The establishment of the 'Q' Services Corps as part of the South African Permanent Force was promulgated in the Government Gazette dated 10 November 1939. [1]
The Permanent Force was an integral part of both the South African Defence Force and the South West Africa Territorial Force and other British Commonwealth militaries. It consisted of all the full-time volunteers, volunteers of Auxiliaries and national servicemen.
The South African Service Corps, which was developed during the First World War, the South African Ordnance Corps and the South African Administrative, Pay and Clerical Corps were replaced by the 'Q' Services Corps and the 'T' (Technical) Services Corps in terms of Proclamation 276 of 10 November 1939. [2]
Between the two world wars, the supply and maintenance of all technical stores and equipment, including ammunition and guns, for the Union Defence Force, was the responsibility of the South African Ordnance Corps.
The 'Q' Services were vastly expanded during the Second World War, providing numerous services for the combatant forces, including the provision of petroleum, oil and lubricants (POL), rations, ammunition, stationery, clothing and equipment and other supplies, as well as providing transport through a large number of motor transport (MT) companies. Duties also involved the running of numerous establishments such as field bakeries and butcheries. [2]
Military rations are the food served to military personnel.
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–150 soldiers and usually commanded by a major or a captain. Most companies are formed of three to six platoons, although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure.
By April 1941, 'Q' Services had already deployed more than 7,000 men for the East African Campaign alone. [2]
The East African Campaign was fought in East Africa during World War II by Allied forces, mainly from the British Empire, against Axis forces, primarily from Italy of Italian East Africa, between June 1940 and November 1941. Forces of the British Middle East Command, including units from the United Kingdom and the colonies of British East Africa, British Somaliland, British West Africa, the Indian Empire, Northern Rhodesia, Nyasaland, Mandatory Palestine, South Africa, Southern Rhodesia and Sudan participated in the campaign. Imperial Ethiopian irregulars, the Free French and the Belgian Force Publique also participated.
After the war, pay was also handled by the Corps. [2]
The 'Q' Services Corps was replaced by the Administrative Services Corps (ASC) in November 1949. The ASC was responsible for supply and transport services other than armament and technical stores. [2]
Helmet flashes were worn by the Union Defence Forces from the early 1900s until the early 1940s. The flash was worn on both sides of the Wolseley helmet and on the upturned left brim of the smasher hat. As helmets and smasher hats were superseded by berets during the Second World War, the system therefore lasted for only about twenty years, though some flashes were later adapted for wearing on berets. [3]
The standard pattern flash, introduced in 1923, was rectangular, 75mm high and 50mm wide. Flashes of Permanent Force (PF) units displayed the branch colours, while those of Citizen Force (CF) units displayed a provincial colour at the top, the branch colour at the bottom, and unit colours in the centre. [3]
The flash for the 'Q' Services Corps was red, white and blue as shown alongside. [3]
A slouch hat is a wide-brimmed felt or cloth hat most commonly worn as part of a military uniform, often, although not always, with a chinstrap. It has been worn by military personnel from many different nations including Australia, Britain, India, New Zealand, Southern Rhodesia, France, the United States, the Confederate States, Germany and many others. Australia and New Zealand have had various models of slouch hat as standard issue headwear since the late Victorian period.
A military uniform is a standardised dress worn by members of the armed forces and paramilitaries of various nations.
The pith helmet, also known as the safari helmet, sun helmet, topee, sola topee or topi, is a lightweight cloth-covered helmet made of sholapith. Pith helmets were often worn by European travelers and explorers, in the varying climates found in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the tropics, but have also been used in many other contexts. They were routinely issued to European military personnel serving overseas "in hot climates" from the mid-nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century.
The Royal Army Service Corps (RASC) was a corps of the British Army responsible for land, coastal and lake transport, air despatch, barracks administration, the Army Fire Service, staffing headquarters' units, supply of food, water, fuel and domestic materials such as clothing, furniture and stationery and the supply of technical and military equipment. In 1965 its functions were divided between other Corps and the RASC ceased to exist; subsequently, in 1993, they in their turn became the "Forming Corps" of the Royal Logistic Corps.
A side cap is a foldable military cap with straight sides and a creased or hollow crown sloping to the back where it is parted. It is known as a garrison cap or flight cap, Schiffchen, pilotka, a wedge cap, or officially field service cap. It follows the style which originated with the so-called Austrian cap in the 1890s. There was also a previous version known as the "torin", which had a much more curved top line when viewed from the side. Both Austrian and torin types were distinguished by the inclusion of a fold-down section for warming the ears and back of the head in inclement weather. These two styles are still used by officers of some British units and continue to include this feature. In appearance the cap is similar to the glengarry, but differs by a lack of the tartan, or check trim, toorie, and ribbons typical of the Scottish cap. It has been associated with various military forces from before World War I until the present day; as well as various youth organizations. A convenient feature of this cap is that when the owner is indoors and no coat-hook is available, it can be easily stored by folding it over the belt or, unofficially, by tucking it under a shoulder strap.
