PAST EVENTS
What ship, although it belongs to the SA Navy, cannot float; although it is manned by seafaring men has never been to sea; and although "at sea" is unlikely ever to have been "at sea"? Anyone who attended our last get-together will know that the answer is SAS Inkonkoni (Zulu for Wildebeest), the headquarters of the SA Navy's C.F. in Natal, since that is where we met, as guests of the Officer Commanding, Cdr Alan Pembroke, ably assisted by his 2IC, Lt Cdr Barry Crossley. This unit, a hundred years old, has a long and distinguished history. The immediate grounds for its establishment in May 1885 was the fact that Russia had attacked and defeated Afghan fortified frontier positions. As a result, great Britain, fearing for the safety of its richest possession, India, stood on the brink of war with Russia. There was a real fear that a Russian cruiser might bombard or capture the port of Durban or extort a ransom. It was largely due to the efforts of the Rt Hon Harry Escombe and Capt Ballard (Port Captain) that a naval reserve detachment in Durban came into being, with Escombe as its first OC.
Subject to a number of name changes such as, Naval Volunteer Artillery, Natal Naval Volunteers, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, etc., the unit has had an unbroken and unblemished record of service since then and has had acknowledgements of praise heaped upon it during the Anglo/Boer War, Bambata Rebellion (1906) and both World Wars. Initially intended as a unit which would ensure the coastal defence of Durban which would naturally involve an artillery rôle, great care was taken to preserve a naval character and to avoid becoming simply coast garrison artillery. There was no shortage of volunteers and training was conducted on a regular basis. Annual camps were organised on the Bluff near the lighthouse. At the outbreak of the Anglo/Boer War Cdr Tatum, who had taken over from Cdr Escombe, moved with his detachment to the Natal front. Cdr Tatum served at Ladysmith during the siege; two gun detachments under Lts Anderton and Chiazzari were ordered to Estcourt and Colenso. Lt Nicholas Chiazzari (later Cdr) earned the DSO for ensuring the crossing of British troops over the Tugela at Potgieter's Drift and Tugela Heights. It was the first time ever that this honour was conferred on a non-regular officer. The Natal Naval Detachment worked mainly with the naval 4.7 inch guns which had been taken off British warships and for which Capt (later Sir) Percy Scott had designed special carriages for land use. The party under Lt Anderton was involved in building two outposts named Fort Wylie and Fort Nicholson.
Lt Cdr Crossley, who had outlined the earlier history of the unit, then dealt briefly with the rôle played during the Bambata Rebellion and the World Wars, rounding off his most interesting talk by dealing with post war developments aud expansion of the base and also with the projected future changes and adaptations to meet new demands. This talk was followed by an inspection, under the guidance of Cdr Pembroke, of exhibits, memorabilia and battle relics. Seafarers and landlubbers, sailors and soldiers, then foregathered for a refresher in the convivial atmosphere of the wardroom with its wonderfully romantic views of Durban harbour by night. The meeting was concluded by a suitable expression of appreciation and thanks by our acting Chairman, Ken Gillings.
FUTURE EVENTS
June 13th "WHY COMMUNISM FAILED IN EASTERN EUROPE"
Talk by Mr Vic Conrad.
July 11th Visit to Highway Commando Headquarters in Pinetown with illustrated slide talk on 'The Cato Manor Riots of 1959" by Cmdt 'SB' Bourquin. (The mess will be opening early (19H00) especially for our visit so please bring some spare cash. Mess prices are ridiculously lowl)
August 8th The Rhodesian African Rifles - Talk by Cmdt Mick McKenna.
September 12 Cmdt Danie Laäs will talk on "Operation Modular" (With special emphasis on 61 Mechanised Battalion Group's attack on the Angolan 47th Brigade).
October 11th "The Birth of the Landmine" Talk by Mr Grayham Burden. (3rd Thursday in the month)
Meetings are held in the functions room, 1st floor, Westville North Library, 167 Blair Atholl Rd, Westville, on the second Thursday in the month (unless otherwise advised) commencing at 19H45. Please bring your own glass and canned or bottled refreshments. FRIENDS AND INTERESTED PERSONS ARE WELCOME TO COME ALONG.
LADYSMITH HISTORICAL SOCIETY welcomes non-members on the following outings:
23 JUNE Afternoon outing under the leadership of Dr. P. Thorold to Hart's Hill. Meet behind Ladysmith Town Hall at 14H00. Take refreshments.
21 JULY Afternoon outing under the leadership of Barry Coventry to Rangeworthy Cemetery, Three Tree Hill and Green Hill (Thabamnyama). Meet behind the Ladysmith Town Hall at l3H15 or Rangeworthy Cemetery at l4H00. Take refreshments plus a donation towards the transport up the hills. Contact persons {to make sure the outings are still on) Norman Hearder 036l-pppppA/H 036l-nnnnn(Work) Renzo Giani 03622-mmmm A/H or 03622-qqqq(Work).
THE WAR GRAVES COMMITTEE (Chairman Maj Darrell Hall) is holding a meeting in Durban on Friday 30th August and might wish to visit some Anglo/Boer War battlefields over the weekend 31 August/l Sept. Should this outing materialise our members have been tentatively invited to join in their own cars. Tentative proposals are to visit the battlefields of Colenso and Tugela Heights on Sat 31st August and Elandslaagte and Spionkop on Sunday 1st September. The possibilities of obtaining a special tariff from the Royal Hotel in Ladysmith, or obtaining visitors' accommodation for members and their spouses at the military base are being explored. Details will be conveyed in the July and/or August news letters. If you are interested keep these dates provisionally free.
(Mrs)Tania van der Watt
Secretary: Durban Branch
S.A. Military History Society
Box 870 Hillcrest 3650
Tel. 74mmmm