NEWSLETTER NO.2. ISSUED: FEBRUARY 1967.

[PUBLICATION NO.4.]

HERMANNSBURG CADET CORPS.

HERMANNSBURG IS A VILLAGE IN NATAL SITUATED APPROXIMATELY 14 MILES FROM GREYTOWN ON THE GREYTOWN-KRANSKOP RAILWAY LINE. IN 1868 THE HERMANNSBURG (BOARDING) SCHOOL INAUGURATED THE CADET MOVEMENT IN NATAL WHEN A CADET CORPS, WHICH RECEIVED A GOVERNMENT GRANT, WAS FORMED THERE. THE SCHOOL WAS AT THAT TIME UNDER THE HEADMASTERSHIP OF THE REV. H. MULLER. IT IS THOUGHT THAT THIS CORPS WAS THE FIRST CADET CORPS TO BE ESTABLISHED IN THE BRITISH EMPIRE. IN 1870 THE MARITZBURG HIGH SCHOOL CADETS CAME INTO EX I STENCE FOLLOWED SHORTLY AFTERWARDS WITH A MOUNTED CADET CORPS AT HILTON COLLEGE. THE ACTING GOVERNOR PRESENTED THE HERMANNSBURG CORPS WITH TERRY CARBINES, A TARGET AND A UNION JACK ON THEIR FORMATION.

GENERAL BOTHA IS ONE OF THE FAMOUS PAST PUPILS OF THE SCHOOL WHICH WAS THE OLDEST IN NATAL. THE CORPS CONSISTED OF ABOUT 40 ENGLISH AND GERMAN MEMBERS WHOSE AGES RANGED FROM 14 TO 18 YEARS. THE WORDS OF COMMAND WERE GIVEN IN GERMAN AS THEIR INSTRUCTOR HAD BEEN A NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER IN THE HANOVERIAN ARMY. THE OFFICERS WERE MR. SCHMIDT (CAPTAIN) AND MESSRS. F.R. MOOR AND J. MUIRHEAD (LIEUTENANTS). THE SMALLER BOYS CARRIED STICKS AND THE BIGGER BOYS WERE ARMED WITH TERRY CARBINES FOR WHICH THEY RECEIVED AMMUNITION FREE OF CHARGE FROM THE GOVERNMENT. THE CADETS DID NOT WEAR UNIFORMS. TARGET PRACTICE WAS REGULARLY CARRIED OUT, AND SHOOTING COMPETITIONS FREQUENTLY HELD. FIRING TOOK PLACE FROM DISTANCES OF 100, 150, 200, 250 AND 300 YARDS. HIS EXCELLENCY THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, MR. ANTHONY MUSGRAVE, C.M.G., AND THE HON. D. ERSKINE, COLONIAL SECRETARY, VISITED THE SCHOOL IN 1871 AND WERE IMPRESSED WITH THE DRILL AND APPEARANCE OF THE CADETS. THE HERMANNSBURG CADET CORPS VOLUNTEERED FOR ACTIVE SERVICE DURING THE LANGALIBALELE REBELLION, AND WAS IN EXISTENCE UNTIL 1878.

HINTS FOR WAISTBELTS.

TO AVOID "BELTS, WAIST, 1 1/4 INCHES" FROM BECOMING FRAYED AT THE BACK BUCKLE, THE FOLLOWING ADVICE MAY BE OF USE TO THOSE SERVING OFFICERS AMONGST OUR MEMBERS. SATURATE THIS END ON BOTH SIDES FOR ABOUT 3/8 TO 1/2 AN INCH WITH GREASE DROPPED FROM A BURNING CANDLE. WHEN THE CANDLE GREASE HAS CONGEALED, SCRAPE OFF THE EXCESS LIGHTLY. THE CANDLE GREASE WILL NOT RUN OFF ON THE TROUSERS, AND THE BELT MAY BE SCRUBBED AD INFINITUM WITHOUT THE END BECOMING FRAYED. IF NECESSARY THE PROCESS MAY BE REPEATED AT INTERVALS OF SEVERAL MONTHS.

DID YOU KNOW THAT ...

THE PRETORIA HIGHLANDERS REGIMENT WAS FOUNDED BY MR. PETER LAWRENCE GOUDIE IN 19390 HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR RECRUITING 1,400 MEN IN SIX WEEKS AND FOR RAISING MONEY TO EQUIP THE REGIMENT WITH HIGHLAND UNIFORMS. HE JOINED THE ROYAL FLYING CORPS IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR AND LOST A LEG IN AN ENGAGEMENT WITH BARON VON RICHTHOVEN'S SQUADRON. HE WAS LATER APPOINTED HONORARY COLONEL-IN-CHIEF OF THE REGIMENT.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH CORPS.

IN AN ATTEMPT TO ESTABLISH THE ORIGIN OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN CORPS OF SIGNALS, THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS RECEIVED FROM MR. P. ELSTON, 6 TEES LODGE, HOPE STREET, GARDENS, CAPE TOWN.

"THE ACTUAL FIRST ATTEMPT BY A SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN POSTAL AND TELEGRAPH CORPS IN 1914. A CADRE OF BRITISH INSTRUCTORS, AT THE OUTBREAK OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR, WAS LEFT AT TEMPE, BLOEMFONTEIN WHEN BRITISH TROOPS WERE ALL RECALLED TO THE U.K., TO INSTRUCT AND FORM THIS BRANCH. THERE WAS NO HEADQUARTERS SECTION, AS SECTIONS WERE TRAINED THEY WERE ATTACHED TO ANY UNITS IN THE FIELD FOR COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE COLUMNS AFTER WHICH THE CORPS SERVED IN THE THEN GERMAN SOUTH AFRICA CAMPAIGN, AGAIN ATTACHED TO ANY UNIT AS NECESSARY.

