Khaki woollen Tam-o'-Shanter cap : Private F A Henley, 4th South African Infantry Battalion, SAEF Accession Number: RELAWM09036.006

Description

4th South African (Scottish) Infantry Battalion Other Ranks khaki woollen Tam-o'-Shanter cap. It has a red (faded) pom pom on the top. The badge on the left side, is the general service badge worn by all four battalions which formed the 1st South African Infantry Brigade. It features the head of a springbok, the motto 'UNION IS STRENGTH / EENDRACHT MAAKT MACHT', and it is backed with a piece of Murray of Athol tartan. '59 / W^D / P' is stamped in black on the khaki cotton lining. '16889 / F.A.Henley' is written in purple indelible pencil inside the front.

Contextual Description

Worn by 16899 Private Frank Archibald Henley, 4th South African (Scottish) Infantry, SAEF. He served on the Western Front and was taken prisoner of war by the Germans in April 1918 who took most of his original kit. He was presumably issued with this uniform on his release. In a letter dated 4 November 1938, in response to questions from AWM staff about his unit's uniform, Private Henley provided the following details; 'No sporran was worn during active service, not officially issued; khaki aprons were only issued in France to protect from mud [he was not re-issued with one when he was released]; If I remember rightly we wore leather equipment, walking out dress would be as you state belt, bayonet frog, but no bayonet, unless on picket duty; swagger cane was optional but usually used; As far as my memory serves me after all the years, the equipment was leather belt, shoulder straps, with webbing haversack, valise: bayonet frog and entrenching tool case, I think but would not be sure on this point were also leather, as were the ammunition pouches; The position of hose tops & ankle puttees were the same as Imperial Scottish Regiments'. With regard to the title of his unit he wrote, 'Either title would be correct. South Africa only had one Brigade, 1st, 2nd, 3rd wore ordinary uniforms & the 4th kilts, sometimes we were addressed as 4th S.A. Infantry & sometimes S.A. Scottish, altho (sic) the latter, I think was more commonly used'.