SAMHSEC meeting 9 September 2024
Stephen Bowker told us about 24 Squadron SAAF in Africa 1941 to 1942.
24 Squadron SAAF was founded on 5 March 1941 in Nanyuki, Kenya. Formerly 14 Squadron, the name was changed because the RAF already had a 14 Squadron. The nucleus of 14/24 Squadron was under command of Major CE Martin and drawn from 12 Squadron based in Nanyuki.
Major Martin was formerly with the Union Airline, the forerunner of South African Airways. The SAAF commandeered Junkers aircraft from the Airline and converted them to bombers. Later the SAAF was equipped with Maryland bombers, which had been built for France, but were diverted to South Africa after the fall of France in June 1940. The Maryland bombers were replaced with Boston bombers, much to the delight of the aircrew.
After training in Kenya, 24 Squadron went into action in North Africa. Its main roles were reconnaissance and bombing support for Allied Forces. The first operation was a recce over Crete on 14 and 15 May 1941.
After the defeat of British forces at the Battle of Gazala in May 1942, 24 Squadron flew 1001 sorties providing air support during the British withdrawal. The squadron celebrated this achievement with a huge dinner.
24 Squadron provided air support to the British 8th Army during the Battle of Alamein and the subsequent defeat of the Axis Forces in North Africa. On 30 May 1943, Colonel JT Durant, former Commanding Officer of 24 Squadron, led a victory flight over Tunis to celebrate the Allied victory in Africa. Thereafter, 24 Squadron left Africa for the Italian Campaign.
Field Marshall Montgomery expressed his gratitude to the SAAF as follows “..my great appreciation of the superb support to the land battle that was given by the Air Force… for their truly admirable and magnificent effort.”
The recording of Stephen’s presentation is in the SAMHS Zoom library.
SAMHSEC RPC 30 September 2024
In session 1, Franco Cilliers’ presentation “Cost of weapons – then and now”, compared the cost of acquiring and operating various weapon systems, including aircraft, warships and armoured fighting vehicles, during the 20th century to today.
Spending money on defence for a country is a lot like taking out insurance. It is a grudge purchase. If you are a country and did not spend the money, then you may longer exist as happened to Poland in 1939.
Weapons have over time become more complicated and costly. If we look at the Anglo-Zulu war, the shield and the assegai of the Zulu warrior was much less complicated than the Martini Henry rifle of the British. Therefore, the cost was less.
Armies in the past lived off the land, but with the dawn of the industrial revolution, manufactured weapons and equipment became part of the military. The rise of technology in the military sphere is also related to the search for a better, faster, quicker solution to warfare and a less costly road to victory.
World War 1 is seen generally as the first industrial, read attritional, war. I would say the Russo-Japanese war of 1904 was the first.
The US spends $916 billion on defence (3.4% of GDP), $925.8 billion on Medicare and $824 billion Medicaid (17.2% of GDP) plus $120B on Military Veteran Health Care. The UK spends $74.9 Billion (2.3% of GDP) on defence and 11.3% of GDP on the NHS.
The cost of aircraft has risen over time. For instance, at the start of World War 2, a Spitfire required 15,000 man-hours to manufacture, while a ME 109 required 10,500 hours. Increase in cost can largely be attributed to advancements in engines during the war. After World War 2, electronics became the primary cost driver, now accounting for over 70% of the cost of fighter aircraft. The adoption of radar-absorbing coatings and their maintenance has also contributed to increased costs.
The growing integration of electronics in military equipment, including weapons, vehicles and ships, has contributed to increased acquisition and production costs. However, this advancement has also resulted in enhanced accuracy and lethality. The high cost of these weapons is directly linked to the complexity of their manufacturing processes, leading to the development of highly expensive weapons with limited procurement quantities. Consequently, there is a current drive to reduce weapons costs or optimize cost-effectiveness to achieve greater value for the resources invested.
The recording of Franco’s presentation is also in the Video Library
In session 2, Anne Samson presented “Rebel with a cause:"1 The 1914 Rebellion through novels with a little diversion to German South West Africa” a look at 22 novels by and on South Africa in the First World War with a special focus on the rebellion of 1914. See alphabetical list by author below which is colour coded for ease of theme identification.
Of the novels, five deal directly with the rebellion. All have a cross-cultural love story running through them, with most exploring the relationship between different groups of people in South Africa. The Dorp by Stephen Black is most politically incorrect. Sunset at Sheba by John Harris is the weakest of the stories. The others are Giles Norman’s Rebels in the Sun, Leigh Thompson’s The Lion and the Adder, and Nigel Fox’s A Bullet in the Back, which is the most historically accurate (best researched).
