JANUARY 1987 NEWSLETTER

LAST MEETING - JOHANNESBURG - DECEMBER 11TH 1986

The meeting opened with the M.G.H. (Metro Goldwyn Hall) short "Sunday Outing". Photographic evidence of our member's activities on an outing (including romantic!) was again provided by Major Hall's ubiquitous camera. The subject of this presentation was the Society's visit to the Air Force Museum at Lanseria on Sunday 16 November 1986. A picnic lunch was held at the farm "Egan's Kia" (attended by certain canine hazards). During the course of this stop Nick Kinsey told the members about the small chapel on the farm, Ian Uys gave a briefing on the controversial opening of the new Delville Wood memorial, and, Stewart Stiles explained the actions at Kalkhewuel and Six MiIe Spruit. After lunch the party proceded to Lanseria Airport where Col. Peter McGregor and his staff provided a guided tour of the Museum.

The B.B.C. video film "The Day We Won the War" was then shown. This film succeeded in capturing the excitement and emotion of VE Day. The activities on both the military and home fronts were shown, particularly unforgettable scenes being those of the crowds in Trafalgar Square and in front of Buckingham Palace. The recent interview with many of the participants provided a personal insight into this memorable day.

Future Meetings.

The lecture programme for Johannesburg for the first half of 1987 is as follows: January 8th - Lt-Gen. Denis J. Earp - "Experiences with thp South African Air Force in the Korean War".

February 12th - Mr. Peter Fox - "Mary Rose and other Naval Occasssions[sic]".

March 12th - Mr. Stewart T. Stiles -"Napoleon's 1813 German Campaign".

April 9th - Annual General Meeting and Film.

May 14th - Dr. Philip Gon - "Carrington and the Rhodesian Field Force, 1900".

June 11th - Mr. John L. Keene - "History of Military Rifle Shooting in South Africa".

Other Matters

Christmas Day 1899 - Colesberg Front.
"Sports for the Force were held in the afternoon of Christmas Day, the officer's pony race being won by Captain Kenna, V.C., the Provost-Marshal. The men's Christmas dinner consisted of tinned sausages, raw onions, plum-pudding, with lemon squash to drink, and a "tot" of rum to put all right",
(With the Inniskilling Dragoons - Lt-Col. J Watkins Yardley).

Research - Frontier Armed & Mounted Police/Northumberland Yeomanry.
Mrs. Jennifer Wallum is currently researching her famiIies involvement in the above units and would appreciate any information on their activities. Her address is: Asian Development Bank ... Manila, Philippines.

Water coloured lithographs - Black Watch during the Boer War.
Major A. J. Rennie, whose father was A.D.C. to General Wauchope, has prepared an interesting series of drawings in limited edition. Major Rennie' s address is The Lodge, ..., Somerset. If you are interested in these items I have a sample set available for viewing.

Research - Armaments of the Boer Republics c1880 - 1902.
Mr. M.E.E. van Zyl of ....., Sibasa, Venda, 0970 is researching the armaments of the Boer Republics. He is keen to share his research and exchange information with any members that might have done work on the same subject.

The Chairman and Committee would like to take this opportunity of extending to you our very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year.

STEWART STILES