Newsletter No 75 December/Nuusbrief Nr 75 Desember 2010
After the Act of Remembrance led by Jock Harris, during which SAMHSEC members called to Higher Service, namely Elizabeth Nel, Doug Boyder, Chris McCanlis, BCR and Lionel Wulfsohn, were remembered, SAMHSEC's 8 November 2010 meeting in Port Elizabeth opened with Mike Duncan's series on medals awarded to Port Elizabeth men. Hugh Holmes joined the PAG as a private in 1939 and trained as an infantryman. On 10 October 1940 the Regiment entrained for East London to undergo training prior to joining the South African Forces in North Africa. It was a long time before this occurred, however, as the Unit was used to guard POWs in Pietermaritzburg, Barberton, Sonderwater and Johannesburg. Eventually in April 1943, the Unit embarked for North Africa where the Regiment was re-mustered as an armoured unit as part of the 6th SA Armoured Division to take part in the invasion of Italy. Holmes trained as a Sherman tank driver, but converted to Stuart tanks (Honeys), which were used in a reconnaissance role as part of HQ Squadron. He served throughout the Italian Campaign, but never rose above the rank of Trooper. He was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45 and Africa Service Medal.
The curtain raiser by Andre Crozier was on the Battle of Grahamstown on 22 April 1819. While the battle has been described as the most significant in South Africa in the 19th Century, the official history of the British Army treats it as insignificant. Based on the report of the Commanding Officer, Lt Col Willshire, the deployment of the available force of about 250 men was discussed, but it is uncertain where the defenders were positioned. There are only two eye witness reports, namely Willshire's written immediately after the battle and that of Ensign Charles Lennox Stretch, published 56 years later. Major Fraser did not participate in the battle, but was in Grahamstown and wrote a letter the next day detailing the events based on what others told him. Captain Harding did and recounted his experiences in an interview three years later. He said that, although he had seen action in several countries, he never saw a more spirited little action, but that it was very close and if the Xhosa had been better armed, they would surely have overwhelmed the defenders.
Three mysteries surround the battle. Firstly, the role of Khoi Chief Boesak. Harding mentioned him, but Willshire and Fraser did not. Stretch described Boesak's role in glowing terms. However, discrepancies in his account, contradictions with Willshire's report and that he appears to have taken his description of the battle out of a book by Stephen Kay published in 1833, make Stretch's account suspect. Andre concluded that Boesak must have played a role, but east of the East Barracks and out of sight of Willshire. The second mystery is whether Elizabeth Salt carried ammunition at the height of the battle from Market Square to the East Barracks. Various inconsistencies and implausibilities lead to the conclusion that the story is without substance and based on incorrect interpretation of her obituary, which appeared in the Grahamstown Journal on 21 September 1850. Finally, the conflicting figures for the Xhosa casualties, which range from 150 (Willshire) to 2000 (Stretch). Andre concluded that it was impossible to determine the Xhosa casualties. The official figure of 3 defenders killed is possibly why the British regarded the battle as little more than a skirmish.
The main lecture "My memories of 32 Battalion" was by Jock Harris, who commanded the unit in 1987. 32 Bn was formed after Operation Savanna to integrate Angolans from the ally FNLA into the SADF. The unit's credo was Honesty, Loyalty and Justice. Its motto was Proelio Procussi (Forged In Battle). The unit headquarters was in Rundu, while the unit itself was stationed at Buffalo Base in the Caprivi, some 250 kms to the east. Buffalo consisted of a training base and the Kimbo, where dependants were accommodated.
Jock was appointed to command 32 Bn after commanding 5 SAI Bn in Ladysmith. His arrival coincided with a consolidation and re-training period, after years of continuous operational deployment had led to a degree of battle fatigue. The unit's role in the subsequent Operations Modular, Hooper and Packer were described in Jock's previous SAMHSEC lectures in September 2009 & March 2010 (See SAMHSEC newsletters 61 October 2009 & 67 April 2010 respectively).
Following Namibian independence, 32 Bn was transfered to Pomfret in the Northern Cape, where an abandoned mine complex was available to house the unit and its dependants. By then Jock was stationed at Northern Cape Command in Kimberley. As a former commander of the unit, his was the unenviable task of breaking the news of the political decision to disband 32 Bn to the unit. Jock described the dramatic closing down parade at Pomfret, during which a disgruntled former member threw 30 pieces of silver at the feet of the saluting officer.
SAMHSEC's next meeting will be at 1930 on 13 December 2010 at the EP Veteran Car Club in Port Elizabeth. Gerda Coetzee will speak on Woman of the Pen: Emily Hobhouse and Barry de Klerk on Blessed are the peacemakers.
Ian Pringle says: "Members are requested advise me by no later than Thursday 9 December of their intention to join us at the Christmas Braai on Monday 13 December at our usual venue. No cost to members. Guests are welcome at R25 per head. Please bring your own cutlery, crockery, tongs etc. We will provide fires, braaipacks, rolls and salads. Fires will be ready by 1800, the pub will be open and our usual meeting will commence at 1930. I think this will be a fitting end to a very successful year. We need to finalise catering and order braai packs, so please confirm attendance numbers directly to me at pringlefamily@telkomsa.net or phone me on 071 366 6933 by 9 December. Remember, if you have not replied and simply pitch expecting a braaipack, you will have to be satisfied with the smell of the braai!" (Your Scribe says: I look forward to your company & thanks, Ian!)
Early warning is given of SAMHSEC field trips 20 to 22 May 11 to Uitenhague, Kariega Siding, Jansenville, Bouwershoek, Pearston, Somerset East and Ann's Villa & 5 to 7 Aug 11 to Burgersdorp, Boomplaats, Springfontein and Bethulie.
Malcolm Kinghorn.
SAMHSEC SCRIBE
culturev@lantic.net
082 331 6223