South West African military heraldry
Posted: 28 May 2016, 16:51
Before becoming a republic in 1990, Namibia was called South West Africa. From 1981 to 1989, during the last stage of South African administration, the territory was self-governing and had its own army, called the SWA Territory Force.
The SWATF followed the South African practice of unit coats of arms, but had its own approach to their design. Colonel Des Radmore was in charge of SWATF heraldry.
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The arms of SWATF HQ were on a distinctive shaped shield, representing a cut diamond. The animal whose head is shown is an oryx, known in southern Africa as a 'gemsbok'.
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Each of the military sectors into which the territory was divided had its own arms, with the SWATF device on a chief. Two examples :
- Sector 30, depicting Fort Namutoni, built by the German colonial authorities before World War I
... and Sector 40 depicting an aloe.
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Each sector controlled several 'area force units' (formerly called 'commandos') which were responsible for local defence. Each AFU's arms had a chief bearing the principal charge from the sector HQ arms. Examples :
- Otjiwarongo AFU in Sector 30, depicting one of the vicious thorns to be found on bushes in the district
- Swakopmund AFU in Sector 40.
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More to follow ...
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The SWATF followed the South African practice of unit coats of arms, but had its own approach to their design. Colonel Des Radmore was in charge of SWATF heraldry.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The arms of SWATF HQ were on a distinctive shaped shield, representing a cut diamond. The animal whose head is shown is an oryx, known in southern Africa as a 'gemsbok'.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Each of the military sectors into which the territory was divided had its own arms, with the SWATF device on a chief. Two examples :
- Sector 30, depicting Fort Namutoni, built by the German colonial authorities before World War I
... and Sector 40 depicting an aloe.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Each sector controlled several 'area force units' (formerly called 'commandos') which were responsible for local defence. Each AFU's arms had a chief bearing the principal charge from the sector HQ arms. Examples :
- Otjiwarongo AFU in Sector 30, depicting one of the vicious thorns to be found on bushes in the district
- Swakopmund AFU in Sector 40.
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More to follow ...
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