Past ZOOMeeting - Hosted by Johannesburg
Our March 2023 lecture was by Commander Leon Steyn, presently the officer-in-charge of the South African Naval Museum in Simon's Town. His subject was The first Swans of the South African Navy - 50 Years ago.
1972 marked the first permanent appointment of women sailors to the South African Navy, 50 years ago. Integrating women into the male dominated service provided many challenges for the women and the service.
Leon detailed the challenges and how these challenges were addressed. Information for the lecture was taken from official records, as well as personal reminiscences of the women involved 50 years ago.
The integration of women into the Navy was complex and no simple process as its training and operation was configured for only the male gender, especially in ships where quarters were cramped.
The evidence suggests that this first recruitment and service of women in the Navy served an important ground-breaking purpose to the future and expanded utilisation of women in our Navy.
Of the 24 originally recruited as telegraphists, three served until retirement by which stage all had reached at least Petty Officer rank.
The recording of his 2-part lecture is available on the Society website.
MEMBERS OF ALL BRANCHES ARE ALWAYS WELCOME TO ATTEND ALL ZOOM MEETINGS
Let scribe@samilitaryhistory.org know in order to be sent an invitation to the next ZOOMinar
FORTHCOMING ATTRACTIONS - ZOOMINARS
Johannesburg Branch
Thursday 13th April 2023 at 19h30 and then 20h15
Speaker: Dr Vicky Heunis
Subject: Maynie Fleck and concentration camps in the Free State
Maynie Fleck (1877-1975): The unknown benefactor in the shadow of Emily Hobhouse, who contributed to humanitarian aid provided during and after the Anglo-Boer (South African) War.
The British philanthropist and pacifist, Emily Hobhouse, is not an unfamiliar name among South Africans. In particular, her role in improving the conditions in the concentration camps and alleviating the suffering experienced by the Boer women and children during as well as after the Anglo-Boer (South African) War of 1899-1902, is well known. However, the name Maynie Fleck is less familiar or not known at all. In many ways, Fleck was the quiet and supportive driving force behind the dynamic figure of Emily Hobhouse; her South African confidant.
Eastern Cape Branch (SAMHSEC) Zoominar
Monday 10th April at 19h30 and then at 20h15:
Speakers: Pat and Anne Irwin
Subject: Review of recent field trip
The insights shared during SAMHSEC's field trip on 12 March 2023 to the Bain Memorial at summit of the Ecca Pass on the Queen's Road between Grahamstown and Fort Beaufort, Fort Brown and Fort Double Drift are to be presented to the SAMHSEC zoominar on 10 April.
SAMHSEC ZOOMinar Monday 24 April 2023
As usual there will be a "Request the Pleasure of your Company" Zoominar on this last Monday of the month. Details will be included in the invitations.
SAMHSEC AGM and REQUEST FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS
The Eastern Cape Branch held its AGM on 10th March and is looking for more committee
members to take the portfolios of Scribe and Field Trip Coordinator. If able to assist please
contact
Chairman Malcolm Kinghorn culturev@lantic.net
or Secretary Stephen Bowker sbowker@telkomsa.net
KwaZulu-Natal BRANCH MEETINGS
are held on the second Saturday of a month, at St Cyprian's Church in Umbilo Road. Attend from
13h30 for 14h00 in order to end by 16h00 because of load shedding.
AGM on the 13th May, 2023 (Watch for the Notice of Meeting)
Due to the fact that this will be the AGM, there will not be a DDH talk.
The main talk will be:
"The Grey Shirts in South Africa" by Ulrich Duebi.
This covers a seldom covered portion of South Africa's complex social conflict during WWII.
Enjoy Military History Society talks
by becoming a Zoominatus in your own home!
Approximately 200 of our members receive announcements of forthcoming meetings and are invited to join the meetings. We wish to encourage more of those who are missing out to become involved. We hold three ZOOMinars a month.
All you need is a computer, OR A CELLPHONE, and a data connection and you can become part of the meetings. You will need to contact the Society to be added to the invite list and then you are all fitted out. You then click on the link in the invitation just before the meeting starts and it will hook you up to join the meetings.
Help wanted - ERPM Boksburg memorial relocation
Society member Peter Wood asks: Does anybody at the society know of a stone mason, or have an opinion on the possible dis-assembly, removal & possible re-assembly of the ERPM Memorial?
The Memorial to workers from the now defunct ERPM gold mine who fell in World War I, was erected in 1919. The owners of the land, who bought it when ERPM (East Rand Proprietory Mines) went bankrupt, managed to demolish the Sir Herbert Baker-designed clubhouse but the Hall and the nearby memorial were spared. The names on the memorial have been photographed and options for displaying them elsewhere are being investigated.
People who could suggest solutions please contact Peter at apexdog25@gmail.com
BRANCH CONTACT DETAILS
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 Prof Phil Everitt 084-437-1636 everitt@iafrica.com
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