South African Military History Society

CAPE TOWN BRANCH
NEWSLETTER NO. 282 - SEPTEMBER 2001

At the beginning of our Meeting on 16 August, Chairman Derek O'Riley paid tribute to Paul Lange, one of our Branch Founder Members and former secretary, who had died recently after a long and crippling illness, and a minute's silence was observed.

Then we were treated to a most interesting presentation by four members from the Cape Town Medal Group: Dr. David Grant, Robert Mitchell, William de Villiers and Glen von Zeil, who showed us some of the medals from their collections.

David Grant spoke on South African Medals and Bars which had been given to Indian Veterinary Assistants, Syces and Transport drivers as well as other Indian personnel during the Boer War. He not only described the medals in detail, but also gave their history, read from a list of awards, and named the recipients and their accomplishments.

Glen von Zeil remained in the same time-frame and, with the help of overheads, spoke on Boer war scenery from Port Nolloth to Springbok, as well as on people given the Queen's South African Medal, like William Carstens, a shopkeeper from Port Nolloth, who served as a Lieutenant in the Namaqualand Town Guard. Glen also showed us photographs of O'okiep Fortifications and Blockhouses and recounted a lot of fascinating history of the era with a great number of well researched details.

William de Villiers took us to India, specifically the North West Frontier, and to the early 20th century, with history going back to 1823, when the Frontier was used as a buffer against Russian Insurgents. He talked about Afghanistan battles, and what he called the great game between Great Britain and Imperial Russia. It was a period where the force of personalities, power of bribery and the hierarchy of chiefs ruled.

Robert Mitchell presented the history of the Royal Engineers and Royal Artillery in Cape Town during the Boer War, when tracks of rail were laid over a distance of about 4 000 miles to South West and East Africa. He also showed us photographs of bridges under construction, the Simba bridge in 1940, and medals which were awarded for this and other dangerous work, like clearing minefields, drilling wells, and the famous Springbok bridge across the river Po, 305 m long. His presentation was very well illustrated and researched as Robert is himself an engineer.

We were allowed to inspect medals our guests had brought with them, and an eager discussion followed, closing a most interesting evening covering a colourful topic.

FORTHCOMING LECTURES:

13 Sept 2001
STALINGRAD: a German's view of the Battle and its Participants, and readings from a Diary
Illustrated Talk by John Mahncke
11 Oct 2001
THE ISANDLWANA MASSACRE AND THE VICTORY AT RORKE'S DRIFT.
Illustrated Talk by Stan Lambrick.
8 Nov 2001
THE BISMARCK ENGAGEMENT
Illustrated Talk by Bob Buser
December 2001
IN RECESS
17 January 2002
THE GUERILLA WAR IN THE CAPE COLONY DURING THE ANGLO/BOER WAR - PART TWO
Illustrated Talk by Rodney Constantine
14 February 2002
THE REBELLION OF 1914
Illustrated Talk by Prof.Rodney Davenport

Mr. J.F.Wainwright, Commander SAN (retd.), is compiling a history of the Selborne ships' badges (and the ships to which they belonged) painted on the walls of the Selborne Graving Dock, (dry dock), Simon's Town. This will be published as a journal of the South African Naval Heritage Trust. There are 137 badges of warships and merchant vessels, from six different nations, that dry docked in Simon's Town, spanning the 90 years since the dock was opened. Many of the badges have been repainted uver the years, frequently with loss of detail and even changes to the names, and it has become obvious that a number have disappeared. If members have photographs or articles, pre-1970, that they would be prepared to lend Mr.Wainwright he would greatly appreciate it.
His postal address is: 1 Exeter Avenue, Fish Hoek, 7975,
e-mail: jfw@netactive.co.za

Meetings are normally held on the 2nd Thursday of each month at 20h00 in the Recreation Hall of the SA LEGION'S ROSEDALE COMPLEX, Lower Nursery Road, Rosebank, (off Alma Road) , opposite Rosebank Railway Station, below the line.
All visitors welcome. Tea and biscuits will be served.

Jochen (John) Mahncke (Vice-Chairman/Scribe) (021) 797 5167

South African Military History Society / military.history@rapidttp.com