PAST EVENTS

Dr Angus Allen began our first meeting of the year with the presentation of the first half of a video film on Napoleon Bonaparte which will have as its climax the Battle of Austerlitz. Due to the length of the film it had to be presented in two parts. This, the first part was preceded by an introduction by Dr Allen, in which he identified some of the characters and gave a brief resumé of the life of Napoleon as far as the first half of the film. Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) was born on the island of Corsica, of Italian parents, a year after it came under French control. He was sent to France to be trained as a soldier, and received his first commission as a lieutenant in an artillery regiment (another gunner!). Promoted to captain in 1792 he played a prominent part in the siege of Toulon when the city revolted in 1793, and was rewarded with promotion to the rank of brigadier-general. Having been responsible for the suppression of the rising of the Paris mob, 3 October 1795, he was rewarded with the command of the army of the interior. His marriage the following year to Josephine Beauharnais brought him in direct contact with several prominent persons, particularly with Barras, one of the Directors ruling France.

On his return from a successful campaign against the Austrians in North Italy, Napoleon was appointed to command an army which was to invade Britain, but he realised this project was not practical until France had the necessary sea-power. He decided to attack Egypt first, hoping to destroy British commerce in the Mediterranean. In spite of initial successes in Egypt, the campaign was a dismal failure on account of the destruction of the French fleet in Aboukir Bay by a British squadron under Nelson. News about a threatening plot to overthrow the Directory in France brought Napoleon back to France. Shortly after his arrival from Egypt, Napoleon, with the help of his brother Lucien, certain loyal troops and Talleyrand, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, [he] put an end to the Directorate, which was financially bankrupt and losing control of the country. A new constitution gave power to three consuls, of whom Napoleon was the First Consul, later Consul for Life. On March 2nd, 1802, the peace of Amiens was signed between England and France; but this was, in reality, only an armistice. In May 1803 the war started again and Napoleon planned to invade Britain. He mobilised a large army and, brushing aside the proposition made by the American Fullton, who had just invented the first steamship, he had thousands of flatbottomed boats built to transport the soldiers and their armaments across the English channel. The British fleet, which was patrolling the channel, was to be lured away by French warships under Admiral Villeneuve. The idea was to draw Admiral Nelson to the West Indies. Soon he realised what the French plan was, so he sent a fast brig back to warn England. Another English fleet forced Villeneuve to take shelter in Cadiz. Shortly afterwards Nelson returned and destroyed the French fleet in the battle of Trafalgar (1805). So far the first part. Fellow member Justin Hulme moved a hearty vo te of thanks and appreciation.

FUTURE EVENTS

N.B.! N.B.! VENUE OF FUTURE MEETINGS

It is with a sense of sadness that we have to announce that the venue at 'SB' Bourqin Building, which our Society has greatfully enjoyed for so many years, is no longer available, due to stringent security measures which have been imposed by the N.P.A. These put the complex strictly out of bounds to any visitors outside of normal working hours. In the meantime, the OC, Durban Light Infantry, has kindly offered the officers' mess at the DLI headquarters in Epsom Road, Greyville, as a venue for our February meeting, on the Third Thursday of that month at the usual time of 19h30. It will not be permissible, however, to bring private liquor into the mess, but as the mess bar will be open, no hardship need be experienced. The March meeting will take place in the amenities hall of the Westville North library, 167 Blair Athol Road, Westville, commencing at 19h45.

FEBRUARY 16th          "UP THE LINE ON THE WESTERN FRONT" (1917)
An audio visual presentation by Major Darrell Hall.

March 9th "AUSTERLITZ" (1805) Dr Angus Allen will present PART II of the video programme as reviewed in this news letter.

Friends and interested persons are welcome to come along.

INCREASE IN SUBS WITH EFFECT FROM 1 JANUARY 1989 As the Society is predicted to make a massive loss in 1988/89 largely due to the increase in the cost of the journal, we have been informed of an increase in membership dues.

Single annual	R 20,00
Family annual	R 25,00
Entrance Fee	R 1,00
Life (single)	R 200,00
Life (family)	R 250,00

Please post your subscriptions to The Secretary/Treasurer, S.A. Military History Society, Box 52090, Saxonwold, 2132. For further details contact Mike Marsh (011) 648-nnnn.

WELCOME

We extend a hearty welcome to new member Dr. Edgar Fine and to an 'old' new member, Bruce Soutar, who has rejoined our branch.

Tania van der Watt
Secretary: Durban Branch
S.A. Military History Society
Box 870 Hillcrest 3650
Tel. 74mmmm