SPRINGBOK DECEMBER 2015

THE FLOWER BED OUTSIDE THE DURBAN CITY HALL PREPARED BY THE DURBAN/Ethikweni MUNICIPALITY FOR THE NATIONAL REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICE ON SUNDAY 08 NOVEMBER 2015.

DECEMBER 2015

SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 INDEX Message from the National President…………………………………………………………………………………………………..2 National Headquarters……………………………………………………………..……………………………………...…………………..3 28th General Assembly of the World Veterans Federation……………………………………………………………………..3 Lgr Godfrey Giles, Report on World Veterans Federation 28th General Assembly…………….……………………4 National Executive Committee………………………………………………………………………………………………………………7 Medal Project……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………….8 Tribute to Lgr Demetri Friend………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..8 Projects: Delville Wood 2016 Tour………………………………………………………………………………………………………..9 Public Relations………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…9 Branch News……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………12 Alexandria……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………….12 Atteridgeville………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………13 Cape Town……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…13 Durban……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….14 Port Alfred………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….16 Pretoria………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………16 Soweto……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….17 Legion MC………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….17 United Kingdom and Europe………………………………………………………………………………………………………………17 Remembrances……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………….19 Battle of Delville Wood….………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………….19 Benoni……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………….19 Bloemfontein……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….19 Durban…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….…………..19 Kimberley……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………….21 Pietermaritzburg…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………….21 Pretoria ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….…21 United Kingdom and Europe…………………………………………………………………………………………………….………..21 Battle of Britain………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….24 East London……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….24 Port Elizabeth…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….24 Battle of Square Hill…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………24 Johannesburg……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….24 Port Elizabeth……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….24 Alpine 44 Club Memorial……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…..25 Remembrance Day………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….….26 Bloemfontein……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..26 Durban……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….26 Johannesburg……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..26 Kimberley……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………27 Lyttelton……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..27 Port Alfred………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….31 Pretoria………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………31 United Kingdom – Cenotaph………………………………………………………………………………………………………………31 Glasgow, Scotland……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………..35 Gothenburg, Sweden…………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………………35 Other Commemorations…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….39 International Day of Peace………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….39 SAS Regimental Association South Africa……………………………………………………………………………………………39 Opening of Garden of Remembrance…………………………………………………………………………………………………39

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 Blind Veterans – United Kingdom…………………………………………………………………………………………………….40 Jewish Ex-Serviceman and Woman, United Kingdom……………………………………………………………………….45 Kimberley Day, United Kingdom…………………………………………………………………………………………………….…45 Centenary Commemoration of World War One……………………………………………………………………………….45 First Allied Combat Victory of World War One……………………………………………………………………………….…45 South African Forces on the Western Front – Colonel Maryna Fondse…………………………………………..…45 Commemoration of South Africans………………………………………………………………………………………..………..47 Forgotten SA WW1 Labourers to Receive Recognition………………………………………………………….………….47 Steve Stevens DFC – Outreach by Cameron Kinnear……………………………………………………………….……..…48 Captain Percy Howard Hansen VC…………………………………………………………………………………………………….51 Plumstead Cemetery…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….…...52 Other News…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….….………55 Australian Sailors Remembers………………………………………………………………………………………….…….………..55 Air Defence Artillery in South Africa – Double Barrel Vol. 5 Issue: 5 September 2015……….….………….56 The Angel of Mons……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………56 Ramcat Fishing Competition in Durban…………………………………………………………………………….….………….57 “Let us Remember”………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….……….57 Military Badges at Cullinan……………………………………………………………………………………………….…….……….58 Cadet Affiliation – United Kingdom………………………………………………………………………………….……….…….58 Obituaries……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….………….…..59 Lgr Malcolm Kriel………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………….…..59 Other Obituaries……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..61

PHOTO PAGES Durban Medal Presentation…………………………………………………………………………………………..……………15 Battle of Delville Wood Commemoration, Durban…………………………………………………………..………….20 Battle of Delville Wood Commemoration, United Kingdom………………………………………………..………22 Remembrance Day, Durban…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…...28 Remembrance Day, East London……………………………………………………………………………………………..….29 Remembrance Day, Johannesburg…………………………………………………………………………………………..….30 Remembrance Day, King Williamstown…………………………………………………………………………………..…..32 Remembrance Day, Port Elizabeth…………………………………………………………………………………………..….33 Remembrance Day, Pretoria……………………………………………………………………………………………………....34 Remembrance Day, Cenotaph London……………………………………………………………………………………..…36 Remembrance Day, Glasgow Scotland……………………………………………………………………………………..…37 Remembrance Day, Gothenburg, Sweden………………………………………………………………………………..…38 Opening of Garden of Remembrance, United Kingdom…………………………………………………………..….41 Jewish Ex-Serviceman and Women Service, London United Kingdom……………………………………..….42 Kimberley Day Parade……………………………………………………………………………………………………………..….43 Australian Sailors Remembers…………………………………………………………………………………………………....55

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 NATIONAL PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE This Springbok records all the tremendous work and interactions that the Legion has done during the second half of 2015. Well done to everyone and thanks so much for your support to our veterans and their families.

It is much appreciated and acknowledged.

The Legion is expanding all the time as more and more veterans need assistance and others are prepared to assist them. Thus following our motto “Not for ourselves but for others.” Some exciting times are a foot with a new marketing plan looking at our branding along with a new website. It is about time that the Legion really started following up on the successful communications that has been running on Facebook. Our page has been running for years and very well monitored so that it really keeps the ethos of the Legion alive. Over the December period it suddenly grew to over 20,000 followers.

Well done to the comms team.

This is creating a lot more interest in the Legion and thus we need to ensure we keep these new prospective members interested. Soon the website will allow them to apply online etc. which will speed up the process.

The new branches are starting to flex their muscles and it is hoped that they will support their communities to the full like all the others. The new Legion Social Club in Durban has taken off well and this could be a new concept that the Legion needs to follow.

National President, Lrg Godfrey Giles.

The Legion holds its Congress in 2016 which will be held in Cape Town. It is hoped that this will discuss all the planned projects that will be discussed by the NE. These include the Legion Veterans Badge, Motorcycle Club, Social Clubs, Blue Beret branches to name just a few. The Medal project is still going well and much appreciated by so many veterans who have been waiting for years for their medals.

2016 is going to be a busy year with the 100th anniversary of Delville Wood and the RCEL Congress. It is hoped that our Legion tour will be well supported despite the increase in exchange rates.

Planning has already started for the RECL 100th Anniversary conference in Cape Town 2021. The RCEL has already allocated some funding for these preparations to ensure it is a great success building on the 75th that was also held here.

Funding is still a big concern and this needs to be addressed by the NE. The Legion needs to find ways of generating wealth, without risk, which is a tall order.

On behalf of you all and myself, our thanks to NHQ, especially Marrietta, for everything they are doing. We are hoping to improve their accommodation shortly due to a donation being given to them.

Looking forward to 2016 and meeting with as many of you as possible.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS The SA Legion NHQ and its Staff component have been very busy since the previous edition of the Springbok: PARADES The NHQ Staff have attended and assisted in the preparation of: Delville Wood Remembrance Service.

61 Mech VA Remembrance Service.

31 BN VA Remembrance Service.

32 BN VA Remembrance Service.

Warsaw Flights Memorial Service.

Battle of Square Hill Remembrance Service.

National Remembrance Service.

El Alamein Remembrance Parade.

MOTH Sunset Parade.

Parktown Boys High School Memorial Parade.

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Lgr Jurie van der Merwe with Chris Warren from the Royal Commonwealth Ex-service League.

The National Secretary has represented the Legion at the regular CMVO meetings.

The National Secretary and National President attended the RCEL Conference in Hong Kong.

The NHQ planned the SA Legion Workshop in June to discuss the way forward.

The NHQ Staff was instrumental in the preparation of the SA Legion Poppy Concert in conjunction with the Johannesburg Jewish Male Choir.

NHQ recently hosted a very successful and informative visit from Chis Warren, the Secretary General of the RCEL. The NHQ Staff has been instrumental in the paying out of monthly RCEL and National War Grants to qualifying veterans and their widows.

NHQ has attended to numerous queries regarding ancestors who participated in the First World War. 28 t h GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE WORLD VETERANS FEDERATION IN SOPOT, POLAND The 28th General Assembly of the World Veterans Federation took place from 31 August until 4 September 2015 in Sopot, Poland, on the invitation of the National Office of Veterans and Victims of Oppression. Sopot is a city of about 40 000 inhabitants, situated on the coast of the Baltic Sea. Along with neighbouring Gdansk and Gdynia, Sopot forms an urban centre around the port, called the ‘Tricity’.

As well as the important work of the General Assembly, the programme includes a commemoration ceremony to honour our late President Datuk Abdul Hamid Ibrahim. A special meeting will take place on the theme “2015 – Anniversary Year” and will focus on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War Two, the 70th anniversary of the signature of the

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 Charter of the United Nations, and the 65th anniversary of the WVF. There will also be a symposium on the theme “Support Veterans” with some interesting talks, including a presentation on PTSD by Dr. Walter Busuttil, from the British Association “Combat Stress”.

Guests will also have the chance to attend the ceremony commemorating the outbreak of World War Two in Gdansk, as well as the remembrance ceremony, and will be able to visit the museum of the Second World War, which is also in Gdansk. Guests are also invited to commemorate the anniversary of the creation of the organisation ‘Solidarity’ at the ceremony which will take place at the European Centre of Solidarity Movement, in the shipyard of Gdansk, which they will also have the opportunity to visit.

LGR GODFREY GILES, REPORT ON WORLD VETERANS FEDERATION 28TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY World Veterans Federation in sitting during the 28th General Assembly.

The World Veterans Federation (WVF) General Assembly (GA) was hosted by the Polish member associations, who are a UN Peacekeeping Missions Veterans Association, World Union of Veterans of the Home Army (AK), Association of War Disabled Persons of the Polish Republic and Association of Combatants of the Polish Republic and Former political Prisoners (ZKRPiBWP). The Polish Minister Jan Stanislaw Ciechanowski, Head of the Office of War Veterans and Victims of Oppression, and members of his office were very attentive and very good hosts. The GA was held at the Sheraton Hotel, Sopot, Poland.

Emblem of the World Veterans Federation (WVF).

Before the 28th General Assembly, as Vice President Standing Committee on African Affairs, I attended the 152nd Executive Board meeting held in Sopot Poland on 29/30 August 2015. As most of the deliberations during this meeting are covered during the GA I will not mention them here. However, one point that was not brought up at the GA was the status and way forward of World Veterans Voice (WVV). It was unanimously decided that WVV would remain as the PR/Communications agency for the WVF and that an agreement needed to be finalised by 15th September wrt the V-Fonds money that is still outstanding to WVV. It was further agreed that WVV would invoice WVF for their services rendered directly and that payment would be made from the V-Fonds funds already received.

The GA started with an official opening ceremony attended by the Speaker of Parliament, Ministers and many senior country representatives of many countries. The Military Band played a number of tunes which was well received.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 Thereafter there was a ceremony in honour of the late President Datuk Abdul Hamid Ibrahim with a collage of pictures of his visits around the world. The WVF Platinum Medallion was awarded posthumously to his widow.

There were visits to the Gdansk Shipyard where wreath laying was done at the Monument of the Fallen Shipyard Workers 1970 as part of the 35th anniversary of the creation of the organisation “Solidarity”. There was also a wreath laying ceremony at the Polish Sailor Memorial and a visit to the Navy Museum of the Republic of Poland in Gdynia. The Remembrance Ceremony at Westerplatte, Gdansk (Anniversary on the spot of the outbreak of the Second World War) was attended by the President of Poland and his full cabinet and many VIP guests. There was a reception hosted by the Mayor of Sopot at the Opera Lesna, a magnificent huge open air opera house. Finally there was a visit to the newly opened European Solidarity Centre, Gdansk Shipyard and a closing farewell dinner.

Official minutes of the GA will be circulated to all member organisations shortly so I do not intend to give a full account of the 5 days meetings but to pull out a few highlights. The CMVO officially gave me a mandate to act as their delegate at the GA as they could not attend due to financial reasons. Unfortunately as South Africa had not paid their dues for five years we could only be observers (without a vote) and any nominations of our members for positions could not be accepted either. I was nominated for a few positions and had to withdraw. There were three representatives from South Africa, namely the President and SG of SANMVA and Alfred Ngobeni of DMV. Due to a lack of registration country flag and seating was not prepared for them and I had to arrange this with the hosts. Thus I was not able to actually take part as a mandated official of CMVO. I did introduce the delegation to the Treasurer General to try and assist with the payment of the outstanding dues which I am sure will be done in the near future.

The total outstanding is 8,800 Euros which I arranged for a reduction to a total of 1,000 Euros (which I did previously inform CMVO, SANMVA and DMV) but I am led to believe that SANMVVA has now arranged for 5,000 euros.

