With Monday 10th August a public holiday - Women's Day having fallen on the Sunday - Barbara Anne Kinghorn's postponed "Knit your bit - patriotic knitting" - eventually took center stage on Tuesday 11th August.
Fully 30 ZOOMINATI tuned in to hear her talk, including some form overseas. Her interest started from a poster in which the American Red Cross' appealed to people to knit for soldiers on the Western front -especially 'sox' to keep their feet dry and avoid trench foot.
A similar appeal in the UK especially in WWII led to many people taking up what Queen Victoria had elevated to a war contribution - see her scarves presented to 8 'deserving' soldiers! Ordinary citizens gladly took up what could be seen as personal contribution for all who were still at home.
Barbara's Lecture is accessible at ZOOM LIBRARY on the web-site.
Knitting enthusiasts would probably have heard the terms raglan(a sleeve which goes all the way up to the neck and is common in school jerseys) and cardigan (a front-opening jersey). These go back to the Crimean War. Lord Raglan had lost an arm at Waterloo and supposedly wore a jersey with the sloping sleeve. The cardigan was named after the Earl of Cardigan, the unlucky commander of the famous Light Brigade of 1854. His favoured front-buttoning garment might have been sleeveless and could have been sewn rather than knitted.
The other interesting term is Balaclava which turns out to be named after the Turkish for a small fishing village. It was part of the Ottoman Empire in the time of the Crimean war and is now part of Ukraine / Russia depending on where you would draw the border. Originally used by soldiers to ward off the fierce cold, it extended down onto the shoulders while allowing gaps for eyes and mouth - with variations over the years up to the one now banned from banks!
This special occasion is to: honour the 150th birth year of both Jan Christiaan Smuts and
Isie Krige Smuts
Preview new displays and improvements made in the Museum
Commemorate the remarkable union of Jan Smuts and his wife Isie
Interesting talks will be held on: Jan Smuts (11:00 and 14:00)
Isie Smuts (12:00 and 15:00)
Entrance to the House will be free of charge (donations welcome!)
Parking: R10.00 / vehicle at main gate. The Tea Garden will be open.
Your colleagues, friends or family are welcome to attend
A headcount will be necessary in order to comply with the COVID19 protocols RSVP: info@smutshouse.co.za
We would like as many people as possible to attend on both the Saturday and the Sunday (12th and 13th Sept). Saturday is for groups/members of groups and Sunday is for the General Public (but no talks on the Sunday).
And yes please, we would like them to respond to the contact given. She will ask if they wish to sit in on the talks held on the Saturday - or just visit the house - or both. The numbers will be strictly controlled on visitors' arrival. i.e. Groups of 10 will go through the house with a guide leaving every 10 or 15 minutes throughout the two days.
If your members respond to the contact given, Sharon will ask them their wishes and note accordingly.
The photos/military artifacts/books/etc. have all been re-positioned and new exhibits re-aligned. There is now a strong timeline to the exhibition ... there are now separate rooms for each of the wars: Anglo- Boer / WWI / WWII. So even if people have visited before, it is worthwhile coming again.
New to Zoom?
Members with an interesting presentation on any aspect of military history are sought for ZOOMEETINGS. A nominal 20 minute lecture supported by Power Point or similar slides, but not video, is required.
SAD LOSSES
All four branches have lost members so far in 2020.
Woody Turner from SAMHSEC on 10 April
Gauteng's David Mitchell, life member, in June
Major A "Tony" Gordon, former chairman of Cape Town branch, on 17 July
KZN's Alex McTavish on 19 July
KZN's Charles Aikenhead, life member, in July
Pat Henning who was Scribe of this newsletter from 2014 to 2017, passed away suddenly on 17 August from diabetes complications. Her cheerful presence at committee meetings will be fondly remembered.
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