South African Free Corps 1914-15
Südafrikanischen Freiwilligen-Korps

Figure 1
Officer

Figure 2
Trooper

Figure 3
Officer

Figure 4
Ordinance Officer

Background of the South African Free Corps
During the Second Anglo-Boer War (1889-1902) Germany had remained neutral but sympathised with the Boers, about 550 Germans volunteers served alongside the Boers. When the First World War broke out many Boers were reluctant to take up arms alongside their former enemy, England, against their former friend, Germany. They also saw a chance while England was engaged in a European war to overthrow the British Dominion government of South Africa and establish an independent Boer South Africa. The Boer Rebellion of 1914 (sometimes known as the Maritz Rebellion despite the fact that Maritz was not its overall leader) failed to gain enough support and was defeated by South African Union forces. Many Boers living in German South West Africa volunteered to fight with the Germans, some travelled from South Africa to join up. In September 1914 they formed the company strength South African Free Corps (known as the Südafrikanischen Freiwilligen-Korps” or simply "Freikorps" in German or "Vrijkorps" in Dutch/Afrikaans). About 80 Boers also served in an artillery battery known as the "Batterie Hausding" which was later put under Free Corps command. The battery consisted of four Model 96 a/A cannons and two 3.7cm machine cannons. The Free Corps fought several actions against South African Union forces, the last of which being the Battle of Upington in January 1915. The Free Corps was eventually disbanded in May 1915. A trial of the captured rebels followed in Pretoria in 1916 where many received prison sentences up to 7 years and large fines. They were all released after two years and their fines were mostly paid by public donations.

Uniforms of the South African Free Corps
When the unit was in its initial formation stages in Windhoek its members wore Boer civilian dress or whatever uniforms they could find.
Eight days later they were equipped with uniforms, equipment and weapons of Schutztruppe or Landespolizei issue (the Landespolizei having been partially disbanded to be incorporated into the Schutztruppe and issued Schutztruppe uniforms in August 1914) and were deployed to the frontline. It seems from photographs that other ranks wore Schutztruppe uniforms (including khaki uniforms, greatcoats and possibly corduroy uniforms too), while officers generally wore Landespolizei uniforms. Often, though not always, German insignia was removed. A four colour ("Vierkleur" in Dutch/Afrikaans) South African cockade was sometimes worn on the Südwester hat. This Vierkleur cockade was from the inside outwards- green, blue, white and red. It may be that some Vierkleur cockades were manufactured but others were simply old German cockades repainted in the South African colours. Gordon McGregor has found information showing that the Free Corps removed German imperial crown buttons from tunics and and replaced with white horn buttons, though this is difficult to prove from contemporary photographs. NCO rank insignia was probably indicated in the same way as the German Schutztruppe (see NCO Rank Insignia Page) but officers rank insignia was shown in the form of light (possibly white metallic thread) thick and thin lace bars around the cuff.

Figure 1 is based on a photograph of Hoofveldkornet Pieter de Wet, an Officer of the South African Free Corps shown in the early stages of their formation. He wears a South West African Landespolizei Südwester hat (see right) with a small imperial German cockade on the front. His tunic is a very curious item. It is a plain four pocketed khaki tunic with no shoulder straps and five buttons down the front. The source of this tunic is unknown as it matches no known uniforms worn by the Schutztruppe (their tunics had six buttons), South African Union, Boer Republics or British forces in the area, yet it has been seen worn by several Free Corps members in different photographs. In the original photograph he has no visible signs of rank insignia. His riding breeches, gaiters and boots appear to be Landespolizei issue but maybe Schutztruppe or privately acquired items. His cartridge bandolier is standard Landespolizei issue.

Pieter de Wet was the brother of the Free Corps commander Andries De Wit and a cousin of the famous Boer general Cristiaan de Wet. He joined the Free Corps in German South West Africa upon its formation and was appointed a Hoofveldkornet (equivalent of an "Oberleutnant" in the German ranking system). He was however relieved of his position soon after he led a premature invasion of South African Union territory.

Figure 2 is based on a photograph of a Trooper of the South African Free Corps. Schutztruppe uniforms were issued as standard to other ranks of the Free Corps. This trooper wears the 1896 Schutztruppe khaki tunic piped in blue and matching trousers. From the original photograph is it difficult to tell if the tunic has been striped of its shoulder straps of woven threads in the imperial German colours but a surviving 1896 Schutztruppe tunic  worn by the Free Corps (see right) shows them still to have been worn by at least some Boers. His grey felt Südwester hat, edged and with a hatband in blue, is also standard Schutztruppe issue for German South West Africa (see right). The cockade on the right side of the Südwester, may be its original imperial German colours or may be the unproven "Vierkleur" design. If so, that would be the only difference between the appearance of this trooper and that of a regular German Schutztruppe trooper. The brown leather equipment, ammunition pouches and riding boots are standard Schutztruppe issue.