During the Standing Committee on African Affairs I had to take full responsibility of not holding the required conference during the three years. I did not mention which organisation had let us down at the last minute and stated that the lesson I had learnt was not to allow something like this to drag on. I should have called it off at least a few years before and opened it up to other member organisations to host the Lgr Godfrey Giles reporting back on the Africa conference. Col Alfred Fuller frorm Cameroon is now the VP and has stated the conference will be held in Cameroon in 2017. He has the backing of his government with regards to funding his travelling etc so we should be seeing him shortly in South Africa.

Nearly 50 member organisations were present at the GA which is lower than normal and just shows that the WVF needs to start doing something constructive in order to keep their members. This is where the WVV is going to play a large role and the presentation was well received. SANMVA membership was ratified by the GA. The new VP Standing Committee for European Affairs (SCEA) is Gen Stanislaw Wozniak, a well-respected member. SCEA has formed a number of working committees namely: WG on Eastern European Countries, Southern Europe Countries, Northern Countries, Western European Countries, WG on Women, WG for Caucasus Veterans and WG for the International Veteran Rally. They are very involved in the welfare of veterans which I am sure is going to play a big role in the future as well.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 The new VP Standing Committee for Asia and the Pacific (SCAP) is Lt Gen (Ret) Kao Chung-Yuan (Frank) who was an ambassador for Taiwan in Pretoria South Africa. He and his wife are looking forward to visiting us in the near future.

SCAP has gone through a rough period but the organisations are very strong. Singapore is really doing very well and this region will do well going forward now.

The new President is Mr Dan Viggio Bertun, of Norway who was the VP for SCEA. Dan has a lot of new ideas and we worked on the new strategic plan for the WVF over the last few years during our EB meetings etc. He believes that the WVV will play a big role as well.

The new Treasurer General is Mrs Inge Nedergaard of Denmark. She and her husband have often visited South Africa and will again.

There was a change to the constitution that the Secretary General will be an appointed person and not elected so currently there is not an SG until the EB has met.

The biggest concern of the WVF is funding.

As is well known the WVF sold it’s building in Paris which has given it some funding for a short period of time. At the current rate the WVF will be able to make it to 2017 due to the cost of wrapping up the organisation according to French law. This is going to be the major focus of the new EB in order to ensure the continuity of the WVF, thus the insisting on members paying their dues, as over 600,000 euros is outstanding. I have tried over the years to introduce a more equitable dues structure that could be based on the MacDonald index trying to make the dues more level due to GDP, exchange rates etc. The rate of dues remains the same for the next three years due to no motion being Delegates listening to the address by Lgr Godfrey Giles. introduced to change them.

The numerous resolutions were discussed in full and the outcome will be minuted as there were a number of amendments made which would take pages to complete.

A special session was held that covered the 70th Anniversary of the end of WWII as well as the Signature of the Charter of the UN and finally the 65th Anniversary of the WVF. The presentations made were very interesting and I am sure copies will be distributed shortly.

Honorary tiles were made to Ms Elizabeth Sveri and Lgr Godfrey Giles as Honorary Vice Presidents.

Rehabilitation prizes were handed out to Col John Etherington, Mr Haim Bar, “Tzevet” Association Health and Rehabilitation System, Mr Kim Dok Nam, Centre of studies for medical psychological and Social Support for Veterans, IFT enhancing Human Security and the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity.

There were no WVF medal applications which is a pity and maybe something the CMVO should look into. There is a bronze for 10 years, Silver for 20 years, Gold for 30 years and Platinum for 40 years’ service to veterans. There are a number of names that we could put forward.

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The National Executive Committee (NEC) met on three occasions during the past six months at National Headquarters with members outside Pretoria participating by means of telephone conference.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 MEDAL PROJECT Since the start of the project we have received 1 752 applications for distribution.

Via this project we have also distributed 10 posthumous awards, including posthumous presentations in the USA. We have also traced numerous recipients who have changed addresses since applications were submitted, some have also emigrated.

A great deal of tracing has been done via the various Facebook Forums and by word of mouth.

This year alone we have received 461 medal packages representing 563 medals for distribution in Pretoria, Cape Town, East London, Port Elizabeth, KZN, Nelspruit, UK (England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland), USA, Australasia and Europe (Sweden, Portugal, Hungary, France, Germany, The Netherlands).

Not only have we distributed medals, also certificates and medal attachments (miniatures and clasps).

We have also sent medals to Thailand, Singapore, Israel (Via Cape Town), Isle of Man, New Guinea, and Canada. We also have had guys on rotation in Nigeria, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Japan and basically everywhere where South Africans can be found.

Besides the NHQ and Branch Medal Ceremonies we are also actively involved in the 61 Mech’s annual commemoration service.

Medals ready to be presented to recipients at one of the many medal presentation ceremonies.

We have processed Southern Cross Medal and Decoration (Re-issues), MMM (Re-issues), Pro Patria with Cunene Clasp, Pro Patria, Southern African, General Service Medals, De Wet, John Chard, 10 and 20 year Service Medals, John Chard Decorations, MTD’s 10 and 20 year, Badge for Voluntary Reserve Service, Closure Medals and Union Medals.

We have got comrades in arms together again after 30 odd years, assisted in guys and families getting closure. This project has gone further than only getting outstanding medals.

The Medals and Awards Sub Section are doing their best to process all the applications as soon as possible, however the number of applications results in a backlog developing which together with these applications and other work load results in the process going slowly Tribute to Lgr Demetri Friend “Tribute to Lgr Demetri Friend by Gert Gerrie Hugo on Facebook 27 August 2015 Long Overdue.

This man, Demetri Friend, should be seen as a hero by all veterans. Instead he gets attacked by little know it alls on certain veteran groups. He takes it in his stride and treats everybody and every enquiry with the utmost respect.

Demetri, rest assured. You are the hero of all Savannah Veterans.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 Without your tenaciousness, perseverance and patience, not one of us would have seen our outstanding recognition.

You Sir, are one helluva man.

I, and I believe all of us, stand in your shadow.

Thank you so much.

You are one of us.”

REPORTS FROM THE VARIOUS PORTFOLIO PROJECTS: DELVILLE WOOD 2016 TOUR In just more than 6 months a group of about 40 South African veterans will depart from Johannesburg International Airport to participate in the 100 year memorial service of the Battle of Delville Wood. There are still about 20 vacancies open on the tour. Presently we have about 20 names of members of the SA Legion living in Scotland and England will also be joining us at the different parades.

So yes, all is on track for the tour.

What is concerning and what we are currently addressing with our tour guide is : *The security situation in France and Belgium which is not new to a South African. *A second point that is concerning is the exchange rate however we are still in line with no major changes foreseen at the moment. *The third point is that the road closures and route changes and could change our itinerary.

Hopefully will have answers in a few days.

I can confirm that our tour guide has 30 rooms (sharing, booked) in Members of the South African Legion United Kingdom and Europe branch Arras and in Ypres. We had to take paying respect at the 2015 Delville Wood Ceremony. these rooms a few month ago as accommodation is very tight during this period in France and Belgium.

Please note that anyone wishing to join the tour, a complete name list has to be submitted to the South African Military Attaché in France for accreditation by the end of January 2016.

To confirm and secure your seat on the tour you must have paid your deposit by the end of December 2015 as we have to pay the hotel deposits by the 15th January 2016 PUBLIC RELATIONS Briefing to Members of the Military Association of Gauteng.

During the period under review Lgr’s Bolton and Ross briefed members of the Military Associations of Gauteng (MAG) on the proposed tour to Delville Wood in 2016. The briefing took place at The View on request of the members.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015

Saints Presbyterian Church Remembrance Day Service The Saints Presbyterian Church in Lyttelton approached National Headquarters for assistance in planning their Annual Remembrance Day Service at the Church on 08 November 2015. National Headquarters referred them to the Chairman of the Pretoria branch, Lgr Charles Ross.

Lgr Ross assisted the church in compiling the order of the Service and recommended a number of hymns that could be sung during the service. Lgr Ross also provided the church with 200 Poppies for which the church made a donation.

On Sunday 08 November 2015 all members of the congregation received a Poppy on arrival at the Annual Remembrance Day service. Following the Religious service the Last Post was “sounded” on electric guitar (this must be a first – certainly for me) followed by the two minutes silence and a recording of Reveille.

The church had a very unique way of placing the flowers that were provided. This comprised a rugged cross covered with fine mesh wire and the flowers were placed in the wire mesh until the entire cross was covered in flowers.

South African Facebook Page.

The South African Facebook Group of the South African Legion of Military Veterans stuttered over the initial period of the past six months but have since picked up again and membership has passed the 3 000 mark recently.

While the focus of the article posted on the Facebook Page is predominantly on the South African Legion of Military Veterans and South Africa, numerous articles on the World Wars, Korean War and the Border War are also posted. Information from the World Veterans Federation, Council of Military Veterans Organisations (CMVO) and the Department of Military Veterans (DMV) are also regularly posted. The current “mix” appears to be working as regular “likes” and comments are posted by members.

Most articles are also shared between the, Canadian, South African, United Kingdom and Europe and the Legion MC Facebook Pages ensuring that all members of the various South African Legion followers are kept informed.

The Cross in the Saints Presbyterian Church following the placing of roses there on.

Any misuse of any of the Facebook Pages are handled speedily and where necessary postings are removed and members suspended. Fortunately this has only happened once over the past six months.

While the Facebook Page is very well supported by numerous visits and “likes” we need more branch news to be posted on the page. Branches and individuals are urged to send reports and photos of all activities to the Editor at chross@iafrica.com. Let us really put in a great effort during the rest of the year to include MUCH MORE branch news on the page - ED United Kingdom and Europe Facebook Page.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 This Facebook page remains very popular and is used as a form of communication with especially the members in the United Kingdom and Europe. Membership has increased to 1 956 members.

Canadian Facebook Page.

The Facebook page has shown an increase since the previous edition and currently the page have 83 members. Articles are regularly posted on the page from both South Africa and the United Kingdom members.

Twitter The United Kingdom and Europe branch is also now active on Twitter. Items posted on their Facebook page are sent to Twitter with a photo and short comment.

Legion Websites South Africa. The site remains inactive. The Cape Town website remains the only South African site operational. As a result of this enquiries site are from time to time sent to the Cape Town branch who then forward these to National Headquarters or the relevant branch.

United Kingdom. This Website is very active and is linked to a separate Legion Facebook page and any articles posted on this page is automatically posted on the Website.

Springbok Magazine With rising costs of postage and the ever uncertainty of the postal service the June 2015 edition of the SPRINGBOK was distributed to all within the Legion with an e-mail address while the balance were mailed.

Unfortunately the initial copy of the SPRINGBOK that was distributed was in printer format, ie the pages were not in sequence and readers had to jump from one page to another. This was however corrected and a normal copy was distributed.

In future the SPRINGBOK will also be available “on line” at an ISUUP address which will be provided to all in the Legion. This will increase the readers substantively as all the various Legion Facebook followers will also be able to read it. The June 2015 edition has already been The eThikweni/Durban Municipality also prepared a second carpet bed with uploaded and within a week it had the Poppy on one of the hills in Durban.

161 impressions, 108 reads (77 in South Africa, 17 in the United Kingdom, 5 in Australia, 4 in the United States of America and 1 each in United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Serbia, Saudi Arabia and Ireland), 3 shares and 2 followers.

Television Interview On Friday 06 November 2015 Lgr Godfrey Giles was interviewed on the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s “ESPRESSO” early morning programme. This was arranged by Johann Kruger from the Durban branch. Well done Johann, Ed.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015

BRANCH NEWS General branch activities are reported here while participation of the branches in Remembrance ceremonies are covered under the various ceremonies later in the magazine.

ALEXANDRIA BRANCH I am sure that all Legionnaires are aware of the most significant act of remembrance which marked the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War and that was the “River of Blood” project, where 888,246 hand- made ceramic poppies, each one different and unique, were positioned so as to give the effect of a river of blood flowing out of the Tower of London into and completely filling the moat.

We at the Alexandria branch of the SA Legion were completely in awe of this project and is to be installed in our Legion clubroom The Anchorage at Bushman’s River Mouth.

These handmade ceramic poppies have been weathered and aged in the Tower’s moat making each one even more unique. Each of the 888,246 poppies represents a British or colonial fatality during the First World War. More than 25,000 volunteers gave of their time to plant these poppies, transforming the Tower’s moat into a sea of red. At the end of the project of remembrance each of the poppies was sold at a price of £25, giving a total of £22,206,150 raised for distribution through six charities including The Royal British Legion to which we are affiliated.

For those of us who have a calculator handy, multiply that figure by the current exchange rate of say R21.00 to the pound and see what figure that equates to in Rands.

Anyway, we at the Alexandria branch of the SA Legion received a One of the original ceramic Poppies from the London Tower found its way to the Alexandria wonderful surprise when our Vice Chairman, Lgr branch courtesy of the Vice Chairman Basil Lukas.

