THE SOUTH AFRICAN MILITARY HISTORICAL SOCIETY in association
with the SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL WAR MUSEUM.
DIE SUID-AFRIKAANSE KRYGSHISTORIESE VERENIGING in mede
werking met die SUID-AFRIKAANSE NASIONALE OORLOGSMUSBUM.
	Publikasie No. 6.	Publication No. 6.
	Newsletter No. 4.	Nuusbrief No. 4.
COMMITTEE.
The following gentlemen have been elected to serve on the
Committee until our Second Annual General Meeting in 1968:-
Chairman	: Mr. D. Forsyth
Vice-Chairman	: Commandant B.G. Simpkins
Treasurer	: Dr. S.M. Kaplan
Secretary	: Mr. N. Gomm
Members	: Dr. F. Machanik       Major S.W.J. Kotze
Mr. H. Winder         Mr. P. Melville
Mr. C. Amm   Captain J. Ball (co-opted)
JOURNAL.
	Contributions for the first issue of the Society's journal
must be in the hands of the Editor, Captain J.A. Ball, by not
later than the end of August. Contributions, NO MATTER HOW SMALL,
should be posted direct to Captain Ball at 4, Klein Street,
Rouxville, Johannesburg. Remember, it is YOUR journal and there-
fore YOUR contributions are going to decide whether it is to be
a success and how often it is to appear. Don't leave it to the
other chap; we are confident that each and every member is
capable of making some contribution.
THE MILITARY HERALDRY SOCIETY.
	We are allied to the above Society whose object is to
promote and foster a general interest in the study of military
formation signs, regimental and unit flashes and similar cloth
insignia. Members who require assistance in this sphere should
address their queries to the Hon Secretary, Major J. Waring,
7 Harding Place, Keynsham, Somerset, England.
THE SOUTH AFRICAN ARMS AND ARMOUR SOCIETY.
	This Society, with headquarters in Cape Town, is also
allied to us. The aim of the Society is to serve the interests
of those interested in arms and/or armour, and at present it
consists mainly of a group of edgeweapon collectors. Members
who require information on swords, daggers, and related
weapons can contact the Hon. Secretary, Mr. N. Emms, "Merlin,"
16 Sillery Road, Bergvliet, Cape Town.
VICTORIA CROSS
	For our medal enthusiasts we have the news that 1,344
V.C.'s have been won since its institution in 1856. The latest
recipient is Lance-Corporal Rambahadur Limbu of the 2nd
Battalion, 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha Rifles. He won it
during a hillside battle in Sarawak on the 21st November, 1965.
REFERENCES.
Mr. A. Rabone, John Graham Primary School, Milford Road,
Plumstead, Cape Town, writes to say that Vol. 1 of the GRAAFF
REINET HERALD (August, 1852 to August, 1853) mentions a number
of regiments and military units. Copies of the HERALD are to be
found in the Africana Museum, Johannesburg; the S.A. Public
Library in Cape Town and in the Graaff Reinet Museum. Mr.
Rabone says he can also give references on the activities of
Burgher Commando units and of the Fingo and Hottentot Levies.
CLOTH FORMATION SIGNS.
	Members who are interested in American badges of this nature
may contact the Insignia Collectors Club, Box 71, Rockaway Park 94,
N.Y., United States of America.
BADGES WANTED.
	The Museums at Ladysmith and Colenso require certain British
badges of the 1899 - 1902 period for their collections. Members
who are able to assist should contact Dr. R.E. Stevenson, 201
Burger Street, Pietermaritzburg.
STUDY GROUP.
	Should any members be interested, a work study group was
formed in Estcourt, Natal, to carry out research into the history
of the Estcourt area. The group includes teachers on the staff
of Estcourt's High School. They will work in conjunction with the
Historical Association of South Africa.
PUBLICATIONS RECEIVED.
	The Journal of the Historical Firearms Society of South
Africa - Vol. 3 No. 5, Vol. 4 No. 1, Vol. 4 No. 2.
	The Formation Sign - being the journal of the Military
Heraldry Society (England) - No. 65 and No. 66.
	Looking Back - being the quarterly bulletin of the Historical
Society of Port Elizabeth - Vol. VII No, 1 and 2.
	The Arms and Armour Society (South Africa) - two newsletters,
publication on Indonesian edgeweapons and a Dictionary of
Edge Weapons.
CONGRATULATIONS.
	Our congratulations to Commandant G.R. Duxbury who was
recently elected president of the S.A. Museum Association for a
period of three years. He was appointed Director of the S.A.
National War Museum in 1951.
	Congratulations are also extended to our Vice-Chairman,
Major E.G. Simpkins, on his promotion to Commandant and
Officer Commanding the Rand Light Infantry Regiment.
ATTENDANCE.
	Attendance at our monthly meetings seems to be waning
and we would stress that in order to keep up the sucess we
have been enjoying to date, members should make a determined
effort to attend and to bring along any interested friends. We    -
would also like to hear from our country members who may be in
Johannesburg on holiday.
	At our meeting held on 13th April we had, for the first
time, two speakers in one evening. They were Brigadier J.
Willers of the Atlas Aircraft Corporation and Mr. A. Blake,
an aviation journalist. Both spoke on aircraft production in
South Africa. As guests we had the Johannesburg Branch of the
Royal Aeronautical Society.
	At our meeting held on May 11th, Lt.-Col. Harry Klein
spoke to us on the subject of psychological warfare. Col.
Klein is the author of "Springboks in Armour."
TRADE BADGES.
	Trade badges were worn from the inception of the Union
Defence Force in 1912 until after the Second World War. They
were generally worn low on the forearm except for non-commissioned
officers who wore them above chevrons and warrant officers who
wore then at the cuff. For undress blues they were gold and
dark blue and worsted or metal on drab for service dress.
BRANCHES
	Negotiations are at present underway for the establishment
of branches of the Society in Port Elizabeth and Durban. Members
of the Society in Bloemfontein meet once monthly although there
is no branch there. They have undertaken a few projects there
of which more will be said later.
The secretary would be pleased to hear of your change of address
and looks forward to receiving your notices for publication.