The SAAF Forum

The gentleman seated to Admiral Higgs' right... what is the decoration worn at the throat?

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

Second question. Why do we commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar when SA had no involvement in that conflict?

http://www.navy.mil.za/archive/0910/091 ... rticle.htm

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

The SAN is a direct descendent of the RN. Naval people have a tendency to be seriously hardcore about tradition.

Taking a wild guess, as I can not see it or the ribbon well.

Could be The Star of South Africa (Non Military) which the SAP were also awarded. The Military version is just The Star of South Africa.

I see the SAN officer was a diver and looks like a Royal Navy Submariner qualification badge above his medal ribbons. Two facing dolphins with a crown in the middle.

The SAN one is a Daphne class sub over a trident and wreath, the first issue ones though were just the Daphne submarine.

I thought that might be the case - drinking is definitely one of those traditions they're particularly hardcore about

W407etc - you must have excellent vision as I cannot make out anything other than a few medals (identified by their ribbons)

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

Comes from years of looking at and counting ridges on fingerprints to make a positive identification.

Nah pulling leg .

Check the photograph on your link you posted .

Of course!!! Hahaha

So, if it were the case that R Adm Higgs was in fact a RN submariner, what are the SANDF regulations when wearing either foreign decorations or qualification badges?

I wonder what the possibilities of this officer being a former SF member being dive / submariner quald? Just wondering as I've yet to see any data which reveals anything about former SF members' original arm of service. Obviously the majority would be drawn from the army but were there many people drawn from SAN, SAAF or SAMHS?

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

There is no chance of him being SF as he is not parachute qualified and that is one of the first qualifications a SF chap qualifies for, before specialising.

He was more than likely Navy ship diver and that badge looks like it has a wreath around it, there is also one without the wreath.

I have both in my collection and both of the earlier larger pure divers helmet in two colours. The SF's used the latter before getting their attack diver badges which have a shark, trident and aqualung on it.

Rusty Higgs is a qualified diver and submariner in the SAN.

The gentleman with the decoration around his neck is ex Chief of the SAN V Adm Robert Claude Simpson-Anderson and the decoration is the Order of the Star of South Africa (Military).

Thanks

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

Consider the commander standing on the left. I don't think that I've never seen ribbons worn in a square like that before?

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

Its your responsibility to have your own medals and ribbons mounted.

Medals can only be mounted in one row (obviously). When you only have a few they get mounted next to each other, but when you have a longer row of medals they begin to overlap slightly.

Ribbons is a different matter. When you get too many ribbons for one row, you can start a new row. Most people fit in at least four ribbons in a row (like Captain Knox on the left), but this commander started a new row every two. So he's ended up with three rows of medals... but, then again, he only had two in a row. I don't like the arrangement myself, gotta say.

What's almost a bit more interesting is that he is in the SAN Reserve as far as I can tell. Indicated by the little blue badge above his name tag on the right breast.

Ja the ribbons do look somewhat odd. Commander's mustering badge looks like Mine Countermeasures?

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A plan is simply a basis for change.

Yes, Mine Counter Measures (MCM) Flotilla badge

Thanks again for the badges Vlam

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A plan is simply a basis for change.