SA WW1 SA RE Signal Service

[Brian Conyngham]

Hi Guys

Ticked another box for my small WW1 collection, the cap badge of the SA Signal Service Royal Engineers. I have had the shoulder title for some time but the cap badge has eluded me.

Both made by Gaunt London.

Brian

[Alex Rice]

Nice badges, well done!

[Frank Kelley]

Very nice, Brian and getting much harder to get hold of these days, shall you be having the other variations of the cap badges too?
Their medals are quite scarce as well, just humble BWM/AVM South African UDF issue pairs or trios if the recipient had prior service in GWSA with another formation, but the former always nicely named to the signal service.

Originally Posted by Brian Conyngham

Hi Guys

Ticked another box for my small WW1 collection, the cap badge of the SA Signal Service Royal Engineers. I have had the shoulder title for some time but the cap badge has eluded me.

Both made by Gaunt London.

Brian

[Brian Conyngham]

Originally Posted by Frank Kelley

Very nice, Brian and getting much harder to get hold of these days, shall you be having the other variations of the cap badges too?
Their medals are quite scarce as well, just humble BWM/AVM South African UDF issue pairs or trios if the recipient had prior service in GWSA with another formation, but the former always nicely named to the signal service.

Hi Frank

Here is a rather pleasant MM group to the SA Signals RE unit in my collection.

Brian

[Frank Kelley]

That is indeed very pleasant!

Originally Posted by Brian Conyngham

Hi Frank

Here is a rather pleasant MM group to the SA Signals RE unit in my collection.

Brian

[Brian Conyngham]

Originally Posted by Frank Kelley

Very nice, Brian and getting much harder to get hold of these days, shall you be having the other variations of the cap badges too?
Their medals are quite scarce as well, just humble BWM/AVM South African UDF issue pairs or trios if the recipient had prior service in GWSA with another formation, but the former always nicely named to the signal service.

Hi Frank

Always keeping my eyes open for WW1 badges, yes definitely if other variations pop up I would be interested.

Brian

[Frank Kelley]

It is so often missed, the top scroll will sometimes be South African rather than South Africa, but worth looking out for.

Originally Posted by Brian Conyngham

Hi Frank

Always keeping my eyes open for WW1 badges, yes definitely if other variations pop up I would be interested.

Brian

[Brian Conyngham]

Originally Posted by Frank Kelley

It is so often missed, the top scroll will sometimes be South African rather than South Africa, but worth looking out for.

Thanks Frank

Will keep that variation in mind...

[shahldm]

Originally Posted by Frank Kelley

It is so often missed, the top scroll will sometimes be South African rather than South Africa, but worth looking out for.

Hi Frank

I had not noticed that before so went and had a check and spot on variations with South Africa and South African.

Thank you for sharing your insight.

Rgds

[shahldm]

Brian, attached image shows a variant of the shoulder title (perhaps officers) and the badge with "South African".

[Frank Kelley]

Yes, you encounter both with the ranker's cap badges in both sizes too, so four different badges there, the OSD's are to be had with both Africa and African too, but, I don't think that I've encountered both in HM silver, only one and I can't remember which without checking.

Originally Posted by shahldm

Hi Frank

I had not noticed that before so went and had a check and spot on variations with South Africa and South African.

Thank you for sharing your insight.

Rgds

[Milmed]

Originally Posted by Brian Conyngham

Hi Guys

Ticked another box for my small WW1 collection, the cap badge of the SA Signal Service Royal Engineers. I have had the shoulder title for some time but the cap badge has eluded me.

Both made by Gaunt London.

Brian

Hi,
Reviving this old thread as I recently also added one of these cap badges to my collection. Also had the S/T for some time but cap badge has been very illusive.

Has anyone ever seen this badge been worn ? i.e. photographic evidence. I have only ever come across one photograph of ratings in the S.A.C.S.C.R.E and can make out the correct S/T but all members were wearing the standard SA Expeditionary Force cap badge (i.e. Bokkie in porthole). Also none were wearing collar badges.

Due to the scarcity of this cap badge, is it possible that it may only have been worn by senior NCO's or Officers? Or possibly private purchase?

Any thoughts/insights on the subject are appreciated

Steven