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Hi Everyone,
I have just joined this website.
My particular area of interest in the Anglo Boer War is Gorringe's Flying Column which was commanded by one of my relatives, George Frederick Gorringe. For some time now, I have been trying to find a GFC slouch Hat Badge for Gorringe's Flying Column. I have a couple of unit shoulder titles in my collection, but I have never been able to find a hat badge. Does anyone know where I can find a hat badge to buy or swap a set of shoulder titles for a hat badge?

Most rank and file members of the SAMIF did not actually wear shoulder titles, most members of this particular regiment, did, almost from their very inception at Graaff Reinet on the 5th of January 1901, simply wear a GFC incised from brass or silver in various sizes on their hats.

Thanks Frank. I have seen pictures of two types of GFC Badges. One with a single link of metal at the bottom and one with two sets of metal rails supporting the letters. I assumed that the former was the shoulder title and the latter was the hat badge? The single link badge also seems to be larger than the double rail badge. Any collectors of GFC militaria on this forum?

The war in the Cape actually became really rather fragmented after the second invasion by the enemy, you had all the loyal families and their neighbours, often, very near indeed, who may have been batting for the other side, simply, because of who their father might have been.
Both, rebel and loyal could and certainly, did, on occasion, behave like murderous thugs.
If the enemy turned up on your doorstep and wanted breakfast and you didn't give it to them, you ended up getting your furniture or even your entire home destroyed.
Gideon Scheepers and his rabble were a notable case in point, if you were out on the veldt chasing him, you really would not be to bothered about your hat, moreover, I would certainly not be too keen on being identified as a member of this particular anti commando regiment, depending on exactly where I might have been living at that particular point in time, they fought a very hard war.
Notwithstanding, the badges you mention were made in both metals, the first normally had it's fittings on the reverse made from two little pieces of sheet brass, the second, had brass wire instead.