A peaked cap, forage cap, barracks cover or combination cap is a form of headgear worn by the armed forces of many nations, as well as many uniformed civilian organisations such as law enforcement agencies and fire departments. It derives its name from its short visor, which was historically made of polished leather but increasingly is made of a cheaper synthetic substitute.
The black beret is a type of headgear. It is commonly worn by paramilitaries and militaries around the world, particularly armored forces such as the British Army's Royal Tank Regiment (RTR), the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps (RCAC), and the Royal Australian Armoured Corps (RAAC). Notable non-armored military units to wear the black beret include the Russian Naval Infantry and Russian OMON units, the United States Air Force (USAF) Tactical Air Control Party (TACP), Philippine National Police-Special Action Force (PNP-SAF) members, and the Royal Canadian Navy. It was also worn by the United Kingdom's Royal Observer Corps (ROC) with their Royal Air Force (RAF) uniform, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
Forage cap is the designation given to various types of military undress, fatigue or working headwear. These varied widely in form, according to country or period. The coloured peaked cap worn by the modern British Army for parade and other dress occasions is still officially designated as a forage cap.
Full dress uniform is the most formal type of military uniform, reserved for parades, ceremonies, official receptions, and other special occasions of the most formal level, including private ones such as marriages and funerals. Full dress uniforms often goes with order insignias and full size medals. In Western dress codes, full dress uniform is a permitted supplementary alternative corresponding to the civilian white tie for evening wear or morning dress for day wear - sometimes collectively called full dress - although military uniforms are the same for day and evening wear.
The Uniforms of the Canadian Armed Forces are the official dress worn by members of Canada's military while on duty.
The uniforms of the British Army currently exist in twelve categories ranging from ceremonial uniforms to combat dress. Uniforms in the British Army are specific to the regiment to which a soldier belongs. Full dress presents the most differentiation between units, and there are fewer regimental distinctions between ceremonial dress, service dress, barrack dress and combat dress, though a level of regimental distinction runs throughout.
The Royal Canadian Dental Corps is a personnel branch of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF). Most members of RCDC, along with the members of the Royal Canadian Medical Service, are employed in the Canadian Forces Health Services Group within the Military Personnel Command reporting to the Chief of Military Personnel. The branch was previously named the Dental Branch from 1968 to 2013.
The maroon beret in a military configuration has been an international symbol of airborne forces since the Second World War. It was officially introduced in 1942, at the direction of Major-General Frederick "Boy" Browning, commander of the British 1st Airborne Division. It was first worn by the Parachute Regiment in action in North Africa during November 1942. Although coloured maroon, the beret of the British Parachute Regiment is often called the "red beret."
The South African Army is divided into functional branches, known as corps. Most consist of units, but some, such as the SA Staff Corps, consist only of personnel who are assigned to headquarters and units. The following is a list of corps established since 1912; those which still exist are shown in bold.
In the United States (US) armed forces, a beret flash is a shield-shaped embroidered cloth or metallic insignia that is usually attached to a stiffener backing of a military beret. Today, the attached flash is worn over the left eye of the wearer with the excess cloth of the beret folded and pulled over the right ear giving it a distinctive shape. The embroidered designs of the US Army beret flashes represent the approved distinctive heraldic colors of the unit to which they are assigned while the US Air Force's represent their Air Force specialty code (AFSC) or their assignment to a special unit, such as Combat Aviation Advisor (CAA) squadrons. Joint beret flashes, such as the Multinational Force and Observers and United Nations Peacekeeping flashes, are worn by all of the US armed forces on unique berets while assigned to a specific multinational mission.
Berets have been a component of the uniforms of many armed forces throughout the world since the mid-20th century. Military berets are usually pushed to the right to free the shoulder that bears the rifle on most soldiers, but the armies of some countries, mostly within Europe, South America and Iran have influenced the push to the left.
This article describes the use of the beret as part of the uniform of various organizations. The use of the beret as military headgear is covered in a dedicated article, Military beret.
The New Zealand Army uniform has changed over the years from that of the original Armed Constabulary of the 1800s. While British Army influence has always been strong, distinctive New Zealand features have gradually developed, notably in the form of headdresses. From 2013 the New Zealand Army uniform underwent a complete redesign, similar to the cut of the Army Combat Uniform of the United States with a new and distinctive camouflage pattern unique to the NZDF.
The uniforms of the Australian Army have changed significantly over the past century, although the accoutrements worn over this period have remained relatively similar. The forces of the Australian colonies and the early forces of the Commonwealth post-Federation in 1901 closely followed the uniforms of the British Army. Since then it has continued to be influenced by British but also US styles, as well as including some distinctly Australian designs, reflecting local conditions and trends.
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