The curtain raiser was provided by an overseas visitor, Mr Jack Nissen, who addressed the meeting on the early development of radar before and during the Second World War. He also provided an interesting insight into his personal involvement both in the development of radar and in an attempt by means of a successful raid on Dieppe, to establish the degree of advancement of German radar. The details of the raid and of his other achievements are included in his book "Winning the Radar War" published by Collins in paperback.

The Chairman then introduced the main speaker of the evening, Col Ossie Baker, who addressed the meeting on the subject of the South Africans in Operation Dragoon. Colonel Baker's talk provided a comprehensive overview of the entire operation which was rendered all the more fascinating by his personal recollections. Operation Dragoon was one of the most controversial operations of World War II. This Allied invasion of the south of France was timed to coincide with the D-Day landings in Normandy on August 15, 1944.

Stalin was in favour of Operation Dragoon, because it would prevent the Allies mounting a diversionary attack further east and through his sphere of influence.

Churchill opposed the plan, but American interference in favour of the operation carried the day. One can only speculate as to the later history of Eastern Europe if Churchill's preference for a south-eastern European attack had been followed.

The Allies poured over 300,000 men into the south of France, along the coast between Marseilles and Cannes. Most went ashore in amphibious landings while many including Colonel Baker's own platoon were parachuted in. Colonel Baker provided detailed information on the preparations for the attack.

The particular task of the South African contingency was to straddle the combined road and railway junction at Le Muy in order to prevent Germans from escaping to the north as well as reinforcement from reaching the south.

600 Dakotas carried the paratroopers in. Each paratrooper had 2 'chutes but as drops were made at 300 ft, the second 'chute was little more than a morale-booster.

After the successful parachute drops and amphibious landings, the Allied forces were engaged rapidly in some areas. In other areas, however, opposition was non-existent.

The telegraph poles (known as Rommel's asparagus) planted upright in open fields to prevent airborne landings, were used tactically by glider pilots, to brake the aircraft on landing.

Two interesting observations about the American participants in the operation were firstly that their amphibious craft carried vast quantities of inessentials and secondly, that in the winding up stages of the operation, many Americans managed to "lose" themselves in pleasure resorts such as Cannes, on the way back to their ships.

Colonel Baker's platoon was responsible for landing 300 rubber dummy parachutists equipped with firecrackers near Marseilles. This successful landing in the dark, decoyed the Germans into a supposed landing area 40 kms away from where the parachutists were actually due to land.

In addition, his platoon was to block some of the access roads. The troops were equipped with Gammon bombs, plastic high-explosive devices with cloth covering, as well as projectiles with which to attack enemy forces using the roads.

Colonel Baker provided a fascinating insight into the operations of the Maquis, who provided the Allied invaders with tremendous support. He also mentioned the rousing and emotional welcome given to the Free French Forces who were allowed to precede the Allied soldiers for propaganda purposes.

Operation Dragoon was an immediate success, culminating in a link up with the Forces advancing eastward from Operation Overlord.

The Chairman, Prof Copley, thanked Colonel Baker for his talk and presented him with an engraved tankard to commemorate his years of service to the Society and to wish him well on his retirement to the coast.

NB Members' attention is drawn once again to the day tour of the Forts around Pretoria on Sunday 24th March. Maps will be available at the next meeting on Thursday 14 March

MEETINGS

14 March 1991, 20hOO The Loss of the Birkenhead by Dr Alan Kayle

11 April 1991, 20hOO

Annual General Meeting

Tour:

For those members who did not manage to get a map at the meeting on 14 March, you could meet at Fort Skanskop at 0900 on 24 March 1991

Jennifer Copley