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#1
03-08-08, 01:06 PM
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South African Hunter Group
Some info on the South African HUNTER GROUP. The badges on the pics are mine and are available for trade. I collect SAS, WWII commandos.
Hardly anything has been written about the Hunter Group. They are considered to be the "mother" of the South African Special Forces and yet there is so little to be found on the Internet or in libraries. Most of the information on this website comes from a very interesting book (2 volumes) that I bought recently: Clear the way: the military heritage of the South African Irish 1880-1990 by Monick and Baker. The 1960s saw a worldwide increase in insurgency, especially in Africa, conducted by armies or guerrilla bands using unconventional military methods. The Hunter Group grew out of the need to counter the threat posed by this new form of warfare. The Hunter Group, thought little known outside the SADF community, was the first counter-insurgency (COIN) unit formed by the SADF, officially in May 1968 at Doornkop, south of Johannesburg. Plans for the Hunter Group were developed by amongst others Col Gil van Kerckhoven (CO of SA Irish Regiment '65-'69) and martial arts specialist George (Joe) Grant-Grierson (1927-2007) and were quickly put into effect. Initial Hunter Group formation and selection procedures were established, and a cadre was formed from members of the Irish Regiment. Trainees participated in 240 hours of training over a twelve-month period at the Doornkop military base. The volunteer training was conducted at weekends and by night during the week, and covered such things as unarmed combat, bush craft, buddy aid, field navigation and survival, riot control, the laying of landmines and booby traps, tracking and the use of attack dogs, and defensive and offensive driving. They were also given instruction in propaganda; guerrilla tactics, theory and thought; and stress and shock training. The members were taught terrorist tactics and theory from experts who had seen fighting in Rhodesia, Angola or the Congo. The Hunter Group trained over 1800 volunteers in part time training including Permanent Force officers and instructors, and many members later assisted in the formation and/or training of various other specialized SADF units including the Reconnaissance Regiments, Special Service and parachute units, including 32 Battalion that came later. Following Col van Kerckhoven´s departure from the Irish regiment, the Hunter Group led an independent existence during the period 1970-1974; at which latter date it developed into 2 Reconnaissance Commando. In 1981, it was re designated as 2 Reconnaissance Regiment. As part of the process of rationalisation and the discontinuation of the Citizen Force concept in the South African military, 2 Reconnaissance Regiment was retired in 1992. The unit emblem of 2 Reconnaissance Regiment was the Hunter Group scorpion, within the wings of a bat, above the compass rose. Their motto didn’t change: “We dare – Ons Waag”. SCORPION BADGE After a while the men undergoing the Hunter training sought some kind of recognition and Col van Kerckhoven formally applied for a qualifying badge. They had, during the course of intense training, developed a patrol formation which van Kerckhoven likened to a scorpion. Two probing claws comprising two pairs of men each at a distance as far apart as the bush would allow for control; the intention being to ensure that one claw or other would outflank any ambush party and cause them to pull out. The patrol commander followed in the centre; with communications and a tail element covering and bringing up the rear, which could in the event of a contact be whipped forward to support either of the claws should contact be made. So much time was used in the training and instruction of the cycles of new volunteers that the patrol formation of the scorpion was not really tested by the hunters at the time. But it was the basis of the adoption of the scorpion symbol. The scorpion was also chosen for its unobtrusive deadliness, being quietly and efficiently able to deal with prey much larger than itself. The danger from a scorpion lies in the sting at the tip of its tail, not in the big pincers near its head where it is expected. Lt Gen Willie Louw, then Chief of the Army, approved of the scorpion symbol to be worn as a sleeve roundel by those fulfilling many hours of voluntary extra training successfully. At the passing out parade of Course No 4 in June 1969 over 60 men, including a naval contingent from SAS Rand, became the first to wear the coveted and distinctive scorpion badge, signifying that they had completed a minimum of completely voluntary Hunter training, in addition to normal unit parade responsibilities. Official SADF recognition for the scorpion badge was granted in 1970. An official press release dated 17 august 1970 states: “Brigadier H.R. Meintjes, SM, Officer Commanding Witwatersrand Command states that advanced individual training