Newsletter No. 564
January 2026
The SAMHS is a non-profit society of enthusiasts dedicated to the study, recording and dissemination of military aspects of history
NOTICE OF DECEMBER MEETING AND NEWSLETTER KWAZULU-NATAL BRANCH
The monthly meeting of the KZN Branch of the SAMHS will take place THIS COMING SATURDAY,17th January 2026
The SA Military History Society will this month feature two illustrated presentations. The first short talk will be by Lt Col Laurence Palmer, former OC of Oribi Commando, who will speak on the “History of Oribi Commando and its Antecedent and Associated Units 1865 to 2007”. He is the author of a book with the same name and signed copies can be purchased for R350.
The second (main talk) will be by Phil Everitt and is entitled,
“The Spirit of Man”
and is based on the experiences of his father who was taken prisoner at Tobruk in 1942.
He spent the rest of the war first in Italy in Campo 54 at Fara Sabina and then following the Italian surrender in Stalag IVB (Muhlberg on Elbe), the largest German PoW camp holding between 20 000 and 30 000 Allied Prisoners of War.
The presentation will show how man’s indomitable spirit shone through and allowed their ordered survival under extreme circumstances.
The meeting will take place this SATURDAY 17th January 2026 at 1.30 for 2.00pm.
The venue is the St Cyprians Church Hall off Umbilo Rd, with secure parking and liquid refreshments available for cash.
Entry is free and open to all, with visitors welcome, but a donation of R20 for the car guard and which also gives entry into the monthly raffle is requested from all attendees.
Enquiries to Phil Everitt, Chair KZN Branch, SAMHS, Cell or WhatsApp: 0844371636
NEWSLETTER
1. Past December Meeting (Report thanks to Vice-Chair Charles Whiteing)
Following his overseas visit, the Chairman welcomed our guest speaker Professor Donal McCraken, visitors, and members alike to the last meeting of 2025.
The Chairman requested all be upstanding in memory of the recent passing of longstanding member Roger Burrows.Sympathies were extended to his widow Sue who was present at the meeting.
Unfortunately, despite publicity efforts the total attendance included only seventeen members and thirteen visitors,an overall total of 30. It is possible that at this time of the year, there are too many competing events!
Ron Suberg displayed an array of military literature for sale and Professor McCraken proceeded with his Irish themed talk.
"You will dye at midnight:
Threatening letters in the Irish Land War period."
which focused on what is known as “poison pen letters.” They circulated among all levels of Irish society with various degrees of responses and repercussions during a difficult period in Irish history relating to the question of land ownership. The police force seemed to apply an inequal level of responses depending on the situation and personalities concerned, but were diligent in filing and cataloguing all samples submitted to them providing a trove for future researchers. His supporting power point pictures illustrated various examples of these letters and, although they are not necessarily readable in full,displayed a strange courteousness, as well as often rough drawings of coffins and occasionally guns to reinforce the threats. The Prof’s light-hearted delivery often produced chuckles from the crowdwho were enlightened on a period of history none of us was familiar with.
Following his talk, the Prof answered questions from the audience.
The Chairman presented the guest speaker with a gift of a bottle of wine as a token of appreciation from the society.
The Raffle was held with one of the members winning the bottle of wine and the Chairman then closed the formal meeting with a round of applause for the guest speakerand invited everyone to partake of the snacks with liquid refreshments available from the Vicar’s Alms.
2. Looking Forward to FEBRUARY 2026
PLEASE NOTE: The February meeting will, as usual, take place on the SECOND Saturday,14th February, and thereafter we will revert unless otherwise advised to our usual 2nd Saturday of the month.
The main talk for February will be on the call-up and deployment of the tanks of the NMR to the border. It will be given by WOl(Ret) Johan Bodenstein.
This will be preceded by a PowerPoint and video on the Centurion Tank from its original design brief through its operational history with many countries, until its debut as the Oliphant tank in South Africa.
Regards
Phil
P R Everitt,
Chair KZN Branch, SAMHS,
Cell or WhatsApp: 0844371636