Infantry mashonaland field force

Buy With the Mounted Infantry and the Mashonaland Field Force 1896 Alderson, E. A. H. Hardcover for R100.00

This all new work by accomplished military historian Alexandre Binda, former paymaster to the Greys Scouts, tables the remarkable story of Rhodesias mounted infantry, the Greys Scouts. Working closely with the last commanding officer, squadron commanders and a whole host of regimental personalities, all of whom have given The Equus Men their unequivocal support Binda has enjoyed unparalled access to thousands of pages of archival documents and many hundreds of previously unpublished photographs. Here, he has traced the Greys from their early origins in the Matabele Rebellion of 1896, where an unassuming Englishman, the Honourable George Grey, found himself originating a body of horseman named the Bulawayo Field Force, through to the formation of the Animal Transport Unit (ATU) which went on to become the Mounted Infantry Unit (MIU). With the skill of a practiced narrator, Binda takes the reader through these early days to the establishment of the Greys Scouts in the Rhodesian Army order of battle in 1976. Deployed to great effect during the bitter Rhodesian Bush War of the late 1960s 1970s, the mounted operations conducted by the Greys are succinctly and clearly detailed. Some of the contacts related make for astonishing reads and with the lively, vibrant, text one can almost feel the steaming sweat of rider and mount; sense the pounding adrenaline; hear the thundering hooves as a fearful enemy is pursued to battles inevitable conclusion. Suffice to say, The Equus Men makes for an engaging read. Trained and utilised as mounted infantry as opposed to cavalry, the Greys Scouts saw exceptional success in the field. Lightly equipped, they were able to cover great distances at speed, live off the veldt with minimal support and through shock action, quickly engage and destroy insurgent forces. Originally a regular formation, the Greys Scouts were augmented by Territorial and National Service soldiers as the conflict progressed and by 1980, when hostilities ceased, the Regiment numbered some 600 soldiers, both men and women, black and white. With its informative text and rich profusion of photographs, The Equus Men is a stunning tribute to the equestrian and fighting prowess of the Greys Scouts. It is a remarkable story and one that is ever more relevant, given recent mounted and pack horse operations conducted by British and US special forces in Afghanistan. Hardcover, 288 pages with  approx 300 colour & b/w photos, 4 maps. First published  1 February 2016.

    WWII SPECIAL SERVICE BATTALION TITLE BADGE The Special Service Battalion (SSB) is a South African military unit formed on 1 May 1933 under the patronage of Oswald Pirow, Minister of Defence. The object was to give training to youths, between the ages of 17 and 23, who, in the wake of the 1929 depression, could find no suitable employment on leaving school.   History Lt Col George E Brink was given the responsibility for establishing the battalion at Roberts Heights and was the first commanding officer. The SSB was established to save the youth from physical and moral degeneration caused by massive unemployment due to the Great Depression. The SSB was to teach the young men military discipline, fitness and various trades to enable them to be employed by the Department of Labour and Welfare. The SSB men received a salary of a shilling a day causing the SSB soon to be known as the "Bob a Day Battalion".  In 1934 detachments were also established for 100 trainees at Durban and 150 at Cape Town. Training included elementary military subjects and physical training. After a year of the young men usually found employment in government departments or with civilian employers. By 1936 the output of the SSB totalled about 2000 youths a year. In 1937 the South African Railways established at Roberts Heights a special school to prepare boys for the railways. In 1937 3788 youths passed through the ranks of the SSB. A total of 882 of them joined the Permanent Force.  With the expansion of the South African Air Force in 1937 the SSB provided 248 air apprentices for special training but, with the improvement in the economic situation, the waiting list to join the battalion had dwindled to almost nil.  With the outbreak of war in September 1939, members of the SSB were posted to units requiring immediate reinforcement to get on to a wartime basis. An example of this being the Coastal Artillery. In February 1940 a number of troops were transferred to the 1st and 2nd Field Force Battalions. These served with distinction in East Africa, Abyssinia and the Middle East as part of 1st South African Division.  SADF era 1 SSB Commemorative Letter In August 1941 all members of the SSB below the age of 18 were transferred to the Youth Training Brigade. The remainder formed an infantry battalion, which was converted to an armoured car commando in 1942.  In February 1943 the SSB, under Lt Col EG ('Papa') Brits, became part of the 11th SA Armoured Brigade. In March 1943 the Field Force Battalion was disbanded and other ranks and some of the officers were transferred to the SSB, thus providing a nucleus of battle-tested veterans.  The unit sailed for the Middle East with the 6th SA Armoured Division in April 1943. In 1944 the division crossed the Mediterranean Sea to take part in the Italian campaign. The regiment played a prominent part in numerous actions during the campaign.  In 1946, SSB was resuscitated as a Permanent Force unit and reorganised on a two-battalion basis with the 1st Battalion as an armoured unit and the 2nd Battalion infantry. The former became a training regiment in 1953 and the latter was renamed the 1 South African Infantry Battalion (1SAI) in 1951.   CONDITION:  Very Good. Lugs in tact. UNCLEANED. Sold as seen in the images. Images form part of the description.

SADF ARTILLERY BADGE = UBIQUE  Collar badge = Bursting grenade with seven flames. Motto: Ubique (Everywhere)   Brief history in SA = The Cape Field Artillery (CFA), founded in 1857, is the fourth oldest Reserve unit in the SANDF, but is regarded as the senior regiment (as a corps, the artillery is senior to the infantry). The regiment is also the only unit still in existence that acted in defence of a direct attack on South African soil – defending Upington on January 24, 1915, against a German force that included rebel General Manie Maritz and Boer prophet “Siener” van Rensburg. The SAA was, however, only established as a corps, on February 1, 1922, when a new Defence Act came into effect. The SA Artillery Formation was founded on January 1, 1999.   CONDITION:  Very Good. Lugs in tact with one pin slide. Sold as seen in the images. Images form part of the description.