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  #16  
Old 30-06-12, 07:19 PM
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Brian Conyngham Brian Conyngham is offline
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Steven

Not sure if you have one of these rarities:

Quote from page 178 from the Military Nursing in SA 1914-1994.

"A navy-blue, double breasted tailored style gaberdine coat of the same length as the dress was worn with a self-coloured two inch wide belt. On each shoulder of the coat the words "South Africa" were woven in gold lettering onto a band that was stiched in place."

I was very fortunate to pick up a pair of these with a WW1 BWM to a attractive SA nurse Alice Ross along with loads of documents and bit and pieces. Her named nursing badge is illustrated and can be seen on her cloak (circled in red). She led a sad life with a philandering husband with whom she had a baby girl whom died on the day of her birth. She kept diaries for the rest of her life which she kept updated daily into the 1950's and make sad reading.

I passed on one of the pair to a fellow Forum member, I hope he still has it?

Brian

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Attached Images
File Type: jpg SA Nurse A B Ross 003.jpg (40.5 KB, 40 views)
File Type: jpg SA Nurse A B Ross 002.jpg (57.6 KB, 40 views)

Last edited by Brian Conyngham; 30-06-12 at 07:29 PM.
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  #17  
Old 30-06-12, 07:33 PM
Madziro Madziro is offline
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Hullo Stephen

Many thanks for the kind words. The cloth titles of the period that you speak of were supposed to be worn "bi-lingual" - one arm in English and one arm in Afrikaans. It was an effort to placate the speakers of both languages. It did not always work out though!! I did check the title again as per your suggestion and did not find any evidence of an extra 1 being removed. I have attached it here for interest.

Regards

Dudley
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File Type: jpg 1 Fd Ambulance title.jpg (16.2 KB, 14 views)
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  #18  
Old 30-06-12, 07:38 PM
Madziro Madziro is offline
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Here is the pic of the Transvaal medic badge as requested. Sadly I swopped it a while back. In hindsight !!!!
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File Type: jpg Transvaal Medical Staff Corps.jpg (72.7 KB, 32 views)
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  #19  
Old 30-06-12, 07:43 PM
Madziro Madziro is offline
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Attached a few ABW OVS medic documents of my grandfather for interest. He was stationed at Smiths Crossing outside Ladysmith and later was on the Tugela line for the Colenso battles and Vaalkranz.
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File Type: jpg CJ Wall OFS Ambo Corps membership.jpg (35.6 KB, 10 views)
File Type: jpg CJ Wall OFS membership card.jpg (72.3 KB, 10 views)
File Type: jpg CJ Wall OFS Red Cross cert.jpg (92.7 KB, 9 views)
File Type: jpg CJ Wall OFS pass.jpg (47.0 KB, 10 views)
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  #20  
Old 30-06-12, 08:45 PM
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Brian Conyngham Brian Conyngham is offline
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Steven

Took this picture in Simonstown in March this year, the original was in a shop and mounted behind glass hence not too clear. There was no price as the owner was out I lost the chance to purchase it However the assistant let me photograph it, all it said was Wynberg Hospital staff.

If you would like a better copy, just pm me your email address.

Regards
Brian
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File Type: jpg Wynberg hospital WW1.jpg (37.9 KB, 30 views)

Last edited by Brian Conyngham; 30-06-12 at 08:51 PM.
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  #21  
Old 01-07-12, 02:39 PM
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Hi Dudley,
Thanks for the enlarged pictures and pictures of your grandfathers documents. Pity the TMSC is no longer valuable.

As far as the title goes, I was also under the impression that they came in english and Afrikaans versions to be worn on right and left shoulders. But I have two Medical Corps uniforms c.1960's, one of which came from the owner, and both jackets have unilingual titles (one to 4 FD AMB and other to 9 VD AMB)... no bilingual titles worn. Recently I got a copy of a document showing the SAMC units and it clearly shows certain units as English, others Afrikaans and remainder (mostly PF) as bilingual.

So based on this info I came to the conclusion I did and therefore the question of the title you have.

Steven
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File Type: jpg SAMC 1963.jpg (58.5 KB, 10 views)
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  #22  
Old 01-07-12, 02:40 PM
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Hi Brian,
Thanks for posting the items you have. Pm sent.

Steven
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  #23  
Old 10-06-18, 06:36 PM
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That is absolutely true.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Milmed View Post
These original contingent nurses were issued with Type 1 badges prior to leaving the UK for France. It has been said that these badges were all named to the specific nurse, but I have not seen evidence of this yet.
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  #24  
Old 28-05-19, 08:10 AM
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Very interesting thread, perhaps you could you show the reverse of your badges please?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Milmed View Post
Hi William,
Thanks for starting this thread on the SAMNS WWI badges. I have been meaning to do a thread on these as this is my primary collecting field, but just have not got round to it. Secondary interests would be SAMC/SAMS and then commonwealth medical, dental and nursing insignia.

