South African Navy history in buttons - British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum

seadog · #1 08-11-21, 02:05 PM

South African Navy history in buttons: have seen some threads on the above. attached part of my collection.

btns · #2 08-11-21, 02:58 PM

Very nice, thank you for posting this overview.

Milmed · #3 09-11-21, 02:45 AM

Are you sure this is your collection??? as it looks a lot like the official SA Navy Museum collection in Simonstown, even down to the layout and font type of the wording, and the reflection of the glass cabinet it sits in !!!

Unless when you say 'part of my collection' you are referring to the photographs been part of your collection and not the actual buttons !

seadog · #4 09-11-21, 01:44 PM

Photos for reference in my collection.

seadog · #5 09-11-21, 04:33 PM

Sorry added wrong photo files, wrong directory. Below my collection.

Guzzman · #6 10-11-21, 09:35 AM

An excellent collection! Many thanks for showing.

Pete

Tony B · #7 11-12-21, 05:31 AM

Help to identify and date this arm patch please.

Alex Rice · #8 11-12-21, 06:26 AM

That is a Women's Royal Navy (WREN's) Leading Seaman's rank badge, worn on the left sleeve. Also used by the South African Woman's Naval Service (SWANS).
Cheers,
Alex

Guzzman · #9 11-12-21, 01:14 PM

Also used by the Canadian, Indian and Australian equivalents of the Wrens too. It's a bit hard to date as well as it was in use from 1939 until well into the 1990s - although it's use ended at different times depending upon which navy used it.

Pete

Tony B · #10 12-12-21, 06:00 AM

Thanks Alex, I believe it is South African.

Tony B · #11 12-12-21, 06:04 AM

Thanks Pete. I believe it was originally bought some time after ww2 – late 1940's in South Africa. Not sure if that helps to date it or not?

Alex Rice · #12 12-12-21, 06:19 AM

After the war, the SWANS disbanded in 1949, so they were still in use and there were likely a lot around. No reason why it couldn't be an SA badge. I have picked up a couple over the years.
Cheers,
Alex

Milmed · #13 12-12-21, 06:28 AM

Just to add, even if used in SA by a SWAN, it was still a British made badge for the WRENS, and common to the Commonwealth female Navy units.

Tony B · #14 12-12-21, 06:52 AM

Thanks guys. You've as always been a big help to a novice like me.
Is there any significance in the anchor being in blue thread as apposed to gold which seems to be the nor?

Milmed · #15 12-12-21, 09:12 AM

Blue was for women's service, hence mention of WRENS and SWANS....

Gold or Yellow and Red on navy blue was for RN male members.