TOPIC:

This lapel badge, 23mm in height, is for sale on a popular auction site. The description says it is the Australian South African Soldiers' Association badge.

I picked a NZMR SA Vets Assn Badge the other day. The resemblence in naming style is remarkably close to the SA version. Probably the same maker? I have more digging to do to find out more & will share in due course.

That's a lovely badge you acquired Stephen. You must have been very pleased to find that?

Kind regards
David

David

I believe S.A.S.A. stands for South Africa Service Association. I have one with a group of medals as below. I had several attempts to make a decent scan of the group and this is the best one although the Boer fob flipped up and shows the reverse.



28753 W.O. Cl. 2 H. Rutt, Royal Engineers.
Queen’s South Africa Medal clasps Defence of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast (2/Corpl.); King’s South Africa Medal clasps South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (2/Corpl.); 1914 Star (C.Q.M. Sjt.); British War Medal (W.O. Cl. 2); Victory Medal (W.O. Cl. 2); Long Service & Good Conduct Medal (GVR) (C.Q.M. Sjt.).
Severely wounded in action Wagon Hill 6 January 1900.
MID Sir George White 23 March 1900.
With four photocopy pages of service papers, photocopies of QSA and KSA roll pages and MIC details. Also with various badges: South Africa Service Association; South Africa Active Service Association (numbered 184, issued 1930 and made by Stokes of Melbourne); Returned Sailors & Soldiers Imperial League Australia (large version issued between 1919 and 1922); Boer fob, silver set in copper ring, with green and yellow ribbon; RE badge. Harry Rutt enlisted at Devizes 20 December 1894 aged 19. Born Marlborough. Occupation carpenter and wheelwright. Wounded during the action in the gun pit for which Lieut. Digby Jones (Royal Engineers) and Tpr. Albrecht (Imperial Light Horse) won posthumous Victoria Crosses. Also served in southern Nigeria 1911-1912. Served in 23rd. (Field) Company in South Africa, later transferring to 47th Company. Landed in France 15 August 1914 where he served with 8th (Rail) Company. Later emigrated to Australia.

S.A.S.A. stands for the 'South African Soldiers Association', a forerunner of the British Legion in many ways. Ian Hamilton was involved with them from the start (see below) and yes the S.A.S.A was Australian (see below). The British version was the South African War Veterans Association. Hamilton was still taking the latter's salute at the Cenotaph in the late 1940's (he was well in his late 80's at that stage)

David - that's a great grouping, the Wagon Hill gun pits with Digby-Jones, given that Hamilton himself in them himself and also Albrecht of the ILH. There are plenty of original accounts and despatches that can add to your man's story. Great to know that his medals have found a good home.

Best,

Justin

trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/15479319

Justin - Thanks for the clarification. I obtained the group came from Australia and in the notes that accompanied it the second 'S' in S.A.S.A. was noted as 'Service'. 'Soldiers' does make more sense though.

Wagon Hill is a particular interest of mine. Among a number of other QSAs linked to the battle I have that of 21027 Sgt. C. Jackson Royal Engineers who was Digby Jones's sergeant killed beside him in the gun pit. The Talana clasp is also scarce to the RE.



Cheers

David