SAMHSEC RPC meeting 31 August 2026
Anne Samson’s presentation on the formation and early service of the South African Military Nursing Service 1914-1918 is in the video library of the website.
as is Anne Irwin’s presentation on Hidden Histories.
SAMHSEC meeting 14 September 2026
"Africa at War in 1914" by Anne Samson. Emulating the first months of the First World War, Anne bumbled us though a monthly chronology of what happened in Africa. Anne looked at each of the main theatres where there were German colonies and some highlights of what happened each month in different areas: West Africa, East Africa, South Africa and Egypt. Reference was also made to Portugal and Belgium, Britain’s allies. Action on land, sea, lakes and in the air were also touched on with the talk ending with a look at what happened next, the legacy of the first months of war.
Of significant interest was the chaos of August as each territory responded as it felt appropriate for the circumstances it found itself in and the reaction of the neighbouring German colony. Each African territory was automatically drawn into the war because of its governing power being at war.
However, the outbreak of war provided individuals an opportunity to exact revenge and payback against others across the border or even in-country. One such person to suffer was South African hunter Philip Pretorius who was ambushed by a German force on his return home in German East Africa (Tanzania) after a hunting/poaching trip. He managed to escape to South Africa where he was later called upon to enlist in the action against the Königsberg which sank HMS Pegasus on 20 September in Zanzibar harbour.
A German raid into Portuguese East Africa (Mozambique) around the same time nearly led to an international incident as Portugal at the time was neutral – it entered the war on 9 March 1916. This did not stop the country sending two expeditionary forces to Africa to safeguard its interests against German incursions which were expected.
In Central Africa the first actions were on Lake Nyasa (Lake Malawi) on 13 August to put the German ship Hermann von Wissmann out of action. The next action in the area happened on 13 September when Captain Barton led a force across the lake to engage the Germans at Karonga. They ended up passing each other in the thick bush.
In West Africa, the first shots were fired on 12 August 1914 – by Alhaj Grunshi in Cameroon. Togoland was the first German territory to surrender on 26 August.
South Africa too was caught unprepared with only Smuts and Bourne in the Ministry of War. They rapidly had to get a military infrastructure in place to support the military services (already in place). The decision to invade South West Africa (Namibia) was to lead to the rebellion. The Battle of Sandfontein saw South Africa’s first major losses on 26 September. This was four days after the BSAP took the surrender of Schuckmansburg in the Caprivi Strip.
And so it went on with the Battle of Tanga between 2 and 5 November 1914 alongside that at Longido in British East Africa which resulted in a change in command in the theatre from the Colonial Office to the War Office. Near Longido, at Taveta, the Germans on 15 August 1914 attacked and captured the town which they held until it was relieved by Smuts in February 1916.
Egypt was under Ottoman Turk rule at the start of the war, but was eventually made a British protectorate in December which consolidated British control of the Suez Canal – important for shipping to and from the Indian Ocean.
Events and experiences of the first months of war was to see consolidated command implemented with the arrival in late 1915 of Edward Northey in the south of German East Africa and Horace Smith-Dorrien (Smuts) to the north.
Cameroon was to fall in 1916 and German South West Africa on 9 July 1915. After these actions troops used in those theatres could be used elsewhere such as the South Africans going to the Western Front and West Africans to East Africa.
Anne’s presentation is in the Zoom library.
SAMHSEC Requested the Pleasure of your Company to talk about military history on 28 September 2026
In session 1, Chris Dooner told us that on South Africa’s Heritage Day 24 September 2026, the Cannon Association of South Africa (CAOSA) staged a muzzle-loading cannon relay with black powder muzzle loading historic guns being fired every 5 minutes starting in Simonstown stretching across the country based on the original Dutch cannon signalling system used from 1652 to 1800.
31 guns were fired with 8 of the 9 provinces being involved. Sizes ranged from 18 pdr down to .5 pdr with a 9 inch at Simonstown. Famous guns were used, including one from the Battle of Blood River and a replica Long Tom. Many of the firings were attended by members of the public and accompanied by informative talks.
The lecture covered the history of the Cannon Association of South Africa and their work preserving historic muzzle loading cannons.
Chris’ presentation is in the Zoom library.
