German Colonial Uniforms in South West Africa

Volunteer Corps 1914-1915

by Mark Keigwin


Figure 1 - Volunteer, South African Volunteer Corps, 8 September 1914 to 19 February 1915. Light gray hat with white band and badge, edge of brim bound with cornflower blue trimming. Light gray coat with cornflower blue collar, cuffs, and piping on the leading edge and rear pocket flaps, white patch on collar and cuffs (the so-called "guard" lace) with red stripe in center, white metal buttons. Light gray trousers with cornflower blue piping. Natural leather cartridge pouch and strap affair unique to South West Africa, natural leather bayonet frog, black scabbard with white metal tip, steel hilt and brown grip.

Also known as De Wet's Vrij Korps after its leader, Andries De Wet, it is described by Gerald L'Ange in his book Urgent Imperial Service (Ashanti Publishing, 1991) as "a force of dissident Boers who had refused to accept British rule after the Anglo-Boer War and had gone into exile in South West Africa." The unit was formed at Windhoek 8 September 1914; approximately company stength. Ranks consisted of Commandant (De Wet), Assistant Commandant (a German Official), Field Cornet, Senior Corporal, Volunteer (Very much the Boer system. During the Anglo-Boer War a commando was divided into two or more field corneticies, and each cornet was divided into two or more corporalships of twenty-five men). The creation of a Volunteer Corps Battery occurred 31 December 1914 when the Germans transferred a couple of artillery pieces. They also gave the Corps two machine guns. The Volunteer Corps was disbanded 19 February 1915. De Wet is described as wearing a large black ostrich feather in his hat. The unit also carried the Transvaal "vierkleur" into action. A photo on page 56 of L'Ange's book thought to depict members of this unit, shows them in the field wearing the khaki drill coat.

German Colonial Uniforms in South West Africa

Back to The Heliograph's German Colonial Military Uniforms: Africa Table of Contents
Back to The Heliograph List of Issues
Back to Master Magazine List
© Copyright 2003 by Richard Brooks.
This article appears in MagWeb.com (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web.
Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com