I have not seen the badge you are quering before. I have thus far been sceptical as to the validity of brass SAMNS badges. My feelings is that all the WWI SAMNS badges should be silver. Even the second world war badges were silver up until c. 1944 when the SAMNS were issued with white metal cap and collar badges. The WWII cap badges had a brooch pin and the collars were lugged with the springboks facing each other. These were worn until 1953 when they were replaced with gilt cap and collars of the same design. The SAMNS was a voluntary service but became a permanant force unit of the UDF in October 1950. From documents I have seen the Gilt badges were first recorded by the quartermaster stores in 1953.

But back to the WWI badges. I am aware of 5 variations of the silver badge and two variations of brass badges. The brass ones appear to be castings of original silver badges. The 5 variations I have classified as follows based on the symbol seen between the words 'SOUTH' and 'SERVICE' at the bottom of the badge(see attached pictures):
Type 1. Silver hallmarked London 1915 with a 'pattee cross' symbol
Type 2. Silver not marked with a 'Fleur-de-lys' symbol
Type 3. Silver not marked with a 'East African cross' symbol
Type 4. Silver hallmarked London 1918 with a 'plus' symbol
Type 5. Silver stamped "SILVER" with a 'square box' symbol. This badge is larger than the others and more crudely made with letters typical of old woodblock engravings.

The brass versions I have seen are copies of types 3 and 4. These brass versions I have seen with brooch fittings as well as crudely soldered copper lugs with no indication of a brooch ever having been fitted. I have made an unfounded assumption that these brass badges may have been copies produced for the collectors market, but I stand to be corrected. It is very possible that they may have been produced in East Africa as most of them seen are of the type with the East African cross.

I have documented reference (that I cannot place at present) that the SAMNS were issued with two bronze springbok badges prior to departure for UK in September 1915. These I believe were standard officers "Union is Strength - Eendracht Macht Maagt" badges. These original contingent nurses were issued with Type 1 badges prior to leaving the UK for France. It has been said that these badges were all named to the specific nurse, but I have not seen evidence of this yet. I believe the Type 2 (Fleur-de-lys) badges were issued in France and Type 3 were issued in East Africa. Type 4 may have been a privately purchased replacement badge as it has a 1918 hallmark and made by silversmith Murrle Bennet & Company. Lastly Type 5 may have been manufactured locally and possibly post WWI era.

From photographic evidence nurses in the GSWA campaign and the original contingent can be seen without any badges prior to departure for UK. Photographs taken in UK, France and in the Union post 1916 all show nurses with the silver (or possibly brass) cape badge.

As for your badge it may possibly be an unknown incompleted variation or anouther copy that was not completed or even a commemorative medallion.

Regards
Steven
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  #25  
Old 31-05-19, 07:56 AM
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A superb lot to have been able to acquire, Brian, the tippet badge is particularly nice, I like it very much.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian Conyngham View Post
Steven

Not sure if you have one of these rarities:

Quote from page 178 from the Military Nursing in SA 1914-1994.

"A navy-blue, double breasted tailored style gaberdine coat of the same length as the dress was worn with a self-coloured two inch wide belt. On each shoulder of the coat the words "South Africa" were woven in gold lettering onto a band that was stiched in place."

I was very fortunate to pick up a pair of these with a WW1 BWM to a attractive SA nurse Alice Ross along with loads of documents and bit and pieces. Her named nursing badge is illustrated and can be seen on her cloak (circled in red). She led a sad life with a philandering husband with whom she had a baby girl whom died on the day of her birth. She kept diaries for the rest of her life which she kept updated daily into the 1950's and make sad reading.

I passed on one of the pair to a fellow Forum member, I hope he still has it?

Brian

Brian
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  #26  
Old 09-06-19, 03:25 PM
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Frank Kelley Frank Kelley is offline
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I really would be very interested to see the reverse of your badges, if at all possible?


Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank Kelley View Post
Very interesting thread, perhaps you could you show the reverse of your badges please?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Milmed View Post
Hi William,
Thanks for starting this thread on the SAMNS WWI badges. I have been meaning to do a thread on these as this is my primary collecting field, but just have not got round to it. Secondary interests would be SAMC/SAMS and then commonwealth medical, dental and nursing insignia.

I have not seen the badge you are quering before. I have thus far been sceptical as to the validity of brass SAMNS badges. My feelings is that all the WWI SAMNS badges should be silver. Even the second world war badges were silver up until c. 1944 when the SAMNS were issued with white metal cap and collar badges. The WWII cap badges had a brooch pin and the collars were lugged with the springboks facing each other. These were worn until 1953 when they were replaced with gilt cap and collars of the same design. The SAMNS was a voluntary service but became a permanant force unit of the UDF in October 1950. From documents I have seen the Gilt badges were first recorded by the quartermaster stores in 1953.

