SAMHSEC meeting 9 March 2026
Chris de Coning discussed Axis submarine operations off Southern Africa, including sinkings of Allied ships by German, Italian, Japanese and Vichy French submarines and 262 Squadron RAF (later renamed 35 Squadron SAAF) anti-submarine operations off Southern Africa, including the sinkings of U-197 south of Madagascar on 20 August 1943 and UIT-22 south of Cape Town on 11 March 1944. The recordings of Chris’ presentations are in the Video Library on the Societry's website.
SAMHSEC Requested the Pleasure of your Company to talk about military history on 30 March 2026
In session 1, Dylan Fourie discussed Colonel Ronald Thomas Stewart Macpherson, CBE, MC & 2 Bars, TD, DL, known as Tommy Macpherson, nicknamed the "Kilted Killer”.
Macpherson’s early life in the Scottish Highlands laid the foundation of his character. In a region associated with resilience and independence, he developed physical strength, confidence and leadership qualities from a young age.
When war broke out in 1939, he joined the British Army and initially followed a conventional military path, with no indication of the role he would later play.
His first major exploit was during the North African campaign, where he was captured. Instead of accepting captivity, he escaped by jumping from a moving train. Injured and alone in enemy territory, he managed through courage and determination to evade recapture and returned to Allied lines.
On returning to Britain, Macpherson volunteered for the Special Operations Executive (SOE), an organisation tasked with sabotage and support of resistance movements in Occupied Europe. He underwent training in explosives, weapons, and covert communication, but most importantly, he was prepared psychologically to operate independently and lead irregular forces under pressure.
In 1944, he was deployed to Southern France ahead of D-Day to organise the French Resistance, or Maquis, in the area, which, at the time, was fragmented and poorly coordinated. Through strong leadership, Macpherson transformed these groups into an effective fighting force capable of coordinated sabotage and ambushes. His efforts disrupted German supply lines and communications, contributing to the success of Allied operations.
One of the more remarkable moments of his career occurred when he confronted a large German force. Rather than engaging in direct combat, he used a psychological strategy. Approaching under a flag of truce, he convinced the German commander that his force was surrounded by a larger Allied presence. Exploiting the enemy’s uncertainty and lack of communication, he secured their surrender without a battle.
Macpherson received honours including the Military Cross and 2 Bars and recognition from France.
After the war, he returned to civilian life, engaging in business and public service. He died in 2014.
His story illustrates how leadership, initiative, and psychological insight can shape outcomes in war.
The recording of Dylan’s presentation is also on the Society's website
In session 2, Pat Irwin introduced and outlined the contents of the South African Gunner’s Association’s (SAGA) recently published Register of Heritage Guns.
This Register is the consequence of a survey of historic breech-loading artillery in South Africa carried out by interested individuals over the past 20-plus years. To date this has involved the identification, documenting and photographing of 546 artillery pieces. The work is ongoing and is modified or corrected as new guns, information and other details become available and are added. The project is currently led by Major-General Roy Andersen, a former Master Gunner, supported by all branches of the SAGA, the Gunner’s Memorial Trust and several individual enthusiasts who have collected data and helped to identify individual guns.
The locations of the guns vary widely, ranging from SANDF installations, city halls, monuments, memorials and MOTH Shellholes, to ownership by private individuals.
The condition and state of repair of the guns varies from pristine to very poor or derelict. The Register is also used for prioritising guns for restoration, or at least respraying, and preventing further deterioration. This is often a subjective assessment depending on the history of the type, rarity and the history of individual pieces. On occasions these records have also helped to trace ‘missing’ guns.
In the Register the 546 individual pieces have been arranged into 98 recognised types using an Alpha-Numeric order for easy identification and follow-up. Under each type, for example the ‘25-pdr Gun-Howitzers’ (G1), all 55 are listed with their locations, countries of origin, identification marks such as breech or barrel numbers (where available), condition and brief notes where applicable. Most types have fewer guns listed and some have only one in the type, such as the famous, but rare, German 8.8cm Field and AA gun which is the only one of its kind in South Africa. What all the types in the Register have in common, is that virtually all of them have been associated with South Africa and South Africans in one way or another. The collection includes guns from the UK, Germany, Italy, France, Russia, China and, of course, guns manufactured in South Africa.
Anyone who subscribes to these guns as historical national treasures is
encouraged to submit additions, corrections and pictures to:
roy.andersen@mweb.co.za or p.irwin@ru.ac.za
The Register may be viewed on the Web at: https://www.gunners.org.za/wpcontent/et al.pdf
The recording of Pat’s presentation is in the Video Library
SAMHSEC meeting 13 April 2026
Dylan Fourie is to speak on Lauri Allan Tourni - the soldier who fought for 3 countries.
SAMHSEC Requests the Pleasure of your Company to talk about military history on 27 April 2026
RPC meetings are opportunities for you to share your knowledge of a military
history subject or book with fellow military historians. Presentations should last
approximately 15 minutes to allow time for sharing the pleasure of one another’s
company. You can do any number of RPC presentations per year. Please contact
André at andrecrozier@gmail.com if you want to share your knowledge.
Hidden Histories progress report
https://samilitaryhistory.org/memorial/index.html
The following were added during March:
Albany Anglo-Boer War Memorial
https://samilitaryhistory.org/memorial/albany.html
Bezuidenhout Valley War Memorial
https://samilitaryhistory.org/memorial/bezvalley.html
Cathedral of St Michael and St George War Memorial
https://samilitaryhistory.org/memorial/stmichael.html
Ferreira Deep Ltd War Memorial
https://samilitaryhistory.org/memorial/ferreira.html
Lt Col John Fordyce, 74th Highlanders
https://samilitaryhistory.org/memorial/fordyce.html
The Battle of Gruisfontein 5 February 1902 Memorial
https://samilitaryhistory.org/memorial/gruisfontein.html
The Battle of Holkrans 6 May 1902
https://samilitaryhistory.org/memorial/holkrans.html
Krugersdorp and District War Memorial
https://samilitaryhistory.org/memorial/krugersdorp.html
1st Bn East Lancashire Regt War Memorial
https://samilitaryhistory.org/memorial/lancashire.html
The Battle of Naauwpoort 29 Sep 1865
https://samilitaryhistory.org/memorial/clarens.html
Southern Suburbs War Memorial
https://samilitaryhistory.org/memorial/turfontein.html
Newclare Cemetery Johannesburg Military Graves
https://samilitaryhistory.org/memorial/newclare.html
Captain Oswald Austin Reid, VC
https://samilitaryhistory.org/memorial/reid.html
L Cpl PJ van der Westhuizen
https://samilitaryhistory.org/memorial/vdwest.html
Private R.L. Winslow & Private W.L. Winslow, 5th Mounted Rifles
https://samilitaryhistory.org/memorial/winslow.html
Thanks to all who have contributed already and call to arms for those whose contributions are yet to come.
SAMHSEC
Chairman: Malcolm Kinghorn culturev@lantic.net
Secretary: Stephen Bowker stephen@stephenbowker.co.za
Speaker coordinator: André Crozier andrecrozier@gmail.com
Scribe: vacant
Field trip coordinator: vacant