The South African
Military History Society
Die Suid-Afrikaanse Krygshistoriese Vereniging
Military History Journal
Vol 1 No 5 - December 1969
FROM THE HONORARY EDITOR
DOUGLAS TIDY
In this age, when the personality cult is apparently
despised, as is the individual whose character blazes forth
like a beacon in the murk of nonentity, it is possibly worth
recalling the giants of the past. South Africa has been
particularly fortunate in its men of vision and action. Lord
Tedder considered Field Marshal Smuts to have heen the
greatest man of his time. Writing in ‘With Prejudice’
(Cassell), Lord Tedder recalled: “I was deeply impressed
by the speed and thoroughness with which Smut’s (sic)
agile, comprehending mind grasped the essentials of the
situation, and by his capacity to get to the root of the matter
by short, well-directed questions. He was always kindness
itself to me, and I thought of him then, and still think of him,
incomparably the greatest man I have ever met, possessing
Churchill’s versatility and vision without his vices. To those
whom he deemed to have failed in their work or their duty,
he could be ruthless and hard. A steely glint would come
into his eyes as he probed each problem to the bottom. But
generally he wore an aspect of wisdom and understanding.
My wife, who had now joined me in Cairo, said after this
meeting with Smuts (in May, 1942, shortly before the first
Lady Tedder was killed in an air crash - Editor): ‘There is
something Christ-like about that man.’” Whether one agrees
or not, the fact that Smuts was one of the foremost statesmen
of the century would seem beyond question.
Lt.-Gen. George Brink said recently that in his 80 years
he had “lived South African history.” The pages of that
history are the brighter for the flame of Smuts, and for the
devotion to duty, and constant kindness, bravery and
integrity of men such as ‘Uncle George’ Brink. By the
efforts of such pioneers has this great Republic been founded;
let us ensure that we lesser mortals keep it in trust for them,
in unity and strength, no matter which tongue we love as
our first language.
General (later Field Marshal) J.C. Smuts, PC, OM, CH, DTD
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