NEWSLETTER - OCTOBER 2023

On Thursday 14th September Jean and Martin Urry spoke about SAAF participation in what was called the Warsaw Air Lift or Air Bridge. Martin explained: in August 1944 Polish partisans (AK- free army) in Warsaw had risen up against the occupying Germans, hoping the approaching Russian forces would assist them to regain their city from Hitler's forces. In the event, however, Russia stopped her Army on the eastern bank of the Vistula River, leaving Warsaw at the mercy of the Germans who were carrying out Hitler's order to destroy the city.

Warsaw was being attacked and starved into submission and the partisans appealed to Britain and her Allies to help them. Despite recognising that this would be extremely costly in terms of aircraft and airmen, Churchill decided that an effort was to be made to send supplies, food and weapons to the partisans by air drop.

It was too far to fly from England without refuelling and Russia withheld permission for them to land in Poltava to refuel, relenting for only a single mission. An option was to use the forces in Southern Italy which included 205 Heavy Bomber Group, a part of which was 2 Wing SAAF, comprising 31 and 34 Squadrons. The round trip of over 2800km over mostly enemy territory took 11 hours; they left in daylight in order to reach Warsaw at night. Finding the Vistula River they followed it into the burning city and turned left at the fourth bridge - the drop zone was a park about 2 blocks from the river. Martin spoke about several specific aircraft and their missions.

Flying at 300ft in order not to destroy the dropped containers on landing, one of the aircraft clipped the steeple of St Margaret's church and crash-landed in the adjacent street. Of the 86 participating aircraft, 23 were lost. Missions were flown from early August to mid- September until the partisans were forced to surrender to the Germans.

The Warsaw cemetery contains the graves of 31 South Africans from 31 Squadron and 6 from 34 Squadron. The Urrys reported that there are many memorials across the countryside, well looked after and appreciated by the Polish people who hold the South African aircrews in high esteem. Flowers are placed on them on All Saints Day.

An annual commemoration service is held in September each year at the Katyn memorial in Johannesburg which includes remembering those murdered by the Russians in the Katyn Forest during the war and the members of the AK alongside the men of the Warsaw Airlift. The Urrys help organise this function.

The recordings of the Zoominar are on the website in the Video Library.

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

Speaker: Anne Samson from the UK
Subject: "Feeding an Army in WWI - a Comparison of Logistics across the various SA Theatres: GSWA, GEA, Egypt, Palestine and the Western Front."

Monday 9th October at 19h30 and then at 20h15:

Speaker: Gen. Mac Alexander is to talk is to tell us about
Subject: training with the Chilean Commandos in 1981.

Monday 30th October 2023

In session 1, Nick Cowley is to share Eastern Cape perspectives on Dick King's ride. This presentation was postponed from 25 September due to technical issues.

Saturday 14th October, 2023.

Meeting starts at 13:00 for 13:30 to accommodate the rugby!

DDH starter: Phil Everitt
Subject: will be a PowerPoint and video presentation comprising a very brief history of Madagascar, followed by video of Operation Ironclad, the May 1942, Allied WWII Invasion of Madagascar.

Main talk: Robin Smith
Subject: the Great Siege of Malta - Saracens vs Crusader Knights.

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

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.

Members are invited to send in their articles for the December Journal
- the deadline is the end of October.

Pam McFadden advises that this event is scheduled for the weekend of 20-22 October 2023. The programme starts on Friday 20th from 16:45 at the Talana Museum in Dundee. Laying of wreaths and an introductory talk will precede the Ghost Walk up the Hill with sherry, fruit juice and beef sandwiches being shared as you wait for the ghosts to appear.

Saturday 21st October join a bus tour to the Boer position on top of Impati mountain; then to various sites in Dundee including graves, hospital and Thornley Farm returning to the Talana Museum for a themed lunch for own account. In the afternoon there will be talks on military aspects plus a chance to visit the Creations market - arts crafts, plants, books - until 16h15 when the Dundee Diehards will demonstrate weapons and uniforms. From 17:30 visit the MOTH shellhole and Museum for a braai.

Sunday 22nd October meet at 8:15 at the Talana Museum for the trip to Elandslaagte battlefield. After that visit go to Ladysmith Siege related sites. Following lunch in Ladysmith depart for your home.

Sponsorship allows for the costs to be R495 per adult and R360 for scholars. Contact the Talana Museum for booking forms. (Joan also has a copy which she can forward to you - joan@rfidradar.com)

Recommended accommodation
Kwakunje Village at Talana Museum 063 669 0383
Khaya4U 060 670 7846
Chez Nous 034 212 1014
Battlefields Caravan Park 034 632 1723 or 084 510 3430
Sneezewood 082 611 3560

www.tourdundee.co.za for all accommodation in the town and area

SAMHSEC's commemoration of the bicentenary of the arrival of the 1820 Settlers was disrupted by the Covid pandemic. A field trip to Bathurst for 40 people offers an opportunity to combine 1820 Settler & military history. Starting at 0945, the field trip ends not later than 1600 at Bradshaw's Mill.

Provisional itinerary includes visiting the Methodist Church in York Road, (formerly the Wesleyan Chapel), St John's Church (donations to churches welcome) and the Powder Magazine, including a discussion of the Military Post around the Magazine. Lunch and an optional short Heritage trail walk is to be followed by a visit to the Toposcope. Last place is Bradshaw's Mill, (R40 entry)

RSVP to Malcolm Kinghorn by 9 October 2023 either by e-mail to culturev@lantic.net or WhatsApp to 082 331 6223

Honorary Life Member Marjorie Dean is moving to the coast and has a set of Military History Journals from 1996 onwards - anyone interested please contact Joan for her details. She is also looking to sell her unit in a retirement village in Northwold, Randburg.

Members wishing to join Emsie van den Berg's What's App group to receive notices each week about books she has for sale are invited to contact her at emsievdberg@gmail.com or 082 264 1953

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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