Infantry mashonaland field

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support Binda has enjoyed unparalled access to thousands of pages of archival documents and many hundreds of previously unpublished photographs.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.

 WJ ZASTRON, A STOREMAN WITH SAR & HARBOURS. ATTESTED AGED 29 - FROM WOLMARANSSTAD - WITH THE 7TH FIELD BRIGADE SA ARTILLERY NOV 1940 IN EAST AFRICA, PART OF THE 1ST SOUTH AFRICAN INFANTRY DIVISION - CONTRACTED MALARIA IN EAST AFRICA - 7TH CASUALTY CLEARING STATION (SOLD WITH COPIED RESEARCH) 

Subtitle: Gault of the Patricias  Author: Jeffrey Williams Publisher: Vanwell Publishing Ltd () Edition: First Edition ISBN-10: ISBN-13: Condition: Very Good Binding: Hardcover with dust jacket Pages: 278 Dimensions: 24 x 16 x 2.9 cm +++ by Jeffrey Williams +++ This is the first biography of Hamilton Gault, a legend in his own lifetime, who founded the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry at the outbreak of the First World War; one of Canada's most distinguished regiments. Jeffery Williams's tribute to this very remarkable man is balanced, absorbing and long overdue.   A passion for books and a passion for collecting fine editions was the recipe that created the successful group of bookshops in Johannesburg called Bookdealers. The group started thirty years ago with one store in the quirky suburb of Yeoville and has grown through the years to a total of five shops, plus our online sales. Bookdealers is well-known for its collectable and used books. We also have a large variety of remaindered books sourced from around the world.  If you collect from one of our five branches there is no delivery charge. We also offer postal delivery (when available) and courier delivery, subject to a quote.

    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.

WWII VERY RARE (Single Decal) Medic South African Desert Helmet, desert sand camouflaged dated with her original net and field dressing complete with very rare type liner and chin strap. This Helmet comes with her original Medic Bag! "Not the Water Bottle!!" ~ Only The Helmet & the Bag "these two came together as a set!" together in the same crate whom belonged to the same medic who these items once belonged to back in WWII. South Africa made, a genuine piece of Second World War history, it's an original dated South African helmet.
It's original owner fought in the British 8th Army as a medic in Africa against Germany, the Afrika Corps. Eighth Army had the South African 2nd Infantry Division making a total of 7 divisions.

Everything about this is 100% correct and finding a medic Helmet today has become almost virtually impossible let alone a Medic Helmet due to their scarcity and value in the collectors market, these pieces are those collectors usually keep and this helmet along with all it's contents are as issued together as a set and the first aid field dressing kit was added under the net by the soldier and left as it was and kept that way!! Even the chin strap is in working order and beautifully preserved, she came with the net and the first aid pouch!
the liner is stamped with "JAGER-RAND U (with WD arrows inside the "U") .

stamped size 7 1/8 The decal on this medic Medic helmet is brilliantly preserved and this helmet overall has been taken care of very well.  As with other Imperial contingents, South African troops on the Western Front in W.W.I wore the British Brodie or Mk.I helmet.In World War II, South Africa began production of its own helmets, based on the British Mk.II with a copy of the early Lining Mk.I.

The bodies were made by Transvaal Steel Pressing Syndicate, the linings by Jäger Rand. Nearly 1.5 million helmets were produced. Helmets were provided to the other contingents in North Africa and India. Many ended up in Greece after the War. Body: Unlike the Mk.I or other Commonwealth made Mk.IIs, South African made Mk IIs are almost circular in shape (1 foot/30cm in diameter The chin-strap lugs are square and attached by flat headed rivets Three holes were punched between the skull and the rear rim. It is thought these were to attach a curtain, but no evidence of this has been found. Chin-Strap: Most had the British Mk.II type chin-strap with the elastic Mk.III or IIIA type on later issues.
Lining: Like the British Lining Mk.I, with an oval felt top pad and round felt or rectangular foam buffers. I had another Helmet similar to this one many years ago that I sold for R to a collector in New Zealand, the two Medic helmets were the only two I have ever come across in my life, they are unobtainable today and highly collectable overseas. This one is in far better condition and complete. I am asking very little for this helmet cause I need to sell quick together with it's bag.

  Those Restless Years Dealing with the BOER WARS and BAMBATA REBELLION J L SMAIL; Hardcover ; Howard Timmins Cape Town First Edition; 1971 ; Foreword ; J J HULME Durban Light Infantry ;  Lists of British Regiments and Units  in the field in Natal and Zululand 1899 - 1906. Boers Commando's and Units in the field in Natal and Zululand 1899 - 1902 List of a few of the Forts , Fotifications and Laagers in Natal and Zululand 1824 - 1906  List of recipients (includes  Names ; Places and Dates ) of the VICTORIA CROSS  in Natal and Zululand 1879 -1881, 1899 - 1902  Awards and medals issued to the British Forces  and also Awards and Medals issued to the Boer forces including the colours of medal ribbons and medal for Zulu Rising in Natal (1906) and Bambata Rebellion 1906  Lists " Wars, Rebellions and Experditions in Southern Africa from 1510 - 1953  CONDITION; Dust jacket  Fair  - see photographs;    minor tears (less than 1cm) and creases  and small pieces missing. Book condion; very good very good binding  very clean; no tears and no writing added. Postage within SA ; PREFERABLY POSTNET to Postnet  for a PARCEL OF UP TO 5KG  ADDIT. BOOKS MAYBE INCLUDED UP TO 5KG at no addit. shipping cost THEN PLEASE ADD R104.00  alternatively via SA PO   with tracking at R50.00  (Option 1)     

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.