IBC Title confusion. Let’s get consensus

[Milmed]

Hi Members,
I have been trying to make sense of the title IBC and tying up known insignia to the correct establishments.

Known establishments using title IBC:
1. Imperial Bushman Corps - Boer War(Australian)
2. Imperial Bearer Corps - Boer War
3. Indian (Stretcher) Bearer Corps - Bambatha Rebellion 1906, Natal
4. Indian Bearer Companies - WWI East Africa Campaign, under control South African Medical Corps

There are to my knowledge 4 basic variations of the title and with the help of the forum members, maybe we could match these to the above units.

Refer to attached numbered pictures.
1. Brass sheet metal title, no punctuation and letters joined by a horizontal bar on top and bottom of title.
I have attributed this to the Australian "Imperial Bushman Corps" based on the Bob Gray collection posted recently by slick_mick on this forum.
Clarity is needed as to whether these were worn as shoulder titles or slouch/smasher hat badges.

2. Brass sheet metal title, no punctuation and letters joined by a single centrally placed horizontal bar. Wire loop attachment rings.
I have attributed this to the "Imperial Bearer Corps" boer war period. This corps was raised in Natal in 1900 replacing the short lived (2-3 Months) Natal Volunteer Ambulance corps and Indian Volunteer Ambulance Corps(of Gandhi fame).
This title is very typical of Natal Volunteer titles of the period and as this was a Natal formed unit, construction seems to tie up.
Again not sure as to use - shoulder title or slouch hat badge.

3. Brass sheet metal title, no punctuation and letters joined by a single centrally placed horizontal bar. The horizontal bar is bent over at ends to form an attachment.
I have attributed this to the "Indian Bearer Companies" WWI period as this title is very typical of known WWI South African titles used in East Africa campaign.
I would say these were used as shoulder titles again based on known information of similar shoulder titles.

4. Brass cast title, no punctuation and letters joined by a horizontal bar on top and bottom of title. Similar in style to Australian bushman title, but larger and cast.
I have not been able to tie this up to any unit and assistance/thoughts would be appreciated.
Based on a recent thread on the ILH showing similar cast titles, this may well be a boer war period "Imperial Bearer Corps" title,
or it may also be a WWI "Indian Bearer Company" title as there are similar East African units with cast brass titles. Curson (1954 pg 50) ascribes this to the IBC in WWI German East Africa
The answer may lie in the method of attachment but as I do not have pictures of the reverse I cannot tell.

In many instances I have seen recorded that the IBC titles in all its forms been associated with Gandhi's unit in Boer War and Natal Rebellion of 1906.
I would like to dispute this based on the known pictures of these units and the naming of the units.
The original unit Gandhi was involved in during Boer war was very short lived (2-3 months) and was named Indian Volunteer Ambulance Corps. If they did produce a title I would have thought it would read IVAC or NIVAC.
From period photographs the uniform worn was khaki drill jacket and trousers and a slouch hat. The tunic did not have shoulder straps so no place to put a shoulder title.
Except in a few cases the slouch hats do not have an upturned brim, so also no place for a title to be displayed. Only insignia appear to be a white armband with a red cross.
During the Bambatha rebellion in 1906, the unit was named Indian Stretcher Bearer Corps. Tunics now have shoulder tabs, but do not appear to have shoulder titles. Slouch hats have a turned up brim, but I am unable to see whether a title is worn or not.
Again only distinctive insignia been the red cross armband.

Any Help appreciated
Steven