Great photograph by Peter Marlow of a South African patrol travelling in an ‘Buffel’ anti-mine armoured troop carrier near the Angolan South West Africa/Namibia border.

From the looks of the men and weaponry this looks like a ‘Citizen Force’ unit in the late 70’s/early 80’s. The Citizen Force where made up of national servicemen who had completed two years compulsory national service and where obliged to attend ‘camps’ which ranged from one month to three months on average for an additional 10 years post the initial national service period.

Most of these men just weeks before where probably at home with their families and in their normal jobs on ‘civvie street’, suddenly transported into a war zone as part of a ‘camp’ commitment (hence their nickname in the army of ‘campers’).

Photo copyright Peter Marlow