Unknown M.R.A./D Brass Shoulder Title

[MILCOLLECTORBLUE]

Good Morning,

I recently acquired a large collection of almost exclusively CEF collar badges. Hidden away in that consignment was a 'mystery' shoulder title, images of which are shown here. It looks like it has been produced 'in the field' - note the attachments on the reverse that presumably served as lugs, along with the rubber washer that was used to retain the shoulder title in place on the uniform.

I have been led to believe this may be a South African Artillery shoulder title.  Notwithstanding that supposition, does anyone have any knowledge of such a shoulder title being used, possibly by any S. African unit and, if so, which unit and when would it have been worn?

This is definitely not my area of interest, although I am intrigued to establish whether it has any 'kosher' military connection.

Many thanks in advance for any information that can be provided.
 

[FROGSMILE]

4 hours ago, MILCOLLECTORBLUE said:

Good Morning,

I recently acquired a large collection of almost exclusively CEF collar badges. Hidden away in that consignment was a 'mystery' shoulder title, images of which are shown here. It looks like it has been produced 'in the field' - note the attachments on the reverse that presumably served as lugs, along with the rubber washer that was used to retain the shoulder title in place on the uniform.

I have been led to believe this may be a South African Artillery shoulder title.  Notwithstanding that supposition, does anyone have any knowledge of such a shoulder title being used, possibly by any S. African unit and, if so, which unit and when would it have been worn?

This is definitely not my area of interest, although I am intrigued to establish whether it has any 'kosher' military connection.

Many thanks in advance for any information that can be provided.
 

As you have probably realised insignia likely to have come from the 2nd Boer War is highly specialised, not least because of the number of irregular and temporary units for which insignia was often sandcast, leaving few documentary records.  The only published reference that I possess covering the Dominions as well as Britain is that by Cox, which focuses specifically on ww1 and for the record there’s nothing like the badge that you’ve posted in it.

The D in a lowermost tier is most unusual.  When that configuration did exist it usually had a simple number above and related to Dragoon or Dragoon Guard units.  As the Boer War was mostly about fast moving Light Horse units (including yeomanry), together with mounted infantrymen, the Dragoons aspect seems less likely.  Ergo perhaps the D stood for a place (e.g. Durban) or a sub-unit (e.g. D squadron), but the latter would break usual convention in that insignia generally referred to complete units.

I can only suggest that you enquire via these more specialised websites:

1.https://www.britishbadgeforum.com/forums/index.php

2.https://www.angloboerwar.com

Edited 16 December , 2022 by FROGSMILE

[MILCOLLECTORBLUE]

Hello FROGSMILE,

Thank you for your input and thoughts, which are much appreciated. 

I too have Cox's book and, as you say, he makes no mention of such a badge.  Unfortunately, the only other militaria reference books on badges I have are for the CEF and UK, and this badge obviously doesn't fit into either of those collecting fields.  Also, as you mentioned, there is a paucity of literature describing the badges manufactured and worn during the times of the Boer War, which makes trying to identify this badge even more difficult.  (A statement of the blindingly obvious some critics might say!) 

I know my 'learned' colleague who examined this shoulder title thought it was manufactured pre-WW1 and that the 'D' may / would have indicated 'D Battery', but that is when he also thought it was both a S. African badge and was associated with an Artillery unit.  However, as we all know, 'experts can be wrong too' and he certainly wouldn't mind  my saying that. 'Live and Learn', the latter part of which I am hoping to do with this post.

As  for raising this query on other specialised sites, I posted a form of the same question on the British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum (specialised site #1 above), but have so far received no responses (although it has been viewed 71 times since the original posting).  I may well try the other site you mentioned to see whether anyone there is able to offer any thoughts. 

In the meantime, the search continues .

 

[FROGSMILE]

50 minutes ago, MILCOLLECTORBLUE said:

Hello FROGSMILE,

Thank you for your input and thoughts, which are much appreciated. 

I too have Cox's book and, as you say, he makes no mention of such a badge.  Unfortunately, the only other militaria reference books on badges I have are for the CEF and UK, and this badge obviously doesn't fit into either of those collecting fields.  Also, as you mentioned, there is a paucity of literature describing the badges manufactured and worn during the times of the Boer War, which makes trying to identify this badge even more difficult.  (A statement of the blindingly obvious some critics might say!) 

I know my 'learned' colleague who examined this shoulder title thought it was manufactured pre-WW1 and that the 'D' may / would have indicated 'D Battery', but that is when he also thought it was both a S. African badge and was associated with an Artillery unit.  However, as we all know, 'experts can be wrong too' and he certainly wouldn't mind  my saying that. 'Live and Learn', the latter part of which I am hoping to do with this post.

As  for raising this query on other specialised sites, I posted a form of the same question on the British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum (specialised site #1 above), but have so far received no responses (although it has been viewed 71 times since the original posting).  I may well try the other site you mentioned to see whether anyone there is able to offer any thoughts. 

In the meantime, the search continues .

 

I wish you good luck and will be interested to learn if you ever reach a satisfactory conclusion.  The D-Battery reference is certainly more likely than a D-Squadron as the Artillery did go through a reorganisation that made a battery an individual equipment account holder (the necessary process to become fully self contained logistically), which did not happen to cavalry and infantry sub-units.  That said it would be very unusual on a shoulder title.  Nevertheless, I agree that an artillery connection is the more likely of those options that seem available.

Edited 16 December , 2022 by FROGSMILE