Mystery Boer Uniform

[milhistry]

This is a photograph of J J Naudé taken during the Anglo-Boer War.

I have researched a fair bit of information about this interesting character but the uniform worn in this and other photographs remains a mystery to me.

He initially served on Commando, got fed up with his lackluster commandants and went back to Pretoria where he served as a Sergeant in the Mounted Police after the fall of Pretoria (while also spying for the Boers).

Later he controlled a network of agents in Pretoria (mostly women) and occasionally walked about Pretoria dressed as a British officer... After his cover was blown, he took to the field again, was made a Captain by Louis Botha and commanded a more conventional mounted recce unit until the end of the War. His exploits earned him the Dekoratie voor Trouwe Diesnt ("the Boer DSO") and a handwritten letter of recommendation from Commandant General Botha.

During WW1 he commanded Naudé's Scouts as a major and saw action in GSWA receiving the Croix de Guerre.

So... taking all of this into account... what uniform is he wearing in the photograph?

It does not appear to conform to the Staatsartillery or the ZARP pattern, nor does it resemble a British uniform. The rank on the collar appears to be a single star, which in the ZAR would have represented a "tweede-luitenant" (2nd Lt) not "kapitein" (Capt). Any thoughts? Thanks

[leigh kitchen]

No doubt irrelevant, but my initial impression of the tunic was cWWI Italian / Austrian.

[Alex Rice]

It may be a SWA uniform. It looks a bit like the uniform worn by some of the forces left behind in GSWA after the Germans surrendered??? Just a possibility.

[Brian Conyngham]

Mill/Alex

A difficult one but with that said it is quite possible a "mixture" of available uniforms worn by the Boers. ZARP, Staats Artillery, Medical services being the three common known branches of the Boer forces, that wore uniforms at some stage of the conflict.

Brian

[RobD]

The slouch hat up on the right usually means Boer (or German ... or one or two NZ units) - British and Colonial hats were worn up on the left.
But the prismatic binoculars look like WW1 era.
Have you tried M C Heunis, who seems to be the font of all knowledge in matters of Boer uniform / kit? PM me if you need his email address.
Rob

[iaindh]

Cape rebels used to wear a white hat band.
vrijwilliger korps maybe?

benviljoen.jpg

[milhistry]

Thanks for all the comments/suggestions.

This photo is definitely Anglo-Boer War era. Here are a few more of him with some Commandoes.

Yes, please do send me MC Heunis's contact details.

It may possibly have been a unique uniform, cobbled together from whatever was available. It does seem to have similarities to Ben Viljoen's uniform too in terms of overall colour as well as the dark collar.

[milhistry]

Here is a First World War picture of him.

[iaindh]

Athough the Vrijwilliger korps were pre ABW, the soldiers kept their uniforms, like Ben Viljoen, when they were absorbed into the Commandos.

[RobD]

milhistory, PM sent.
May also get some useful comments on
http://www.victorianwars.com/
Rob

[Alex Rice]

I was in the Luderitz museum in Namibia a week or two ago and there were some photos of guys there in 1918 who were wearing similar uniforms, that's why I thought it could have been occupational forces in GSWA.
Cheers,
Alex

[milhistry]

That makes sense as some of the UDF wore the 1913 ACF uniform which was drab with dark green collars and facings which would look similar in black in white.

[QSAMIKE]

You may also get some comments on:

http://www.angloboerwar.com

Mike

[Lancer 17]

Originally Posted by RobD

The slouch hat up on the right usually means Boer (or German ... or one or two NZ units) - British and Colonial hats were worn up on the left.
But the prismatic binoculars look like WW1 era.
Have you tried M C Heunis, who seems to be the font of all knowledge in matters of Boer uniform / kit? PM me if you need his email address.
Rob

Thanks for this interesting post.

Just for the records, Australian, Victorian (State / Colony) Colonial forces ie Victorian Mounted Rifles / Bushmen contingents wore a Bush hat with a triple twist puggari with the hat turned up on the right side and not the left. Victoria sent 5 contingents in the Colonial period, ie Pre Federation in 1901 and 3 contingents of Australian Commonwealth Horse. post 1901.

Other Australian Colonial contingents had the hat turned up on the left and the slouch hat is still worn by Australian troops turned up on the left.

I hope that this helps.

Regards

Phil.

[Frank Kelley]

I think you will find that the 5th Victorian contingent, the largest, with over one hundred officers, actually arrived in South Africa in March 1902 and perhaps, unsurprisingly, left the following month.

Originally Posted by Lancer 17

Thanks for this interesting post.

Just for the records, Australian, Victorian (State / Colony) Colonial forces ie Victorian Mounted Rifles / Bushmen contingents wore a Bush hat with a triple twist puggari with the hat turned up on the right side and not the left. Victoria sent 5 contingents in the Colonial period, ie Pre Federation in 1901 and 3 contingents of Australian Commonwealth Horse. post 1901.

Other Australian Colonial contingents had the hat turned up on the left and the slouch hat is still worn by Australian troops turned up on the left.

I hope that this helps.

Regards

Phil.