South African Military History Society

Tel (+27)(0)10-237-0675 Fax (+27)(0)86-617-8002
Web:http://samilitaryhistory.org
Email: scribe@samilitaryhistory.org

NEWSLETTER - NOVEMBER 2021

Past ZOOMeeting
Hosted by Johannesburg

Prof Ian van der Waag was the speaker from Stellenbosch on 14 October 2021 hosted by Johannesburg Branch. His topic was
"Almost entirely a medical war: The South African Medical Corps in East Africa, 1940-1941"

A key part of any military campaign is the support provided by the medical services for the campaign forces. The talk detailed the medical resources that were assembled for the campaign in Abyssinia under the direction of the Director of Medical Services Brig Orenstein. Based on past experience from WW1 campaigns in East Africa, many battle casualties were expected, but that turned out to be the least of the medical issues that the service had to address. Jan Smuts commented in 1941 that "our losses were ridiculously small". The talk covered how the medical services had to deal mainly with non-battle casualties. The talk includes detailed graphs showing the different issues that had to be treated, and compared them with issues in other theatres of the war involving the South African forces.

Ian's comprehensive lecture is in the ZOOM video library as usual.

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MEMBERS OF ALL BRANCHES
ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND ALL MEETINGS

Just let scribe@samilitaryhistory.org know in order to be sent an invitation to the next ZOOM meeting.

Contact your branch to confirm ROOM meetings while we are under Covid-19 restrictions.

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December 2021 Military History Journal

Members are still welcome to send articles, poetry and similar contributions to joan@trolleyscan.com or to scribe@samilitaryhistory.org

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FORTHCOMING ATTRACTIONS
ZOOMINARS

Johannesburg Branch

Our next zoom lecture will be on Thursday 11th November starting at 19h30
Speaker: Kathie Satchwell
Subject: Remembrance

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Eastern Cape Branch (SAMHSEC)

Next zoominar will be on Monday 8th November starting at 19h30
Speaker: Peter Sutcliffe
Subject: "Operation Splinter - Rhodesian Counter Insurgency Operations on Lake Kariba and the Zambezi River"

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SAMHSEC's next RPC (request the pleasure of your company) will be on Monday 29 November 2021 at 19h30 South African time - details to be confirmed.

Invitations will be sent out as usual.

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ZOOM LECTURERS WANTED

Members with an interesting presentation on any aspect of military history are sought for ZOOMINARS and ZOOMeetings. A nominal 30-40 minute lecture supported by Power Point or similar slides / photographs, but not video, is required.

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IMPORTANT NEWS - ROOM MEETING

KwaZulu-Natal Branch
Next Meeting: Saturday 13th November
Time: 14h00 for 14h30
Venue: St Cyprians Church Hall in Umbilo

Contact Ulrich Duebi for details about the lecture: ulric@worldonline.co.za or 084 324 6583

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Dr Anne Samson forwarded the following:

CWGC APPEAL FOR RELATIVES September 2021
AFRICA & ASIA PACIFIC AREA OFFICE

An appeal for relatives is a search to locate the next-of-kin for soldiers who fell in war. Could you be connected to any of these individuals?

In most cases the Commonwealth War Graves Commission is preparing to produce headstones for their graves and would like to contact any relatives to attend the unveilings.

SurnameForenameDate of deathRegimentRankCemetery
 Ben20 Aug 1915SALCLabourerMaitland
BentleyThomas Edward William15 Sep 1942Youth Training BrigadePrivatePotchefstroom
CurtisCharles William17 Oct 1918Cape Cycle CorpsCyclistMaitland
BassonCarel Wynand6 Oct 1918Cape Peninsular RiflesPrivateMaitland
De BruinRobert Henry14 Oct 1918SAMRConstableKimberley (West End)
 Esau20 Oct 1918SASCDriverMaitland
FirthJohn Henry Ackroyd10 Oct 1918SASCSergeantKimberley (West End)
SmitNorman Herbert25 Dec 1942Youth Training BrigadePrivatePotchefstroom
RaePercy James21 Nov 1919SAISergeantDurban (West Street)
VisagieLouis Christian30 Nov 1918SAMRRiflemanKenhardt

Full table and reply forms available at
https://www.cwgc.org/our-work/news/appeal-for-relatives-4-october-2021/

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Branch contact details

Cape Town details contact    Carl Burger     082 333 2706    c.burger@bissets.com

Eastern Cape details contact    Malcolm Kinghorn    041-373-4469    culturev@lantic.net

Gauteng details contact    Joan Marsh     010-237-0676    joan@rfidradar.com

KwaZulu-Natal details contact    Charles Whiteing     082-555-4689    charlesw2@absamail.co.za


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