The South African
Front Cover illustration
Cover Illustration:
The photograph shows the Sappers Memorial at Sappersrust near Magaliesberg.
The original aim was to train ex-sappers in agriculture so they could re-integrate into civilian society.
Part of the farm was reserved for a memorial which was built of local stone and set in a tranquil garden.
The balance of the farm is a resort and in pre-Covid days there was a picnic ground.
Photograph courtesy of Sandy Buchanan
Inset photograph on front cover:
South African Sappers were granted the right to use the "exploded grenade"
of the British Engineers by King George VI in December 1944,
to which two more "flames" were added to make the SAEC emblem.
Inside front cover illustrations:
Photograph courtesy of Kathy Munro
A book listing the names of SAEC fallen
lies open on a lectern in front of a candle.
Its pages are turned monthly in a respectful ceremony.
Photograph courtesy of Sandy Buchanan
Inside front cover illustrations continued:
Photographs of the Cape Copper Company medal awarded to a father and son
Inscription on the reverse of the
Cape Copper Company medal
QSA no clasp Capt. Nam[a]q[ua]l[a]nd. T[own].G[uard].,
Cape Copper Company medal in silver
named W. W. Townsend
Victor’s medal group with the exact naming -
QSA no bar 868 Pte. Namqlnd. T.G.;
1914-15 Star Pte. Brand's F.S Rfls.;
BWM & bilingual Victory Medal A/2ndC/W.O. S.A.M.C.C.;
War Medal 1939-1945 & Africa Service Medal 120264 V.R. Townsend;
M.S.M.(GV) C.M.-203 Pte. A.C.S.Mjr. S.A.M.Cyc.Cps.;
Cape Copper Company Medal in bronze V.R. Townsend
Inside Back Cover illustration
Commemoration in Cape Town 20 years after the Kursk tragedy
The group of Kursk memorial
attendees including Russian Consulate,
retired and current SA Navy staff,
Russian Club, ex-SAN Diver Andre van Heerden
who assisted in recovering casualties from
the Kursk, and his Great Dane, Quiz.
Left to Right: Lt Cdr (Ret) Robin Cross,
ex-SA Navy diver Andre van Heerden and Russian Club
organiser Dr Elina Komarova Tagar participate
in the traditional Russian toast in memory of
the 118 Kursk submariners.
Retired SANR Lt Cdr Robin Cross recounts
how the Naval Control & Guidance (NCAGS)
team at SAS UNITIE first heard of the sinking
of the Kursk during an exercise, their annual
"118 seconds" commemoration and how they
and Russian sailors onboard MSC Suez
shared a few special moments.
Memorial candle, book and photograph of the
Kursk at the commemoration.
Photograph courtesy of P A Stemmet
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