Basil Dukas and his partner Jeanette Bostock arrived back in S.A. after attending the recent Rugby World Cup in time for our Remembrance Day service and at the luncheon afterwards presented us with one of the original poppies from the Tower of London Act of Remembrance project. This poppy will now be on display in our local club room together with the collage of the Tower of London photographs.

The sequence of events which led to this poppy finding its way to us (and we believe that this could possibly be the only one in SA), reads like this: Jeanette’s son, Stephen Bostock, is a Lt Colonel in the Duke of Lancaster Regiment and he had acquired a few of these poppies. Basil, not too hopefully, had dropped a hint that our Legion would value a poppy for display and much to Basil’s surprise and to our joy the poppy was presented to him on condition that it be displayed in our SAL clubhouse in

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 order that at every meeting the international creed of “WE WILL REMEMBER THEM” would be uppermost in all our minds.

So we salute you, Colonel and to you Basil and Jeanette, for bringing this priceless token of remembrance for us to display and we extend an invitation to all legionnaires interested in viewing the poppy: when you are in the Eastern Cape please make contact with us.

ATTERIDGEVILLE BRANCH The very small Atteridgeville branch continues to meet regularly in their own informal way while members are encouraged to attend the various ceremonies. Unfortunately transport to the various ceremonies remains a challenge.

Notwithstanding this, two members of the branch attended the International Day of Peace Church Service on 20 September 2015 as well as the National Remembrance Day Service at the Union Buildings on 08 November 2015.

Chairman, Lgr Abel Sefolosha and Lgr Johannes Chaba ( a World War 2 Veteran from the Native Military Corps) laid wreaths at the National Remembrance Day Service at the Union Buildings.

The branch Chairman is also on the distribution list of the Pretoria branch and receives all the information that is distributed to the Pretoria members. The Chairman of the Pretoria branch attended the September meeting of the Atteridgeville branch.

Lgr Abel Sefolosha, Chairman of the Atteridgeville branch and Lgr Johannes Chaba, a Second World War Veteran at the International Day of Peace church service.

The Chairman of the branch is involved with the planning of the 2016 SS Mendi Memorial Service to be held at the SS Mendi Memorial in Atteridgeville.

CAPE TOWN BRANCH A presentation of medals took place at the Legion’s Cape Town headquarters on Saturday, 10 October 2015. Medals were presented to a number of recipients – former National Servicemen and Citizen Force (now Reserve Force) members. This is the fifth such presentation ceremony held by the Legion in Cape Town and we are very pleased to record that (inclusive of 10 October 2015) 165 recipients have to date, received 308 awards that were due to them.

This initiative began at our National Headquarters in Johannesburg who report that dozens of applications are pouring in from those who did not receive the medals due to them before they were discharged from the Defence Force. With this event the Cape Town branch made some history when a video of the event was published on YouTube on the Internet. By 28 November 2015, 331 people have watched the video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVcUMn3Tq8&feature=youtu.be Well done Cape Town - Ed The branch have also managed to secure some deals for members. Sacks Butchery, a supplier of top quality meats, in Westlake offer 10% discount for members who produces a letter indicating membership. The special is only applicable between 10:00 and 14:00 on weekdays only. Martin’s Funerals offers a discount on funeral services to paid-up members of the Legion.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 For those who do not wish to drive to the city for the annual Remembrance Service, a service will be held at the Legion’s complex at Lower Nursery Road, Rosebank at 11.00 am on 8 November 2015.

DURBAN BRANCH On Sunday 01 November 2015 members of the Durban branch of the South African Legion of Military Veterans were out and about very early. Steve Leahy met Steve Hornby at the Red Hill Cemetery, where Bob Bradley joined them later, and placed Poppies on all the war graves that could locate. 3 or 4 Graves in the Malay section could not be located.

After doing what they could at Redhill and saying cheers to Bob, they then proceeded to the Old Fort Cemetery in Wyatt Road, also known as the Wyatt Road Military Cemetery which is maintained by the South African Agency of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, where they met Craig Nicholson. They then proceeded to place as many poppies as they could until the bag Steve Hornby had ran dry & also the prestik was finished, about 25 or so were not done. Poppy Day collection in Durban.

Pete and Georgia Smit were responsible for placing Poppies on all the graves at the Stellawood Cemetery, believe around 600 or so…

Durban Social Club.

The newly-established social club meets on the fourth Saturday each month, our previous meeting being held on July 25th at the Stamford Hill Bowling Club.

Members enjoying the facilities at the recently opened Durban Social Club.

Our next regular meeting, at which elections for the office bearers will take place, is scheduled for Saturday, August 22nd at 10:00 (again at the Stamford Hill Bowling Club). Please make every effort to attend - in Legion uniform, if at all possible! To date we have the following nominations - however, if you know of anyone else suitable (who agrees to stand), further nominations will be accepted at the meeting: Chairman: Steve Leahy, Vice-Chairman: Craig Nicholson, Treasurer: Georgia Smit, Secretary: Shireen van den Berg, Member (ex-officio): Rick Andriés (Branch Chairman), a 6th Committee member may be appointed in due course if considered desirable,

Sergeant Major: Steve Hornby (not a member of the Committee).

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015

Photos of the Medal Presentation Ceremony held by the Durban Branch recently. Photos by Roy Reed Photography.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 SA Legion Durban Medal Presentation On the 5th December 2015, the Durban Branch of the SA Legion proudly hosted a Medal Presentation at 84 Signal Unit.

During the Presentation 22 medals were presented together with 2 BVRS, the medals ranged from the Pro Patria Medal to the Unitas Medal and included two Southern Africa medals, which were awarded to members who had earned them for service rendered.

The medals were presented to the members by Col Pat Acutt, the SSO Reserve Force in KZN. PORT ALFRED BRANCH The year was active for the local branch in that we have regular, very well attended, 1 st Monday of the month Committee meetings and, perhaps the focus of our activities, is every 3 rd Sunday we have a luncheon at our local sports club.

Our membership stands at 64 of whom 17 are Ordinary, 13 are Associate, 10 are Family and we have 24 “Friends of the Legion” i.e. widows and widowers with no military background who support our cause.

At our committee meetings we discuss a wide range of matters, our focus being on how we can serve the community.

We are always on the lookout for ex-service men/women, who are in some form of distress, to whom we can give material assistance. At our members’ request, we support a local one service organisation that provides monthly food parcels to needy persons, of whom the number seems to be growing with the downturn in the economy.

Largely depending on the weather, at our Sunday luncheons, we get between 35 and 70 persons attending, the majority being members of the local branch. The standard form is that each person/couple brings a bowl of salad while we, the Committee provide, for example, bangers and mash. It is a great day for camaraderie and for many of our elderly folk it is perhaps the only outing they have during the month.

During the course of the year, we participated in the South African Air Forces Association parade at 43 Air School where we laid a wreath. We have a very close connection with them, as is the case with the MOTHS. PRETORIA BRANCH The past six months has been a very busy period for the branch with regular branch and executive committee meetings, participation in the Delville Wood Memorial Service and the National Remembrance Day Service at the Union Buildings.

A successful second Medal Presentation ceremony was held at the GEM Village Hall in Irene on Saturday 19 September 2015 where medals were presented to recipients by former Chief of the South African Air Force, Lieutenant General Denis Earp SSA SD SOE SM.

Lieutenant General (Ret) Denis Earp, former Chief of the South African Air Force and Korean War Veteran presented medals to recipients at the second Pretoria Medal Presentation Ceremony.

In addition the branch planned and hosted the very successful International Day of Peace Church Service in the NG Kerk Raslouw in Centurion on 20 September 2015. See report on the service elsewhere in the magazine.

A member of the branch, “Yster” Smal is responsible for organising the

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 annual Ramcat Fishing Competitions around the country. This year the branch made a donation towards the cost of the event held at the Centurion Country Club in Centurion on 12 September 2015.

The branch has commenced with the planning of the 2016 SS Mendi Memorial Service to be held at the SS Mendi Memorial in Atteridgeville. Warning invitations have been sent to 135 High Schools in Pretoria inviting 2 learners from each school to attend the service and to lay a wreath on behalf of their school.

SOWETO BRANCH The branch continue to function and have established various committees to assist veterans in Soweto. These include Economy and Job Creation, Mr A. Kgoza, Education and Veteran’s Affairs, Mrs M. P. Mohale Buyeye, Technology and Computers, Mr Oupa Mabalaneand and Treasurer and Fund Raising Ms Mannetjie.

Sadly a mysterious fire happened at the Dube Chapel causing severe damage to the chapel.

LEGION MC The club is going from strength to strength and meet every Friday at the Log Cabin. The club is very much involved in providing Damage caused by the fire at the Dube Chapel in Soweto recently. food parcels to veterans in need. To raise funds a Pavement sale was recently held on Tuesday 04 August.

The club has also embarked on an awareness campaign to promote the club and to support this a flyer is been compiled indicating what the Legion and more specifically the Motor Cycle Club is all about. Aim is to encourage riders and support members to join. Once printed the flyer will be distributed.

Members of the club arranged a bus trip outing to The View, Headquarters of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment where they enjoyed lunch. Veteran’s graves in the Benoni Cemetery has also been cleaned by members of the club.

A number of memorial services have been attended.

UNITED KINGDOM AND EUROPE BRANCH 8 November 2015, at our South African Legion AGM in London, it was again our privilege in the South African Legion England Branch, to officially award two of our members with their long awaited medals for their service in the SADF. Thanks to the hard work of the South African Legion HQ and the SANDF Ceremonial Office - some 30 years later they now finally have them. Andrew Bergman received his Southern Africa Medal and his General Service Medal and Chris Miller received his General Service Medal. Peter Dickens, Chairman of the SA Legion UK and Europe region did the officiating.

Well done men, wear them with pride. It is our pride as your fellow veterans to award these medals to you now. We, your brothers in arms, are the people who truly understand what you went through to get them and what they mean to you. We are honoured to award them to you in our presence

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 This was followed by a highly successful Legion pilgrimage to commemorate the Delville Wood battle in France – getting bigger and better we took a greater command and role in the veteran contingent on parade. We also earned substantial accolade from the dignitaries and organisers for taking care of their VIP invite - Rose McTavish - who’s Grandfather was the Colour Sergeant on the Mendi and is now commemorated at Delville Wood.

In the summer season we took a new twist on the Royal British Legion’s “summer picnics” but doing it South African Style and having a “Braai” instead – rigging up a presence for purposes of recruitment and awareness at The South Africa Day in Basingstoke and the Vetkoek and Vleis Day in Newbury.

Legionnaire’s depth of generosity was on show when Sean Renard secured Peter McAleese's SADF “slangvel” smock and we as Legion arranged for it to be handed back to him at the book signing and announcement of his second book “beyond no mean soldier’. To see a priceless smock returned to a veteran lit up the room, a true treasure. The motto “Not for Ourselves, but for Others” in true flight.

Lgr Peter Gillatt and I had the privilege of attending the unveiling of the Rhodesian African Rifles memorial at the National Arboretum.

Deeply proud of Peter as this event drew the SA Legion very closely to the Rhodesian veterans’ fraternity in the United Kingdom and this relationship is growing closer every day.

In the lead up to this parade, we managed to Members of the South African Legion, United Kingdom and Europe Branch, on parade during the Armed secure our first Forces Day parade.

Youth organization as a branch thanks to the hard work of Lt Cassandra Shaw, and we are now proudly associated to the 133 Cadet Army Force. This milestone cannot be underestimated as it’s a significant first – both for the Royal British Legion National Branches and the South African Branch.

Another all-time first on the Royal British Legion South African Branch front – the branch was given it’s tickets for The Festival of Remembrance yesterday attended by Tom and Ellen Mason on behalf of the branch – but the true highlight was to see Peter Gillatt carry the Royal British Legion South African branch Standard into the auditorium for the first time – that indeed was historic.

Our relationship with the Royal Hospital continues to get healthier and by their invitation we were able to attend their famous Founders Day parade and The Opening of the Garden of Remembrance earlier this week.

Despite setbacks on the branch’s membership numbers in March, where a small number of our members were inappropriately and actively targeted and eventually wooed to join another veteran organization – the South African branch was quickly able to recover the loss. So much so we are even able to declare a positive membership growth at year end.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 This growth and positive striving can easily be seen in today’s parade past the Cenotaph – we had more members on parade this year than we had last year, more participation by members’ families than last year and more enthusiasm, purpose and direction in the branch management.

The South African Legion branch in England co-hosted a "skouerskuur" (shoulder rub) event with 61 Mechanised veterans in London on Saturday 12 December 2015 at The Windsor Castle - a Victorian period pub near Victoria station in central London. The event was hugely successful and the Legion thanks Mr Johan de Vries and Mr Gert Minnaar from the 61 Mechanised Veterans Association - we hope this is the first of many and look forward to catching up in the New Year. The afternoon was opened with a traditional toast to absent freinds and closed with the traditional SA Legion UK branch toast to Nancy - the legendary Springbok mascot of South African Scottish in WW1. Enjoy the photos courtesy Theo Fernandes.

