TOPIC:

I do not have examples of the headgear badges worn by the Natal Police during the Boer War, but shown here are the shoulder titles worn by the Natal Police Field Force, the active service component of the NP.

The headgear badges, both Queen's and King's Crowns, are in Owen's book as numbers 1890, 1891 and 1892. They are described as collar badges, but they were not used on collars.

Natal Police buttons - Queen's Crown.
The bottom row is a set of "acorn" buttons that came together and were evidently off one or more tunics of one individual.

Natal Police buttons - King's Crown.

Hello Brett,
I love those victorian Natal Police buttons, lovely examples! I believe some NP slouch hat badges were made in the war by Wade's in PM Burg and List Brothers in Durban, Colin Owen did not have any shown in his book though.
Kind regards Frank.

Frank

I wonder if the badges you referred to are in fact the ones shown by Owen numbers 1890, 1891 and 1892? They are similar in design to those of the Natal Carbineers numbers 358 to 361, which are also likely to have been made in Pietermaritzburg.

I do not know why Owen believed 1890, 1891 and 1892 were collar badges. I have seen no evidence for that conclusion.

Regards
Brett

Hi Brett,
I don't much like or use Owen's book, anyway, just found my copy and the badges at 1890,1891 and 1892 are British made.
Boer War Natal made badges would be more like 1893!
The Natal Carbineers badges at 358-361 are also British made, the example at 355 is the only Boer War item there that is not British made and that would have been made in Pietermaritzburg or Durban but it is not marked as such.
I'll take a look at what I have and post some photo's in your Carbineers thread.
Best regards Frank