remove it with thinners on their return. I have played in the bands of bboth units, so I know they deployed with them when they went to the Border. I know a couple of the old guys from NMR who may have been there so I'll ask them when I see them.
Cheers,
Alex

[iaindh]

Yes, presumably, the original owner had had a haircut at some stage as its about 1cm long, and some how a the piece manage to get between his beret and the badge backing. I dont want to take it off for some reason?

Originally Posted by Frank Kelley

A hair?

[Frank Kelley]

LOL Iain,
I don't think it to be an issue, nor, do I think it is "macabre" either, I often find the odd example in my bath, but, I am not fastidious, I dare say it would be one of mine, have you had this particular one examined by a forensic expert?
Regards Frank

Originally Posted by iaindh

Yes, presumably, the original owner had had a haircut at some stage as its about 1cm long, and some how a the piece manage to get between his beret and the badge backing. I dont want to take it off for some reason?

[Brian Conyngham]

Originally Posted by Alex Rice

Hi Brian
Sorry, should have been more specific, the blackened badges I have were collars, not headdress badges. I think they also blackened titles as well and there was even a special Drum Majors badge made on nutria for the trip up North. I was told the guys were instructed to paint the badges themselves, they weren't issued blackened. I don't know if the blackened badges were only for the band or for the whole regiment, but even if it was just for the band, there is no reason why NMR wouldn't have done the same for their band. I also don't know if they were issued with extra badges to be painted or were just expected to paint their own badges and then remove it with thinners on their return. I have played in the bands of bboth units, so I know they deployed with them when they went to the Border. I know a couple of the old guys from NMR who may have been there so I'll ask them when I see them.
Cheers,
Alex

Alex

The problem I have is that the only place one wore collar badges were on the "stepout" jacket or older "bunny" jacket and unit badges worn on berets/caps. Standard dress on the Border was "browns" with no collar badges and no badges on bush hats, it is of course possible for the band members to have taken dress uniform but where and when would they have worn them? Definately not on patrol or on over border attacks. No one went on Patrol wearing berets or caps.

I would be interested to find out more please do follow up with the NMR guys.

I feel these blackened badges were from the WW2 era.

Regards
Brian

[loupie1961]

Already posted on another thread in this forum: a black beret with the SATC beret badge but also the flash of the NMR: quite an interesting combination, as one would think that even as tank troops, the NMR would have retained their own badge?

[Frank Kelley]

"Bunny"
Please explain!

Originally Posted by Brian Conyngham

Alex

The problem I have is that the only place one wore collar badges were on the "stepout" jacket or older "bunny" jacket and unit badges worn on berets/caps. Standard dress on the Border was "browns" with no collar badges and no badges on bush hats, it is of course possible for the band members to have taken dress uniform but where and when would they have worn them? Definately not on patrol or on over border attacks. No one went on Patrol wearing berets or caps.

I would be interested to find out more please do follow up with the NMR guys.

I feel these blackened badges were from the WW2 era.

Regards
Brian

[Madziro]

The term "Bunny Jacket" refers to the battledress blouse. Post WW2 the type in the attached photo was worn up to the 1960s/ early 70s by SA troops.

[Frank Kelley]

Hello Dudley,
Many thanks, but I'm still a little confused, why "bunny" jacket?
Kind regards Frank

[Brian Conyngham]

Frank

It is just one of those many names or terms that were passed down from generation to generation in the service. We still referred to Landrovers as "garries", if you got the shyts it was "gypo guts", if you were lazy you were a "gypogat" (as useful as an arabs @rsehole) etc most definately not PC by todays standards. Many originated "up North" during WW2 or even before that. During the SADF era many more were created based mainly on the Afrikaans language (or should I say the worst of it, they have a unique way of expressing themselves....very funny as long as you are not at the receiving end on it )

I surppose in todays modern SANDF many of these Colonial era terms have disappeared?

Brian

[iaindh]

Frank,

I actually suspect the previous owner was brutally murdered; The hair is the only link I have to the owner and so I am loath to part with it

Originally Posted by Frank Kelley

LOL Iain,
I don't think it to be an issue, nor, do I think it is "macabre" either, I often find the odd example in my bath, but, I am not fastidious, I dare say it would be one of mine, have you had this particular one examined by a forensic expert?
Regards Frank