In session 2, Pat Irwin told us about the earliest records of military history from approximately 18000 YBP (Years Before Present) to 3000 YBP. After outlining a time frame from the Late Stone Age to the advent of the Bronze Age and metal working, methods of recording and retrieving early military history were briefly described. These ranged from the excavation of cemeteries and skeletal remains to related artefacts, including weapons, to the gradual development of writing and its deciphering.
Archaeological evidence was blended with written records on clay tablets and on temple walls to build up a composite picture of military history and the contexts in which events occurred. Eight pre-eminent military related conflicts and events up to the third millennium BC were identified and discussed in brief.
These included the world’s oldest known cemetery at Jebel Sahaba in Upper Egypt with both skeletal and imbedded weaponry in a timeframe of roughly 18 000 to 13 000 YBP.
Sibudu cave in northern KwaZulu-Natal where, it is claimed, the oldest simple bows and arrows were found. These had reached Mesopotamia by c.12 000 YBP.
The oldest known fortification system in the world stood on the site of present-day Jericho 10 000 years ago.
The earliest pictographs of armies at war came from the Kingdom of Kish in Mesopotamia. It was also the origin of the Sumerian King List on clay tablets which provide a vast body of information combining myth, legend and historical facts of the time.
The earliest war with surviving contemporary accounts was fought in Mesopotamia in 4 726 YBP between the Sumerians and the neighbouring civilisation of Edom. It is the oldest written mention of an inter-state military campaign.
The world’s oldest known War Memorial is the 4500-year-old White Mountain Burial Mound containing fallen soldiers and related weaponry. It is now under water due to the construction of a dam.
The Battle of Megiddo (Armageddon in Hebrew) in 3 457 YBP was fought between the Egyptians and a coalition of rebellious Canaanite cities at a strategic fortified site in the Vale of Jezreel in northern Israel. It is the first armed conflict recorded by eyewitnesses and the first clear account of troop movements, battle strategy, casualty count, reliable tactical detail and a seven-month siege, all recorded on the walls of the temple of Amun-Re at Luxor. Set at a crossroads connecting ancient empires such as Syria and Egypt, the city and the surrounding Vale have subsequently seen at least another 34 battles over the past three millennia.
The Battle of Kadesh fought between the Egyptian and Hittite Empires relatively recently in 1 247 BC. It is claimed to be the largest chariot battle in history, involving 5 000 to 6 000 chariots. The battle was touch and go and ended in a stalemate, followed by a peace agreement treaty widely recognised as the earliest recorded International Peace Treaty in history.
SAMHSEC meeting 12 October 2026
Stephen Bowker is to tell us about Squadron Leader Brian Lane, DFC ….. a love for the Spitfire
SAMHSEC Requests the Pleasure of your Company to talk about military history on 26 October 2026
RPC meetings are opportunities 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
Our aim is to preserve South Africa’s overlooked military heritage in the cloud. To do this, we need original photos of military memorials/monuments, cemeteries and graves with the photographers’ permission to use them, how to find the hidden history & its significance. We focus on what is on the ground today and include references to further reading on SAMHS’ website and other hidden history entries in the vicinity. Entries are not once-off and additional information and photos are added as they become available.
The following have been added since newsletter 264 September 2026:
Dwarsrivier Memorial
Robert de Kersauson de Pennedreff
Morant & Handcock
MOTH Suikerbosrand Shellhole & War Memorial
Primrose Cemetery ABW Memorials
Heilbron Cemetery ABW Reburials Memorial
Burgershoop Cemetery ABW Reburials Memorial
2nd Northumberland Fusiliers Nooitgedacht Memorial 13 Dec 1901
Imperial Light Horse Naaupoort Nek 5 Jan 1901
2nd Bn King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry Bakenlaagte 31 Oct 1901 Memorial
King's Royal Rifles Mounted Infantry Bakenlaagte 31 Oct 1901 Memorial
Scottish Horse Bakenlaagte 30 Oct 1901 Memorial
84 Bty RFA ABW Memorial
Queen's Bays Leeuwkop 1 April 1902 Memorial
Primrose Township Great War Memorial
Rand Revolt graves in Primrose Cemetery TS, SAP & SAR&H
Deelfontein Military Cemeteries
Mendi Memorial Cape Town
Brakpan Cremation Memorial
Cathcart War Memorial
We are now 150 up, not out. Plenty of room for more. 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