PAST EVENTS
A Professor of Chemistry, Prof Michael Laing, has built up quite a reputation as a military historian. We were thus privileged to have him as our guest speaker at our May meeting and to hear him speak on 'OLD BLOOD AND GUTS: Theoldest combat general, often with the youngest ideas: GEORGE PATTON'. Professor Laing's entertaining method of presentation and the effective use of an overhead projector and a slide projectorcensured a most informative and enjoyable evening. General George Smith Patton (1885-1945), an able tactician and an outstanding practitioner of mobile tank warfare in WWII gradua.ted from the U.S. Military Academy, West Point, in 1909. "He was a descendant of a wealthy Virginia family with a mili tary tradition. An early interest in the American Civil War, particularly its great cavalry leaders, continued throughout his career as a soldier and contributed to the concept of bold, highly mobile, armoured operations that became associated with his name. His professional interest turned from the cavalry to the new tank arm as the result of battle experience with the U.S. tank corps in WWII.
Having taken part in the North African campaign (1942), Patton commanded the U.S. 7th army in Sicily employing his armour in a rapid drive that captured Palermo. The crowning glory of his career came with the great sweep of his 3rd army across France in the summer of 1944, in a campaign marked by great initiative, ruthless drive and disregard of classic military rules. Patton, who died after an accident in Germany on December 21, 1945, was a colourful albeit contentious soldier, 'Old Blood and Guts' to his soldiers. Mike Laing enlivened the talk by many an interesting anecdote and giving glimpses of the many and varied facets of Patton's personality. Fellow member Ian Sutherland moved a well-earned vote of thanks.
FOLLOWING THE TRACKS OF THE FIELD GUNS AT COLENSO
The one day outing to Colenso on 25 May was an unqualified success and brought a new dimension to the presentation of military history in the field. A team of four speakers (Maj Darrell Hall, Cmdt 'SB' Bourquin, Mr. George Chadwick and RSM Ken Gillings) presented the story of Colonel Long's field guns and the supporting naval guns almost in the form of a radio play. After hearing a brief outline of the battle of Colenso (15 December 1899) the spectators followed the actual route of the guns down to the 'big donga', which is mentioned in all accounts of the battle, but which is presumed to have been identified on this occasion for the first time in living memory. Also identified was the spot where the guns crossed the donga, where the wagon teams found shel ter and where the naval guns took up their positions. Darrell Hall's compelling realism kept the audience spell-bound and made them forget the trees and power lines nearby and the houses in the distance. All we saw were the advance patrols on horseback, the guns trotting up, followed by the slower, ox-drawn naval guns. Then our RSM's stentorian voice called out the actual orders as they were given eighty-six years ago, and the shattering boom of a thunderflash heralded the commencement of the Boer bombardment.
A picnic lunch brought one's senses back to the present, but the illusions were reawakened at the site where the guns came into action, and where at the end of the day ten out of twelve were lost. The whole area has been cleared of vegetation and the original position of the guns has now been identified by yellow concrete markers and plaques. The Mayor and Town Clerk of Colenso attended the full day's proceedings and their presence certainly added lustre to the proceedings. A special word of appreciation must go to Darrell Hall who had been the originator of the idea and the driving force in its presentation.
FUTURE EVENTS
MILITARIA EXHIBITION to be held in Durban on 19th and 20th July 1986.
The Society for the Preservation of Militaria is holding a Militaria Exhibition at the D.L.I. Hall commencing at 09h00 on 19th July. Pipe Bands and Drum Majorettes will follow the opening of the exhibition by the Mayor of Durban at l4h00 on the 19th. On display will be various items of interest such as swords, bayonets, regimental badges, shoulder flashes, miniature cannons, etc. Should interested persons require any further information please contact Mr. P.J. Naude Tel. 44nnnn, Secretary, or Cmdt. L. Crossley, Tel. 94mmmm, President, Society for the Preservation of Militaria, Box 3....6, Queensburgh 407Q.
MONTHLY GET-TOGETHERS
June 12th Fellow-member BRIAN THOMAS will give a talk entitled "OF MILITARY MEN AND THEIR MEDALS".
July 17th Major Darrell Hall - "Above the Trenches". This lecture will describe the work of the army co-operation airmen of both sides in WWI. (To be held on THIRD Thursday in July).
August 14th Fellow-member Midge Carter will present a slide talk entitled "The Battle of Tarawa: birth of a Legend". (Pacific WWII)
September 11th Fellow-member Ian Sutherland will show slides of military history interest taken on his overseas holidays.
October 16th Fellow-member Steve Watt will give a talk entitled "Exploring Military Cemeteries in Natal" (Third Thursday)
The venue for all meetings will be the Lecture Room, lower ground floor, 'SB' Bourquin Building, the Natalia Development Board's head office, on the corner of Jan Smuts Highway and Buro Crescent , Mayville, on the second Thursday in the month (unless otherwise advised) commencing at 8 p.m. Glasses and ice will be supplied so please bring your own bottled or canned refreshments. There is ample parking, under guard, in the grounds. Friends and 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