KWAZULU-NATAL BRANCH

Newsletter No. 558
April 2025

NOTICE OF MONTHLY MEETING

The next meeting of the SAMHS KZN Branch will take place on SATURDAY 10th May 2025 at 1.30 for 2.00pm

DDH Introductory presentation.

The will be no DDH as it will be replaced by the AGM of the Branch. (See separate Notice attached)

Main Presentation.

Members will remember the excellent visuals and detailed presentations last year on The Fall of the Berlin Wall and the Berlin Airlift given by David Hulme. This year David, a retired Advocate and Lecturer, returns to give us something completely different from our usual.

In the current age the cycles of cavalry, infantry, tanks and even airpower being the masters of the battlefield only for a limited time continues as each new innovation is eventually overcome by a continuation of the evolution of weapons and tactics. (viz anti-tank weapons, bombing, air to ground air missiles, stealth bombers, drones ICBM and Iron Dome defences etc). This is merely a continuation of a process which has continued since warfare began. So, David will enlighten us on:

Ancient warfare including arms, unit organisation and tactics which were not static. There was constant development of the various aspects throughout the period, with changing tactics and new threats influencing both the development of arms and the organisation of units used.

His presentation will deal with the development of Greek and Roman warfare during the period 600 BCE to 400 CE. This period saw the introduction of the Greek Hoplite phalanx which developed into the Macedonian pike phalanx, giving way in turn to the Roman legion. This period saw the infantry become the ‘Queen of Battle’ in contrast to previous Bronze Age chariot dominated warfare. Heavy infantry remained the main arm of the military throughout the period although cavalry and missile troops were important supporting elements. The end of the period featured more numerous and more heavily armoured cavalry, which anticipated the pre-eminence of heavy cavalry in the feudal period. Having seen other presentations by David on this period of history I can assure members that they are in for a unique, interesting and absorbingafternoon with excellent visual backup, which will illustrate the foundations of the modern military. This is definitely a “not to be missed”!

NEWSLETTER

Previous Meeting on 12th April 2025

The DDH consisted of a video on the “cash and carry” programme set up with the USA to fund the start of WW2, with strict payment provisions due to Britain defaulting on their WW1 Loans. But owing to the rapid bankruptcy of Great Britain with most of the gold shipped to Canada ending up in Fort Knox, President Roosevelt set up the “lend lease” programme which allowed supplies to be provided against long term loans which were only eventually paid off in 2006! The subject was topical in the light of President Trump’s handling of support for the Ukraine.

The main talk after the short break was by Col Brian Adams and was based on his personal experiences with the Bushmen Battalion during the Border War 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.Prior to enlisting in the SADF most had assisted the Portuguese forces in Angola and after the revolution in Portugal they found partners with the SADF who gave weapons and training.

To encourage espirit de corps, the unit developed their own badge and headgear as well as operational doctrine. Although their fighting spirit, tenacity and weapons handling was second to none, and they did excel in contacts with the enemy, their real deployment was in tracking where they were unrivalled and could follow a spoor at a run. They gave excellent service in conjunction with 32 “Buffalo Bn” and other elements of the SA and SWAT forces. When the war came to an end most were relocated to South Africa but unfortunately have in most instances not been properly rewarded.

ADVANCE NOTICE OF JUNE 2025 SPEAKER

The main speaker for the meeting on 14th Jume 2025 will be Lt Col (Ret) Clive Wilsworth who has just published a book on the flying boat operations in Durban. This is partly based on research by fellow member Dr John Buchan now deceased. This is likely to be an extremely popular meeting and we hope we can pre-order co[ies of the book at R385 from the author. Details will follow.

Depending on the format for the afternoon there may not be a DDH.

That’s all for now folks, see you next Saturday the 10th May 2025 ! Please spread the news of the meetings and encourage others to come along.

Regards
Phil
P R Everitt
Chair KZN Branch SAMHS
Cell or WhatsApp: 0844371636
Email: everitt@iafrica.com