P.O. Box 52090
SAXONWOLD, Transvaal.
Telephone: 41.4703
August, 1970 (received 10 September at Johannesburg Reference Library)
Dear Fellow-member ,
MONTHLY TALK
At the August Meeting, Col. Pitts once again was the Speaker and gave a detailed account of "THE GREAT WAR "- OTHER FRONTS" and once again it was made lucid by the showing of maps thrown on to a screen by means of the new-type projector, the official name which eludes me for the moment.
Dr. Christides, on behalf of the Society , thanked Col. Pitts. After question time, Col. Pitts gave the Society the bad news that his term of office had all but run out and that he would be returning to the U.S.A. probably sometime in September and he wished the Society all success in the future.
The Chairman thanked Col. Pitts for all his enthusiasm whilst in the Society and also stated that he would be missed. He wished him all the best in his new post.
TYPICAL MUSIC OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR
Before the Monthly Talk and also before the business of the Meetings was conducted, the Chairman handed over the Meeting to Charles Cohen who gave a short account of the manner in which feeling changed from enthusiasm to duty, to sentimentality and finally sheer disillusionment and how the music of the time portrayed life. He then played a number of taped musical pieces which illustrated his discussion and were listened to with great interest by all present. It was certainly something most interesting and novel and he was thanked by the Chairman for all the trouble he had gone to in order to present this musical interlude .
VISIT BY OVERSEAS MEMBER
The Chairman had the privilege and pleasure of spending an evening with Dr. Gale and his wife who are at present in this country on business. They are Americans from the U.S.A. and the Doctor is one of our members.
He lectures in Political Science at the Southern Illinois University with particular attention to Africa.
Dr. Gale congratulated the Society on its splendid journal.
LADYSMITH TOUR LONG WEEK-END SAT 5 SEP-MON 7 SEP.
By the time members receive this news-letter, this tour will have "come and gone" and in the September news-letter we will give you details of how things went.
LECTURE PROGRAMME FOR 1970
For the benefit of new members we give hereunder the programme for the remainder of the year and will do so each month so that they will know what our future lectures are:-
| Date | Topic | Speaker | September 10th | "THE POETS AND POETRY OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR" | Mr. Jacques van Oortmerssen | October 8th | "THE EAST AFRICA CAMPAIGN 1914-1917" | Col. Lunn-Rockliffe | November 12th | "THE JAMESON RAID - NEW THOUGHTS" | Mr. P. Cartwright | December 3rd | "THE GREAT WAR - THE AIRFORCES" | Sqn-Leader D. Tidy |
|---|
JOURNAL
Please keep feeding the Editorial Committee with your contributions; the more the merrier. IMPORTANT: Of particular importance to new members is that back numbers of the journal are available from the society and you should take advantage of buying these whilst they are still available . In time they will become Africana.
SECRETARY AND TREASURER.
These two posts still need to be filled and we appeal once more to members to come forward and give a hand, please, PLEASE !!!
BOOKS
"THE AMERICAN FIGHTING MAN" by Victor Hicken.
An analysis of the essential qualities of American soldiers, sailors, marines from the Revolution to the war in Vietnam.
Collier-Macmillan, 84s.
"RUBBED UP VERY FINE - DRESS REGULATIONS FOR THE ARMY, 1900"
This first of a series of reprints of War Office volumes governing British Army dress regulations refers specifically to officers of the Regular Army and Militia. Its original purpose is crystallised in para. 32 which draws the attention of officers to sealed, patterns of dress and saddlery at the War Office and asks them to make sure their uniforms conform to these patterns.
Well indexed and an invaluable source of reference, this book has an informative introduction by Mr. W.Y. Carman, deputy director of the National Army Museum. There are 79 pages of illustrations covering badges, headdresses, trimmings for cocked hats, tunics, cavalry patrol jackets, frock coats and greatcoats, mess dress , , shoulder cords, swords and 77 different designs of rank and regimental lace.
An appendix on the care and preservation of uniform has some useful tips including a recipe for brightening up tarnished gold lace with a mixture of cream of tartar and dry bread "rubbed up very fine" to be applied lightly in a dry state with clean soft brush. Arms & Armour Press, 60s.
ANGLO-SIKH WARS "SIX BATTLES FOR INDIA" by George Bruce
The Sikh wars of 1945-46 and 1948-49 were the bloodiest the British had to fight in India
Arthur Barker, 45s.
Official History "THE WAR AGAINST JAPAN: VOLUME V: THE SURRENDER OF JAPAN" HMSO, 126s.
Acknowledgements to "SOLDIER" Magazine for all the comments on this paragraph "BOOKS".
CREDO OF THE ROYAL TANK REGIMENT
| THE COLONEL | THE SERGEANT | THE TROOPER |
|---|---|---|
| believes | believes | believes |
| That his men respect his | That the men suspect | That men neglect his |
| every wish | his every wish | every wish |
| That weekend leave is | That weekend leave | That weekend leave is |
| hardly worth getting | is hard to get | hard to get over |
| That he'll never be rich | That he'll never be rich | That he'll never he rich |
| That an army travels | That an army travels | That an army travels |
| on its stomach | on its feet. | on and on and on |
| That he misses his | That he misses his | That he misses |
| wife's cook | wife's cooking | his wife |
| That he used to sleep | That he used to | That he could use |
| better | sleep | some sleep |
| That women like his | That women like him | That women like him |
| rank | and his rank | in spite of his rank |
| That he who would teach | That he who would | That he who would |
| men to die should at the | teach men to die should | teach men to die |
| same time teach them | at the same time teach | should, too, at the |
| to live. | them to fight. | same time. |
| That he can take a | That he can take a | That he can take a |
| drink upon occasion | drink upon occasion | drink but has no occasion |
| and sometimes when he | ||
| has no occasion | ||
| That he will leave the | That he will leave the | That he will leave |
| Army a general some day | Army a quartermaster | the Army some day |
| some day | ||
| That he writes more | That he writes more | That he writes more |
| letters than he receives | letters than he receives | letters than he receives |
| That he is a born soldier | That he was a born soldier | That he wasn't born to be a |
| soldier |
samhs---ooOoo---samhs
COLLECTORS' CORNER
Wanted: Insignia of South African Parachute Battalion - Wings, shoulder flashes, sleeve badges, or other in metal or cloth. Will purchase or trade. Please describe items and give price or trading wants.
Mr. Benjamin N. Brown, P.O. Box 479, Randburg, Transvaal
GENERAL
CORRESPONDENCE: Please look carefully in all envelopes that contain correspondence etc. that is sent to you by the Society. When the last issue of the Journal was sent to members, many of them just assumed that there was nothing else in the envelope and so missed the June issue of the Newsletter.
PAYMENTS: In order to minimise administrative work, and therefore expenses as well, we will not issue receipts as such for subscriptions, but ask that you accept your membership card as acknowledgment of the receipt of your subscriptions. This will be sent to you attached to the following newsletter.
COMMITTEE MEETING
A Committee Meeting will be held at the War Museum on Thursday the 10th. September, at 7.10 p.m.
LECTURE - SEPTEMBER
Details of this lecture:-
Venue : War Museum, Saxonwold
Date : Thursday - l0th. September
Time : 8 p.m.
Topic : "THE POETS AND POETRY OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR"
Lecturer : Mr. Jacques van Oortmerssen
Kind regards.
B. G. Simpkins
CHAIRMAN