PAST EVENTS

It is nothing unusual to have guest speakers relate their experiences in battles of long ago; but it was something special to have a speaker to address us within weeks of his return from captivity following a hazardous military operation. This was our privilege when Captain Jerry Puren addressed our October meeting on his experience as a member of the "Memorable Order of Frothblowers", which invaded the Seychelles in November 1981, in order to overthrow the government of those isles. The coup failed and when the main body of mercenaries under Mike Hoare commandeered an Air-India plane to make a get-away, Jerry and a handful of others were overlooked and left behind. Wounded, he went into hiding; but hunger and exhaustion forced him to give himself up two weeks later. Then followed interrogations, imprisonment in a punishment cell, which was too small to lie down in, a beating up, trial, conviction and the death sentence.

Jerry gave a calm and analytical account of how the coup was planned and initiated, how it failed and what personal consequences flowed from such failure. With admirable modesty and in a factual, down-to-earth manner he outlined his own personal experiences.

In regard to his reaction to being condemned to death, he quipped with wry humour: "When you are sentenced to death, it is quite an occasion in your life. It does not happen to everyone every day."

It was his sense of humour which obviously carried him through and over the most difficult times. He was finally full of praise for the fair and humane treatment he and his fellow prisoners received from President Rene, who showed no rancour towards them, and magnanimously pardoned and eventually released them. He returned from captivity to Durban only quite recently. Following a lively question-time Brian Spence moved a sincere vote of thanks. Jerry Puren's experiences and vicissitudes as one of the "Frothblowers" on the Seychelles, as also his earlier involvement in the Congo uprising, as one of President Tshombe's men will, hopefully, appear in book form in the not too distant future.

FUTURE EVENTS

Monthly Get-togethers:

NOVEMBER 10 Fellow-member MIDGE CARTER will present an illustrated slide talk entitled "THE GUERILLA WAR 1900-1902: SOME UNUSUAL ACTIONS".

DECEMBER 13

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE ON TUESDAY THE 13TH DECEMBER.

Fellow-member IAN UYS of Germiston, has kindly offered to give us an illustrated slide talk on "Delville Wood", which is the title of his most recent book. His other books are "For Valour" (South African recipients of the Victoria Cross), "Heidelburgers of the Boer War", and "The Uys Family History".

The venue for all meetings will be the Lecture Room, 'SB' Bourquin Building, the Port Natal Administration roard's head office, on the corner of Jan Smuts Highway and Buro Crescent, Mayville (at the foot of Mayville Hill), commencing at 8 p.m. Glasses and ice will be supplied so please bring your own canned or bottled refreshments. Interested persons are welcome to come along.

(Mrs) Tania van der Watt,
Secretary, Durban Branch,
S.A. Military History Society,
Box 870, HILLCREST, 3650.
Tel. (031) vvvvvv