PAST EVENTS
1. For the first meeting of the new year, 1991, our chairman 'SB' and his wife Hilda hospitably opened their intriguing home to all members and guests for an informal, friendly evening surrounded by books, artefacts, pictures, weapons and military memorabilia, most with a story to tell. A framed document, for instance, signed at St James Palace on 4 March 1801 by King George III and bearing the royal seal, proclaims in flowery language the promotion of a lieutenant in the 11th Hanoverian Inf. Rgt. to captain, is flanked by a delicate court-sword dating to the end of George III's reign (1820). A quaint collection of mounted pennies represents the reign of every British monarch of the House of Brunswick, starting with a big and clumsy George III penny of 1796 and ending with a 1974 Queen Elizabeth II 'new penny'.
The sequence is broken in name only by King George V having changed the name of his dynasty, for patriotic reasons during WW I (Feb 1917), from Brunswick to Windsor. Among the swords there is a Cromwellian broad-sword, accompanied by a 'lobster-tailed burgonet (helmet)' from the same period (1625-1660); of more recent times, a rare pattern British mountain artillery sword, which from circumstanial evidence was lost in the skirmish at Nicholson's Nek, during the siege of Ladysmith. On the walls are two Martini-Henry rifles, captured and concealed by a local farmer after the battle of Bronkhorstspruit (20 Dec 1880); also two 1851 tower muskets, both used by Zulus during the Zulu War of 1879. One of them was found with a supply of lead balls and percussion caps in a cave on the farm 'Tafelberg' near Luneburg, which had been the hide-out of the marauding Swazi chief Mbilini. The extradition of Mbilini by Cetshwayo was one of the conditions of the British ultimatum. The battlefield 'debris' went beyond the usual 'bullets and cartridge cases' and included many items of a general or personal nature. Other historical items are far too numerous and varied to be mentioned in detail.
With a warm word of thanks to 'SB' and Hilda, fellow-member Darrell Hall brought an instructive and enjoyable evening to a close.
2. By way of a double bonus the tour of inspection of the unrest areas north of Durban, which was announced in our December newsletter, took place on 17 January and was a real eye-opener for those members who had found time to participate. Arranged by courtesy of the OC, Army Group 10, Col Brian Adams, who was personally present, this was a most interesting and instructive public relations exercise, because it provided visual information on the staggeringly vast extent of the shack development north of Durban and the magnitude of the problem which faces both the Central and the KwaZulu governments in the provision of housing and civic amenities, as also the Army and S.A. Police in maintaining law and order and preserving the peace. Evident was also a friendly relationship between the people and the military in that every hand raised in greeting from the army caspirs was met by waving hands and smiles in return. At the conclusion of the tour our party was entertained with a sumptious[sic] braai at the Mount Edgecombe base of the Parachute Battalion. Our Chairman expressed deep appreciation and thanks to Col Adams and Maj Breytenbach, Acting OC of the 'Parabats' for their efforts and hospitality.
FUTURE EVENTS
FEBRUARY l4TH Fellow-member MAJOR DARRELL HALL will present an illustrated slide talk on "THE SAINT NAZAIRE RAID 1942".(This talk will be preceded by a short (10-15mins) from the famous Metro Goldwyn Hall series!)
MARCH 14th Mr Graham Dominy will give a talk on "A Comparison of the Battles of Little Big Horn (Gen Custer against the Red Indians) and Isandlwana".
APRIL 11th Cmd't Mick McKenna will talk on "The Rhodesian African Rifles and the Grey Scouts".
The venue for all meetings is the functions room, first floor, Westville North Library, 167 Blair A.tholl Road, Westville. The library is on the corner of Blair Atholl and Iver Roads, at the robot-controlled intersection of Blair Atholl - Iver - Dunkeld Roads. (Dunkeld Rd is the extension of Quarry Rd from the Northern Freeway). Meetings are held on the second Thursday in the month commencing at 19H45 (7.45p.m.). Ice will be supplied but please bring your own GLASS and canned or bottled refreshments. FRIENDS AND INTERESTED PERSONS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND.
CAPE TOWN BRANCH EXCURSION SATURDAY 23RD FEBRUARY 1991
For those lucky enough to be escaping Natal's February heat for the Cape, the Cape Town Branch is planning a full-day visit to coast artillery batteries from Signal Hill right round the Cape Peninsula via Hout Bay to Simon's Town, and they welcome non-members to participate. For further details contact Paul Lange, Vice-Chairman, Cape Town Branch, S.A.M.M.S., Tel. Cape Town 61-nnnn (after hours) or Major Antony Gordon, Chairman, Tel. 614-mmm).
There will be a talk on "Military Philately" by Mr R. Goldblatt at the Cape Town Branch's meeting on 21st February 1991 in the Athenaeum, 154 Campground Rd, Newlands, commencing at 8 p.m.
WELCOME
A hearty welcome is extended to new members Commodore and Mrs P. Fougstedt and Mr Johan de Wet.
NEW BOOK
BRAVE MEN'S BLOOD The Epic of the Zulu War, 1879 by Ian Knight (with 270 illustrations) Distributed by Media House RSA Price R69.95.
OLD BOOKS
Very reasonable 'finds' can be made on first Friday in the month from approx 9a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Mary Asher centre, Ground floor foyer (off pavement) King's Hall, Aliwal st. Proceeds to TAFTA.
ORcontact SPCA Kloof for when and where they will be holding pavement sales. (They may let you browse through the books at the Kloof HQ, off Village Rd.)
(Mrs)Tania van der Watt
Secretary: Durban Branch
S.A. Military History Society
Box 870 Hillcrest 3650
Tel. 74mmmm