PAST EVENTS

At our October meeting Air Marshal Sir Philip Lagesen kept the audience spell-bound with his reminiscences about his career in the Royal Airforce. A Transvaaler by birth, Sir Philip joined the South African Airforce just before WWII and then transferred to the RAF in 1951 where he stayed until his retirement in 1981. Forty-three years unbroken service as an airforce officer is by itself quite a record. But when that service leads from South Africa through WWII to the United Kingdom, then to Kenya during the Mau Mau uprising, to Saudi Arabia and other interesting places, to supreme RAF commander in Germany, NATO chief of the maritime air command over the Atlantic, the rank of Air Marshal and a Knighthood, it is not only a record but becomes a fairytale to boot. - Our normal practice of presenting a brief summary of monthly talks has been made well-nigh impossible, because, recounted in masterly fashion, with natural modesty, but great enthusiasm, the story was so brimful with incidents and anecdotes, serious facts and bubbling humour that only a precis by another Sir Philip could do justice to the talk given by Sir Philip.

There can be no doubt that this was one of the most entertaining and fascinating talks it has been our privilege to hear and fellow-member Dr. Jack Hickman found the right words, when, in moving a vote of thanks, he referred to this address as "pure gold"! One can only hope that Sir Philip has the inclination and will find the time to reduce his memoirs to writing, notwithstanding any embargoes imposed by official secrets and other security legislation, there seems to be enough to fill a volume with sheer excitement and reading pleasure.

The 85th Anniversary of the Battle of Talana was commemorated at Dundee over the weekend 20th/21st October. Members of this Society and their spouses accounted for a least 19 participants, but if one were to add to this number representatives of the Natal Field Artillery, Gunners' Association and the S.A. National Society at least 30 participants came from the Durban area.

The proceedings, organised by the Talana Museum in conjunction with the Dundee Town Council provided for a full programme lasting from mid-day on Saturday until after lunch on Sunday interspersed with a generous amount of hospitality and refreshments. Members of the Provincial Executive Council, the British Military Attache from Pretoria, and various civic dignitaries added lustre to the proceedings. On this occasion the Anglo-Boer War Room at the Talana Museum was also officially opened.

FUTURE EVENTS

November 8th
Fellow-member VIC CONRAD will give a talk on the Independence of Poland, 1918, entitled "RE-BIRTH OF POLAND".

December
No meeting - Durban Branch in recess.

The venue for the next meeting will be the Lecture Room, lower ground floor, 'SB' Bourquin Building, (Natalia Development Board) on the corner of Jan Smuts Highway and Buro Crescent, Mayville, commencing at 8 p.m. Glasses and ice will be supplied so please bring your own bottled or canned refreshments. Friends and interested persons are welcome to attend.

REMINDER RE STAMPS
Artist, Andy May, will be on hand at our November get-together to sign 1st Day Covers of Historical Military Uniforms of Ciskei.

TAILPIECE
Canon B- was visiting the wounded soldiers in the hospital at Dundee after Talana, and was chatting to a Dublin Fusilier man. He happened to ask him "if he had seen many dead Boers on Talana hill" and got the reply: "Begorrah, sorr, the hill was ALIVE wid-em".

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