NEWSLETTER - MAY 2023

Past ZOOMeeting - Hosted by Johannesburg

April saw Dr Vicky Heunis from the Museum of the Boer Republics in Bloemfontein telling us about Maynie Fleck, a resident of the city, who accompanied Emily Hobhouse on many of her excursions to inspect the Concentration Camps in the Free State during the Anglo-Boer War. When photographs were taken there is frequently a familiar figure in the background - Maynie, taking notes for Emily. She distributed cloth, clothes, medicine and other wanted items to the camp inmates, continuing with the visits after Emily Hobhouse returned to England.

The two were also involved in setting up training centres where young Boer women could learn to spin and weave and later make garments from the cloth they had made. Fleck was an able secretary and good administrator who helped set up these weaving schools in several towns in the Free State. Bloemfontein's 'weaving school' hardly outlasted the depression while the longest lasting only closed in 1939. They certainly played an important role in giving the women an opportunity to earn something in the very hard times following the end of hostilities against Britain. Vicky extracted these facts mainly from letters between Emily and Maynie and notes taken as secretary by Maynie when she visited the various camps.

The recording of her 2-part lecture is available on the Society website.

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. The Society holds 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.

Thursday 11th May 2023 at 19h30 and then 20h15

Speaker: Ian Binnie from the UK

Subject: A History of the Gallipoli Campaign in 13 Objects

Ian, a trustee of the Gallipoli Association, will describe the events and give an analysis of what went wrong in this important WWI campaign.

Monday 8th May at 19h30 and then at 20h15:

Speaker: Dr Arnold van Dyk

Subject: The capture of General Pieter Hendrik Kritzinger on 16 December 1901.

are held on the second Saturday of a month, at St Cyprian's Church in Umbilo Road. This serves to confirm that the 2023 AGM of the KZN Branch of the SAMHS WILL BE ON
SATURDAY 13th May, 2023 1.30pm for 2.00pm
This will be followed by a main talk only by fellow member Dr Graeme Fuller who will present "All the King's Men".
Covering the unique and oldest, lesser known units which should have been seen during the coronation the week before.

These will be sent out as a supplementary newsletter to members

A new overseas member e-mailed: I am merely interested in our history as I am a philatelist specialising in colonial postage stamps for South Africa (and colonies) from 1840 - 1910. Am finding the geo social political history behind the movement and population of the territories in the early y ears frankly quite fascinating and intriguing. Much to learn and understand, as a South African was not aware of much of the drivers behind the changes and wars.
Kevin Smith, Farnham UK (kdee357@gmail.com)
Please contact Kevin directly if you are interested.

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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