Special Services Batallion

[Tony B]

Hello all,
I'm looking for some help. In simple terms I understand that this Battalion was established during the Great Depression to help youth by training them with military fitness and various trades to enable them be employed by the Dept. of Labour and Welfare.
What uniforms were they issued?
Did they wear caps or berets?
On the attached doco. what does A/Sgt stand for (I get the Sgt part)?
Also what insignia was issued?

Any and all help appreciated.
Tony

[Tony B]

Sorry only noticed the post on the YTB. However was the SSB similar to this earlier post on the YTB?

[Traist]

Hi Tony, they wore a badge consisting of 3 Proteas. These were worn as cap, collar and mess dress They had SSB SDB(English and Afrikaans) shoulder titles. I am not at home at the moment, so can't post a picture. Regards Andrew

[Alex Rice]

Hi Tony
A/Sgt would be Acting Sgt.
Cheers,
Alex

[milhistry]

Pre-War uniform consisted of Jacket, Service Dress, Khaki Drill with SSB buttons (three protea flower heads), SSB collar badges, worn with shorts, Khaki Drill. Depending on the occasion belt was either P'08 webbing or a Boy-Scout type buckled leather belt. Polo helmet, Khaki Drill or caps, SD. Shoulder titles SSB over SDB. Will see if I can dig up a picture of the one in my collection for you. Puttees originally worn until replaced by canvas leggings. Brown boots.

It is only from 1943ish that black berets were adopted as by then the role of SSB had changed from purely a training unit to an armoured regiment.

[Tony B]

Thanks all for you replies.

[Tony B]

Thanks all for you replies. Just as an afterthought. Why would you have an A/Sgt.
and still be classified as such on your release and shown on your documentation
?