These were displayed by Rhys Fitter online.
He stated:
“These small wings are Rhodesian.”
“There are no mess dress wings that size or style used by the british Army!”
“That is the rhodesian mess dress wing which is 50% smaller than a british mess dress wing.”
“SAPHI in Pretoria (sometimes traded as Botswana Hat Company)
All Rhodesian UDI period bullion badges where made in South Africa.”
It’s a well known fact. I’ve seen the templates and the designs in the factory. You can still sometimes buy them.”
“That is the rhodesian mess dress wing which is 50% smaller than a british mess dress wing. Basically the same size as the rhodesian SAS mess dress wing.”
PS: Spelling mistakes are his.
This is my reply:
1) When asked for evidence, he was unable to supply any.
2) Though some officers in the RLI and the RAR wore this wing and another type, they were unofficial. (See the Paratrooper Wings page.)
3) Botswana Cap & Helmet Manufacturers and SAPHI did not make these wings.
4) The SAS regiment was the only regiment in the Rhodesian army that officially had mess dress para wings.