PAST EVENTS
Mr Peter Fox who served with the R.A.F.V.R., inter alia, as Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, Flight Lieutenant, with 215 Squadron, Bengal; O.C. 567 A.M.E.S. radar station, Bengal; Air Liaison Officer XIV Army, Burma, etc., addressed our July gathering on the aerial bombardment of the city of Nuremberg during the earlier part of 1944. Nuremberg held a special place in the mind of Nazi Germany, because it was in this city that the traditional mass rallies of the Nazi party took place. However, when the British Bomber Command under Air-Mashal Sir Arthur Harris decided on night attacks and area bombing of certain German cities Hitler's Nuremberg rallies came to an end after the R.A.F. had "rallied" on the night of 31 March, 1944, to conduct a massive raid on this city. Under adverse weather conditions many hundreds of aircraft, bombers, fighter escorts and pathfinder bombers took off on a flight plan which was designed to confuse and mislead the German airforce and ground defences, but had Nuremberg as its target and turning point. British losses were exceptionally heavy, but a sufficient number of planes got through, not only to destroy some 94 factories, but also to achieve a tremendous psychological effect.
All this was presented by our speaker by means of slides and a recorded commentary in a manner which succeeded in building up an impressive atmosphere. All types of aircraft used were shown and discussed; maps and diagrams elucidated the strategies of bomber command; action shots presented the drama. The audience gained an insight into the tremendous amount of detail and intricate planning that went into preparing an operation of such magnitude. Midge Carter moved a well deserved vote of thanks at the end of a lively question time.
A CORRECTION AND APOLOGY
We follow the practice of including summaries of talks given at our meetings in the monthly news-letter to enable members, who were present, to recall in later days the main substance of a talk; also to enable absent members to gain an impression of the nature of the talks and, lastly, to stimulate further interest in any of the subjects discussed. These precis are compiled from memory or such notes as may be available at times. They do not claim to be couched in the words of the speakers, nor to be authoritative historical records. However, one of our members has expressed his amazement at the "appallingly inaccurate 'History'" contained in the review given of Col Hodgson's talk in our June news-letter where it was said that "he eventually found his way to Ireland to assist in the supression of the Irish Rebellion, 1920-22". Your scribe offers abject apologies for what Churchill might have called a "terminological inexactitude! Of course, every historian ought to know that the "Irish Rebellion" specifically so called, took place in 1916. The rebellious activities during the ensuing years some call euphemistically "the Irish troubles". In Ireland itself this intensive conflict is known as the Anglo-Irish war. This conflict resulted in the Irish peace agreement, which was signed by British and Irish plenipotentiaries on December 6, 1921, and became operative early in 1922.
During these years the agitation set off by the "Rebellion" of 1916, intensified and the republican Irish volunteers began to conduct guerilla war against the military and armed police. As the Irish Republican Army (IRA) they soon engaged in widespread ambushes and attacks on barracks and convoys and the Government retaliated with ruthless reprisals and suppression. A large proportion of the Irish police resigned, and amongst the countermeasures taken by the Government was the recruitment of a new force of auxiliary police from the ranks of demobilized officers who lacked other employment. It was as a member of this organisation that Col Hodgson found himself in Ireland during the years 1920-22. This explanation should now put the admittedly somewhat loose description quoted from the June news-letter into its correct perspective.
LADYSMITH HISTORICAL SOCIETY
The Ladysmith Historical Society is planning an excursion to the Bergville area to visit certain rock paintIngs and Iron Age ruins on Saturday 14 August, followed by an excursion to a concentration of iron-smelting sites east of Colenso, on the following day, Sunday 15 August. Any of our members interested in participating in this outing should contact your undersigned Secretary for further details.
FUTURE EVENTS
Programme of Monthly Get-togethers
AUGUST 12th KEN GILLINGS will present a slide talk entitled "THE STORMBERG SAGA". This is the history of the Stormberg region, the events leading up to the Anglo/Boer War, the Battle of Stormberg itself, and operations in the area up to the end of the war.
SEPT. 9TH Film Evening : "Breaker Morant".
OCT. 14TH Major Darrell Hall will present "The 1917 Diary of 2/Lt R.E. Stevenson, 2/7 London Regiment".
The venue for all meetings will be the Lecture Room, 'SB' Bourquin Building,. the Port Natal Administration Board I so head office, on the corner of .Ian Smuts HIghway and Buro Crescent, Mayville, commencing at 8p.m. Glasses and ice will be supplied so please bring your own canned or bottled refreshments. Friends and interested persons are welcome to come along.
AN APPEAL
Mr. 'Fatty' Bozas of Empangeni would like to know if anyone can shed some light on a unit which was known under any of the following names: Melmoth Militia Reserve; Melmoth Rifles; Melmoth Militia Reserve Rifles. Please channel any such information through Mr. Ken Gillings...address...phone no.
(Mrs) Tania van der Watt,
Secretary, Durban Branch,
S.A. Military History Society,
Box 870, HILLCREST, 3650.
Tel. (031) vvvvvv