REMEMBRANCES DELVILLE WOOD Benoni About 100 Military Veterans and friends gathered at the cenotaph in Benoni on Sunday 19 July 2015 to attend the 99 th commemoration of the battle of Delville Wood. A total of 17 wreaths were laid while 35 symbolic roses were placed by members of the public.

Bloemfontein The Service was held on 19 July at Springbok Park. Chaplin Chrissie Lotz led the service with the reading from Mathew 6. Vice President of the branch, Lgr At Vorster, gave a short talk on the symbolism of Delville Wood while the branch President, Lgr J.J. van der Merwe, did the acknowledgements. After the service tea and refreshments were served.

Durban On Friday 10 July 2015 the Berea Mail Attendees at the Battle of Delville Wood Commemoration Service held in Benoni. carried a story on the Battle of Delville Wood provided by Johann Kruger, Secretary of the Durban branch of the South African Legion of Military Veterans. On the same day Rick Andries, Chairman of the Durban branch held a radio interview on the Battle of Delville Wood.

A large crowd gathered at the Cenotaph in Durban on a warm Sunday morning 12 July 2015 to attend the 99 th commemoration of the Battle of Delville Wood. The crowd included councillors, military veterans from various veterans’ organisations, members of the SA National Defence Force and civilians.

The Guard of Honour was made up of Reserve Regiments in Durban and was accompanied by the South African Army Band: Kwazulu Natal.

The wreath laying ceremony was led by Counsellor Ntshangase and followed by various Reserve Force units and Military Veterans Organisations. More than 40 wreaths were laid.

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Battle of Delville Wood Commemoration Service held in Durban.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 Kimberley The 99th commemoration of the Battle of Delville Wood, during which Private William Frederick Faulds, who later served as a Captain in the Kimberley Regiment, was awarded a Victoria Cross was held at the MOTH Garden of Remembrance on Sunday 19 July 2015. Service was attended by numerous Veterans Organisations with the Kimberley Regiment in attendance.

Pietermaritzburg A number of local Councillors, Military Veterans and friends gathered at the Weeping Cross in the Garden of Remembrance on Sunday 12 July 2015 to commemorate the Battle of Delville Wood 99 years ago.

Wreaths were laid by Councillors and representatives of various Military Veterans Organisations.

Port Elizabeth

Battle of Delville Wood Commemoration Service held at the Weeping Cross in the Garden of Remembrance in Pietermaritzburg.

The annual Delville Wood Parade took place at the Aloe White Ensign Shellhole on the 19th July 2015 and was well attended by the MOTH and Legion – this is a MOTH event.

Pretoria On a crisp winters Sunday morning, 19 July 2015, about 120 veterans and guests gathered at the Scottish Memorial in Burghers Park Pretoria for the 99th commemoration of the Battle of Delville Wood.

Following a stirring service a trumpeter from the South African Air Force Band sounded the Last Post and Reveille which was followed by the laying of wreaths. The laying of the wreaths was accompanied by sounds of the lament played by a Piper from the South African Military Health Services Band. Wreaths were laid by representatives of the various Arms of Services, Veteran’s Organisations, Military Adviser from the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, Assistant Military Attaché of the United States of America and representatives of the Netherlands Ambassador.

The Memorial Service was arranged by the Pretoria Memorial Services Council with support from the Department of Military Veterans and the South African National Defence Force. Following the service guests enjoyed refreshments on the lawns.

United Kingdom and Europe On the 5 July 2015 the South African Legion, along with the SANDF, embassy officials, military attaches, French veterans and friends, commemorated the 99th Anniversary of the South African 1st Brigade's landmark battle in 1916 at Delville Wood at Longueval in France.

Before the main commemoration took place, three South African veterans took a motor bike pilgrimage and joined up with the SANDF at Arques la Bataille on 3 July 2015, here South African brothers of the South African Native Labour Corps and Cape Corps lie buried, and they are remembered with the same reverence as their brothers at Delville Wood.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015

Members of the South African Legion of Military Veterans, United Kingdom and Europe Branch in attendance at the Battle of Delville Wood Commemoration Service in France.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 More South African veterans arrived in France over the course of the weekend, and prior to service on Sunday many went on the tours and memorials of the Somme. Notably the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, the Beaumont-Hamel Newfoundland Memorial, the Ulster Memorial Tower to 36th (Ulster) Division, the Lochnagar mine crater and more. A thirsty day’s touring was quenched at the landmark “Tommy Bar”.

The South African Legion hosted a traditional “Braai” on Saturday night in Longueval and we were honoured to be joined by officials from the South African embassy in France. We where also privileged to have Prof Grahame Scott and his wife join us, he was the special guest speaker invited for the opening of the Mendi section in the Delville Wood museum.

As the South African Legion we were also asked by the embassy to chaperone Mrs Rosalee Barry who was a VIP invited to the 99th commemoration as she is the Granddaughter of Colour Sergeant R. A. McTavish who died on the SS Mendi and she is a surviving link to the tragedy. We were greatly honoured to host Rose, and our sincere thanks go out to Karen Dickens who took her under her wing.

Before the commemorations started officially at Delville Wood on 4th July 2015 , the VIP’s were all led into the museum at the location for a unveiling and presentation on a dedicated display on the SS Mendi. Graham Scott, Senior Archeologist and Dive Superintendent on the SS Mendi and Sue Scott, the museum curator who led the Mendi Project and conducted all the research introduced the exhibition.

To commence the parade proper South African Legionnaires formed up with French veterans carrying the standards of the various South African veterans associations.

We were the n drummed into the ceremony with the VIP contingent following. From the SANDF, the Officiating Officer was Major General Msimang , and was joined by amongst many others by Generals Dlulane, Andersen and the Chaplain General Jamangile. They were joined by the Ambassador to France, and the Mayor of Longueval.

The South African Legion’s wreath was laid at the Delville Wood Standard bearers from the South African Legion of Military Veterans United Kingdom and Europe memorial by the branch leading the procession at the Battle of Delville Wood Commemoration Service in France.

Chairman of the South African Legion – United Kingdom and Europe branch – Peter Dickens. Stuart Robertson laid a wreath on behalf of the Royal British Legion South African Branch and RBL National Branches District.

Legionnaires on parade also included Paul Duncan, Graeme Scott, Andrew Bergman, John McCabe, Terence Milne, Cassandra Shaw and Justin Bosanquet.

Cassandra Shaw, who is also involved with the Cadet Army Force in the UK brought with her one of our youth members “Saffa” Da Conceaio, a 133 CAF member (British Army Cadet) who proudly carried a standard in memory of his father who was a field engineer serving in the SADF. As is customary, at the end of formalities at the wood itself, the veterans carrying the standards formed up the VIP’s and marched them to the memorial in Longueval itself. This part of the parade recognizes the French sacrifice and the

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 citizens of Logueval affected by the war. Once again Peter Dickens laid the wreath on behalf of the South African Legion and Stuart Robertson accompanied him for a wreath for the RBL South African branch.

After formalities the VIP’s thanked each veteran on parade and all adjourned as guests to the Lonueval community hall for “petits fours” and wine.

BATTLE OF BRITAIN East London A service commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain was held in the East London Cemetery on Sunday 13 September 2015. The service was attended by various veterans’ organisations including members of the East London branch of the South African Legion of Military Veterans.

Legionnaire Errol Moscos carried the South African Legion banner. The parade was led by a combined band of the East London Caledonian Society Band and the Pipes and Drums of the First City Regiment, Grahamstown.

Members of the South African Legion of Military Veterans and other Veterans organisation in East Port Elizabeth

London marching to Battle of Britain Commemoration Service.

On the Sunday 13th September 2015 the Branch was represented at the Annual South African Air Force Association Battle of Britain service at St Paul's Church, Parson's Hill. It was the 70 th Anniversary of the Victory in Europe at the end of WW 2, but it was also the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain. At the culmination of the Service there was a flypast by a P51 Mustang piloted by Patrick Davidson followed by the usual reception in the Church Hall.

BATTLE OF SQUARE HILL Johannesburg The annual Battle of Square Hill commemoration service was held at the memorial at the Ditsong National Museum of Military History on Sunday 20 September 2015. The service was attended by numerous veterans’ organizations including the Cape Corps Veterans.

Amongst the wreaths that were laid on behalf of the City of Johannesburg, South African Legion of Military Veterans, Memorable Order of Tin hats, Cape Corps Veterans and others.

Port Elizabeth The Annual Legion Parade to commemorate the Battle of Square Hill, fought by the Cape Coloured Corps in 1918, took place at the Aloe White Ensign Shellhole Garden of Remembrance on Sunday 20 September 2015.

27 Legionnaires and MOTH took part being mustered and marched into position by the indomitably SM Legionnaire Neels Engelbrecht. A number of family members were spectators to the proceedings. The proceedings kicked off with a

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 short welcome address by the Legion Branch Chairman, Lgr Brian Klopper. The Branch Chaplain, the Reverend Mark Barth of St Paul's Church, Parson's Hill led the Parade with a short devotion.

The Guest of Honour, Brigadier General M Kinghorn (Ret) SD SM, Former OC Special Forces Brigade, addressed the Parade relating the events of the Battle. The Act of Remembrance commenced with the sounding of the Last Post followed by 1 minute silence, Reveille and Lament.

Representatives of Various Organisations including the PE Branch of the Legion, MOTH, RAFA and various other representatives, laid wreaths in the Garden of Remembrance.

Laying a wreath during the Battle of Square Hill Commemoration Service held in Port Elizabeth.

The Reverend Bart invoked the Goodness of the Lord to be with the members in his Benediction. Following the dismissal of the Parade, light snacks and refreshments were enjoyed in the Dugout.

ALPINE 44 CLUB COMMEMORATION The 71st Anniversary in memory of the members of 31 and 34 Squadrons of the South African Air Force who died in the Italian Alps on the night of 12/13 October 1944. The service was held at the South African Air Force Memorial Bay’s Hill on Sunday 11 October 2015 followed by refreshments at the South African Air Force Gymnasium.

The impetus of the association which is now called “Alpine 44 Club” owes its existence to the tragic events of the night over 71 years ago. 16 B-24 Liberator heavy bombers of 31 Squadron South African Air Force and 4 from 34 Squadron were detailed to drop supplies to Italian partisans in North-West Italy on the night of 12 October 1944.

The weather unexpectedly turned very bad, with a change in wind direction, and very heavy cloud and rain. Of the 20 aircraft, only 3 located their drop zones and delivered their cargo successfully, 11 aircraft aborted the mission and returned to base safely, and 6 were lost, 5 crashed into the Alps and one is presumed to have crashed into the sea off the Ligurian coast between Genoa and la Spezia. This was the single largest loss of aircraft and men in a single day in the history of the South African Air Force. With 8 crew members per aircraft, a total of 48 men died.

The club actually started in 1999 when the community of Ostana thought it would be a good idea to erect a plaque for the aircraft that crashed into the hills above their town. For more information of the club visit their website www.alpine44.co.za The service started with a fly pass by a Harvard aircraft while the 2 minutes silence was also ended with a fly pass. A large number of wreaths were laid by various Organisations and family members. National Secretary, Marietta Venter, laid a wreath on behalf of the South African Legion of Military Veterans. Following the service a wreath was laid at the Memorial to the Unknown Airman in memory of the South African pilots of Italian descent who died during the Korean War.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 REMEMBRANCE DAY Bloemfontein Remembrance Day Service The Annual Remembrance Day Service in Bloemfontein was this year held at Springbok Park on Sunday 08 November 2015.

Although it was a small service it nevertheless served the purpose of remembering.

Durban Remembrance Day Service.

Annual Remembrance Day Service held at Springbok Park in Bloemfontein.

This event is annually organized by the Durban branch of the South African Legion of Military Veterans on behalf of the eThekwini/Durban Municipality and supported by the South African National Defence Force at the Cenotaph in the city. This year the eThekwini/Durban

Municipality exceeded all expectations with their two carpet beds. One at the city hall depicting a Poppy with the words Remembrance Day and SA Legion and a second against a hill comprising a large white circle with a red poppy.

As always the Service was very well attended with the eThekwini/Durban Municipality, the South African National Defence Force and numerous veterans’ organizations in attendance and laying wreaths.

Photos of the Durban event by Roy Reed.

Johannesburg Remembrance Day Service The annual Remembrance Day Service in Johannesburg is organized by the Municipality of the City of Johannesburg assisted by the Johannesburg Freedom Regiments. Overall the service is supported by the South African National Defence Force. The service is held at the Cenotaph in Johannesburg and included a march past by members of the Johannesburg Protection Services (Fire and Rescue Department as well as the Johannesburg Metro Police Department), veterans from various organizations and a Guard of Honour.