undertaken by Citizen Force and Commando volunteers, generally known as Hunter Training, has been officially recognized and the scorpion badge may be worn by men who qualify. The course includes advanced weapons handling, close combat, navigation patrols and first aid courses run by volunteer CF and CDO (Commando) instructors. The volunteer instructor cadre wear badges comprising a silver coloured scorpion with an Infantry green background; these men have completed more than 240 hours of voluntary extra training. Other men qualifying wear a red coloured scorpion on a saffron background on their left sleeve. They are required to complete a minimum of 42 hours extra training”. WHICH is WHICH? I know that four different arm badges or roundels exist, all depicting a scorpion with a ring, and they all came in pairs. They do not have the same size, although the pictures on the next page do. The problem is that the few available sources that I was able to find for this website do not agree as to which badge belonged to which category. My sources are: - "Clear the way: the military heritage of the South African Irish 1880-1990" by Monick and Baker - "South African Special Forces" by Rottman (Osprey Military, 1991) - James MacKenzie , world renowned collector of Southern African militaria. His info came from W. Ward, founding member of the Hunter's. 1. Silver scorpion on an infantry green background Monick: Volunteer instructor cadre, who had completed 240 hours of training. Rottman: Volunteer instructor cadre, who had completed 240 hours of training, wore one on the right sleeve. MacKenzie: Trainee 2. Red scorpion on a saffron background Monick: Other men, who had completed 42 hours of training. Rottman: Other men, who had completed 42 hours of training, wore one on the left sleeve. MacKenzie: Instructor 3. Black scorpion on a saffron background Monick: not mentioned. Rottman: not mentioned. MacKenzie: Phase 1 qualification 4. Dark green scorpion on a saffron background Monick: not mentioned. Rottman: not mentioned. MacKenzie: Phase 2 qualification 5. Silver scorpion bullion on a dark green (black?) background: Blazer badge NOTE: embroidered is the unit motto “We Dare Ons Waag”. The idea taken from the SAS motto (Who Dares Wins) At the moment I have 5 genuine scorpion badges in my collection: red scorpion on yellow: left and right (the right hand badge is the badge that Colin R. Owen used in his book “The military badges and insignia of Southern Africa ”). Silver scorpion on green: left and right (the right hand badge is the badge that Colin R. Owen used in his book). Silver scorpion on green: right hand (this one is very nice because the back leg of the scorpion has never been finished!). PARACHUTE WINGS The Parachute Battalion furnished members of the original nucleus of the Hunter Group. Included within this group was WO II (later major) Willy Ward. William James Harold Ward played a very important role in the evolution of the Hunter Group’s development. Not only was he a founding member of the Hunter Group training programme, but his expertise as a parachutist was instrumental in the airborne training of the group. He was a enthusiastic parachutist and skydiver, and succeeded in persuading Col van Kerckhoven and Lt van Wyk (a member of the Air Commandos) that the Hunter Group instructors be qualified as parachutists. After procuring official permission Sgt Ward organized a suitable airstrip. The training at Doornkop then commenced. After several weeks the time for the first jump arrived. All the men successfully completed their parachute course, and in recognition received a specially designed jump qualification badge; cloth for normal uniform and pure silver for No 1 dress. According to the book by Monick and Baker only 12 of these silver badges were ever manufactured. According to J. MacKenzie only 250 cloth badges and 49 mess dress wings were made. I have been informed that an ex-member of the Hunter Group and Recces living in Sedgefield, South Africa, makes mess dress restrikes/copies and passes them off to collectors as originals. I bought a cloth copy but the seller told me it was a fake in advance. It's a very nice badge. You can find both the genuine and the copy on the next page. I've added pictures of the reverse just for reverence. Note that the original does not have an embroidered edge to it. It is noteworthy that the Hunter wings badge and the formation which it represented, merited reference in a British publication called Parachute badges and insignia of the world in colour (Bragg & Turner, 1979). Hunter Group members also wore numbered identification discs (nicknamed luggage tags). Last edited by pieter; 24-08-09 at 11:09 AM. 
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#2
20-05-10, 05:21 PM
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Hunter Group
Hi Pieter,
R U still out there ? R U still interested in Hunter Group insignia ?
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| hunter group, south african |
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