Our speaker in March was Dr Marian Baker, whose subject was her father's experiences as a POW in Austria during the Second World War, drawn from his memoirs.
Melvin Baker matriculated from Grey High School in PE in 1936 at 16 and went into an accounting firm as an articled clerk. Wanting to serve, but not as a soldier, he joined the RNVR (Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve) and when war came found himself assigned to HMS Gloucester - South Africa not having a Navy at that stage.
This ship earned the nickname of "the fighting G" by accumulating no fewer than 5 battle honours in less than a year while operating in the Mediterranean, but its luck ran out and over 720 of the 807 on board perished at the hands of Stuka dive bombers between Greece and Crete in May 1941. Survivors were NOT rescued by the Royal Navy but after 24 hours in the water were picked up by German vessels and taken to Kythera.
Marian related his arduous trip from there to a small town in Styria, Austria, by the name of Wernersdorf, close to the Yugoslav border. This was to be his home until December 1944. A group of POWS were sent to work as labourers, one on each of ten local farms. They slept in a guarded hut but were effectively part of the farm families; two who worked higher up the mountain only came down on weekends.
It was months before his family was notified about his POW status and once parcels were allowed - from his family and from the Red Cross - life improved slightly.
He had to look after the horses ("Hansel" and "Gretel") and cows on the farm and also helped the remaining son on the farm cut wattle trees which were sold to a tannery to supplement farm income. Food was always short and he described typical farm meals - and much worse conditions whenever they were moved as POWs.
One had to be careful about not being caught criticising the Germans - one POW who did and whose remarks were relayed to the authorities found himself back in Stalag 18C and unable to return to farm duties.
As the Russians drew closer, the camp guards opened the gates and fled. Melvin and an Australian started walking towards where they thought the American troops would be and in due course managed to meet up with some who directed them to the nearest US camp.
The saga of his return from there to Cape Town was detailed by Marian, including one night of terror in a tin hut between railway lines in Knittelfeld where overcast conditions saved them from being bombed by the Allies.
In later years Melvin attended memorial services in England, the last being at the age of 99! He also went to Greece and Austria where he visited the farm. The two sons who had joined the SS had not returned after the end of the War.
Marian had also listed many resources and references for the benefit of members wanting to know more about this remarkable man, who lived to the age of 100.
Her lecture is recorded in the Society's Video Library on the website.
Time to join the Zoominars
FORTHCOMING ATTRACTIONS -
ZOOMINARS
- in date order -
Eastern Cape Branch (SAMHSEC) Zoominars
Monday 14th April 2025 at 19h30 and then at 20h15:
Speaker Helmoed Heitman
Subject German Special Operations during WWII
Johannesburg
Thursday 10th April 2025 at 19h30 and then 20h15
Speaker: Cmdr Leon Steyn
Subject: "The Navy Sails South"
South Africa's relation with Antarctica and the islands of the southern ocean dates back to the earliest voyages of discovery. Historically the Cape of Good Hope provided the ideal staging point or stop-over for explorers, whalers and sealers on their journeys further south.
SAMHSEC RPC
The next RPC (Request the Pleasure of your Company) Zoominar will be on Monday 28th April 2025.
Next KwaZulu-Natal Branch Meeting
Saturday 12th April 2025.
DDH Introductory presentation.
President Trump with his "America First" policy appears to be looking for a deal in the Ukraine War which will reimburse the USA for its arms supply. It is interesting to revisit the deals struck with America for their aid to Britain in both the first and second world wars. The details of those deals and the part played by gold in these, is a little-known fact to most of us. This will be explored in a videowhich will form the short DDH introductory presentation for the afternoon.
Main Presentation.
The main talk after a short break will be: Commanding the Bushmen Battalion in the Bush War 1983-85
This will be given by Col Brian Adams and is based on his personal experiences with the battalion. This was one of the elite units formed by South Africa during the Border War, which harnessed the unique talents of the San/Bushmen who were being forced from their age-old way of life into the rough and tumble of the modern world by the events unfolding in Angola with the collapse of the Portuguese colonies.
The venue remains the St Cyprians Church Hall off Umbilo Rd, with secure parking and liquid refreshments available for cash. The starting time is 1.30 for 2.00pm.
Entry is free and open to all. A donation of R10 for the raffle and R10 for the car guard are requested from all attendees.
80th commemoration of VE Day
Ronnie Glass, a member from Cape Town, suggests you save a date for the SA Legion's 3-day exhibition at the Castle from Thursday the 8 May to Saturday 10 May 2025.
The theme will be Unsung Heroes of WWII - the ordinary men and women who did the extraordinary by doing their bit, whether that was through enlistment or on the home-front with various initiatives, for example SAWAS, CWWW and NWWW.
BRANCH CONTACT DETAILS
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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