This year the theme of the Johannesburg service was the commemoration of the Holocaust.

Annual Remembrance Day Service held at the Cenotaph in Kimberley. Photo Steve Lunderstedt.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 Following the religious service, wreaths were laid by amongst other the Mayor of the City of Johannesburg followed by members of the Diplomatic Corps, South African National Defence Force and veterans organisations.

Kimberley Remembrance Day Parade by Steve Lunderstedt.

Memorial Day Parade at the Kimberley Cenotaph on 8 November 2015.

Good to see WW 2 Squadron Leader Lawrie Shuttleworth DFC, 101 years old, on parade. One can see him seated in a photograph posted. Moth were well presented. Also the last two surviving members of the Cape Corps in Kimberley.

Kimberley Regiment on parade.

Plus a Cape Corps veteran laying a wreath on their WW 1 memorial.

Lyttelton Centurion – Saints Presbyterian Church During October 2015 the Saints Presbyterian Church approached the National Headquarters of the South African Legion of Military Veterans for assistance in planning their 2015 Remembrance Day Service. It was referred to the Public Relations portfolio and I contacted the church and got involved. One of the request was the provision of 200 Poppies, which the Pretoria branch obliged.

Saints Presbyterian Church made a donation to the Legion.

On Sunday 08 November 2015 Lgr Ross and his wife attended the Remembrance Day Service in the Saints Presbyterian Church in Lyttelton. Every member of the congregation attending the moving service conducted by Reverend Zolani Makalima received a Poppy on arrival.

Lgr Charles Ross placing a rose on the cross during the Remembrance Day Service in the Saints Presbyterian Church.

Following the normal service the Remembrance Day part of the service commenced with the background to Remembrance Day. During this mention was made of the South African Legion of Military Veterans, who provided the Poppies, and the very important work currently being done by the Legion. This was followed with the reading of the poem “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae and an address by Lgr Charles Ross on the importance of Remembrance Day post the Second World War. The congregation was then called to Remembrance followed by the sounding (playing) of the Last Post on an electric guitar (this was a first for me, and obviously for many of the congregation), 2 minutes silence and the Reveille (a recording). The congregation was called upon to place flowers on a rugged cross covered with mesh wire, symbolizing the barbed wire of the First World War. This was a very interesting way of remembrance. Lgr Ross placed a flower on behalf of the South African Legion of Military Veterans.

The service concluded with the church choir singing the hymn “Plea for Africa”.

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Annual Remembrance Day Service held in Durban. Photos by Roy Reed.

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Annual Remembrance Day Service held in East London. Photos by Jannie Bezuidehout.

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Annual Remembrance Day Service held at the Cenotaph in Johannesburg. Photos by Lgr Allan Sinclair.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 Port Alfred Remembrance Day Service This year we hosted an extremely well attended Remembrance Day parade, which as per normal is held at the MOTH Shellhole. The ceremony was well organised by Legionnaire Wally Probart and led by Legionnaire Hermanus Smuts.

Pretoria Remembrance Day Service The Annual Remembrance Day Service was organized by the Pretoria Memorial Services Council with support from the Department of Military Veterans and the South African National Defence Force and was held at the lower terrace, under the statue of Nelson Mandela, of the Union Buildings.

Speaking at the Pretoria memorial, Major Tim Lane of the Pretoria Highlanders said this practise has long been a South African tradition. In 1916, after the First World War casualty list was published a minute’s silence was held in a church service in Cape Town to honour the fallen.

The service was once again very well attended and wreaths were laid by many High Commissions, Embassies and numerous veterans’ organizations.

Amongst those laying wreaths were Lgr Annual Remembrance Day Service held in Port Alfred.

Johannes Chaba, a Second World War Veteran, who laid a wreath on behalf of his fallen Native Military Corps. For the first time the Pretoria Scouts were in attendance and laid a wreath on behalf of the Scouts.

UNITED KINGDOM AND EUROPE CENOTAPH LONDON A full contingent of South African Legion Legionnaires laid a wreath in the world renowned Cenotaph Parade held in Whitehall, London on Remembrance Sunday – 8th November 2015.

The parade has 20 000 veterans and personnel from participating public service organisations taking part in it, however the South African Legionnaires stood out in conformity as proud South African veterans. As is customary the parade begins at 11:00 am with a two minute silence, the start of which is announced with an artillery salvo - heard across the city.

Queen Elizabeth II has the honour of laying the first wreath at the Cenotaph - this year she was accompanied by the King of the Netherlands. Following the Queen, serving members of Royal family lay their respective wreaths.

Once the Royal party has concluded wreath laying, members of the Cabinet, Opposition Party leaders, former Prime Ministers, the Mayor of London, other Ministers, Representatives of the Armed Forces, Faith Communities and High Commissioners of Commonwealth countries all lay wreaths.

The march past starts with the Royal British Legion’s wreath. Thereafter the numerous regiment associations, veterans associations and public service bodies march past the Cenotaph with an eyes left and present their respective wreaths.

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Annual Remembrance Day Service held in King Williams Town.

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Annual Remembrance Day Service held in Port Elizabeth. Photos by Brian James.

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Annual Remembrance Day Service held at the Union Buildings in Pretoria. Photos

by Hennie Heymans

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 The Legionnaires presented the South African Legion wreath - Stuart Robertson was given the honour. On the march the Legion took the salute of Prince William with an eyes right, before entering horse guards to conclude the march and dismiss.

The wreath for the Royal British Legion South African branch was handed over by the branch's youth members in the civilian columns.

Post parade refreshments and wrap up was held at the Kings Head in Shepard's Lane. Peter Dickens - the branch Chairman - thanked all the Legionnaires and branch members - over 30 members where on parade, exceeding last years numbers and this is indicative of the highly positive culture in he branch which is growing from strength to strength.

Notable thanks were given to Peter Gillatt, Theo Fernandes, Karen Dickens, Stuart Robertson, Russell Mattushek, Paul Gladwin, Andrew Bergman, Cameron Kinnear, Cary Hendricks and Simon Mcllwaine for the success of the parades in London and Glasgow and significant contributions to the branch over the year.

The social was concluded with the anointment of the Branch's Ceremonial Officer's swagger stick - kindly donated by Russell Mattushek.

GLASGOW REMEMBRANCE DAY The South African Legion Scotland branch attended the annual Scotland Remembrance Parade which took place at the Cenotaph in central Glasgow on the 8th Novemeber 2015. The Cenotaph is located on George Square, Glasgow.

The South African Legion wreath was laid by Cary Hendricks, other Legionnaires in attendance included Tino de Freitas, Bj Taylor and they were joined by Johan van Jaarsveld.

Cary Hendricks, SA Legion Scotland Chairman had this to say "We had a parade in Members of the South African Legion of Military Veterans United Kingdom and Europe branch Glasgow, Old Meldrum in the attending the Annual Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph in London. Photo by Theo Highlands and for the first Fernandes. time, we had a member represent us in the Islands on Shetland. We are growing year on year and hopefully we will grow and go from strength to strength. A special thanks to Tino de Freitas, Bj Taylor, Albin Draper, Frans Bedford-Visser who coordinated things wherever they were and promoting and preserving the memory. With guys like this, we have a strong backbone on which we can build a bright future. We were special guests of the City of Glasgow and Legion Scotland. We will, as Commonwealth representatives always be there when called upon.

GOTHENBURG SWEDEN A summary of the South African Legion's Remembrance Day Wreath laying at Kviberg Cemetery in Gothenburg Sweden.

This year I had the honour of having Russell Travers at my side. Russell and his family travelled a long way to participate and I thank him for that.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015

Members of the South African Legion of Military Veterans United Kingdom and Europe branch contingent attending the Annual Remembrance Day Service at the Cenotaph in London. Photos by Theo Fernandes.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015

Members of the Scotland branch of the South African legion of Military Veterans that attended the Annual Remembrance Day Service in Glasgow.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015

Members of the South African Legion of Military Veterans who attended the Annual Remembrance Day Service in Gothenburg, Sweden.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 Proceeding started with the church service in Saint Andrews Church in Gothenburg at 11 am to be followed by the Wreath laying ceremonies at Kviberg. This year we started at the German grave site to then go on to the Commonwealth grave site.

The weather was amazing with sunny skies and very pleasant temperatures and the only hitch was we were delayed for nearly a ½ hour waiting for the German pastor as he was caught in traffic.

Once proceedings got going things fell in place and it was another memorable ceremony.

The trumpeter was outstanding and did not miss a beat or note.

OTHER COMMEMORATIONS OR REMEMBRANCES International Day of Peace Church Service Centurion South Africa On Sunday 20 September 2015 the Pretoria Branch of the South African Legion of Military Veterans hosted a church service in the Dutch Reform Church, Raslouw, in Centurion to commemorate International Day of Peace.

About 70 Veterans and their families from greater Pretoria attended the church service. This included a Second World War veteran from the Atteridgeville branch of the South African Legion of Military Veterans.

The congregation was entertained with music on organ, bagpipes and trumpet.

The various Veteran’s Organisations displayed their banners in the church.

The service was followed by tea and “koeksisters” in the church hall.

Standards of the various Veteran organisations that attended the Church Service to commemorate International Day of Peace in the NG Church Raslouw, Centurion.

SAS Regimental Association of South Africa Remembrance Parade Durban The annual SAS Regimental Association of South Africa’s Remembrance Parade was held at Flame Lily Park, Durban on Saturday, 31 October 2015. The parade was very well attended by people from far and wide. Some from overseas.

The South African Legion of Military Veterans were represented by Lgr’s Steve Leahy (Chairman of the SA Legion Durban Club) and Peter Smit (Vice-Chairman of the SA Legion Durban Branch).

Opening of Garden of Remembrance - London The annual opening of The Garden of Remembrance on the Thursday 5th November 2015 at Westminster Abbey by Prince Philip and Prince Harry.

This year’s opening was attended by members of The South African Legion of Military Veterans as guests of the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 Legionnaires in attendance included Peter Dickens, Tom Mason, Theo Fernandes, Ellen Mason, Graeme Scott and Russel Mattushek.

The Garden of Remembrance is a Royal British Legion initiative, it is open to the public to place individual crosses in remembrance of people who have served. A South African plot is also available at the Abby - next to the Rhodesian plot. The South African Legion is also represented in the Royal Commonwealth Ex Services League plot as a founding member of the League.

After the ceremony the South African Legionnaires caught up with their old chums from the Royal Scots Dragoons Regimental association at the "Windsor Castle" in Chelsea for some cold ones and Members of the Durban branch of the South African Legion of Military Veterans about to some camaraderie. lay their wreaths during the SAS Regimental Association of South Africa’s Remembrance service in Durban.

Blind Veterans United Kingdom In honour of an outstanding South African. Blind Veterans United Kingdom (formerly St Dunstan's) was founded in 1915 and the charity's initial purpose was to help and support soldiers blinded in World War I. Soon after WW2, South African, Natalie Opperman joined the St Dunstan organisation. She later became Director in 1954 then Chair in 1966 and President in 1986, which she held until her death in 1988. She devoted her entire career to the welfare of St Dunstaners in South Africa. St Dunstans in South Africa still has close links with the parent organisation - Blind Veterans UK in the UK. She was awarded the Star of South Africa, the highest civilian award in South Africa for her work with blind veterans.

Her grave is next to the South African Cenotaph opened by Jan Smuts in Richmond Cemetry - London.

Blind Veterans UK – St Dunstan’s since 1915 our work transforms people’s lives. To help more people understand what we do and support us we’ve changed our name to Blind Veterans UK. For more information, please visit our website at: http://www.blindveterans.org.uk

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 Members of the South African Legion of Military Veterans, United Kingdom and Europe branch attended the opening of the Garden of Remembrance. Photos

by Lgr Theo Fernandes.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015

The South African Legion UK Branch, took part in this year’s Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women Annual Remembrance Ceremony and Parade at the Cenotaph in Whitehall London. Photos by Karen Dickens, Shauna Fernandes and Venecia Gilliatt.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015

Members of the South African Legion of Military Veterans, United Kingdom and Europe branch attended the annual Siege of Kimberley Memorial Service.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women Annual Remembrance Ceremony Cenotaph London The South African Legion UK Branch, took part in this year’s Jewish Ex-Servicemen and Women Annual Remembrance Ceremony and Parade at the Cenotaph in Whitehall London. The reviewing officer was Field Marshall The Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank. And the Ceremony was conducted by Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, Rabbi (Major) Reuben Livingstone and Rabbi Harry Jacobi.

The South African Legion were made to feel welcome and we were thanked by Parade Marshall Ronald Shelly MBE for attending and showing our support.

Special thanks to Peter Gillatt and Theo Fernandes who carried the SA Legion Standards, and Andrew Bergman who helped me with the Hebrew inscription on the wreath card.

