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Can someone explain what is a Class C Unit? 3 years 7 months ago #71238

  • Rob D
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I read mention of "Class C" units in the South African Mounted Irregular Forces, and would like to know more about this classification and its significance. Can someone take the time to explain the meaning and significance of Class C, and the other Classes?

Here are some of many posts which have referred to this:
Rundle's Colonial Scouts was a Class C SAMIF regiment... 
Shoulder titles were not generally worn by class C SAMIF...
Brabants Horse… was not a Class C SAMIF unit...
Nesbitt's Horse was .. a class C SAMIF unit...
Warren's MI was a class C unit of the SAMIF...
Driscoll's Scouts was a class C unit in the SAMIF...
1st Brabants Horse, a class C corps within the SAMIF...
…the pay was set at normal Class C rates...
…at what point a mere "Bodyguard" actually became a Class C SAMIF unit…
Many men served in class D 1 and D 2 SAMIF units…
…Driscoll's Scouts, all good class C SAMIF...
"

many thanks for taking the time to explain.
Rob
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Can someone explain what is a Class C Unit? 3 years 7 months ago #71241

  • djb
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Rob,

A partial and incomplete response to your question.

The majority of the local units raised for the Boer War were categorised as Class C. From this document it seems that Class C were raised in South Africa for general service in South Africa. Units include Brabant's Horse, Canadian Scouts, Damant's Horse etc. They reported to the AAG, Colonial Forces.

I would imagine that their class, in addition to the geographic areas, also dictated the length of service range, pay rates, applicable regulations etc.

Class D1 could only serve in Cape Colony. This sub-division is limited to the Cape Colony Cycle Corps and Settle's Scouts.

Class D2 could only serve in particular districts of Cape Colony. Examples include Border Scouts, Namaqualand Border Scouts and Bushmanland Borderers.

SAMIF encompassed Class C and D. The Town Guards, DMTs and Rifle Associations were not part of SAMIF. Units existing before the war were also not SAMIF, eg Kaffrarian Rifles, SRV, CMR etc.

To add a little confusion, SAMIF is both the name of a QSA-issuing unit and this umbrella term for units raised during the war.

I would be interested to learn to what Class A and B refers. This could be regular regiments of the British Army perhaps?
Dr David Biggins
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Can someone explain what is a Class C Unit? 3 years 7 months ago #71242

  • Rob D
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That's very clear, thanks!
From your document, "Class C" just means a brand-new South African unit, raised for 6 months' service - or until hostilities were over, whichever was the longer.
From the way the term "Class C" was bandied about, I thought it must have deep significance.
Silly me.
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