Detecting in South Africa

      Given recruitment tactics prevalent in many armies, especially prior to the 20th century, I can't consider most of these folks mercenaries in the sense of being professional soldiers looking for a war to fight and a possible fortune to be made that way.  Many of them were just trying to feed their bellies and/or sold a bill of goods while inebriated and probably never expected to get into the kind of fighting they got into (a little garrison duty, marching around in fancy uniforms coupled with a little "constabulary action", nothing particularly dangerous, mind you).  Cannon fodder drawn from the lowest levels of society by any means necessary is probably a more accurate way of viewing most of them.  And there were more that a few that looked at the Army as just a vehicle to get to where the gold and diamonds were...just as many of the Irish rail layers looked at laying rail for the American railroads as a way to get out west where the gold strikes were (neither group realizing the means for the journey would often be the death of them).

      Beyond the above---Peter, people around the world will do anything and pay any price to get to the latest, greatest gold or diamond strike.  And if that includes joining the army or navy (often with the intention of deserting as soon as you arrive "in country") so be it.   All major rushes, especially of the previous two centuries quickly became international in scope.

BA

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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,19144.msg229252.html#msg229252

Arfieboy, that buckle is strange to me also... when I found it I nearly kicked myself (actually X) as I thought it was twisted to S#@!  then I realized that it was in perfect shape, so X was safe for a while 

This is a great site as we never know what we are going to pull up, and I still think there is a big surprise there for one of us 

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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,19144.msg229297.html#msg229297

Homie, By Gollie, I think you are right  that would also mean it came from an officers uniform  thanks for looking for me, I really appreciate it very much 

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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,19144.msg229326.html#msg229326

Yeah, yeah, yeah  we had ideas, but a photo is worth a thousand words 

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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,19144.msg229342.html#msg229342

i've had a quick look and that buckle coule be one of two things

1 a sword carrier belt buckle like this :

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... but a more modern version .. or

2 part of a horses harness .. i'm sure i've seen something like that before on a cart horse harness.

whatever t is .. its still an interesting find ..


  Oooh i'm addicted  100% activity  

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http://www.thunting.com/smf/index.php/topic,19144.msg229349.html#msg229349