TOPIC:

Hi Brett, Brian,

particularly for the overseas members, iSakabuli is actually the Zulu name for the Long tailed Widow bird.
Also only the male has the tail feathers and this is only during the breeding season. The male is polygamous & has up to 6 females; sounds like Zoomer!
I also didn't see too many driving back up from KZN.

regards, Iain

Brianc wrote:

Brett Hendey wrote: Justin

While the SALH were known as "the Sakabulas" during the Boer War, after the war the sakabula bird must have been in short supply, if not bordering on extinction as a result of the depredations by the SALH. Consequently, in his book on the armed forces of South Africa, Major Tylden wrote:
"From 1902 to 1907 the S.A.L.H. were a regiment of Johannesburg Volunteers, known as "the Cocky-Ollie Birds", from the cock's plumes worn in a dark green felt hat and buff pagri."

Sakabulas have had a hard time. After being targeted by the SALH, they have suffered as a result of habitat destruction by farming and urban development.

Regards
Brett

Brett

Every time the good wife and I drive up to Johannesburg to see the children we see less and less Sakabulas They are fast being replaced by aggressive crows, they have basically taken over the bush along the route and live off the fresh daily suppy of carrion.

The Swazi and other African tribes also wear the tail feathers in their ornamental head dress.

Posting a few pictures for our members who are not familiar with this beautiful African species of bird. They fly in short bursts seldom far from the ground, as the are weighed down by their many large tail feathers. It is a fantastic sight seeing them in flight, hopefully they will be around for a few more years?

Regards
Brian

Interested members
Yesterday I finally received my print-on-demand copy of "The Story of the Australian Bushmen" (which hopefully will help resolve a certain question about the NSWB/NSWIB contingents) - and during a quick scan I noted a couple of nicknames to add to this topic:

CITY IMPERIAL VOLUNTEERS. - according to the author, (Reverend James Green, who was in the field with the Bushmen) the Regimental nickname of the City Imperial Volunteers was "Can I Venture". Clearly self-deprecating if one seeks out the reputation of the CIVs.

IMPERIAL LIGHT HORSE - known as "Imperial Looting Horde" (the author comments that the ILH might more reasonably be designated "The Imperial Looted Corps", for the Boers played sad havoc with their homes and property after they had run them out of the Transvaal).

PAGET'S HORSE - Reverend Green comments that the men of Paget's Horse wore as a badge "P.H." on coloured shoulder straps. Further ... it is said that DeWet, having taken some of them prisoners, asked the meaning of the badge. After they had explained, he said "It should mean Perfectly Harmless". The Reverend further comments that like many such stories fathered on DeWet, this story probably originated in the imagination of some trooper who wanted to tell a new joke around the camp fire - but it stuck. Again, self deprecating.

KITCHENER'S FIGHTING SCOUTS - Rev. Green comments the excellent KFS ".. had a title which caused some resentment in other regiments. Was it a reflection on other Scouts? Were they the only Scouts that fought? " But the other Scouts got even with them by calling them "KITCHENER'S FUNNY SOLDIERS"; a name which became well known throughout the whole of the Transvaal. Given the quality of the KFS, clearly a self-deprecating funny title.

Regards to all
IL.

IL
Thank you for an interesting post. I was disappointed when I first read the "Imperial Looting Corps" nickname for the ILH, so I was pleased to read of the variation, which I hope was the fairer nickname.
Regards
Brett

Brett
Self deprecation was and is a feature of certain military formations. It does not reflect their fighting ability, of course. I have sent you a PM on another matter.
Best regards
IL.

Reverend Green was clearly a bit of a card, Kitchener's Fighting Scouts was disbanded at Johannesburg on the 7th of July 1902, it had certainly caused a great deal of resentment, but, far more was felt by the enemy than by the British Army, imagine living out on the high veldt in the Northern Transvaal, minding your own business and having a troop turning up on your doorstep, being arrested and watching your home destroyed.
There was certainly nothing "funny" about them, they had been raised as a specialist anti commando unit in Pretoria and did their job well, in actual fact, when the SAMIF had been disbanded and the Transvaal Volunteer Force was created in that very fragile post war situation, in particular, in the Northern Transvaal, the new regiment that bore the original title "Kitchener's" Fighting Scouts, had to be disbanded, it simply proved far too provocative and contentious.

LinneyI wrote:
KITCHENER'S FIGHTING SCOUTS - Rev. Green comments the excellent KFS ".. had a title which caused some resentment in other regiments. Was it a reflection on other Scouts? Were they the only Scouts that fought? " But the other Scouts got even with them by calling them "KITCHENER'S FUNNY SOLDIERS"; a name which became well known throughout the whole of the Transvaal. Given the quality of the KFS, clearly a self-deprecating funny title.

Regards to all
IL.

IL
Reply PM sent.