PAST EVENTS
From the secret war with Japan, about which we heard at the March meeting, fellow-member Commandant Justin Hulme brought us back to the South African scene at our April get-together. His subject, entitled "50 Years Ago. (SADF 1929-1933)", dealt with a most critical period, viz. the virtual hibernation of the South African Defence Force (at that time known as the Union Defence Force) during the recession and depression of the early 1930s, and its renascence after 1933/34.
The Union Defence Force ended WWI with the Transvaal and Natal units and most of the Cape ones in existence, but short of personnel, with the makings of an efficient air-force and with a staff which knew what was wanted, and given the money, would know how to produce it. But by 1929 the ACF units formed in 1912 languished; they underwent no training and had only a few officers still on the active list. These ACF units kept going practically of their own volition, though officially they existed on paper only. The infantry regiments were the Durban Light Infantry, Duke of Edinburgh's Own (the senior Cape Town unit), Cape Town Highlanders, Prince Alfred's Guard (Port Elizabeth), First City (Grahamstown), Kaffrarian Rifles, Kimberley Regiment, Transvaal Scottish, Witwatersrand Rifles, Rand Light Infantry, Pretoria Highlanders. The mounted corps were still the Natal Carbineers, Natal Mounted Rifles, Umvoti Mounted Rifles, Imperial Light Horse. The three ACF artillery batteries were the Cape Field Artillery, Natal Field Artillery, and Transvaal Horse Artillery. The S.A. Air Force had been formed in 1921, and in 1922 the RNVR, later to develop into the S.A. Navy, supplemented the Royal Navy at Simonstown. No Engineer units existed, and the medical and other auxiliary services were kept at the lowest possible strength. This virtually applied to all units. In 1932 the depression really bit deeply. Training Camps were suspended and so was the issue of uniforms and equipment. Our speaker made creditable mention of the two successive ministers of Defence of those years, F.H.P. Creswell and O. Pirow, and Sir Pierre van Ryneveld, who became Chief of staff in 1936. Under most difficult circumstances they managed to keep this nucleus of a defence force alive, and made it possible to come to life again and in subsequent years to grow and develop in such a way that when WWII erupted, South African armed forces could make a worth while contribution to the Allied cause.
Fellow-member Major (Dr) John Buchan expressed a warm word of thanks to our speaker.
FUTURE EVENTS
A one-day outing to COLENSO has been organised for Sunday, 25 May 1986, for the purpose of following on the ground the course of Col Long's artillery on the day of the battle of Colenso, 15 December 1899, and to hear details of incidents associated with different localities up to the point when, after an heroic effort two guns were saved, and the remaining ten fell into the· hands of the Boers.
Rendezvous 09h15, on Sunday 25 May 1986, at Clouston's Koppie of Remembrance, a low ridge, studded with monuments and clearly sign-posted, to the left of the main road and some 5 km from Colenso on the south (Estcourt) side. Brief introductory talks by three speakers.
10h45 Drive from Clouston's to Large Donga. Commentary.
12h15 Drive from Large Donga to Caravan Park for picnic lunch. (Please bring your own).
13h45 Drive from caravan park to Gun Position. Inspection and commentaries by four speakers. (Cmdt SB Bourquin, Mr G. Chadwick, Major D. Hall, and RSM K. Gillings).
16h10 Depart for home.
There will be a minimum of walking, but even so, wear comfortable shoes and outdoor clothes, Bring picnic lunch, refreshments, hats, sun-glasses, binoculars, cameras.
MONTHLY GET-TOGETHERS
MAY 15th PROFESSOR MIKE LAING will give a talk on "Old Blood and Guts': The oldest combat general, often with young ideas: George Patton."
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS MEETING WlLL TAKE PLACE ON THE THIRD THURSDAY IN THE MONTH.
June 12th Fellow-member Brian Thomas will talk on military medals in his collection.
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. (Third Thursday)
August 14th Fellow-member Midge Carter will present a slide talk on "The Battle of Tarawa". (Pacific WWII)
September 11th Fellow-member Ian Sutherland will show slides of military history interest taken on his overseas holidays.
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. 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