NEL - Medal Research

20/12/2020

16/04/2020

Order of precedence for the wearing of South African orders, decorations and medals for the years:

1936 - https://www.dropbox.com/s/a32wm291qvosrw0/1936.pdf?dl=0

1942 - https://www.dropbox.com/s/h7o7yxxojc0svhl/1942.pdf?dl=0

1993 - https://www.dropbox.com/s/kflftmubnvmht60/1993.pdf?dl=0

2003 - https://www.dropbox.com/s/9ysp4q7ordiyjfn/2003.pdf?dl=0

2005 - https://www.dropbox.com/s/zqpy519iw963nwo/2005.pdf?dl=0

Shared with Dropbox

13/04/2020

Seems very relevant today - Photographs of Non-European Army Services taken during WWII.

15/10/2019

Rifleman Peter Benjamin Bresler attested with the Witwatersrand Rifles on 14 July 1941 and was thereafter transferred to the South African Artillery, under which he served in North Africa.

On 4 May 1942, he suffered from appendicitis and was evacuated to base by sea from Tobruk to Alexandria on board the Italian built hospital ship Ramb IV.

Ramb IV was captured by the British from the Italians after the fall of the port of Massawa on 10 April 1941.

Unfortunately for Rifleman Bresler, German aircraft bombed Ramb IV on 10 May 1942 and he, together with approximately 50 other South Africans died in this attack.

The names of these men are recorded at the Alamein Memorial.

14/02/2018

Good news, after nearly five years of intense interaction between myself and the South African National Defence Force Archives regarding restrictions to access, we have finally regained access to the personnel records.

Thank you for the support and patience during this period and I will tend to the outstanding requests as soon as possible.

Naturally, this also means that you are welcome to send new requests and I look forward to being of service!

29/09/2017

South African World War II medals generally carry a block number, initials and the surname of the recipient of the medals. Depending on the the award, these details can either found on the rim or on the reverse of the medal. As is mentioned in the extract from the Union Defence Force Orders, getting it wrong was quite a serious offence!