Figure 3 is based on a photograph of Veldkornet Oosthuizen of the South African Free Corps. He wears a German South West African Landespolizei dark khaki tunic with four pockets, a green collar and six brass buttons (see right) fastening the front. This tunic has been stripped of its former shoulder straps and any previous Landespolizei rank insignia (in the from of pips on the collar and green bands on the cuffs). Instead rank is shown in the form a light coloured (probably metallic white) thin strip of lace on each cuff. Another figure in the original photograph has two parallel strips of thin cuff lace. It can be postulated therefore that Leutnants or Veldkornets (such as Oosthuizen here) wore one strip, Hoofveldkornets wore two, and that captains may have worn three. The rank insignia for majors and upwards is unknown but may have incorporated the use of thick bands of lace too. On the left breast pocket of the tunic is a cross shaped medal. From the original photopgraph upon which this luustration is based it is impossible to positively identify the medal. It may be one earned in previous Boer service or possibly an Iron Cross First Class, if so it is one of the so-called "Hildegard" Orders improvised by the South West African Schutztruppe during the First World War. There is no record however of Oosthuizen ever recieving the Hildegard Order. His riding breeches, gaiters and boots are also Landespolizei issue. From the original photograph is is unclear if his Landespolizei Südwester (see right) has a Vierkleur cockade or a brass imperial German crown (as usually worn by the Landespolizei) pinned on its right hand side. He carries a Landespolizei belt with a pistol in a holster on the left hand side.

Charl Oosthuizen originally served in the Boer Republic of Traansvaal's State Artiilery ("Transvaal Staatsartillerie"). According to a 1921 article in the Afrikaans magazine "De Brandwag" he served as a transport officer for the Schutztruppe in South West Africa from 1904. From here he transferred to the Free Corps or more likely the Batterie Hausding in 1914.

Figure 4 is based on a photograph of Barend van der Merwe, an Ordinance Officer of the South African Free Corps. He wears corduroy Schutztruppe field cap with the hatband and colours of a German ordinance officer, that is black hatband with red piping. The stiff appearance of the upper part of the cap shows it still has its wire retaining loop (Barend's cap actual cap is shown on the left although it appears to have later lost its wire loop, and thus its stiff shape). Again he wears a five buttoned khaki tunic of unknown origin, with four pockets and no shoulder straps as worn by Fig1. It was perhaps later that Barend was issued his 1896 Schutztruppe tunic as seen on the left. Certainly the tunics seen in the museum and in the original photograph upon which this illustration is based, do not match. He wears khaki trousers and short leather boots which may well be Schutztruppe issue.


SW African Police Südwester
(See Südwester Details Page)
Photo Copyright Doppler

Schutztruppe Südwester
(See Südwester Details Page)
Photo Copyright Doppler

Schutztruppe 1896 Khaki Tunic
used by the Free Corps
(See South African Museums Collections)
Photo Copyright MC Heunis

Ordinance Officer's Cap
used by the Free Corps
(See South African Museums Collections)
Photo Copyright MC Heunis

 
Barend van der Merwe (1892-1972) was born in Murraysburg, in the Western Cape province of South Africa. In 1914 he joined the commando of Commandant Gert van Wyk. He joined the rebels at Wolmaranstad in the Transvaal and took part in the battle of Treurfontein against the UDF forces. At Kuruman, the the force he was attached to received a clandestine shipment of Mauser rifles. On the 28 November 1914 he received his Schutztruppe uniform, rifle and cap and was made ordinance officer to the rebel artillery. He was captured at the Battle of Upington in January 1915. Barend van der Merwe was sentenced to two years and a 300 pound fine. Eventually he served one year and all fees were paid by sympathizers. He then moved to Winburg in the Free State were he farmed with corn and beef cows. In 1967 he donated his cap and Schutztruppe tunic (both of which are photographed above) to the Museum of the Boer Republics in Bloemfontein.
 

Special thanks for their help on this page goes to Gordon McGregor, MC Heunis and Johann Wolfaardt.

Please contact me here if you have more information or photos on this topic. 

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