PAST EVENTS
Instead of having a guest speaker at our get-together in May, members of our Society met at the Headquarters of one of Natal's best-known regiments - the Durban Light Infantry . By kind permission of the Commanding Officer Commandant Dereck Moe, and under the expert guidance of fellow-member Commandant Justin Hulme, himself a former OC of the Regiment, our members inspected some of the more interesting localities. Housed in its own stately buildings on twelve acres of ground the DLI has had a long and illustrious history, of which Justin gave a brief outline before entering the regimental chapel with its many memorial plaques and inscriptions. In front of the chapel stands the cenotaph commemorating the names of the regiment's war heroes. It is a tradition that soldiers in uniform will salute when passing it and troops marching passed it in formation will be given the order, eyes right, or left, as the case may be. By kind permission of the RSM the Senior Sergeants' and Warrant Officers' Mess was then entered and the many fascinating exhibits in show Cases and on the walls were inspected. The Officers' Mess itself, where our members met Commandant Moe in person, is a treasure house of its own, containing antique furniture and many rare and priceless items. The commentary provided by Justin was enhanced by the additional spiritual upliftment which was provided by the officers' bar which had been opened in the meantime.
The time factor and other practical considerations made it impossible to include an inspection of the regimental museum on this occasion, but we have been invited back for a followup visit at some future date. A sincere word of thanks is due to Commandant Hulme for arranging and conducting this visit and to the OC and RSM for their kind permission to view the respective premises under their control.
FUTURE EVENTS
Militaria Expo 87 - 18 and 19 July 1987.
The Society for the Preservation of Militaria has once again arranged for a militaria exhibition, the "Militaria Expo 87" to be held on the 18 and 19 July at the DLI Hall, Epsom Road, Greyville, from 09h00 to 19h00 on each day. Numerous items of military memorabilia will be displayed by members as well as by the S.A. Police, S.A. Navy, S.A.D.F. and S.A. Air Force.
BATTLEFIELD TOURS
Bus tours focusing on the Anglo-Boer War and the Anglo-Zulu War are organised every month by the Durban Publicity Association. More information can be obtained by telephoning 030 304.....
PROGRAMME OF MONTHLY GET-TOGETHERS
JUNE 11TH An informal talk by Mrs Iris Coombes on her recent visit to Poland, entitled "The S.A.D.F. Remembered in Poland".
July 16th Major Darrell Hall will give a talk entitled "Pegasus Bridge". (The airborne attack preceding D-Day) August 13th Cmdt 'SB' Bourquin - "Shaka's Heritage" September 10th To be announced. October 8th Fellow-member Ian Sutherland - "The Battle of Culloden". November 19th Major Darrell Hall - 1820 Settler families of the Eastern Cape (the Corey family in particular).
The venue for all meetines will be either the Lecture Room or 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 Thursday in the month, commencing at 7.30 p.m. (The July and November meetings will take place on the third Thursday). While we will be able to continue to use these premises, glasses CAN NO LONGER BE SUPPLIED, so please bring your own glass. Water and ice will be supplied but please bring your own canned or bottled 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