'Omaruru Pass' identification token : S E A Greentree, Cape Garrison Artillery, South African Army

Oval shaped brass token featuring an imperial German crown and the words 'Omaruru Pass' embossed into the obverse. There are nine very small raised dots arranged horizontally across the lower front of the token for the imprinting of an individual identification number. The edges of the token are lightly raised. A single hole has been punched into the top of the token for wearing around the neck. The reverse has no markings.

This token was collected by Septimus Ernest Athol Greentree most likely while serving with the Cape Garrison Artillery in German South West Africa during the First World War. Tokens such as this were used by the Imperial German colonists as a method of controlling local indigenous people by the Imperial German colonists in the area. They were usually marked with a unique number on the lower half of the obverse, however the absence of a number on this example indicates that it was acquired before being issued to an individual.

Greentree was born on 22 January 1872 at Freeman's Reach, Hawkesbury, New South Wales, to Robert and Hannah Greentree. He travelled to South Africa and in June 1900 enlisted for service in the Boer War, joining 1st Battalion, Brabant's Horse, an irregular British South African unit. This highly mobile Light Horse unit was formed by then Brigadier General Edward Brabant, a South African colonial military commander. It was made up of approximately 600 South African colonials, Australians, British and Canadian soldiers and was heavily involved in fighting irregular Boer commando units, in particular in the Transvaal. Greentree attained the rank of corporal and in March 1901 was discharged from Brabant s Horse to serve as an agent with the South African Field Intelligence Division (FID). The FID conducted a diverse range of field intelligence activities and was considered highly effective at combating the Boers in South Africa.

Greentree was still living in South Africa when the First World War broke out in September 1914. Aged 42 he joined the Cape Garrison Artillery on 17 September 1914 at Cape Town and was assigned the regimental number A/51164. He served in German South West Africa (today known as Namibia) and was discharged on 29 July 1915 after the cessation of hostilities in this area.

Greentree re-joined the South African forces in Cape Town on 22 April 1916, this time as a private in the 11th South African Infantry with the regimental number 11681. The unit saw action against German colonial forces in East Africa. Greentree was discharged in Durban on 13 December 1916. He later returned to Australia and died in 1963 at Sydney, NSW, aged 90.