Material: Blackened Brass
Size: 36mm w × 17mm h
Description: This vintage military artifact is an authentic South African Army Kimberley Regiment metal shoulder title badge. The blocky, die-cut insignia features the prominent, conjoined uppercase serif letters "KR", standing as the definitive monogram for the regiment. The piece is struck from baseline brass or copper alloy and treated with a deep, chemically blackened finish designed to reduce metallic glare. The reverse face is entirely unmarked and comes prepared with its original attachment hardware to firmly mount the insignia to the shoulder epaulets of a field service uniform jacket.
Circa: Early to Mid 20th Century
Notes:
The history of this insignia is inextricably tied to the defense of the South African diamond mining fields, as the Kimberley Regiment is one of the few units in the former British Empire authorized to hold a battle honor for defending its own home city. During World War II, the regiment fought with immense distinction as a specialized motor battalion integrated within the 6th South African Armoured Division throughout the brutal Italian Campaign. Because the unit suffered massive casualties during fierce clashes at Monte Cassino and across the Gothic Line, these surviving uniform insignia pieces carry immense historical weight for regional military catalogers.