Unearthed war relics from Africa

[boertjie]

This is a follow-up posting on Boer war relics unearthed in Northen Natal some time ago.

This pic shows 2 nicely preserved Lee-Enfield cartridges, Mauser and Martini Henry cartridges and a Quedes (?) spent cartridge case.



1/2 penny coin dated 1899 found at British camp dump site



British artillery tunic buttons



I found this US button at the site but I am not aware of any US involvement in the Boer War. This button looks as of military origin. Can someone help with this? I include a pic of backside as well.




In this pic you can see British pith helmet top ventilators (wheels), brass button cleaner plate with stamped military ID number, webbing clasps, cavalry straps clasps and brass tent hooks



Tooth brush, shaving blade and spoon with ID number stamped



Bayonet scabbards, tent peg and steel heels for boots.



British water canteen and 2 kinds of mess tins



Spurs, steel brush for horses and saddle parts



Very interesting find: button of Essex Imperial Yeomanry



British pipe with "DUBLIN" written on it

 

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[CRUSADER]

may be it is a peg for a tent?

Yeap, if you look on the top you may see hammer marks where its been knocked into the ground. Although sometimes they used wooden or rubber hammers in which case - no marks would be left.

 

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[nahabit]

may be it is a peg for a tent?

Yeap, if you look on the top you may see hammer marks where its been knocked into the ground. Although sometimes they used wooden or rubber hammers in which case - no marks would be left.

and what? in my opinion it is a peg for a tent.

 

[CRUSADER]

may be it is a peg for a tent?

Yeap, if you look on the top you may see hammer marks where its been knocked into the ground. Although sometimes they used wooden or rubber hammers in which case - no marks would be left.

and what? in my opinion it is a peg for a tent.

I am agreeing with you!
IT IS A TENT PEG

 

[outraged]

Hello boertjie,

Great finds you have, umm I will get there...... What is that little spike above the wheels in picture 6, I also found 3 of them?
Apparently the wheels also held the ornament onto the top of the hat.... What I heard was that the troops would remove the ornament leaving a hole on top of the hat to let all the hot air out funny that not more ornament are found in this case

Here is a true American story during the Boer war

best friends decided to come to South Africa to fight in the Boer war.... they seperated from each other and each went on oposite sides, one to the British side and one to the Boer side..... After quite some time, the British American went to battle and just happen to take his friend prisoner.... the Boer American was taken to back to the British camp where the two of them sat and chatted over a cup of the British tea.... after they were finished the Boer American was taken outside where his friend then stuck a gun to his head and blew him away..... Umm new meaning to take no prisoners

Keep on showing us more of your stuff boertjie, we want to see more.....

God bless
Peter

Where did this story come from? i would like to read it.

 

[ivan salis]

NOT SO BAD---HE DID GIVE HIM A "CUPPA" TEA FIRST and a nice chat ---very sporting of him that was---Ivan

 

[CRUSADER]

NOT SO BAD---HE DID GIVE HIM A "CUPPA" TEA FIRST and a nice chat ---very sporting of him that was---Ivan

We are good like that

 

[RON (PA)]

Super finds. Great job with the preservation. Looks like some have been painted with rust inhibitor. Keep up the great work. Great pics as well.

 

[pgill]

Outraged, that story came from our local war museum. I found it very amusing Very patriotic dont you think

I do not think the peg is a tent peg, sorry guys,,,,, the size of the peg is only about 2" long and about 1/8" thick. It has a sort of square shape that tapers down in steps like a christmas tree, with the bent over part at the top.... it does have a hammer spot on top.... but is way too small for a tent peg. Here is a better picture that will maybe make it clearer for you to look at....

God bless
Peter

 

[ivan salis]

small sized flag pole anchor? is the one end hollow? like where the pole for a "lance" tip might be?

 

[pgill]

Hello Ivan, the hook is solid and seems to have been cast.... seems to be a steel alloy of some sort. It is too small to be from a lance, and I think too small for a flag peg.... Umm very confusing indeed... I will post this item on another site and see if they can help, as I know there are South Africans on that site.

God bless
Peter

 

[boertjie]

Hi Peter

This is the spike that I got, here you can see the size. The spike itself is square shaped. I still have no idea of the application. I know that horse shoe nails are also square shaped.



Regards
boertjie

 

[boertjie]

Hello Ron
Thanks and yeah, I used a product to preserve the iron artifacts because it degraded at a fast rate. In SA the product is known as "Rustbuster".
Regards
Boertjie

 

[boertjie]

Pith Helmet vent detail

Hi Peter, Crusader and Ivan

Herewith more pictures on the British Colonial pith helmet vent wheels that I found:

In this picture you can see that there is still cork left clamped between the wheels. The construction of the helmet was mainly cork layers covered with khaki fabric.



In this picture you can see the top vent cover is screwed on the wheel part and is made of a tin/lead like material. This metal part was originally covered by Khaki fabric.



Here you can see the chin strap attachments to the helmet



This is the best pic I could find to show the detail of the vent cover of the helmet. (just for interest sake: this pic shows brit war dead after the battle of Spion Kop where the Brits suffered a terrible defeat )



Regards
Boertjie

 

[ivan salis]

the "spike object" might be a "hoof pick" for horse hooves ---for small stones and such to clean their hooves---(just a idea) ---Ivan

 

[pgill]

Hello Boertjie and Ivan,

I dont think it is a shoe nail as it would not have the hook on it, as for a hoof pick, maybe a bit small to get a proper grip on it..... I have placed a message onto another site with some South Africans, but they also seem to be battling..... this is a puzzle piece. Somebody else thought that it was carried with the horse riders and nailed into a tree or something to place the reigns while resting to stop the horse from running away.... could be something in that, but only a guess.
Boertjie, that is the best sample of the helmet vent that I have seen so far, very nice.... the picture, well like any battle it is scary.....
I must look for the "rust buster", is it a spray or a paint? I have a few things that could do with some.

Boertjie, thanks for such a great topic.

God bless
Peter

 

[boertjie]

Hi Peter

The Rust buster is a milk like chemical fluid that you can obtain from a auto parts shop like "Midas". You do the application with a brush and then after a while the surface turns black most probable due to a chemical reaction with the corroded surface. It definitely stops further corrosion but it has that black glossy colour.
regards
boertjie

 

[pgill]

Thanks a lot boertjie for the info on the Rust Buster..... I have some Boerwar horse shoes, and an old padlock that could do with something to preserve them.
I wonder what the museums use?

God bless
Peter