There were 2 main pattern cap badges in force for firemen, a flatter version & a bolder version although it is unknown whether one pattern was either later or more popular than the other!
Both are distinct from the normal British Industrial Fire Brigade pattern because of the protruding ball at the bottom centre of the wreath, below the helmet. The flatter variety seems more common though & can be compared to our British Industrial Fire Brigade cap badge, except for the ball at the wreaths base. Industrial wreaths seems continuous with a simple join in the middle where the wreaths spread outwards & upwards!
Other similar wreaths to the South African version have also been found in many former British Colonies before named badges were later introduced & most can be traced back to the 1930’s on-wards until the 1960’s, some poorer countries, not necessarily British dependencies have also been know to adopt this single pattern universal style cap badge which was more readily available to produce as a common pattern!
This variation we have here is the flatter version but still portrays the distinct “ball” at the centre of the bottom of the wreath & was obtained from Capetown stores along with several others. They also had 59 brass fireman s helmets but wouldn't let me buy any of them…”boo hoo”, they are used for ceremonial duties now & as in Australia were worn much later into the 1950’s…including our Victorian wool tunics with the red collars..( sorry I have none left now.. ;o). The emphasis being on a British Merryweather pattern uniform including helmets, tunics & other equipment which was sold on to Australia, South Africa & New Zealand among other Southern Hemisphere dependancies to continue the pattern. Hence original spares for such items are readily obtained from these countries & are a lot cheaper…( if you look )..mmm.. a bit like Morris Minor car spares which can be obtained from India as the factories are still there!!
