NEWSLETTER - NOVEMBER 2023

On October 19th Dr Anne Samson, speaking from the UK, shared some of her research on "Feeding an Army in WWI - a Comparison of Logistics across the various SA Theatres: GSWA, GEA, Egypt, Palestine and the Western Front."

If an Army marches on its stomach then it obviously matters how well the soldiers are fed and watered - not to even mention the horses (which still played a very large part in the Great War in Europe) and even camels in the Egyptian and Palestinian desert battles.

The UDF only really got going from 1913 - three years after the Union - and many functions had to be started since the British garrisons were off - to, mainly, Europe - and South Africa took over its own defence. So the entry into German South West Africa was the first time they had to actually supply their own soldiers. GSWA had no railway contact with SA and crossing deserts with as yet no roads was arduous and took long. Supplying from Cape Town to GSWA took several days and shipping was in short supply due to the other theatres of war - for example water desalinated in Cape Town took 3 to 4 days to even reach them.

Anne started with an indication of what nominal rations were as calculated by needing 2500kcal per man per day for a normal soldier. However in many instances actual food deliveries were less, sometimes much less than that. An army consisting of groups of men from different cultures, backgrounds, religions and social standing was inevitable going to be complicated to cater for! In German East Africa, which was supplied from India for several years, some soldiers had to be repatriated because of their digestion's inability to adjust to the available food. Irregular supplies contributed to weakened immune systems and the tropical diseases struck many down. Even hospitals could not always get supplies so recovery was prolonged.

Moving to the Western Front meant that water was easier to obtain - even if not drinkable; sometimes it was inadequate in quantity, especially when fetching it from depots could only be done at night using camels and recalcitrant donkeys. Food was generally adequate if monotonous and since it was generally boiled in the same cooking vessels after a while the tea also tasted like stew... Finally the SA forces serving in Egypt and Palestine suffered the same long supply lines with no guarantee of regular deliveries ... but it sounded better than what the New Zealanders had to contend with in the Gallipoli campaign.

Once again Anne's meticulous research and clear presentation treated us to a glimpse of a war in which we all avoided participating but live with its long term changes to our world more than a century afterwards.

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

Thursday 16th November 2023 at 19h30 and then 20h15 (NB third Thursday)

Speaker: Andriza Liebenberg
Subject: "Robey Leibbrandt."

Monday 13th November at 19h30 and then at 20h15:

Speaker: Brian Klopper is to tell us about the commemoration of the Centenary of the South African Legion of Military Veterans in October 2021.

Brian's presentation is to be followed by a discussion of the role South African Military Veterans' organisations can play in society in as diverse a country as South Africa. By using their unique perspectives and leadership experiences, military veterans are well-positioned to bridge political divides and enhance public awareness of civic duty.

Monday 27th November 2023

Keep the date open; speakers and subjects to be advised

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. 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.

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. Alternatively use the chat function - you can ask the meeting or even send a private message to another attender.

The next meeting of the KZN Branch of the SA Military History Society will take place on SATURDAY 11th November, 2023.

NOTE The day is REMEMBRANCE (POPPY) DAY. If you have your poppy already please wear it. If not, we will have on sale at the meeting.

The DDH starter will be the final video of the series on some of the interesting, strange quirks and often humorous traditions of the British Army.

The main talk will be by fellow member Charles Whiteing on the subject of "Camouflage".

The starting time is 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.
Visitors are welcome
There is no charge but donations of R10 for each of a raffle and car guard are requested.
Enquiries:
Phil Everitt - Chair KZN Branch SA Military History Society
Cell: 0844371636
Email: everitt@iafrica.com

Society members Alkis Doucakis and Simon Green have been corresponding with several people in SA in response to a query from a Daniel Comyn. Lack of a paper trail has been unable to confirm or refute the presence of Aboriginal people as trackers in the Transvaal, let alone confirm or refute the alleged failure to repatriate them at the end of the War. Flo Bird has indicated the allegations were reported in 2013-2014 although their reappearance might have been triggered by the recent referendum on the rights of Aborigines and Torres Straits islanders in Australia. Several other contributions on the matter have been copied to the Society.

Dr Vicky Heunis indicates that the Bloemfontein Museum of the Boer Republics has even been visited by at least one descendant; she sent various links to articles to Alkis.

Anyone who can add to the discussion or assist Simon Green with information about the cemetery in Ventersdorp which supposedly includes some graves of Aborigines please contact:
Alkis Doucakis or Simon Green simonbsr@gmail.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    Prof Phil Everitt    084-437-1636     everitt@iafrica.com

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