| This photograph depicts what may be a member of a local volunteer unit raised in the area around Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa. I have as yet been unable to identify the badge that appears on his foreign service helmet which seems to consist of a three letter monogram surrounded by a wreath with the Victorian crown above. I have found no similar badge that was used at the time by regular British forces or local South African forces for that matter. The same can be said about the single numeral 9 that appears on his collar. This collar badge leads me to think that he may have been a member of a Port Elizabeth are police or constabulary force though this is just conjecture based upon the use of similar numbers by police forces in Britain. He wears was looks to be a variation of a blue patrol jacket and has either a whistle of watch chain attached to his jacket collar. Cabinet Photograph Arthur Green - Photographer Port Elizabeth, South Africa c. 1890 |
An enhanced detail of the Victorian helmet plate in the above photograph. |