PAST EVENTS
Major Darrell Hall's slide talks are always a special treat, and so it was at our very well-attended July get-together. Preceding the main talk Metro Goldwyn Hall presented a supporting programme consisting of a "short" on Sandhurst: Past and "when I (you know who) was there". As Sandhurst is virtually a household name in the English speaking world it was interesting to hear a little more about its past and present. The main talk "Pegasus Bridge", was the story of the glider-borne assault on, and the capture of the two bridges over the Caen Canal and the Orne River on the left flank of the D-day assault on Hitler's Fortress Europe on 6 June 1944. The gliders were of the type Horsa Hk I with two pilots and a carrying capacity of 26 combat troops or alternatively a cargo of war materials and supplies. The gliders were capable also of carrying jeeps and light guns. The tug aircarft were either Albermarle, Dakota, Halifax or Stirling.
After this brief technical detail Darrell then skilfully awakened a personal interest in the events of that fateful night in 1944 by building up the story around specific and individual participants, who were members of the 6th Airlanding Brigade, such as the Brigade Commander, Brigadier the Hon. Hugh Kindersley, the Commander of the 2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, Lt-Col Michael Roberts, and in particular the hero of the story - D Coy Commander Maj John Howard. The task of D Coy was, after a hopefully pin-point landing of its gliders, to take the two bridges, mentioned before, intact. Their subsequent defence would be the task of other units which would land on Sword Beach.
Opposing the invasion on this sector were Col-Gen Dollman's 7th Army, with his 84th Corps holding the actual invasion area. The 84th Corps Commander was Lt-Gen Erich Marcks.
After an incredibly involved and detailed period of training, planning, organising and final briefing the first wave of airborne troops, that of Maj John Howard's reinforced D Coy 2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire L.I. set off at 2256 hours, June 5th, in six Horsa gliders towed by three Halifaxes of 644 Squadron RAF, and three from 298 Squadron. The airborne invasion of Europe was under way. In what has been described as the greatest feat of flying of WWII the pilot of No.1 glider, S/Sgt John Wallwork and his co-pilot S/Sgt Ainsworth brought down their glider in complete darkness at the right time and at the exact spot required, the top corner of a small triangular field, 70 yards from the bridge, which was secured intact.
Darrell described the overall fighting, which then followed, in such clear terms and with such a wonderful combination of slides that he succeeded in making his audience almost feel part of the invasion and persuading more than one person that with all this information and insight he could have tackled the invasion singlehanded and as successfully as all the generals put together!
- Fellow-member Dr Jack Rickman expressed a well-deserved word of appreciation and thanks.
FUTURE EVENTS
An invitation has been received from Mr. Gilbert Torlage, Chairman of the LADYSHITH HISTORICAL SOCIETY, for any of our members or interested persons to join his Society's ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING WEEKEND : 14TH TO 16TH AUGUST 1987. Friday 14th. 18h00 AGM and Dinner at the Royal Hotel Buttery. Guest Speaker: Mr. R.T. Riga; a prominent member of the Hindu Community in Ladysmith, will be speaking about The Indians' role in the history of the town, illustrating some of the difficulties and frustrations encountered in their endeavours. (Dinner R9,00 per person)
Sat. 15th: Mr Riga will lead a tour of the Indian area, during which various sites will be visited, culminating in a visit to The Lord Vishnu (Hindu) Temple, starting at Malivard (Riga Brothers shop in Queen street) at 15h00.
Sun. 16th: Guided tour of Talana Museum and Talana Battlefield, Dundee, under the expert guidance of Mrs. Sheila Henderson.
The Talana Museum has been an exciting and major development in Northern Natal, in which is reflected Dundee's mining, industrial, military and social past; with exhibitions in glass, brick manufacturing, coal mining, early Dundee and the Anglo Boer and Zulu wars. It is situated about 2km outside Dundee on the Dundee-Vryheid road. Meet there at 10h00.
Please take your own picnic lunch and refreshments. Estimated time of departure for home l6h00.
Will any members who intend joining this tour, or part thereof, please make their own arrangements for accommodation etc.
PROGRAMME OF MONTHLY GET-TOGETHERS
AUGUST 13TH Our Chairman, Comdt 'SB' Bourquin will give an illustrated slide talk entitled "SHAKA'S HERITAGE".
September 17th (Please note THIRD Thursday) Fellow-member Steve Watt will give an illustrated slide talk entitled "Deelfontein - Hospital in the Karoo during the Anglo/Boer War - A cemetery today. "
October 8th, Fellow-member Ian Sutherland "The Battle of Culloden".
November 19TH (Please note THIRD Thursday) Major Darrell Hall - Illustrated slide talk about 1820 Settler, William Corey.
The venue for all meetings will be the 'Bourq Inn', lower ground floor, 'SB' Bourquin Building, (NPA Community Services Building) on the corner of Jan Smuts Highway and Buro Crescent, Mayville, on the second (or third) Thursday in the month, commencing at 7.30 p.m. Please bring your own glass, and canned or bottled refreshments. Ice will be supplied.
(Mrs) Tania van der Watt,
Secretary, Durban Branch,
S.A. Military History Society,
Box 870, HILLCREST, 3650.
Tel. (031) vvvvvv