PAST EVENTS
The Bambatha Rebellion of 1906 is generally a well-known event in Natal history, yet little knowledge exists about the unrest as such and about individual actions of the campaign. Ken Gilling's presentation of a talk on The battle of Mome Gorge - 10 June 1906 was therefore a welcome means of making good this defect. Ken used both an overhead projector and 35mm slides to illustrate his talk. He introduced the subject with a detailed background to the Rebellion's causes. Discontent amongst the Blacks in Natal had long been welling up. In May 1905 a severe hailstorm struck Natal. Superstitious rumours swept the colony that this was a mysterious command to rise against the Whites. Following the storm verbal directives began circulating among Blacks, exhorting them that all pigs must be destroyed, as also all white fowls. Every utensil of European origin, hitherto used for holding food, must be discarded or destroyed. Anyone failing to comply would have his kraal struck by a thunderbolt more terrible than the last, "which was brought on by the Basuto king in his wrath against the white race for having carried a railway to the immediate vicinity of his ancestral stronghold." The bubble of discontent burst with the imposition by the Natal government of a poll tax of £1 per head on all inhabitants, including Blacks, in Natal and Zululand. Resentment of the tax led first to the murder of a white farmer in January 1906, then followed riotous assemblies, armed attacks and further killings in many parts of the Province. When a police posse was attacked and an officer and a trooper were killed, the Governor, Sir Henry McCallum, proclaimed martial law on the following day, 9 February 1906. A number of arrests followed and those convicted of murder by court martial were speedily executed by firing squad. Col Duncan McKenzie was appointed Colonel-in-Chief of all forces which consisted not only of Natal military units, but also 500 men from the Transvaal.
Having briefly outlined some of the more important actions in the field, our speaker then concontrated on the operations in the Nkandla area and dealt in detail with what eventually proved to be the biggest, but also the decisive fight, namely the battle of Mome Gorge. Moving over incredibly difficult terrain, which at the same time, as the colour transparencies revealed, is breathtakingly beautiful, the rebels were eventually trapped inside the gorge. Some of their most important leaders, such as Bambatha and Mehlokazulu, of Zulu war fame, were killed and the legendary Sigananda Shezi was captured. The rebellion collapsed and came to an end in July 1906. The cost to Natal in direct war expenses, besides the lives that were lost, exceeded £884 000.
Following a lively question time felIow-member Maj Keith Archibald moved a well-earned vote of thanks.
FUTURE EVEXTS
Programme of Monthly Meetinps:
OCTOBER 20TH PLEASE NOTE THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN DATE FOR THIS MEETING WHICH WILL NOW BE HELD ON THE THIRD THURSDAY IN OCTOBER AND NOT ON THE SECOND (13th) AS PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED. PLEASE DIARISE ACCORDINGLY.
Fellow-member IAN SUTHERLAND will give a talk on "THE ESCAPE OF HMS AMETHYST" (Yangtse River, China).
November 10th Follow-momber Major Keith Archibald will deliver a short history of the Natal Carbineers followed by a video film of the regiment serving on the border.
December In recess.
The venue for meetings will be the 'Bourq Inn' on the lower ground floor, 'SB' Bourquin Building (Community Services, NPA) on the corner of Jan Smuts Highway and Buro Crescent, Mayville, commencing at 19h30. Ice and water jugs will be provided, but please bring your own glass and bottled or canned refreshments. FRIENDS AND INTERESTED PERSONS ARE WELCOME TO COME ALONG.
REMINDER - TOUR OF HARRISMITH AREA 29/30 OCTOBER 1988
A tour to the Harrismith area, including TweefonteIn and Surrender Hill is currently being arranged under the leadership of fellow-member Steve Watt. It will be a do it yourself tour with members providing their own transport and meeting at a set time and place in Harrismith. The Grand National Hotel has offered Society members a price of R36 per person DB&B. Please contact Steve (Tel PMB 033165188) or stewart Stiles, our National Chairman, (Tel JHB 011883-l383)if you intend joining this tour. Further details will be provided in the October newsletter from Johannesburg.
Mr. Terry Paterson would like to give away his collection of WWII newspaper cuttings to anyone who would be interested in having them. His telephone No. is 031-42.... (Home)
(Mrs) Tania van der Watt,
Secretary, Durban Branch,
S.A. Military History Society,
Box 870, HILLCREST, 3650.
Tel. (031) vvvvvv