PAST EVENTS
Our members enjoyed a most entertaining evening when no lesser person than our national chairman, Major Darrell Hall addressed a capacity meeting in June. The first part of his slide-talk consisted of a colourful presentation of the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace. Of interest were references to the finer differences in the badges and universally splendid uniforms of the various components of the guards brigade, as also certain customs and traditions associated with the guard regiments. Members of the Coldstream Guards are, for instance, never referred to colloquially as the 'Coldstreams' - it must be the 'Coldstreamers'! Their establishment goes back to Oliver Cromwell's days and their motto "nulli secundus" (second to none) sufficiently denotes their denial of precedence to the 1st guards.
The main feature of the slide-show, entitled "Mafeking Revisited" , was both entertaining and instructive. It dealt with a recent Military History Society tour from Johannesburg to Mafeking. An excellent balance was achieved between the light-hearted tour reminiscences in colour with, at times, candid shots of participants and a brief outline of salient events of the siege and of pictures of "then and now". Metro Goldwyn Hall, as usual, came up to expectation! - Fellow-member Dr Jack Hickman, one of the tour participants, proposed a well-earned vote of thanks.
FUTURE EVENTS
PROPOSED TOUR TO WILLOW GRANGE BATTLE-FIELD. As announced at the last meeting certain changes in the tour arrangements set out in the May news-sheet had to be made and the revised set-up is as follows :
Saturday, 21st July: No change. However, for the sake of convenience the arrangements are briefly repeated: Tour arranged by our Chairman 'SB' for the benefit of members of the Naval Officers' Association, who will also be joining the military history tour on the following day. Rendezvous 10h00 at Good's Shell Garage, Estcourt, (second garage on entering town from Durban side). Visit armoured train disaster site, Chievely cemetery, Clouston's (with talk on the battle of Colenso ), Fort Wylie. Bring lunch etc.
Sunday, 22nd July: S.A. Military History Society tour proper. Rendezvous is at 09h30 at a spot facing beacon Hill on the northbound lane of the N3 described as follows: Some 12 kms north of Mooi River the N3, after winding down-hill for some kilometres, passes underneath an overhead bridge. Beacon Hill will then stand out prominently straight ahead to the left. Watch the little blue markers placed at intervals of 0,2 km along the free-way. STOP at the one marked N3 [section 5N distance 6.8]. The road verge at this spot is level and wide enough to park clear of the tarmac. Travelling time from Durban is 1h50 to 2h00, keeping within the speed limit.
Active members will climb Deacon Hill and return to their cars within 1½ hrs. Non-active members will have to wait for this period at the cars. (This arrangement will save much time and obviate the necessity of having to ferry the cars to Bryn Bella.) All cars will then proceed to a view site and possible picnic site from which a talk describing the battle will be given. From here active members will climb Bryn Bella to reach the Boer positions. (Return trip 1½ hrs.) Bring picnic lunch etc.
Recommended items: Hat, sunglasses, good walking shoes, walking stick, fruit-drops, drinking liquids, prepare for both hot and cold weather as sudden changes may occur.
Programme of Monthly Get-togethers:
July 12th Fellow-member BARRY STEPHENSON will talk on "GEORGE REX OF KNYSNA".
August 9th To be announced.
September 13th Fellow-member Ken Gillings will present a slide talk entitIed "A Helpmekaar Duel" (Anglo-Boer War).
October 11th Talk by Air Marshal Sir Philip Lagesen.
November 8th Fellow-member Vic Conrad will give a talk on the Independence of Poland, 1918, entitled "Re-birth of Poland".
The venue for meetings will be the Lecture Room, lower gound floor, 'SB' Bourquin Building, the Port Natal Development Board's head office, on the corner of Jan Smuts Highway and Buro Crescent, Mayville, on the second Thursday in the month commencing at 8 p.m. Glasses and ice will be supplied so please bring your own refreshments. Friends and interested persons are welcome to come along.
WELCOME
A hearty welcome is extended to new members Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Wood.
BON VOYAGE
Our best wishes accompany fellow-member and WWI veteran, Colonel Freddie Hodgson, author of the recently published book "From Hell to the Himalayas", who leaves on the 8th August on a pilgrimage to coincide with the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Le Cateau!
LADYSMITH HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The enclosed circular from the Ladysmith Historical Society (to which this Branch is affiliated) gives details of the AGM and battlefield excursions ever the weekend 10,11, 12th August. Will interested persons please make their own arrangements in good time.
TAILPIECE
Logic?
Roads kill more people than wars; so lets make war and stop building roads
(Mrs) Tania van der Watt,
Secretary, Durban Branch,
S.A. Military History Society,
Box 870, HILLCREST, 3650.
Tel. (031) vvvvvv