Kimberley Day Parade On Sunday 6 December 2015 at 10:00 am The South African Legion England branch was invited to the annual Anglo Boer War memorial to the siege of Kimberley. This is a regiment remembrance occasion between the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and the Natal Carabineers, their sister regiment, which were also involved in the relief of Kimberley.

It is a highly prestigious invitation hosted by the Royal Hospital in Chelsea on whose grounds the memorial stands. The South African Legion attends the Memorial Day in recognition of all sacrifice in the Boer War from both sides of the conflict.

Of the South Africans in attendance - Stuart Robertson - Membership Secretary laid the wreath on behalf of The South African Legion, Peter Dickens - Chairman, read the epitaph. The Vice Chairman - Russel Mattushek laid a wreath on behalf of the Royal British Legion. A specific South African Legion wreath was laid for Bill Cross who annually attended this event and passed away this year. Bill was one of the UK's most decorated soldiers and could still recite Sarie Marais after being sent to South Africa to recover from wounds he received during World War 2. Christine Sander, wife to Norman Sander the SAL UK President laid the wreath on his behalf.

Other branch members in attendance included Johan de Vries and Karen Dickens as well as family of the Legionnaires present.

In the event anyone is wondering why all the bowler hats and brollies, it is customary in England at this type of event that commissioned officers wear this attire - both Russel Muttuschek and Peter Dickens as commissioned officers observed this custom. A number of serving Subalterns from the Royal Scots Dragoons were also in attendance as well as senior officers.

After the ceremony the Legion members were asked to join members of the Royal Scots Dragoons at the Royal Hospital's Sunday Service which included a choir in the hospital's chapel. The South African Legion was thanked by the Hospital during the service. This was followed up with a curry lunch at the Royal Hospital - a curry is traditionally served as this was the meal served when the Carabineers and Royal Scots Dragoons ended the siege of Kimberley. Prizes were also raffled to raise funds for the Royal hospital – and their iconic “Chelsea Pensioners”.

Once again the South African Legion would like to thank John Rochester the ex- RSDG Regimental Sergeant Major and now Secretary to the Royal Scots Dragoons Regiment Association for including us.

CENTENARY COMMEMORATION OF WORLD WAR ONE FIRST ALLIED COMBAT VICTORY OF WORLD WAR 1 09 July 2015, marks the centenary of the first Allied victory of World War 1 when the German forces surrendered to the General Botha’s South African forces at Khorab just north of the town of Otavi, Namibia.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 The following article which was published in the Military History Journal Volume 13 Number 2: First Allied Victory – The South African Campaign in German South West Africa by Hamish Paterson describes the last days of the campaign.

“The pursuit along the railway continued and on 1 July 1915, the South Africans caught up with the Germans at Otavi before they could properly deploy their 3 400 men, 36 guns and 22 machine guns against 3 200 South Africans and eight guns. Four men were killed and seven wounded before the South Africans forced the Germans to abandon Otavi and to retreat to Khorab. The South Africans then paused to recover their strength.

On 3 July 1915 an emissary arrived from the German governor, bringing a proposal that the German forces and their equipment be interned until the end of the war. This was flatly rejected by General Botha, who immediately set about continuing his preparations to advance, South African aircraft monitoring the German position at Khorab. A second emissary from the German governor then arrived, asking for South Africa’s terms for a cessation of hostilities and requesting a meeting. General Botha agreed to this and the meeting was conducted at Kilometre 500 at 10.00 on 6 July 1915. General Botha’s terms were that regular officers would be released on parole, other ranks would be interned, and reservists would be allowed to return home. All machine guns, artillery, stores and transport, however, were to be handed over. The Germans had three options: to surrender, to resume fighting to the end, or to resort to guerrilla warfare.

They were very unhappy about handing over their artillery and requested an extension of time.

Eventually, however, Botha lost patience and informed them that unless the terms were accepted by 02.00 on 9 July 1915, fighting would resume. Acceptance of the terms was received at 02.30 and at 10.00 the Germans formally surrendered.

South Africa celebrated wildly. The British Imperial Forces in France cheered the victory. However, in a war marked by blunder and butchery, the low casualties of a campaign of manoeuvre would ensure that the victory would be forgotten, and the triumph of the Pact Government in South Africa in 1924 would consign the first permanent Allied victory of the First World War to virtual oblivion.”

The site outside Otavi, Namibia marks the spot where the German Forces surrendered to the South African Forces on 09 July 1915 bringing to a close the German South West African campaign.

During 2008 the Namibian Government in cooperation with the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge (the German equivalent of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission) erected a new memorial on the site where the surrender was accepted. The inscription is in Afrikaans, English and German. Sadly there are no road signs indicating the position of the memorial. During an inspection tour of the Commonwealth war graves in Namibia in 2012 I was told about the new memorial by the farmer on whose land the South African and German casualties are buried North of Otavi. The local librarian kindly took me to the site which is well maintained by the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge.

THE SA FORCES ON THE WESTERN FRONT

By Colonel Maryna Fondse. Former South African Military Attaché to Belgium At the outbreak of the war in August 1914 South Africa, as a dominion of the British Empire, immediately rallied to the Allied cause and was involved in campaigns in German South West Africa (Namibia) and German East Africa (Tanzania).

Soon the government decided to raise an infantry brigade of four battalions drawn from various provinces of South

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 Africa for service overseas. Other units raised for service on the Western front were No 1 SA Field Ambulance, SA Medical Corps, SA Railways Companies, SA Auxiliary Horse Transport, SA Machine Gun Corps and SA Heavy Artillery. In 1916 the South African Native Labour Contingent recruited volunteers for overseas service (appr 60 000 served at the end) and it played a vital role carrying out transport and supply work in the ports of France and in Belgium. And let us not forget that an estimated 3000 South Africans also joined the Royal Flying Corps.

After a training period in the United Kingdom and a short campaign in Egypt, the SA Infantry Brigade arrived in France and as part of the 9th Scottish division they were engaged in the battle of the Somme in July 1916. The Brigade suffered terrible losses after fighting of the most severe kind in Delville wood. Only 768 men of the 3153 who entered the wood answered the roll call. Today the wood is the location for the South African National Monument near Longueval.

After another infamous battle near Arras in April 1917 the SA Brigade prepared itself for its role in the big Flanders Offensive in the summer of 1917.

On 20th September 1917 the second stage of that Flanders campaign designed to capture the Gheluvelt Plateau, began with an eight mile front attack involving approximately 65.000 troops. At 5.40 the South African Infantry Brigade attached to the 9th Scottish Division, assembled in their front positions near Frezenberg (2 km west of Zonnebeke) and advanced in the direction of Zonnebeke behind a smoke curtain and creeping barrage. The churned up landscape was littered with wrecked tanks, shattered trees and treacherous waterfilled shellholes. Belts of barbed wire protected the massive defensive fields of concrete blockhouses (pillboxes) from which hails of machine gun fire swept the low ground.

The South African Lance Corporal W.H. Hewitt captured one of these pillboxes single-handedly and received the VC for his exploit. Some three hours later, the four SA regiments had reached their assigned objectives, but at a high cost. Of Model of the proposed memorial to the South Africans who died during the 2576 men that started the attack 1255 were the Battle of Messines. listed as killed, wounded or missing.

During the German 1918 spring offensive the SA Brigade was again in Flanders. When on April 9th the Germans launched their second major offensive in what came to be known as the Battle of the Lys, the South African Brigade was ordered to counterattack the next day and recapture the Messines-Wytschaete road on the crest of the lost Messines Ridge (near Zonnebeke). It did so, but was pushed back over the next days after overwhelming German counterattacks.

However, they had maintained the northern pillar of the allied defence long enough to permit reserves to come up from the south.

By then the old brigade had been virtually destroyed and a composite battalion took part in further defensive fighting near Mount Kemmel.

In September 1918 the brigade joined the 66th Division and was involved in the last battles of the First World War in France. In Hestrud, just near the Belgian border are the graves of 7 South African soldiers that died on the last two days of the war.

By the armistice over 146,000 men had served in South African units during the war, fighting on three principal fronts Egypt, France and Flanders. Total South African casualties during the war reached 18,600 with more than 6,600 losing their lives.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 Many military historians also see the involvement of South Africa in the Battle of the Lys (Messine Ridge) as the most important contribution of South Africa in Europe during WW1 in terms of impact. Here the South African Forces made a difference in the development of the War. There is a monument for the SA Forces in Egypt and France – just not in Flanders.

COMMEMORATION OF SOUTH AFRICANS FORGOTTEN SA WWI LABOURERS TO RECEIVE RECOGNITION Wednesday 19 August 2015 15:46 by Janet Szabo Around one-thousand-six hundred South Africans, many of whom saw service as labourers in World War One, are set to finally receive recognition for their contribution during the Great War a century ago.

A dedicated team of volunteers in Britain, who work from within the Cold Project, have identified the names of 1 666 casualties through their research into the South African archives. These names are currently being researched to determine if they are eligible to be recognized as war casualties.

The Project was formed to try and identify all service men and women whose names are missing from the official Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) list of casualties from the First and Second World Wars. Because of inaccurate records and lists supplied to the CWCG, many of the names were forgotten and as a result they have no official commemoration.

But now, with modern technology and access to the records, it is possible to gather the necessary evidence to identify the missing names and have them recognized as war casualties by the CWCG and the relevant authorities. Even after the passing of so many years, they still deserve recognition.

In an email, Peter Francis of the CWGC said the names should have been given to his organization in the 1920s, but the individual responsible for collecting and collating the names in South Africa died after completing about 98% of the work. These names represent the last 2% of the incomplete list.

Francis said almost all the 1 666 casualties died as a result of disease or other causes, not in battle. He gave the following breakdown of numbers: 483 from the Military Labour Bureau (later renamed the Military Labour Corps); 996 from the Military Labour Corps; 2 from the South African Field Artillery; 184 from the South African Labour Corps and 1 from the South African Mounted Rifles.

Francis explained the process: “The individuals, once approved by the service authority – in this case the South African Department of Military Veterans – will be added to the South African Book of Remembrance. This is a virtual point of commemoration that ensures they are entered into our records and their details become available to the public.”

He added that once the process is completed the CWGC will commemorate the casualties on a physical memorial. However, the location and the memorial have not yet been decided on.

Because of inaccurate records and lists supplied to the CWCG, many of the names were forgotten and as a result they have no official commemoration.

In all about 25 000 men volunteered for the Native Labour Corps. While they were not allowed to bear arms, they carried out transport and supply work, mainly in the ports and communications lines in France. Their work was considered vital and in recognition of this, the British King George V issued a special British War Medal in bronze to the “native troops” that served the Empire.

However, the South African government disallowed this and also did not issue any war service medal to the black servicemen.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 Currently the Commission commemorates 1 305 casualties from the South African Native Labour Corps. Among these are the 616 who perished in the country’s worst war-time maritime disaster, the sinking of the SS Mendi.

This gave rise to many accounts of bravery and heroism, and among these the words of Reverend Isaac Wauchope Dyobha stand out. According to oral history, he encouraged his countrymen to be calm and die like warriors. The country will commemorate the centenary of the sinking of the Mendi in 2017.

Most of the Mendi casualties, who have no known graves, are commemorated at the Hollybrook Memorial in Southampton. However several others are buried in cemeteries in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and France.

Memorials and graves to the members of the Native Labour Corps are also found in South Africa, Kenya, Sierra Leone and Tanzania.

STEVE STEVENS DFC - outreach that Cameron Kinnear Steve Stevens, DFC, is frail, bedridden and in pain. However, there is no doubt that this man is a force, a man who has packed more into his 96 years on Earth than most of us, and who is firmly committed to his goals and his religion.

When I call him to arrange the meeting, he answers the phone himself. We juggle dates; he has an appointment for a radio interview, and I am keen to come and see him at 10h45 on the 11th November so we could pay our respects to the Fallen together. Eventually we settle on a plan.

Steve Stevens was born on 27th August 1919 in Amesbury, Dorset. His father George was gassed in Salonica during WW1 and was sent to a special medical facility in Aberdeen for mustard gas victims, and he met and married Dora, one of the VAD’s.

Steve’s father was not expected to live past 40. However, in typical Stevens fashion George Alexander Stevens took no notice of this pronouncement and his health improved enough for him to take up a new assignment in the Army of Occupation in Germany. The family was billeted in a huge Lieutenant Steve Stevens DFC proudly holding his medals. house complete with stables, and young Steve was delighted to be placed in the care of a beautiful young fraulien. Steve adored her, and from her learned to speak German better than he could speak English. Steve’s father had improved in health to the extent that he bought a string of polo ponies and a racehorse called Capitas, which he bought for £9 and rode to victory on local army races.

However, George’s health deteriorated and he was given a year’s sick leave, and the family went to live in Switzerland.

There, a 7 year old Steve became proficient in skiing, jumping and skating.

