Figure 3: Reverse ofa typical South African Expeditionary ... · Figure 5: Type I naming to...
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/ REFERENCE Datv. Figure 3: Reverse of a typical South African Expeditionary Forces service card. naming is not as "neat" or regular as one sees on stars issued to British units. Generally, each Star is named in three lines: rank (abbreviated) / name (initials and surname) / unit. Units are abbreviated only if the number of letters in the units was too great for the space on the medal. For example, "commando" or/commando is CDO or KDO and "horse" is HSE. "Krugersdorp" is KRUGERSDP, "Wakkerstroom" is WAKKRSTM and Potchefstroom is POTCH. But there is some inconsistency: troopers in the Pietersburg commando received 1914-15 Stars with PIETERSBURG spelled out, even though that word has the same number of letters as tChugersdorp (eleven), but stars to troopers in the latter commando received medals impressed KRUGERSDP. "Exception to the general style rule." Probably the most unusual exception - one that deviates markedly from the "normal" naming style format - is the Star impressed 349 / MNSK [Manskap / Private] R.M. BRITZ / DE AAR KDO. Not only is the style of impressed naming different from all the other named medals in this study, but the presence of the regimental number is highly unusual. There is no doubt that this is a very late issue (mid- 1950s), since it is named in the World War II style.9 Style types. After examining a total of 27 1914-15 Stars to commando unit recipients, this study identifies six distinct types of naming on commando stars. Each type of naming is illustrated in photographs, with the unit and issue date. Commando Type I (Figures 4-13) Description: Tall, narrow capital letters, about 2.0 millimeters (1/16th inch) in height. Letters "te" of Pte. and "it" of Sjt are underscored "--." English language issue only. Period "." after "Cdo" but not always after surname. Uneven impression (some letters deeply impressed, others lightly done). Type issued from 1921 to 1929; the most frequently seen naming style. Name Botha, O.J. Badenhorst, F.N.J. O’Connor, A.T. Oosthuizen, G. V. R. Paisley, Wm. Aspinal Unit on Star Pietersburg Kdo Britstown Kdo Cradock Cdo Krugersdp Kdo Krugersdp Cdo Star issued Dec 5, 1929 unknown unknown Jan. 20,1926 Aug 25,1922 8 JOMSA
Transcript of Figure 3: Reverse ofa typical South African Expeditionary ... · Figure 5: Type I naming to...
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REFERENCE
Datv.
Figure 3: Reverse of a typical South African Expeditionary Forces service card.
naming is not as "neat" or regular as one sees on stars issued to British units. Generally, each Star is named in three
lines: rank (abbreviated) / name (initials and surname) / unit. Units are abbreviated only if the number of letters in the units was too great for the space on the medal. For example, "commando" or/commando is CDO or KDO and "horse" is HSE. "Krugersdorp" is KRUGERSDP,
"Wakkerstroom" is WAKKRSTM and Potchefstroom is POTCH. But there is some inconsistency: troopers in the Pietersburg commando received 1914-15 Stars with PIETERSBURG spelled out, even though that word has the same number of letters as tChugersdorp (eleven), but stars to troopers in the latter commando received medals impressed KRUGERSDP.
"Exception to the general style rule." Probably the
most unusual exception - one that deviates markedly from
the "normal" naming style format - is the Star impressed
349 / MNSK [Manskap / Private] R.M. BRITZ / DE AAR
KDO. Not only is the style of impressed naming different
from all the other named medals in this study, but the presence of the regimental number is highly unusual. There is no doubt that this is a very late issue (mid- 1950s), since it is named in the World War II style.9
Style types. After examining a total of 27 1914-15 Stars to commando unit recipients, this study identifies six distinct types of naming on commando stars. Each type of naming is illustrated in photographs, with the unit and issue date.
Commando Type I (Figures 4-13)
Description: Tall, narrow capital letters, about 2.0
millimeters (1/16th inch) in height. Letters "te" of Pte. and
"it" of Sjt are underscored "--." English language issue
only. Period "." after "Cdo" but not always after surname.
Uneven impression (some letters deeply impressed, others
lightly done). Type issued from 1921 to 1929; the most
frequently seen naming style.
Name
Botha, O.J. Badenhorst, F.N.J. O’Connor, A.T. Oosthuizen, G. V. R. Paisley, Wm. Aspinal
Unit on Star
Pietersburg Kdo Britstown Kdo Cradock Cdo Krugersdp Kdo Krugersdp Cdo
Star issued
Dec 5, 1929 unknown unknown Jan. 20,1926 Aug 25,1922
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Scheepers, Martinus J.
Snyman, P.J. Taylor, J.
Van Vuren, D.R.J. Yeatman, Eric D.
Figure 4: Type I naming to Pietersburg Kommando.
Krugersdp Cdo
Sutherland Kdo Standerton Cdo
Emelo Kdo
Wakkstm Cdo
Mar 7, 1921 July 25, 1922
Sept 21, 1922 unknown
Nov 30, 1925
Figure 8: Type I natning to Kurgersdorp Commando.
Figure 5: Type I naming to Britstown Kommando. Figure 9: Type I naming to Kurgersdorp Commando.
Figure 6: Type I naming to Cradock Commando.
Figure 10: Type I naming to Sutherland Kommando.
Figure 7: Type I naming to Krugersdorp Kommando.
Vol. 60, No. 3 (May-June 2009)
Figure 11: Type I naming to Standerton Commando.
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Figure 12: Type I naming to Ermelo Kommando. Figure 13: Type I naming to Wakkerstroom Commando.
Commando Type II (Figures 14-18)
Description: Tall capital letters, but not as narrow as
Type I. About 2.0 millimeters (1 / 16th inch) in height.
Compare "O" in Type I (narrow) with "O" in Type II
(wider). Afrikaans and English issues. Usually quite deep
impressing of letters. Type issued from 1921 to 1922.
Name Unit on Star Star issued:
Neseman, H.W. O’Donovan, Eric Van Rensburg, J.J. Van Zijl, A.J. Wright, Percy
Krugersdp Cdo Barkly West Cdo Lichtenburg Kdo Potch Kdo. Bloemhof Cdo
unknown
Mar 15, 1921
Oct 1, 1921
Feb 18, 1921 June 17, 1922
Figure 14: Type H naming to Krugersdorp Commando. Figure 16: Type H naming to Lichtenburg Kommando.
Figure 15: Type H naming to BarMy West Commando. Figure 17: Type H naming to Potchefstroom Kommando.
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