NEWSLETTER - DECEMBER 2023

Our November Zoominar heard Andriza Liebenberg speak about Sidney Robey Leibbrandt - usually called Robey - who was found guilty of Treason against the South African Government during World War II. Born in Potchefstroom in 1913, he attended several schools as his father was sent to different places by the SADF, his employer. Robey was a very good boxer and obtained national colours by the age of 16. At 21 he earned a bronze medal at the Commonwealth games and ranked 4th at the 1936 Berlin Olympics due to his inability to fight the 3rd/4th placed match due to a broken hand.

He studied physical education in Sweden and Germany then entered training for an Abwehr agent from 1938-41. Despite encouraging the story that he had been dropped by a U-boat, he landed in Mitchell's Bay from a small yacht and endured 3 days crossing the desert until managing a lift to Cape Town.

Andriza sketched his efforts to mobilise OssewaBrandwag (OB) members and sympathisers to overthrow the Smuts' Government in order to have a more pro-German government installed in SA. His interactions were thwarted in part by his egotistical views especially as perceived by Dr Hans van Rensburg, head of OB. Authorities were told Leibbrandt was back in the country and the search for him began.

She detailed the story of the policeman whose efforts eventually paid off despite much sympathy for Robey in the rank-and-file of the SA Police Force who dawdled rather than actively chase him. After his arrest at an ambush in December 1941 it took 2 years for his appeal against the guilty verdict and death sentence to be completed. Smuts commuted the sentence to life imprisonment. As soon as the Nationalist Party won the 1948 general election and formed their government he was given amnesty and released.

She then told of his life after the war.

The recording of the Zoominars is on the website in the Video Library.

Thursday 14th December 2023 at 19h30 and then 20h15

Speaker: Robin Smith

Subject: "Mussolini, his removal from power, Hitler's rescue, his cruel death 1943-45"

Monday 11th December at 19h30 and then at 20h15:

Speaker: Dylan Fourie will be telling us about U-boat operations off the South African coast during World War II.

There will be no RPC Zoominar in December

Let scribe@samilitaryhistory.org know in order to be sent an invitation to the next ZOOMinar

For those members still anxious about Zoom lectures, please give them a try! Go onto the internet and find www.zoom.us then download the program. If using a cellphone visit the app store. Once you have it on your device - computer or cellphone - choose to join a meeting. Either use the link which is provided in the invitation or type in the meeting code and then the password, also from the invitation, as requested.

You do NOT need to have a camera - unless you are the speaker or a chairman- although it is always interesting to match faces to voices. As in the auditorium, you do not HAVE to ask the speaker any questions, but there are ways in which you can draw the chair's attention so you can do so.

The next meeting of the KZN Branch of the SA Military History Society will take place on SATURDAY 9th December, 2023. This will be the final meeting of the year and to round off there will be no starter talk and this will be replaced by our traditional end of the year excellent complimentary snacks with liquid refreshment for cash.

The main talk will be a presentation by Dr Doug Beere on the subject of US pilot Francis Gary Powers, who hit the headlines when his U2 spy plane shot down over USSR in 1960.

The starting timeis 1.30 for 2.00pm. The venue remains the St Cyprians Church Hall off Umbilo Rd, with secure parking and liquid refreshments available for cash from The Vicar's Alms.

The snacks catering is covered for members from annual fees, but visitors will be charged R20 per head as their contribution to catering.

Donations of R10 for each of a raffle and car guard are requested from all attendees.
Enquiries:
Charles Whiteing
Vice-Chair KZN Branch SA Military History Society
Cell: 0825554689
Email: charlesw2@absamail.co.za

Regrettably, subscriptions have had to be increased by 6% for 2024:

Single R300

Family R320

Family being two members with a single postal address but can have dual e-mail addresses

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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