With an improvement in health, the family moved to San Remo in Italy, but Steve’s father was soon recalled to his regiment, and made his way to Ireland and The Troubles. Within a year or so the West Yorkshire Regiment was required in India, but medical advice was that Stevens Senior would not survive the climate, and it was recommended that he was invalided out of the army and moved to somewhere warm and dry.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 So it was that the family left for a life on a farm in South Africa in November 1929. George’s health improved, but Steve’s mother Dora suddenly fell ill and died of a brain tumour when Steve was only 14.

When WW2 broke out Steve was at the Bible Institute of South Africa. With the decision to close the college for the duration, some of the students joined the Ministry, and Steve joined the SA Air Force. Steve is convinced that the prayers offered three times a day by his father and stepmother kept him safe during the war. Steve joined the SAAF as a trainee air photographer, but soon re-mustered as aircrew.

I arrive at the house, and using the information I have been provided, I let myself in. Steve is on his own in the house, and I make my way to his bedroom.

The blue eyes quickly examine me, and I feel thoroughly vetted and I note a long look at my SA Legion tie and blazer badge. We exchange greetings, and we discuss his interest in photography. Then we pause at 11h00 to commemorate the Fallen.

After some reflection Steve informs me that the radio team that came to interview him was despatched through the house to inventory some books he wanted to donate.

They had, under his steely gaze, created a list for my perusal so I could choose which books I wanted to pass on to the South African Air Force Museum and the SA Legion. However, he then decided that we should take all of the books, and I politely declined as I already had a good number. I was informed that on my next visit more books would be provided.

This photograph is widely recognised as the most famous Beaufighter air- strike photo of WWII. It shows my plane attacking the Naziheld medieval walled town of Zuzenberk.

That attack by 8 of our 19 South African Air Force Beaufighter squadron resulted in the Yugoslav Partisans recapturing their town This famous leading image is Steve's Beaufighter firing rockets into a that very day. (Steve Stevens) Nazi compound in Yugoslavia during World War 2.

During the War Steve flew air strikes over Yugoslavia with 19 Squadron, based at Biferno. These strikes included the daring raid on the occupied walled town of Zuzenberk. The image of Steve firing his rockets is one of the two iconic Beaufighter images of the war. It is astonishing to realise that Steve could accurately hit a target as small as a 44 gallon fuel barrel with his rockets.

Steve photographed Major Tilley attacking the armed German warship SS Kuckuck as Tilley’s number two. It was a desperate sortie which Steve and his fellow pilots fully expected to be a suicide mission. The rockets holed the target under the waterline. The pilots had been briefed by the Partisans that they would face the fire from 140 anti-aircraft guns. Remarkably all four planes returned safely.

Steve and I discuss many topics, and he instructs me to look at a small colourful plaque on a bookshelf. Steve was invited to attend a number of events in Italy, through the efforts of Guiseppe Morini. These events culminated on the 8th May 2005 in Campomarino.

“The ceremonies were in the open air, with a military band, rousing speeches and a fly-past.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 Dignitaries from all over Italy were present, while huge flags of all participating countries blew in the wind. The chief of the Italian Air Force, General Leonardo Tricario, was there and a fifty-strong guard of honour marched into the square in our honour. The Italian Air Force also brought in another fifty men – bandsmen who played rousing music.

The warm-hearted Italians responded most generously, and as I put it later to our local newspaper, I’d never been kissed by so many women – and men!”

W hen we, Second World War airmen who had flown from Termoli in 1944/5 were presented with these VE Day commemoration plaques, I told them I would value this as much as my DFC because it was a plaque of PEACE. A woman hears the drone of a plane and is in fear of being bombed yet again. But as she looks up she sees it is a PLANE OF PEACE. That’s just what I, and my wife Kay, became involved in Africa with our Mission Aviation Fellowship planes All too soon it was time to go when Steve’s team arrived to take care of him.

However, not before I presented him with my own Legion beret, which he wears with pride, and instructs me to hang it on hat peg next to his South African Air Force cap.

Legionnaire Steve Stevens proudly wearing his Legion regalia.

I depart with a solemn promise that we will visit again, and he is looking forward to receive a membership to the SA Legion UK on our return. I

look forward to meeting h To say that we are chuffed as chips to do a veteran out-reach to Steve who now lives in the UK. Steve holds a "Distinguished Flying Cross" DFC decoration for bravery flying for the South African Air Force during the Second War - mainly flying SAAF Bristol Beaufighters in Italy and the Balkans (the image in the header of this Page is in fact Lt. Stevens DFC in action).

He was also involved in the Berlin Airlift flying a DC3 on over 100 sorties to rescue the city. He went on to open Africa for Christian missionaries flying a Dragon Rapied from the Sudan. He is one very interesting chap and highly acclaimed published author.

He is closing in on 97 years young and is now bed-bound, weak and in pain. However, he still finds time for Christian radio interviews, interviews on the many books he has written and has not yet checked into any frail care facility. His wife passed on three years ago and he enjoys the company of anyone wanting to spend a little time with him.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 Both Cameron Kirk Kinnear and Peter Dickens from the UK branch of the South African Legion were very proud to make him a South African Legion Legionnaire and it brought him much joy (and us).

CAPTAIN PERCY HOWARD HANSEN VC, 6TH BATTALION THE LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT, 33RD BRIGADE, 11TH DIVISION Percy Hansen was born in Dresden Germany during a visit by his parents to a spa in Dresden on 26 October 1890 as the son of Viggo Julius Hansen, a Danish merchant who had settled in South Africa with stores in Port Elizabeth, Cape Colony and Johannesburg, Transvaal and Anna Elizabeth. The family emigrated to the United Kingdom during 1901/02 where he was educated at the Hazelwood School, Limpsfield, Surrey; Eton College and the Royal Military College in Sandhurst.

On 08 December 1910 Percy Hansen became a naturalized British subject enabling him to join a British Regiment.

On 04 March 1911 Percy was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in the 6th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment and on 03 August 1912 to Lieutenant in the same Regiment. During August 1914 the 6 th Battalion Lincolnshire was raised for service in the First World War. On 04 September 1914 made Temporary Captain and Adjutant of the 6 th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment this temporary rank was made substantive on 02 February 1915.

On the night of 06-07 August 1915 the 6th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment landed at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli in Turkey. Following the landing the Allies pressed forward across the dry Salt Lake beyond the shore and the regiment captured Yilghin Burnu, christened “Chocolate Hill” by the Allies. On 09 August the British attempted unsuccessfully to break out of the Suvla Plain by advancing into the high ground which surrounded it, aiming for Anafarta.

Fighting raged around Scimitar Hill, parts of which changed hands several times, but by the end of the day the British had failed to secure it.

Many men were left wounded on its slopes and when the Turkish artillery set alight the scrub which covered it, Captain Hansen, Adjutant of the 6th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment called for volunteers to help rescue them. Six of the wounded were saved and for his gallant act Percy was awarded the Victoria Cross while Lance Corporal Breese was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM).

Brigadier Percy Howard Hansen VC DSO MC

Citation: For most conspicuous bravery on 9th August, 1915, at Yilghin Burnu, Gallipoli Peninsula

After the second capture of the “Green Knoll” his Battalion was forced to retire, leaving some wounded behind, owing to the intense heat from the scrub which had been set on fire.

When the retirement was effected Captain Hansen, with three or four volunteers, on his own initiative, dashed forward several times some 300 to 400 yards over open ground into the scrub under a terrific fire, and succeeded in rescuing from inevitable death by burning no less than six wounded men.

Later in the conflict Percy was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for a daring reconnaissance which involved swimming Turkish lines North of Suvla Bay to establish the position of a Turkish artillery battery. Captain Hansen assumed command of the Battalion when the Officer Commanding, Lieutenant Colonel Phelps went down with dysentery.

Unfortunately Percy fell ill as well and had to be evacuated to Egypt and during November 1915 and back to the United Kingdom.

The period 16 June to 16 September 1916 Percy spent at the Major Halton Park Camp from where he deployed to France as General Staff Officer 2. During this deployment Percy was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for another daring reconnaissance under artillery and machine gun fire.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 Percy was appointed Brevet Major on 01 January 1919 and in April 1919 transferred to Tactical School Camberley Surrey as General Staff Officer 2and on 02 July 1919 to the Staff College Camberley. On 02 February 1920 transferred to 8 th Infantry Brigade as Brigade Major and on 09 February 1920 to 12th Brigade as Brigade Major.

Percy married Marie Rose Emsell on 12 June 1928 and a daughter was born from the marriage.

During the rest of his career Percy served as General Staff Officer 2 with the 55th (West Lancashire) Division (Territorial Army) and Jamaica, West Indies. Second in Command and Commanding Officer of the 2 nd battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, Deputy Assistant Adjutant General Western Command and Acting Assistant Quartermaster General 12th Corps. In 1941 Percy was promoted to the rank of Brigadier where after he was Commander Belfast Northern Ireland Area, Sub District Commander Ashford, Kent, Head of Civilian Affairs Unit for Norway under Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF).

Brigadier Percy Howard Hansen retired from the Army on 19 January 1946.

His Victoria Cross investiture was on 04 December 1915 by King George V at Buckingham Palace. His Victoria Cross is held at the Imperial War Museum in London.

Apart from his Victoria Cross, Distinguished Service Order and Military Cross. Percy was awarded the The grave of Brigadier Percy Hansen.

1914-15 Star; British War Medal 1914-20; Victory Medal 1914-19 with Mention in Dispatches, General Service Medal 1918-62 with clasp Palestine, France and Germany Star; Defence Medal 1939-45; Coronation Medal 1937, Croix de Guerre (Belgium); Officer Legion of Merit (1946) USA; Order of St Olaf 3rd Class (1945) (Norway).

Percy died in London on 12 February 1951. His funeral service was in London and his ashes are interred in the family vault in Copenhagen.

Extract published with the kind permission of The VC and the GC, The Complete History, published by Methuen and The VC and GC Association in 2013.

PLUMSTEAD CEMETERY CAPE TOWN The Plumstead Cemetery is an active civilian cemetery under the management of the Cape Town Municipality. There are 242 Commonwealth war casualties, 145 from the First World War and 97 from the Second World War, buried in the cemetery. The bulk are buried in the two Commonwealth plots and the rest in scattered graves.

Cape Town and the nearby Simon's Town were the scene of massive shipping movements (including hospital ships) during both World Wars, and there were military hospitals at Maitland and Wynberg.

During the Second World War, naval and maritime air operations were conducted from the area. In terms of an agreement titled Joint Air Training Scheme in South Africa, Memorandum of Agreement signed on 23 June 1941 flying instruction would be conducted at various Air Schools located across South Africa. At the Youngsfield Aerodrome in the Wynberg area 65 (Air Armament) and 66 (Navigation and Bombing Training) Air Schools were established for training {JOINT AIR TRAINING SCHEME AND LOCATION OF WARTIME AIR SCHOOLS IN SOUTH AFRICA: 1939 – 1945 BY Colonel Graham C.L. Du Toit MMM (SAAF Ret)}. The Fleet Air Arm was established at the Wingfield Aerodrome.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 The following is a summary of the Commonwealth war casualties, as per the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s Casualty Data Base, buried in the cemetery: FIRST WORLD WAR: 20 from the South African Infantry, 18 from the 9th Infantry (Prince of Wales' Own Regiment of Cape Peninsula Rifles), 10 from the South African Horse, 9 each from the Army Service Corps, South African Service Corps, 6 from the Australian Infantry, A.I.F., 5 each from the Cape Corps, Royal Engineers, Royal Garrison Artillery, Cape Garrison Artillery, 4 each from the South African Military Nursing Service, 3 each from the General and Base General view of the Commonwealth war graves in the Plumstead Cemetery, Cape Town.

Depots, South African Medical Corps, 2 each from Cape Auxiliary Horse Transport, Cape Coloured Labour Regiment, Cape Cycle Corps, Returned Soldiers' Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, South African Heavy Artillery, South African Mounted Brigade Scouts, South African Native Labour Corps, South African Pay Corps, 1 each from the 1st King Edward's Horse, 3rd Infantry (Prince Alfred's Guards), General List, Hampshire Regiment, King's African Rifles, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), Military Labour Corps, Northumberland Fusiliers, Rand Rifles, Rhodesia Regiment, Royal Air Force, Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Army Pay Corps, Royal Field Artillery, South African Engineers, South African Mounted Engineers, South African Mounted Rifles, South African Ordnance Corps, South African Pioneers, South African Railway Overseas Dominion Service, The King's (Liverpool Regiment), The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment), Yorkshire Regiment and ALIAS. SECOND WORLD WAR: 20 from the South African Air Force, 11 from the 1st Reserve Brigade, 8 from the Q Service Corps, 6 each from the Essential Services Protection Corps, South African Artillery, South African Engineer Corps, South African Naval Forces, 2 each from the 1st The Royal Dragoons, Cape Town Highlanders, Indian and Malay Corps, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, South African Corps of Military Police, South African Corps of Signals, South African Medical Corps, South African Tank Corps, Women's Auxiliary Air Force (S.A.A.F.), 1 each from the Australian Army Medical Corps, Cape Corps, Field Force Battalion, New Zealand Army Service Corps, Rand Light Infantry, Royal Air Force, Royal Armoured Corps, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, Royal Australian Engineers, Royal Canadian Air Force, Royal Durban Light Infantry, Royal Engineers, Royal Natal Carbineers, South African Coast Defence Corps, South African Staff Corps, Technical Service Corps.

