This miniature 'Balkie' was worn, just above any medals as had been awarded to the wearer, in Mess Kit. This would have covered the Officers' and the Sergeants' Messes of those in 61 Mechanised Infantry Battalion Group. 61, as it was known, was formed in South West Africa in the early 1980's. Their Rear Headquarters was at Tsumeb. "Quartermaster's Comment":-61, with their RATEL 20mm. Mk II Infantry Fighting Vehicles, before that Elands, took part in every major operation which was launched from South West Africa into Angola. This 'Balkie' was awarded to you if you had been on one of these Operations, such as PROTEA and/or ASKARI, which were serious thrusts into Angola made sometimes in conjunction with the likes of 5 Recce and 32 Bn. along with other Citizen Force Bns. These Mess Kit, smaller variants are getting very hard to find.