Newsletter No. 569
JUNE 2026
NOTICE OF JUNE 2026 MEETING, AGM AND NEWSLETTER
The meeting [will] take place this Saturday,13th June 2026
THEME THE 1906 ZULU (BAMBATHA) REBELLION/UPRISING
The month of June is remembered by historians for the 1906 “Bambatha Rebellion”. The event will be commemorated at the June Meeting of KZN Branch of SA Military History Society. The main speaker will be Warren Loader, well known on Facebook for his prolific posts on local history. He will be joined by Col Pat Acutt, who will reflect on the 2006 Centenary and reconciliation event.
The presentations will take place THIS SATURDAY 13th June 2026 at 1.30 for 2.00pm, at 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 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 June Meeting “Hitler’s Eagles’ Nest
Due to the AGM, there was only ONE presentation, given by fellow member and vice-chair Charles Whiteing. In 2008, Charles together with past chairman Bill Brady embarked on a Second World War battlefield tour of Europeculminating in a visit to the Bergtesgaden in the Obersalzburg, site of Hitler’s Berghoff residence.
In a fascinating and well-illustrated presentation, he described the history of the site where while the main HQ was destroyed after the war; the “Eagles Nest” view site buildings were transformed into a restaurant, still very popular with tourists.
2. AGM
The talk was preceded by a somewhat poorly attended AGM which re-elected the committee of Phil Everitt, Charles Whiteing, Graeme Fuller, Donald Davies, George Oliver and Matthew Everitt with the addition of new member Col Brian Adams.
3. Oumanne Wreath Laying
The newly formed Oumanne Veterans organisation held a moving and well-attended memorial parade for the Border War at the QNMR HQ. Our Branch joined many others in laying our wreath (cross).
UPCOMING EVENTS
4. July Meeting
The July meeting will continue the theme of Zulu battles with a presentation by currently qualifying Battlefields Guide Ronald Collyer who will give a presentation of his favourite Battle of Isandlwana. He has visited and extensively researched this famous defeat or British arms by the Zulus in 1879 at the start of the Anglo-Zulu War.
The meeting will also feature a short DDH presentation on a topic to be announced.
5. St Cyprian’s Annual Fête
Please support our venue hosts in their major annual fund-raising event of the year.
6. St Cyprian’s Supper Club
Our venue host Fr Dane Elsworth also asks us to advertise the monthly St Cyprian’s Supper Club which will be at 6pm on Tuesday 30th June in the Church Hall. The speaker will be Ila Thompson organiser of the “Street Lit” Project which trains and allows previously homeless vendors to establish their own micro-businesses selling donated books at busy malls and other venues around the City. The cost is R100 for a dinner of fish and chips and ice cream followed by the talk. If you are interested in attending please WhatsApp me before close of business on Monday 29th June., for catering purposes.
Phil Everitt WhatsApp0844371636
7. SA Navy Celebrates World Hydrography Day
8. Just some past Military History Events in June
10th June 1906 Bambatha Rebellion ends at Mome Gorge
6th June 1944 D-Day in Europe
27th June 1976 hijackers of Air France flight hold Israeli hostages at Entebbe, Uganda. This ended a week later when they were rescued by Israeli Commandos.
9. Journals
There are still a number of journals to be collected. These will be available at the meeting for collection. If you are unable to attend, please delegate a friend to collect for you or contact me to make a planof how to get it to you.
10. Presenters wanted.
Note that we always have openings for short (20-minute) DDHs and 45-minute main talks and are actively looking for speakers in terms of volunteers, or suggestions. Please approach the Chair or a committee member should you wish to volunteer or know of any other speakers.
That’s all for now folks, please do your best to attend this Saturday 13th June and if possible, bring a friend to boost numbers and help recruit new members!
Regards
Phil
P R Everitt,
Chair KZN Branch, SAMHS,
Cell or WhatsApp: 0844371636
South African Military History Society / scribe@samilitaryhistory.org