KWAZULU-NATAL BRANCH

Newsletter No. 543
December 2023

NOTICE OF DECEMBER MEETING THIS SATURDAY 9th DECEMBER, 2023

The December meeting of the KZN Branch of the SA Military History Society will take place on SATURDAY 9thDecember, 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 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.

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 requestedfrom all attendees.

Enquiries
Charles Whiteing
Vice-Chair KZN Branch SA Military History Society
Cell: 0825554689
Email: charlesw2@absamail.co.za

ADVANCE NOTICE OF JANUARY 2024 MEETING

The first meeting of 2024 will take place on the THIRD Saturday (20th Jan 2024).

To open 2024, we will have a main talk by our Pacific War specialist, Roy Bowman who will give an illustrated presentation on:

HALSEY'S TWO TYPHOONS OR HOW JAPAN NEARLY BEAT THE U.S. NAVY
A reminder that extreme weather conditions have been with us always!

The DDH starter will be a video with the title still to be announced.

NEWSLETTER November Meeting

The November meeting on the 11th (Remembrance Day), was opened with the Last Post followed by a 1-minute silence and Reveille as members paid their respects to the fallen.

After a number of notices were read for events now past, the DDH video comprising the final episode of the series on British Regimental Traditions was shown. This has been an interesting series. Although it is dated, having been made in 1989, it would seem as though most of the traditions have been carried over into the new amalgamated regiments. Of interest in this episode, was the tradition in the Royal Dragoon Guards of commemorating Captain Lawrence 'Titus' Oates who served with the original 6th Inniskilling Dragoons. His act of self-sacrifice in walking out to disappear into the snow during Captain Scott’s fatal transpolar expedition because he felt he was delaying them, is considered an extreme act of sacrifice for the sake of companions.

The main presentation was given by fellow member Charles Whiteing on the subject of Camouflage. Military camouflage became important with the increasing range and accuracy of firearms in the 19th century, but Charles ranged far and wide in his talk covering not only traditional camouflage patterns and colours but also the entire gambit of deception such as the non-existent army of Gen Patton on the coast opposite Calais during WWII.

Unfortunately, attendance was somewhat less than hoped with a total of 16 people, comprising of 14 members and 2 visitors.

REMEMBRANCE DAY COMMEMORATIONS.

Members attended a number of commemorations, but unfortunately were unable to participate in most of school ceremonies as they were all on the same weekday, at DHS, Glenwood and Clifton with clashing times.

SUNDAY 12th NOVEMBER, 2023.

Members attended the commemoration on Sunday at the Cenotaph, where Vice-Chair Charles Whiteing laid our cross on behalf of KZN Branch SAMHS, and committee member Graeme Fuller laid a wreath in his capacity as Chief of the Caledonian Society. Chair Phil Everitt attended the special mass at St Cyprian’s which is organised in conjunction with Rhumbelow MOTH Shellhole. This included a wreath laying and was Father Dane’s last such service as he is moving to the UK in April 2024.

SEASON’S GREETINGS AND WISHES FOR 2024

On behalf of the Committee I send Season’s Greetings and Blessings for the coming festivities and best wishes for the New Year to all members.

We hope and trust that despite the turmoil on the world stage and the coming elections in SA, 2024 will bring peace and harmony and hopefully more jobs and prosperous conditions in our land.

Regards and best wishes to all from a chilly and damp UK

Phil
Phil Everitt
Chair KZN Branch SA Military History Society
Cell: 0844371636
Email: everitt@iafrica.com