32 Battalion Beret (The Terrible Ones - "Os Terríveis" )

32 Battalion Beret (The Terrible Ones - "Os Terríveis" )

32 Battalion Beret

The 32 Battalion beret is one of the most iconic symbols of the South African Border War. Its unique design set it apart from standard South African Defence Force (SADF) headgear.

The Camouflage Beret

• Design & Origin: Introduced around 1980/1981, the beret featured the "32 Battalion camouflage" pattern, which was inspired by the Angolan Portuguese camouflage and later developed into specific "wet" and "dry" season variations.

Significance: 

It was highly unconventional for a unit to have its own camouflage headgear. It served as a point of pride for the unit, known as "Os Terríveis" (The Terrible Ones) or the "Buffalo Battalion

In a military world of conformity, this unconventional camouflage beret became a badge of honour and a source of myth. For the soldiers known as "Os Terríveis" (The Terrible Ones) or the "Buffalo Battalion," it was more than a uniform. It was a mark of fear and fascination among both allies and adversaries.