PAST EVENTS
Lt Col Eric Evans was our guest speaker on 12 October. He had chosen as his subject "The Battle of Plassey, Bengal, 23 June 1757". Why Plassey? Well, when Col Evans was commissioned from Sandhurst into the Royal Artillery, the first gunner unit in which he served was 9 (Plassey) Battery. One R.A. tradition is to give artillery units honour titles, commemoratinc special battles. Being of an inquisitive mind Eric had to look into the significance of that name and then discovered that although Plassey was a very small battle as far as numbers were concerned it was momentous in its long-term after effects. At the time Britain, Holland and France were competing with one another for commerce and trade supremacy. The battle of Plassey not only gave Britain a firm base in Bengal but opened the door to her becoming an imperial power which led to the conquest of all India and the founding of the Empire of India, which was to last for 200 years.
The battle came about because, with the decline of Mogul power, the nawabs of Bengal became practically independent of the central government. In 1756 the nawab Siraj-ud-Daub attacked and captured the British setllement at Calcutta. He incarcerated 146 English prisoners in the notorious Black Hole, a small military prison 18ft by 14ft in size; and in the morning only 23 persons emerged alive.
To avenge this outrage Sir Robert Clive recaptured Calcutta and forced Siraj-ud-Daub to sign a fresh treaty. But when it became obvious that the nawab had no intention of adhering to it, Clive decided to replace him with one of the nawabs own generals, Mir Jafar, a person more favourably disposed towards the British East India Company, and with whom Clive entered into a secret, virtually treacherous, agreement.
Not far from the village of Plassey the nawab's army had occupied a favourable strategic position. It consisted of 35 000 poorly trained infantry, 5 000 excellent cavalry with many elephants, and 53 large-bore field pieces under the direction of 50 trained French gunners. Clive only had 613 European regulars (39th Foot), 150 Topasses (Eurasians), 2 100 native infantry, 171 gunners serving 10 field guns and two small howitzers. He had no cavalry. The battle started at 08h00, with an artillery duel which constituted the main activity throughout the day. Clive lost 10 Europeans and 20 Sepoys during the first half hour. The heavy losses which his Guns inflicted on the nawab's forces were hardly noticed in view of their numerical superiority, except that the death of one of the nawab's generals caused some consternation. At midday the position was at stalemate when a monsoon shower of rain came down in torrents. The British covered their guns and kept their powder dry, which the nawab's artillery failed to do, thereby putting themselves virtually out of action. An unauthorised advance by one of the British gun detachments forced Clive to support it by an advance on a wider front which culminated in an attack on and the capture of the nawab's headquarters and a rout of his army. The battle was over by 17h00. Mir Jafir who had contributed to the British victory by adopting a completely neutral attitude during the battle was rewarded by being made the new nawab.
Following a brief question time fellow-member John Yelland moved a vote of thanks for Eric's clear and impressive presentation of the story which he supported by excellent overhead-projector illustrations.
Twenty-First Birthday Party
The formal meeting was followed by a brief social session to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the Durban Branch of the Society which has now virtually grown into a Natal branch with members found in many parts of the Province. The piece de resistance was a "desert grit" birthday cake decorated with 21 brightly polished blank cartridges instead of birthday candles, which was enjoyed by all, and our thanks and a cordon bleau go to Hilda, the baker. Congratulatory cards and a telegram were received from the Chairman and members of the Cape Town Branch and Manie Wessels and his son Dr André Wessels.
KWAZULU HERITAGE FOUNDATION APPEAL
The following letter has been received from Mrs Sheila Henderson M.A. (Oxon) Vice-Chairman Natal Provincial Museum Service Advisory Board, Chairman Talana Museum, J.E.A. Project Fundraiser.
"JOINT EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY PROJECT: HISTORIC & NATURE PARK: ISANDLWANA & RORKE' S DRIFT
"The above Scheme jointly sponsored by the Natal Provincial Administration & the KwaZulu Government is of both national and international interest and importance. In particular it will be of enormous value to the impoverished African communities of the area in providing educational and occupational opportunities that have been absent hitherto. The enclosed memorandum and pamphlet will explain in greater detail the raison d'etre and the scope of the project. (These will be available at next Meeting TvdW).
"A major element is the revival of the Art School at Rorke's Drift. We are appealing urgently at this juncture for funding from the private sector to the tune of R40 000 for the production of a video film to help with the promotion of the scheme. Sympathisers in America & Europe have offered to sponsor an Art Exhibition in 1990 to raise funds overseas. The Art School has put South Africa on the world cultural map. Planners regard its revival as essential to the success of the project as a whole.
"As an organisation attuned to the protection and development of our cultural assets, I appeal to you and your members to support our appeal. The public sector is providing a generous budget for the development of the scheme. It needs to know our community is behind it."
DONATIONS SHOULD BE SENT TO: The KwaZulu Heritage Foundation, PO Box 1049 Durban 4000 W.O. No. 06 60039 000 0
FUTURE EVENTS
NOVEMBER 9TH Our next meeting will be addressed by VIC CONRAD on
"THE OCTOBER RUSSIAN REVOLUTION, 1917".
(Vic has recently returned from a trip to Poland after an absence of more than 40 years.)
December IN RECESS
1990
January 11th Outing to N.M.R. Headquarters and Museum.
The venue for meetings is the functions room, Westville North Library, 167 Blair Atholl Road. The Library building is on the corner of Blair Atholl and Iver Roads, at the robot-controlled intersection of BLAIR ATHOLL - IVER - DUNKELD ROADS. The entrance to the library parking area and building is from Iver Rd. Commencement time will be 19h45 (7.45pm). FRIENDS AND INTERESTED PERSONS ARE WELCOME TO COME ALONG. Please bring your OWN GLASS and bottled or canned refreshments. Water jugs and ICE will be supplied.
Tania van der Watt
Secretary: Durban Branch
S.A. Military History Society
Box 870 Hillcrest 3650
Tel. 74mmmm