TOPIC:

Hello Iain,
You must remember that whilst Colin Owen had a large collection, the same was left wanting in many areas, GSWA, GEA and I have to say the ABW too, the class C SAMIF was not to bad, though, or course he did not have every unit, but with the Cape Government raised units, it was really very poor, moreover, people should not think that just because any given item is not in the book, it must be rare, that is simply not the case at all.
They are a little over 3cm and were made with wire loops, both, thick and thin, some were fitted with pins too.
The first type with the error in the last digit, is by far the better as a badge, the second as shown has the die flaws and is not as nice.
Kind regards Frank

iaindh wrote: Hi Frank,
I havent seen either of your WPMR badges before and they dont even appear in Owen's.
What type of fixing do they have and what size?

regards, Iain

Hi Frank,
yes Owen's book has its flaws but what can you do, it has the biggest amount of SA badges that can be referenced in one book. Have you thought of compiling a book yourself, you do seem to have an extensive knowledge of SA badges?
With the wire loops, is it not a helmet plate centre rather than a slouch hat badge? Or maybe started out that way?

kind regards, Iain

Hello Iain,
LOL at the thought of helmet plates, not a wise thing to be sporting on the veldt, you must bare in mind that they only existed for a very short time too!
From memory they were disbanded before the summer of 1901, no members of any of the Cape Colony Irregular Corps units ever had or wore plates to the best of my knowledge.
No, I have not given any thought to a book, would not have the time to write one and all slouch hat badges were made with wire loops apart from those which were sewn on and those that were fitted with a pin.
Regards Frank

iaindh wrote: Hi Frank,
yes Owen's book has its flaws but what can you do, it has the biggest amount of SA badges that can be referenced in one book. Have you thought of compiling a book yourself, you do seem to have an extensive knowledge of SA badges?
With the wire loops, is it not a helmet plate centre rather than a slouch hat badge? Or maybe started out that way?

kind regards, Iain