But back to the WWI badges. I am aware of 5 variations of the silver badge and two variations of brass badges. The brass ones appear to be castings of original silver badges. The 5 variations I have classified as follows based on the symbol seen between the words 'SOUTH' and 'SERVICE' at the bottom of the badge(see attached pictures):
Type 1. Silver hallmarked London 1915 with a 'pattee cross' symbol
Type 2. Silver not marked with a 'Fleur-de-lys' symbol
Type 3. Silver not marked with a 'East African cross' symbol
Type 4. Silver hallmarked London 1918 with a 'plus' symbol
Type 5. Silver stamped "SILVER" with a 'square box' symbol. This badge is larger than the others and more crudely made with letters typical of old woodblock engravings.

The brass versions I have seen are copies of types 3 and 4. These brass versions I have seen with brooch fittings as well as crudely soldered copper lugs with no indication of a brooch ever having been fitted. I have made an unfounded assumption that these brass badges may have been copies produced for the collectors market, but I stand to be corrected. It is very possible that they may have been produced in East Africa as most of them seen are of the type with the East African cross.

I have documented reference (that I cannot place at present) that the SAMNS were issued with two bronze springbok badges prior to departure for UK in September 1915. These I believe were standard officers "Union is Strength - Eendracht Macht Maagt" badges. These original contingent nurses were issued with Type 1 badges prior to leaving the UK for France. It has been said that these badges were all named to the specific nurse, but I have not seen evidence of this yet. I believe the Type 2 (Fleur-de-lys) badges were issued in France and Type 3 were issued in East Africa. Type 4 may have been a privately purchased replacement badge as it has a 1918 hallmark and made by silversmith Murrle Bennet & Company. Lastly Type 5 may have been manufactured locally and possibly post WWI era.

From photographic evidence nurses in the GSWA campaign and the original contingent can be seen without any badges prior to departure for UK. Photographs taken in UK, France and in the Union post 1916 all show nurses with the silver (or possibly brass) cape badge.

As for your badge it may possibly be an unknown incompleted variation or anouther copy that was not completed or even a commemorative medallion.

Regards
Steven
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  #27  
Old 10-06-19, 03:30 AM
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Hi Frank,
Sorry for late reply. In the throws of house renovations, so items all packed away and not easily accessed. When I get there I will scan the reverse of badges to show.

Steven
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  #28  
Old 27-09-21, 09:56 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Milmed View Post
Hi Dudley,
I can shed all the light on this badge. It has been wrongly identified as a cap badge in Owens book and since then everyone refers to it as such, some even to it been WWI .

This is the SAMNS training school badge and worn by SAMNS nurses who qualified after 3 years nurse training. It is on the same lines as all civilian nurse/hospital qualification badges and was worn as a brooch at the closure of the collar in ward uniform (ie. ward whites).

In 1952 a pre-nursing course was instituted at various nursing colleges to attract new nurses to the profession and provide non-matriculants with matriculation certificates. The SAMNS made good use of this scheme, training 88 of their staff at a Pretoria Nursing Colledge by the time the course was discontinued in 1955. By 1954 a training school badge for SAMNS was approved and registered under the Names, Uniforms and Badges Act No23 of 1935. The badge design was that of the SAMNS cap badge with bilingual title, one and a half inches in diameter, and produced in sterling silver bearing the hallmarks of the South African Mint.

From the above we could say that at least 88 of these were issued, but I assume many more may have been manufatured and come onto the market from a store clearout (either SAMS store or manufacturers store) as these appear fairly often and all with the same 1950's SA MINT markings and all in mint unissued condition.

Attached is a picture of two nurses at 2 military hospital in the 1950's wearing the brooch at the close of the collar.
The left nurse(with veil) is a Grade II sister, she has ruby coloured shoulder boards with two rings of gilt gimp braid and the universal SA badge worn midway between the gimp and button as per regulation.
The right hand nurse is a nursing assistant wearing khaki shoulder board with one inch white melton cloth and SA badge. The SA badges were worn on the shoulder boards only in ward dress. These badges were also worn on the lower collar below the SAMNS collar badges in service dress (step out) uniform.

I hope this clears up the misidentification once and for all

Regards
Steven
Hi Steven,
I have this example of the SAMNS badge, possibly silver but no sign of a hallmark.
Regards, John
Attached Images
File Type: jpg SAMNS.jpg (35.2 KB, 6 views)
File Type: jpg SAMNS_Screen_cap_panel.jpg (93.3 KB, 4 views)
File Type: jpg SAMNSrev.jpg (26.1 KB, 8 views)
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  #29  
Old 27-09-21, 10:58 PM
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Home Guard Home Guard is offline
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Wow, what a wealth of information on a subject very near and dear! I have learned so much, and am grateful for it. Seems I have some new items to add to my want list!!! Here is my small SA Nursing collection.



Terry

Last edited by Home Guard; 28-09-21 at 03:54 AM.
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  #30  
Old 28-09-21, 03:21 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinto View Post
Hi Steven,
I have this example of the SAMNS badge, possibly silver but no sign of a hallmark.
Regards, John
Hi John,
Yes I would agree that this is unmarked silver and a cap badge worn from c.1940.

Steven
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