AFTER THE CONCLUSION OF THIS THE MAJORITY VOLUNTEERED AND JOINED EITHER THE S.A. BRIGADES WHICH WENT OVERSEAS OR THE EAST AFRICA FORCES AS REGIMENTAL SIGNALLERS, BUT AGAIN WERE USED ACTUALLY WHEREVER NECESSARY AND SENT FROM COLUMN TO COLUMN. I THINK THE S.A.P. AND T. CORPS WAS DISBANDED AS SUCH AFTER THE S.W.A. CAMPAIGN, WHICH ENDED IN JULY, 1915, AND RESUSCITATED IN THE EARLY 1920'S.

I REMEMBER BEING ASKED ABOUT 1923/24 IF I WOULD CARE TO TAKE UP THE REFRESHER COURSES UNDER THE UNION DEFENCE FORCE ABOUT THAT TIME."

COLONIAL UNIFORM.

THE FOLLOWING INTERESTING EXTRACT WAS TAKEN FROM "THE DUKES," A HISTORY OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S RIFLES, 1855-1956. BY ANGUS G. MACKENZIE. THE REGIMENT IS NOW KNOWN AS THE CAPE TOWN RIFLES.

"THERE WAS A PERIOD LATE LAST CENTURY WHEN THE CAPE COLONY, DISINCLINED TO DO BATTLE IN BRILLIANT RED UNIFORMS, DEVISED A COLONIAL PATTERN OF FIELD DRESS FOR BURGERS AND VOLUNTEERS: THE FARMER'S YELLOW CORDUROY JACKET, CORDUROY OR CORD TROUSERS, LEATHER LEGGINGS, THICK BOOTS AND A LARGE, HARD, BROAD-BRIMMED FELT HAT, OFTEN ADORNED WITH A DISTINCTIVE FEATHER OR COLOURED PUGAREE, BUT THE CHEMICALS USED FOR PREPARING AND PRESERVING THE CORDUROY GAVE OFF SUCH A PENETRATING, SUSTAINED ODOUR THAT THE CRITICS CONTENDED THE ENEMY WOULD SMELL THE COLONIALS AS EASILY AS HE WOULD SIGHT THE REDCOATS. IF THAT WAS SO, THE ENEMY MUST OFTEN HAVE HAD THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS: IT WAS A FAIRLY COMMON PRACTICE TO ISSUE THIS OUTFIT ON THE BATTLEGROUND AFTER A NUMBER OF ACTIONS HAD ALREADY BEEN FOUGHT IN FULL DRESS."

REMEMBER TO LET THE HAVE SECRETARY HAVE YOUR NEW ADDRESS.

MEMBERS' ADVERTISEMENTS.

MR. DAVID WHITECR0SS, 20 ELGEDA FLATS, LESLIE STREET, VEREENIGING: HAS COMPLETED THE MSS AND SIX PLATES FOR A BOOK ON THE UNIFORMS OF OVERSEAS SCOTTISH UNITS AND WOULD BE HONOURED IF IT COULD BE PUBLISHED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE SAMHS. HE IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON ILLUSTRATIONS OF THE UNIFORMS OF SOUTH AFRICAN UNITS FROM ABOUT 1850 AND WOULD WELCOME ANY ASSISTANCE.

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE MILITARY HERALDRY SOCIETY.
7 HARDING PLACE, KEYNSHAM, SOMERSET, ENGLAND.
21ST DECEMBER, 1966.

DEAR SIR,
I AM PLEASED TO SEE THAT YOUR SOCIETY HAS NOW BEEN BORN AND ON BEHALF OF US ALL, WISH YOU ALL THE VERY BEST FOR A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE.
WE SHALL BE PLEASED TO EXCHANGE JOURNALS WITH YOU AND, IN ORDER TO DO THIS, HAVE ENROLLED YOUR SOCIETY AS A MEMBER OF OURS. THIS ENTITLES YOU TO RECEIVE OUR JOURNAL FREE, AND ANY OTHER PUBLICATIONS, AND TO HAVE ONE MEMBER ATTEND OUR MEETINGS ON YOUR BEHALF SHOULD YOU SO WISH.
IF YOU GET ANY QUERIES ON CLOTH FORMATION SiGNS FROM YOUR MEMBERS, WE SHALL BE PLEASED TO HELP WITH IDENTIFICATION.
WITH KIND REGARDS,
YOURS SINCERELY,
JOHN WARING.
HON. SECRETARY.

WE WELCOME THE FOLLOWING NEW MEMBERS:-
MR. W.M. KAUFMAN, NEW YORK. - ZULU WARS, KAFFIR WARS, ASHANTI WAR, ASIAN WARS, AFGHAN WARS, BOXER REBELLION, MAORI WAR, ETC
P.O. D. TURNER, BULAWAYO, RHODESIA. - MILITARY INSIGNIA OF COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES, SOUTH AFRICA, HOLLAND, RHODESIA. INFORMATION ON S.A. AND RHODESIAN UNITS.
MR. S.J. LEVIN, VREDENBURG, C.P. -
MR. R.H. NIEMEYER, PRETORIA. - COLLECTS MILITARY DECORATIONS, MEDALS, CAP BADGES AND INSIGNIA.
MR. R. HAZENBERG, PANMURE, NEW ZEALAND. - COMM0NWEALTH CAP BADGES, INCLUDING SOUTH AFRICA - ANY PERI0D