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Welcome to Rhodesian Militaria
This site is for both collectors and people
that are interested in Rhodesian
militaria.
The purpose of this site is to explain the difference between genuine Rhodesian items and the fakes
and copies. The items
that I will cover on this site are the ones that are the
rarer, and the ones that tend to be the more expensive to buy. These are
predominantly
items from the Selous Scouts, 'C' (Rhodesia) Squadron 22 Special Air Service Regiment, Rhodesian Light Infantry (RLI),
Rhodesian African
Rifles
(RAR) and the Greys Scouts. I have also covered some of the more faked items other than from these units. These will include the Brigade patches,
most of the Paratrooper Wings,
Stable Belts, Rank Slides and Gallantry medals. Units not represented here just means that their particular militaria
is
either not faked at all, or is faked in a limited amount.
The majority of the photos displayed here are items that
are in my
collection or have at one stage been in my collection. Most of them are in mint condition. There are
however some photos from
fellow
collectors who were kind enough to allow me to display them here. All of the items listed here are genuine except for the
one page of
fakes.
There is an enormous amount
of confusion amongst some collectors of Rhodesian Military insignia. The main
problem
being is that there is not one definitive book on Rhodesian insignia. There is also not a book or any information
telling the difference between
the
genuine items and the fake ones. My definition of a faked or copied item is an item that was not authentic or genuine to the Rhodesian Security
Forces.
Most of the information here would not have been possible if I had not been fortunate enough to
have met the
acquaintance of two people:
They are James MacKenzie
(SA)
Southern Africa
Militaria and Craig Fourie (SA).
Both are considered world authorities
on Rhodesian
militaria and have been collecting for decades.
Without their ongoing help and the knowledge they have passed on to me, it would not have
been possible for me to even attempt to create this website,
so
for that I am most appreciative.
Other people I wish to
thank for supplying photo's are:
Graham Spicer (UK), Don Strobaugh, Colonel USAF (Ret)
(USA), Julian Tennant (AUS)
Co-Author "Anzac Elite", James Morgan (CA), Shaun Aumua (NZ), Michael Simens (USA), Eric Crepin-Leblond (FR), Mic Baker (USA) and Paul Hogan (AUS)
who has supplied photos
and much insight into the Parachute Training School.
I would also like to thank Carl Keith (UK)
We Were Rhodesians. com for helping me
with the
numbers of gallantry awards to
Rhodesians.
I have numbered what militaria I could from three books. The first book is 'Insignia and History of the Rhodesian
Armed
Forces 1890-1980 (3rd Edition)' by Dudley Wall. It will have the prefix and number starting with DW. The second book is 'The Military Badges
and Insignia of Southern Africa' by Colin Owen. It will have
the prefix and number starting with CO. The third book is 'SAS Rhodesia' by Jonathon
Pittaway and Craig Fourie. It will have the prefix and number starting with JPCF. This is to help people who wish to
reference the militaria displayed
on this website with these books.
My hope is that this site will be of some help to people who are
interested in collecting genuine Rhodesian militaria or people that
just have an interest in learning about it.
Photos from PJI 2008 Reunion in Busselton, Western Australia.
SEEKING INFORMATION FOR NEW BOOK
I am in the process of writing
a book on the Rhodesian Parachute Training School and the role of the PJI's, Despatchers and staff. This will cover the period from 1961-1982 and
will be a
very broad account of the role of the PTS during this time. The book will be a coffee- table size pictorial in hardcover and there will
also be a leather-bound Limited Edition.
The Limited Edition book will be limited to 50 copies.
ALL LIMITED EDITIONS HAVE BEEN RESERVED.
It will be
an A4 size book.
Leather-Bound with a slip case.
Signed by a number of PJI's and myself.
Numbered 1 to 50.
Any photos or other relevant information that
could be sent to me would be greatly appreciated. Photos from SAS, RLI, Selous Scouts, RAR, SADF Recce and Air Force are all welcome, as the PTS
worked
with
all of them. I would also appreciate any relevant information from fellow collectors. Any photos or information used in the book will
be credited to the people who supplied them.
The writing of this book has the support of the following former members of the
PTS:
Derek de Kock, D.M.M. (former OC of PTS and one of the first five PJI's of the PTS in 1961)
Paul
Hogan, M.F.C. (former PJI)
Tony Hughes, M.F.C. (former PJI)
Dick Gledhill (former PJI)
Ian Douglas (former PJI)
Mike Duffy (former PJI)
Trevor Smith (one of the first five PJI's of the PTS in 1961)
Kevin Milligan (former PJI)
John Early
(former PJI)
Iain Bowen (former PJI)
Charlie Buchan (former PJI)
Connie Wise (former S.E.S. only woman to be officially parachute trained through PTS)
Mark `Harry` Zambra (former Despatcher)
Bob Simpson (former Flight Engineer with 3 Sqn - Dakotas)
Darryll Mills, son of the late Keith Mills (former
Despatcher)
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2007-2008
2008-2009
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