Another five novels make mention of the rebellion, and it is surmised that Herman Charles Bosman’s ‘The Prophet’ in Mafeking Road was inspired by the Prophet van Rensburg who ‘predicted’ the rebellion.
The German South West Africa campaign features as it was affected by the rebellion. However, a few authors only cover the GSWA campaign such as Joan Kennedy whose Sand Sun and Sin was banned for ‘being inaccurate’. (It was banned around the same time as the film The Love Trial based on 1910 book The Dop Doctor by Clotilda Graves/Richard Dehan because of the way it portrayed the Boers).
Other books mentioned included those by South Africans who wrote about the war in Europe. Stuart Cloete (previously Stuart Graham) was the oldest veteran to have served in World War 1 to publish a novel – How Young they Died. Born in Paris, he moved to South Africa in 1924. How Young they Died was published in 1964. Not mentioned was Simon called Peter by Robert Keable – it covers the SANLC in Europe, was a big seller and caused a major outcry when the lead character leaves the ministry.
1 Adapted from the 1955 James Dean film Rebel without a Cause.
A full list of the known books is in the attached table.
The following are available in print (some at a price) from the usual second hand book sellers unless otherwise specified. Also included are links to online versions where available.
The Dop Doctor Clotilda Graves (made into film – The Love Trial, 1916, banned by Smuts and Botha under Defence of the Realm Act; available online at https://www.gutenberg.org/files/27966/27966-h/27966-h.htm)
The Dorp, Stephen Black
Jim Redlake, Francis Brett Young
While the Light lasts, Agatha Christie
Opsoek na Generaal Mannetjes Mentz, Christoffel Coetzee
Iron Love, Marguerite Poland
The King’s Shilling: a novel, Hamilton Wende
A bullet in the Back, Nigel Fox (well researched)
Dancing the Death Drill, Fred Khumalo (another well researched novel)
Call of the Void, Jayden L King – print copies also from Bob Shop
Simon called Peter, Robert Keable – free download copy at
https://archive.org/details/simoncalledpeter0000unse/mode/2up?ref=ol&view=t
heater)
his grandson has written a biography on him called Utterly immoral
Sunset at Sheba, John Harris – (borrow online at
https://openlibrary.org/borrow/ia/sunsetatsheba0000harr?ref=ol)
The Boy who counted to a Million, Lawrence Bransby – print copies direct from author -http://www.lawrencebransby.co.uk/
Men of the Mendi, BG Shepherd – from publisher http://www.30degreessouth.co.za/men_of_the_mendi.htm
The Fortress, Siegfried Stander – (borrow online at https://archive.org/details/fortress0000stan)
SAMHSEC meeting 14 October 2024
Helmut Heitman will be speaking on German Weather Stations in WW2.
SAMHSEC RPC 28 October 2024
SAMHSEC Requests the Pleasure of your Company to talk about military history on 28 October 2024.
RPC meetings are opportunities for you to share your knowledge of a military history subject or book with fellow military historians. Presentations should last approximately 15 minutes to allow time for sharing the pleasure of one another’s company. You can do any number of RPC presentations per year. Please contact André at andrecrozier@gmail.com if you want to share your knowledge.
SAMHSEC 4TH Quarter 2024 field trip: 17 November 2024
Our field trip to the lower Fish River area will be a return same day on 17 November 2024. Please contact me if you want to join the field trip and are not already on the field trip WhatsApp group.
80th Commemoration of Operation Market Garden 17 September 1944
With the recent 80th Commemoration of Operation Market Garden in mind, SAMHSEC member McGill Alexander’s article in the December 1995 edition of the Military History Journal on “Paratrooping Pioneer David McCombe, South Africa’s first serving paratrooper” may be of interest, see http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol102ma.html
World War 2 books for sale
Henry Galea from George has a full & complete set of Purnell’s History of the Second World War, published in co-operation with the Imperial War Museum, comprising 96 magazine issues extending to 2687 pages and bound into a set of 6 volume binders in excellent condition for sale at 96 issues x R2.50 = R 250, 6 binders x R25 = R 150: total R400.
Henry also has a collector’s item 1939 edition of Mein Kampf in Germanic print in near pristine condition for sale at R3,800.
Please contact Henry on 082 356 5552 or by e-mail to henrygalea1@gmail.com if you are interested.
SAMHSEC