TOPIC:

This image helpfully shows both types of OVS slouch hat badge in one photograph. Albrecht wears the two-piece version and Prof. Fritz Hochapfel the one-piece. Note the additional space between the coat-of-arms and the laurel wreath on Hochapfel's badge. This is particularly noticeable below the "Oranje Vrystaat" ribbon.





..

Major Albrecht’s Prussian roots were the reason for the gradual introduction of German-style uniforms, equipment and headgear into the OVS artillery. One of these German imports was the Pickelhaube, a lacquered leather ceremonial helmet. For anyone interested in this subject I recommend M.C. Heunis’ excellent 2004 article: pickelhauben.net/the-free-state-artillery-pickelhaube

The OVS pickelhaube was adorned by a large, one-piece die-struck brass helmet plate (Owen 2069). This plate is similar but not identical to the 3-piece Sabretache badge (Owen 2064). Both these badges are now very rare.






Badge as shown on OVS Pickelhaube (photo credit M.C. Heunis)

This excellent photograph, courtesy of Museum Africa, depicts an O.V.S. Artillerie bandmaster wearing both the pickelhaube shown above, and the waist belt and buckle, described by Everhard in his post HERE.








.

This strap, or "crupper", would have been looped under the horse's tail and then buckled to the saddle to prevent the latter from slipping forwards. Most insignia were removed from saddlery as souvenirs, so it is unusual to find a piece of ZAR horse tack complete with its badge.









..

Herewith a series of O.V.S. Badges.

Oranje Vrij Staat’s mottos were “Geduld en Moed” (Patience and Courage), “Vryheid” (Freedom) and Immigratie (Immigration). Of these mottos only the word Immigratie appears in the badges, directly below the tree in the O.V.S. weapon.

Curiously in some badges (Owen 2060 and 2061) the word Immigratie is replaced by INVICETTIA. This word doesn’t give any hits on Google. Is this perhaps a spelling error made by a foreign producer of these items or does it have a meaning?

Owen 2063 O.V.S. Sate Artillery blackened slouch hat badge.


Owen 2060 O.V.S. brass cap badge (Note Invicettia for Immigratie)


Owen 2061 O.V.S brass slouch hat badge with slightly different design from previous. This badge also features Invicettia for Immigratie.


Not recorded Owen silver badge made into a brooch which shows some similarities to Owen 2070. The protruding bars may or may not have been part of the original design



Owen 2070 for comparison



Owen 1967 O.V.S. Provincial Administration Cap Badge (Owen doesn’t provide information about the period when this badge was worn so not certain this is actually a Boer War badge)

Everhard,

Superb group of OVS badges.

I hadn't noticed the INVICETTIA motto before. The closest Latin word to this appears to be invĭcem, which translates at mutually. Could this be a pseudo-Latin derivative of this adverb, a noun with the meaning "mutuality"? Or has the die-maker dropped a "t", and the word is instead a pseudo-Latin derivative of invictē, which means invincible; in which case the intended meaning might have been "invincibility".

Neville