PAST EVENTS:
The DDH talk for our July meeting was given by fellow-member, Prof Mike
Laing who chose as his subject "Why Dieppe?" In a style typical
of the late Major Darrell Hall, he tantalized his audience with the "why's"
and "wherefore's" of the infamous Dieppe Raid of 1942. With clinical
precision he dissected all the "official reasons" put up so far
and then proceeded to demolish their creditability with subsequent facts.
He said it would appear that there was a high degree of "grandstanding"
for the benefit of the Russians who at that stage were taking the main
brunt of the German onslaught and were not at all convinced that the British
under Churchill were that keen on taking the war to Germany by initiating
a second front. In the press at the time the Dieppe Raid was described
as a great victory, but in the light of subsequent facts, it could only
be regarded as a disaster of major proportions. The Canadians forces which
had been stationed in England for the two years prior to the raid and who
were perpetually pestering Churchill to see action, had been sacrificed
and were all but annihilated.
"Operation Rutter" as the operation was originally called, included
battleship and heavy bomber support plus paratrooper and glider units had
been aborted due to bad weather, but with the flall of Tobruk on the 21
June 1942, it was resuscitated just over a week later as "Operation
Jubilee", but without all the previously mentioned assistance!
It was finally launched at 05h00 on 19 August 1942 shortly alter Churchill
had paid Russia a visit and while he was in Cairo. When advised of the
debacle, Churchill immediately ordered that the whole affair should be
played down and that it was to be regarded as a "reconnaissance in
force"!
Our speaker then went on to query why it should have been Dieppe of all
places? Being a holiday resort flanked by steep cliffs on both sides, it
was of little military importance, but it did have some historical significance
in that it was the port from which William of Normandy had launched his
invasion of Britain in 1066. Also it was the port from which the original
Catholic missionaries had sailed for Canada in 1600. Also there was a basin
in Dieppe harbour called "Bassin du Canada". Such connections
would have appealed to Churchill's sense of history and our speaker felt
that the blame should be laid at Churchill's feet, especially as the Churchill
family had spent many summer holidays there and knew the whole area intimately.
In support of this view our speaker used a quote from one of Churchill's
books which read like a confession.
Our main talk for the evening was given by Maureen Richards who introduced
herself as the "Siegetown Lyre" (please note the spelling - not
"Liar" as many of you may have thought). Her talk centred on
"The Churchills in the Anglo-Boer War", but ranged far
and wide, encompassing various aspects of the of the Siege of Ladysmith
and the Anglo-Boer War in general.
Using quotations from various writers, our speaker painted word pictures
of the various members of the Churchill family who were associated with
South Africa in the Anglo-Boer War. She started off with Winston from his
"premature" birth in 1874, through to his difficult childhood
and schooling and his "cram college" efforts to get into Sandhurst.
She covered his subsequent failure to attain sufficiently high marks to
get into the infantry (preferably the 60th Rifles) and his training and
early military career in the cavalry. To quote his daughter on the subject,
"....nothing in his childhood or his youth pointed to Winston Churchill's
diverse talents or to the destiny which awaited ...." Yet he did show
that reckless bravery and the courage to say what he thought which was
to be the hallmark of his career for the rest of his days.
It was in the cavalry that he found his true potential. He served in India
and Egypt and took part in one of the last cavalry charges of that type
of warfare at Omduraan in 1898. But he soon lost favour with his superior
officers for his outspoken comments and criticisms in his writings of their
campaigns. It was through him that the British Army barred all serving
officers from acting as war correspondents. At the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer
War he resigned his commission and went out to Southern Africa as a war
correspondent for The Morning Post. It is thought that his capture at Chievelcy
in the famous attack on the armoured train was due to his determination
to get into Ladysmith to see his friend and mentor, G.W.Steevens, who was
also a war correspondent and who had been unable to get out of the town
when the Boers laid siege. His escape from Pretoria and his return to Natal
are well known as are his comments on the Spionkop debacle where he was
placed under arrest by Warren when he tried to point out what was wrong
in the British attack. Buller admired young Winston for his leadership
qualities and it was his friendship that allowed him to ride as a member
of the SALH in the final relief of Ladysmith. Unfortunately, G.W.Steevens
had died during the siege and all he could find was his grave. Shortly
after this Winston Churchill returned to England and started his career
as a politician.
