PAST EVENTS
Fellow member and 'steam' enthusiast, Ian Sutherland, entertained his audience at our September meeting with a popular, illustrated account of a six-weeks tour of England and Scotland by hired car, train, bus and canal narrow boat, which had as its main objective a visit to steam railways, historical museums, particularly military museums, and such historical sites and military places as happened to lie on his route.
The first stage starting from London by car covered the whole of England's south coast. The second circular tour by train and bus took our speaker and his family up the east coast to Edinburgh and then through and around the north coast of Scotland back to London, followed by a canal narrow boat trip though the Midlands on the River Avon.
Among the many and varied points and places mentioned and visited were reminders of the 'Pluto' pipe line (WWII); Nelson's flagship, the 'Victory'; the tank museum; Tangmere Military Aviation Museum, with fleet air-arm and Falklands War displays; the Stratford Arms and Armour Museum; transport museums; locomotives exhibitions; and the site of the Battle of Culloden. A selection of very good colour slides added interest to this wide ranging talk.
Major Denis Sheil-Small expressed a warm word of thanks for a most informative and entertaining presentation.
ANOTHER COLENSO OUTING
A repeat visit to the Colenso battle area and the site of 'Colonel Long's guns' took place on Sunday 31 August and attracted over 60 participants. The story was again presented by the original four speakers, Darrell Hall, SB Bourquin, George Chadwick and Ken Gillings. The audience was made up of members of the historical societies of Michaelhouse and Hilton College, the S.A. Military History Society, the S.A. Naval Officers Association, the S.A. Navy (SAS Inkonkoni), the Natal Field Artillery, the Natal Parks Board and residents of the town and district. The weather was perfect and the normal haze had been cleared away by rain on the preceding day so that visibility was quite outstanding.
FUTURE EVENTS
Programme of Monthly Meetings:
OCTOBER 16th Fellow-member STEVE WATT, Field Officer (History), Natal Education Department, is coming from Pietermaritzburg to give us a talk entitled "Exploring Military Cemeteries in Natal". (PLEASE NOTE that so as not to clash with arrangements for the Kruger Day long weekend, this meeting will be held on the THIRD THURSDAY in October).
November 13th Fellow-member Commandant Justin Hulme will talk on "The History of the Commando System" (up to 1922). This talk will be based on research by the late Major Tylden.
December In recess.
The venue for all meetings will be the Lecture Room, lower ground floor, 'SB' Bourquin Building, (Department of Community services, NPA)on the corner of Jan Smuts Highway and Buro Crescent, Mayville, commencing at 20h00. 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.
WELCOME
A warm welcome is extended to new members - Mr and Mrs Peter Stewart and Captain and Mrs Oran Cheape.
(Mrs) Tania van der Watt,
Secretary, Durban Branch,
S.A. Military History Society,
Box 870, HILLCREST, 3650.
Tel. (031) vvvvvv