Army Group 18 Headquarters 21st Anniversary
South Africa, Robertsham · 1982-07-02
Official first day cover (FDC) · South African philately
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This cover is postmarked at what appears to be Robertsham, Johannesburg, though the postmark town and date are only partly legible and worth confirming against the original. It marks the 21st anniversary of Group 18 Headquarters, formed on 1 May 1969 to cover the commando units of Johannesburg, Randburg, Sandton and Alexandra. It is a numbered private issue, one of 2000 released by the S A Army Foundation rather than a standard SAPO first day cover.
Description of the Cachet
The cachet brings together seven shield-shaped shoulder flashes around a central quartered badge marked "GP 18". A black horse, a radio tower, a springbok wrapped in a snake, a target motif and an aardvark sit in the upper cluster, with a sword and shield and a pair of wings below. A silver laurel wreath enclosing the number 21 sits to the left, and a red and gold star badge numbered 27 sits to the right of the main design. The bilingual title "Groep 18 Hoofkwartier / Group 18 Headquarters 1969-1990" runs beneath. The accompanying insert card carries crossed flags, the old Union flag alongside the Group's own colours, above a triangular badge reading "Volumus Possumus Habemus" and a note confirming the cover as number 1415 of a limited run of 2000 issued by the S A Army Foundation.
Information Card
GROUP 18 : 21st ANNIVERSARY 1. On 1 May 1969 Group 18 was officially formed with the following units under its command : Rand Light Infantry, 2 Transvaal Scottish, Johannesburg West Commando, Johannesburg East Commando, Johannesburg North Commando (now Randburg Commando), East Park Commando, West Park Commando (now Sandton Commando) and Wemmerpan Commando. 2. The Group HQ was situated in a wooden hut at the Union Grounds. After five months the HQ moved to the old Magistrate's complex at Fordsburg. The HQ moved to Doornkop in January 1986 where it is still situated. As time passed, some units were removed from the Group command and others were allocated to the Group. Some units changed names; at present the units under the Group are as follows: Johannesburg South Regiment, Johannesburg West Commando, Randburg Commando, East Park Commando, Sandton Commando en Wemmerpan Commando. 3. The units indicate the boundaries of the Group's responsibility as that of the city councils of Johannesburg, Randburg, Sandton and Alexandra. 4. The aim of Group 18 is to ensure the safety of its area of responsibility in co-operation with the SAP. Great emphasis is put on school cadet training and shooting competitions at these units. 5. The OC's of the Group were Col D.J. Sadie (1 May 1969 — 12 December 1978), Col R.J. Hogewind DWD (31 December 1978 — 30 June 1980), Col G.W. Gravett SM (1 July 1980 — 30 March 1985), Col J.H. Jansen (31 March 1985 — 16 June 1985), Col J.E. Rabie (17 Januarie 1986 — 11 December 1987) and Col G.T. Holland-Muter (12 December 1987 to date). 6. The Group has had only two Sergeant-Majors, namely WO1 J.L. Fitz-Henry (1 May 1969 — 31 March 1986) and WO1 F. Koen (1 April 1986 to date). 7. The front of the envelope shows the Group's shoulder flash in the middle. Starting clockwise from the top right, are shoulder flashes of Johannesburg West Commando, Sandton Commando, Wemmerpan Commando, East Park Commando, Randburg Commando and Johannesburg South Regiment. The shoulder flash of the controlling Witwatersrand Command appears on the lower left of the envelope. 8. The National and SA Army flags appear on the front of the card and on the back, a sketch of a R1 rifle with which commando members are issued. 9. The Group HQ shoulder flash is divided into quarters of the commando colours. The inner symbol is the alchemic symbol for gold, a direct reference to Johannesburg. The outer circle symbolizes the defensive ring that the Group provides to the City of Johannesburg. GROEP 18 : 21ste HERDENKING 1. Op 1 Mei 1969 is Groep 18 amptelik gestig en die volgende eenhede was by die Groep ingedeel : Rand Light Infantry, 2 Transvaal Scottish, Johannesburg-Wes Kommando, Johannesburg-Oos Kommando, Johannesburg-Noord Kommando (nou Randburg Kommando), East Park Kommando, Wespark Kommando (nou Sandton Kommando) en Wemmerpan Kommando. 2. Die Groep HK is toe in 'n Houthut op die Uniegronde gehuisves. Vyf maande later verskuif die HK na die ou Landdroskompleks in die destydse Fordsburg. In Januarie 1986 verskuif die HK na Doornkop waar dit tans nog is. Deur die loop van die jare is eenhede by die Groep weggeneem en ander weer toegevoeg. Ander het naamsveranderinge ondergaan; die eenhede onder die Groep is dus tans die volgende: Johannesburg-Suid Regiment, Johannesburg-Wes Kommando, Randburg Kommando, East Park Kommando, Sandton Kommando en Wemmerpan Kommando. 3. Dus dui die eenhede aan dat die Groep se grense die van die Stadsrade van Johannesburg, Randburg, Sandton en Alexandra omsluit. 4. Groep 18 se doel is om die veiligheid van sy verantwoordelikheidsgebied in samewerking met die SAP te verseker. Groot klem word ook gelê op skoolkadetopleiding en die bevordering van skietkuns by eenhede. 5. Die bevelvoerders van die Groep was kol D.J. Sadie (1 Mei 1969 — 12 Desember 1978), kol R.J. Hogewind DWD (31 Desember 1978 — 30 Junie 1980), kol G.W. Gravett SM (1 Julie 1980 — 30 Maart 1985), kol J.H. Jansen (31 Maart 1985 — 16 Junie 1985), kol J.E. Rabie (17 Januarie 1986 — 11 Desember 1987) en kol G.T. Holland-Muter (12 Desember 1987 tot hede). 6. Die Groep het slegs twee groep-sersant-majore gehad nl: ao1 J.L. Fitz-Henry (1 Mei 1969 — 31 Maart 1986) en ao1 F. Koen sedert 1 April 1986 tot hede. 7. Voor op die koevert verskyn die Groep HK se skouerkentekens in die middel en, beginnende regs bo, kloksgewys, Johannesburg-Wes Kommando, Sandton Kommando, Wemmerpan Kommando, East Park Kommando, Randburg Kommando en Johannesburg-Suid Regiment. Links onder is die skouerflits van die Kommandement Witwatersrand, die beherende organisasie. 8. Voor op die kaartjie verskyn die gekruisde Nasionale en SA Leër-vlae en agterop 'n penskets van die R1 geweer wat aan kommandolede uitgereik word. 9. Die Groep HK se skouerflits het die in kwart verdeelde skild in die Kommandokleure. Die binneste simbool is die alchemiestiese simbool vir goud, 'n direkte verwysing na Johannesburg. Die buitenste sirkel simboliseer die "Beskermende Ring" wat die Groep bied aan die Stad Johannesburg.
Theme: Military
Condition: FineGood condition. Minor wear or small imperfections, but overall well-presented.
Addressed: No
Signed: No
Stamp denomination: R-0.01 (ZAR)
Estimated value: ~US$0.1
This is a high-level, subjective estimate only, not a professional appraisal.
This first day cover (FDC) is part of Southern Covers, a private collection of 211 first day covers documenting the postal history and philately of South Africa and the homeland states. New to first day cover collecting? Read the guide to learn about cachets, postmarks, and stamp collecting terms, or browse the whole collection of Southern African FDCs.
