Great find last Saturday!

[Brian Conyngham]

Hi Guys

I am not sure how many people know this but there was only one SA badge that carried a QE2 crown.

It was the Transvaal Horse Artillery cap badge and issued for only one year, 1961 to 1962. It came in two versions one with and one without a turning wheel. I have heard that the ones with a turning wheel were modifications done later by chaps wanting a badge like they were used to?

Anyway after 20 odd years of collecting artillery badges I finally found one of these rarities on Saturday in a Johannesburg shop, during a short family visit to that part of the world. On top of it I only paid less than 10 pounds for it!

Together with my nice Bullion THA badge find a few months back, I have been lucky with this unit: http://www.britishbadgeforum.com/for...ad.php?t=28604

Regards
Brian

[iaindh]

Hi Brian,

very well done, the last time I saw one for sale, if I recall, it had a broken lug and it still sold for about R250, thats about 17 GBP at the current rate.

regards, Iain

[Alex Rice]

Hi Brian
Nice one. Here's a SAAF one, but I don't think it was ever official.
Cheers,
Alex

[2747andy]

Not rare but scarce a RA Militia (KK818) also picked up at the weekend!

Andy

[Milmed]

Hi Brian and Alex,
Yes post 1961 the only SA badge to carry a QIIC was the THA badge.

But as Alex pointed out the SAAF officers (Luitenant to Commandant) cap badge also carried a QIIC for a short period. This bullion badge was adopted c.1952 and worn to 1959, originally with a KC and replaced with QIIC when KC stock ran out. From photographs in Commando magazine it appears new stock was issued with QIIC in 1957, so would have only been worn c.1957 -1959.

Added to this the SA Navy Officers and Chief Petty Officers also wore RN QIIC cap badges. The crown was replaced with the Lion of Nassau c.1960.

So all in all there are then 4 SA badges with QIIC (though the navy ones are actually RN badges worn by SA Navy personnel)

Steven

[Brian Conyngham]

Thanks guys for that info, interesting so all the arms had at least "had one"!

You learn something new each day.

Andy a nice badge, never seen one out here in SA!

Regards
Brian

[Milmed]

Hi Brian,
Here is a picture of a SAAF officer c.1956 from commando magazine of the badge been worn. Unfortunately it is a very poor scan.

Steven

[The Good Dudes]

Well done Brian! For me, those kind of "stumbling across lost treasures" stories stir up the Indiana Jones in us all.