The other members of the Churchill family to feature in the Anglo-Boer
War were his aunt, Sarah Wilson,. his mother, Jennie Churchill, and his
brother, Jack.
Sarah Wilson was ten years older than Wmston and was the youngest daughter
of the Duke of Marlborough. She was also a war correspondent, but was caught
in Mafeking at the outbreak of war and Baden-Powell had the "pleasure"
of her company for the duration of the siege....
Jack Churchill was Winston's younger brother. He was wounded at the Battle
of Spionkop and invalided home shortly afterwards. But it was Jennie Churchill
who was to make her mark. Her husband, Lord Randolf Churchill had died
in 1895 and her future husband, George Went had been appointed Aide-de-camp
to Gen.Metheun on the Western Front. Jennie was determined to be with her
two sons and George, so she organised the purchase and commissioning of
a 200 bed hospital ship called "The Maine" and headed for Southern
Africa. She arrived at the Cape at the same time as Gen.Roberts who inspected
the vessel prior to its departure for Durban. Unfortunately, George had
been wounded at the Battle of Modder River and had been invalided home.
She also heard the news that Winston had been captured and escaped and
that Jack had been wounded. She met up with her two sons at Durban and
spent some time with them in the Drakensberg. She eventually married George
in July 1900, but they were divorced in 1913. She subsequenfly married
Montagu Porch, a man also much younger than herself in 1919, but died in
1921 at the age of 67.
After an informative question tune which at times resembled a "skinder"
session, the Rev Ernest Pugsley thanked our speakers for a most interesting
and amusing evening.
BATTLEFIELDS' TOUR Members interested in attending are requested
to make their hotel bookings as soon as possible as accomodation could
be in short supply. There appears to be another tour taking place on the
same weekend using the same hotel.
BRITISH CULTURAL & HERITAGE ASSOCIATION (ex 1820 SETTLERS) TOURS:
This organization Is running a Battlefields' tour on the weekend of
12/13 September 1998 to Ladysmith!. Also there will be a tour to Zululand
on the 21-23 January 1999 to mark the 120th Anniversary of the Battle of
Isandlwana. For further details please phone (031) 202 6174.
KIMBERLEY ANGLO-BOER WAR EXPO:
This event is being held from 4-11 October 1998. Please telephone Steve
Lundestedt at (0531) 81 4006 for further details.
ANDY MAY MILITARY UNIFORM PRINTS:
Andy May has brought out a large selection of A4 and postcard size colour
prints of the uniforms of the various units that fought in the Anglo- Boer
War at R22 per set of six cards or R16 per A4 size print. The sets immediately
available are as follows:-
No.1 - Natal Colonials;
No.2 - Siege of Ladysmith;
No.3 - ZAR Staatsartillerie;
No.4 - O.V.S. Artollerie Corps;
No.5 - Boer Commandos;
No.6- Boer Foreign Volunteers.
In preparation:- No.7- Highland Brigade at Magersfontein; No.8- Battle
of Talana.. Also planned are:- Siege of Kimberley, Siege of Mafeking, Siege
of Ladysmith, Naval Brigade, Cape Colonials, British Imperial Volunteer
units; Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, Rhodesian contingents and the
various Police units that also took part. Also still available are his
Anglo-Zulu War 1879 prints. For flirther details contact Andy May at Unit
163, Pvt Bag X4, Port Edward 4295 or telephone (03930) 31 608.
Dr Ingrid Machin
Secretary: Durban Branch
S.A.MILITARY HISTORY SOCIETY
4 Hadley,101 Manning Road,Glenwood,Durban,4001
Telephone: (031) 21 3983