On 28 March 1941 Rear Admiral Guy Hallifax (first Director of Seaward Defence Force) was returning from a staff visit to Walvis Bay when a South African Airways Lockheed 18-08 Lodestar, Registration ZS-AST en-route to Cape Town, flew into the high ground near Elands Bay in dense fog. All on board were killed which included three civilians. They are all buried in a mass grave in the cemetery which is cared for by the Commission.

Also in the Commission’s care in the cemetery are the graves of two German soldiers from the First World War one being killed at the Battle of Trekkopje on 26 April 1915.

Also buried in the cemetery are Major General Sir Henry Lukin KCB CMG DSO who commanded a South African formation during the German South West African Campaign (1914 – 1915), and later commanded the 1st South African Infantry Brigade as part of the South African Overseas Expeditionary Force in Egypt (1916) and later at the famous Battle

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 of Delville Wood in France. General Lukin later commanded the 9 th Scottish Brigade during the Battle of Arras and the Third Battle of Ypres. As his grave is adjacent to the Commonwealth plot the grave is maintained.

Lieutenant Colonel Robert George Scott VC is also buried in the cemetery. He was awarded his Victoria Cross for an action during the Basutoland campaign on 08 April 1879 as a member of the Cape Mounted Rifles.

OTHER NEWS AUSTRALIAN SAILORS REMEMBERS The Royal Australian Navy’s helicopter frigate HMAS Anzac arrived in Cape Town on Monday 6 July 2015 as part of her Northern Trident 2015 deployment.

The warship departed Sydney on 15 March 2015 for the Mediterranean to participate in the 100th anniversary of the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli during the First World War. Having transited the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea, Suez Canal, the Mediterranean Sea and the North and South Atlantic en route to Cape Town, Anzac will host an official reception on board in commemoration of the centenary.

Other Centenary of Anzac commemorative events at which the warship represented Australia during her five month deployment include events in the Sea of Marmara, Cape Helles, Gallipoli, Italy and Malta, along with ‘D Day’ commemorations at Normandy.

Both the Australian and South African navies are members of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium and Australia says that Anzac’s visit to Cape Town will provide an important opportunity to work with the South African Navy.

Anzac’s Commanding Officer since December 2014, Commander Belinda Wood, described the significance of the visit.

“As we work together on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, counter-piracy and information sharing and interoperability, we look forward to growing the professional relationship between our navies. We may be situated at opposite sides of a very large ocean, but it is a vital territory to the world’s maritime prosperity and the issues and challenges we face are very much the same.”

On Tuesday 07 2015 July members of the ships company attended a wreath laying ceremony in the Dido Valley Naval Cemetery where three members of the Royal Australian Navy are buried. Commonwealth war casualties from World War 2.

The casualties are: Able Seaman Rex. Clarence Blake, Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMAS Quiberon. Died 01 August 1943.

HMAS Quiberon. She was a Destroyer and initially served on the North Atlantic convoy escort duty operating out of Scapa Flow. In October 1942 she supported the Allied landings in North Africa. In January 1943 she escorted a convoy from the United Kingdom to Cape Town and then proceeded to Victoria in Australia for a refit. On completion of the refit she was assigned to the British Eastern Fleet as a convoy escort across the Indian Ocean.

Telegraphist Kevin Quinn, Royal Australian Naval Volunteer Reserve, HMAS Norman. Died 09 May 1943.

HMAS Norman. Completed her sea trials in 1941 and in 1942 she was assigned to the British Eastern Fleet and performed escort tasks in the Indian Ocean. She also participated in Operation Vigorous an attempt to supply Malta. In September 1942 she participated in the Madagascar campaign and then spent the rest of 1942, 1943 and early part of 1944 on patrol in the Indian Ocean.

HMAS Shropshire. A Cruiser started her career as a Royal Navy ship HMS Shropshire with various deployments prior to the start of World War 2. After her refit in early 1940 she was deployed on convoy escort duties between Cape Town – Durban – Mombasa and Aden. She has a South African connection in that she participated in the Italian Somaliland in 1941 and bombarded both Mogadishu and Kismayu during the advance of the South African forces from Kenya to Abyssinia. She also underwent a refit in the Simon’s Town Dockyard between March and June 1941. Additional refits were carried out in Chatham before returning to the South Atlantic

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015

On 07 July 2015 members of the ship’s company of HMS ANZAC attended a wreath laying ceremony in the Dido Valley Naval Cemetery in Simon’s Town

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 With the loss of the Australian Heavy Cruiser HMAS Canberra during the Battle of Savo Island, it was agreed that HMS Shropshire should be transferred to the Royal Australian Navy. HMS Shropshire started a major refit in December 1942 and she officially became HMAS Shropshire on 17 April 1943. The refit was completed in June 1943 and in August 1943 she departed as part of a convoy bound for Gibraltar and then continued onto Sydney in Australia.

AIR DEFENCE ARTILLERY IN SOUTH AFRICA – Double Barrel Vol. 5 Issue: 5 September 2015.

In honour of Air Defence Artillery, celebrating 100 Years in South Africa, the Air Defence Artillery Corps, celebrating their 75th anniversary, and Regiment Oos Transvaal and 6 Light AntiAircraft Regiment, celebrating their 50th anniversary, a parade was held in the city of Kimberly, home of the Air Defence Artillery School and 10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment, to celebrate these four significant milestones in the history of Air Defence Artillery.

The parade was an impressive display of all the Regiments who represent the Air Defence Artillery Corps of South Africa and included members of the regular force as Members of the South African Air Defence Artillery on parade. well as the reserve force units. The colours of the 10 Anti-Aircraft Regiment and Regiment Vaal Rivier were on parade as was the prime mission equipment that is currently in use as well as relics of the past, which served as a great reminder for those, who had served before, and contributed to this proud and honourable corps.

The salute was taken by Brigadier General S. G Hlongwa, General Officer Commanding, Air Defence Artillery. Other dignitaries present, were the Executive Mayor of Kimberly, senior Generals and Colonels of the SANDF and the Sergeant Major of the Army. Ten members of the Royal Artillery’s 14 (Cole’s Kop) Bty, who were on a visit to South Africa to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Royal Artillery in 2016, were also in attendance.

THE ANGEL OF MONS Perhaps the most enduring legend of the Great War was that of the "Angel of Mons." The legend first appeared in a short story titled The Bowmen, by Arthur Machen, which appeared in the London Evening News on 29th September 1914. Coincidentally, the 29th was also the feast day of St Michael and All Angels.

The story starts on Sunday 30th August after Machen had read in his morning newspaper about the retreat of the British Expeditionary Force (B.E.F.) from Mons. "…I have not forgotten the impression that made on my mind. I seemed to see a furnace of torment and death and agony and terror… and in the middle of the burning was the British Army." He also said that the inspiration for the story came to him in church, "as the blue incense floated above the gospel book on the desk between the tapers."

In the story, St. George, with an army of medieval English bowmen, appeared in the sky and annihilated the Germans with ghostly arrows at a critical moment during the retreat and saved the B.E.F. Machen later said that he felt he could have told the story better and added, "If I failed in the art of letters I had succeeded, unwittingly, in the art of deceit."

The Bowmen appeared at a time when people were looking for a miracle and perhaps because it appeared in a newspaper, the story seemed to have some credibility. Whatever the reason, many people in Britain were ready to believe that heavenly intervention saved the B.E.F. from total defeat.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 As the story gained more coverage, the bowmen turned into angels. Arthur Waghorn asked his readers in The War Budget "Are the angels on our side in this great struggle for liberty and honour? For many readers the sky has become as full of visions as the sea of salt."

Indeed, it had; public demand for information describing spectral visions and apparitions during the British retreat ensured a steady supply of publications on the subject. For example, Harold Begbie, a popular writer at the time, wrote “On the side of the Angels”, a sermon by G.P. Kerry entitled “Guardian Angels” was then produced in print, and the Theosophical Publishing Society produced “Angels, Saints and Bowmen of Mons” by I.E Taylor. Periodicals like The Occult Review and Light then took up the story, followed by numerous parish magazines throughout the country.

With such widespread coverage, it was perhaps inevitable that more people should come forward to announce that they too had friends or relatives who were soldiers and who had "seen the Angels of Mons with their own eyes."

It seems that the idea of ‘God on our side’, gave many people consolation and hope for the future. Despite his protests that the tale was purely a figment of his imagination, Machen said "Great numbers of people made up their minds that the story was true from beginning to end." His original article in the Evening News, which had started the whole thing off, was published in an expanded version in a booklet and within a year, 1,000,000 copies had been sold.

Was the tale pure fiction? Of course… and yet… the eminent military historian the late John Terraine said, that as early as 5th September 1914, Brigadier-General John Charteris recorded in a letter that the story of the Angels of Mons was "going strong through the 2nd Corps…how the angel of the lord on the traditional white horse and clad all in white with flaming sword, faced the advancing Germans at Mons and forbade their further progress." This was three weeks before Machen’s story of The Bowmen appeared in print.

RAMCAT FISHING COMPETITION DURBAN A number of Ramcat Fishing competitions are held annually at various locations in South Africa. The Ramcat Fishing Competition is for the Quad/Para Association and Breakfast and lunch are provided by the organisers.

One Ramcat Fishing Competition for the Quad/Para Association of KZN took place at the Naval Station, Salisbury Island, Durban.

The Durban Branch of the South African Legion of Military Veterans was on hand to render assistance during the day.

The next Ramcat Fishing Competition for the Quad/Para Association will take place on Saturday 12 September 2015 at the Irene Country Lodge in Centurion.

“LET US REMEMBER” For many years during October the South African Agency of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission receives a wreath from the United Kingdom, family of Aircraftman 2nd Class Roland Songhurst, with the request to place the wreath on his grave in the Queenstown Civil Cemetery. Inspection visits to the Eastern Cape are always planned for early November to accommodate this annual request. Certainly an example to all of us.

Thanks to Colonel Graham Du Toit of the South African Air Force Museum here is the tragic story of Aircraftman 2nd Class (Bomb Aimer under training) and the rest of the crew.

Avro Anson Aircraft, Serial Number 3271 from Number 42 Air School at Grave of Aircraftman 2nd Class Roland Songhurst South End, Port Elizabeth was initially tasked to carry out a in the Queenstown Cemetery. communications flight from Port Elizabeth to Queenstown. On 6 February 1944, the aircraft was again tasked to carry out dive-bombing practice in the Katberg area with student trainee

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 Bomb Aimers and Observers from 47 Air School, Queenstown. While flying in the Katberg area, the Anson aircraft hit a tree during a low level practice dive-bombing attack and disintegrated in flight, killing all aboard.

MILITARY BADGES ON A KOPPIE TO THE EAST OF THE VILLAGE CULLINAN In 1932 the mine closed for a second time and the village became a virtual ghost town. That was until 1939, when the military arrived. It was probably due to the vacant houses and the abundance of open veldt to practise maneuvers that led to the Military to decide in the Village and surrounding area to construct a massive camp. The village was also on the railway network. The decision to construct the Italian POW camp at nearby Sonderwater (now Zonderwater), was probably influenced by its location well inland as well as the close proximity of the SA Armed Forces.

Besides occupying all the empty houses the Army built massive army camps close to the village, even on the local golf course. They took over the local hospital as well the hotel where the bar was out of bounds except to officers.

Soldiers from the various regiments billeted in the village constructed huge badges out of stones of their regiments. The badges represent the following regiments; The Kaffrarian Rifles.

Regiment del la Rey. The Witwatersrand Rifles.

Pretoria Regiment.

Durban Light Infantry.

There is also the letters CATD which stands for Central Army Training Corp. There is also a badge in the form of a tin hat; this badge was probably constructed after the war to represent the local Moths club which was called Rookie.

THE ROYAL BRITISH LEGION - SOUTH AFRICAN BRANCH'S AFFILIATION CEREMONY WITH 133 ARMY CADET FORCE IN LONDON ON 2 DECEMBER 2015 It's not often that I'm moved to writing a post, but felt that I have to share my thoughts on the Royal British Legion South African Branch's affiliation ceremony with 133 Army Cadet Force (ACF) in London on 2 December 2015.

This was my first interaction with cadets, (since school) and was a remarkable experience.

We weren't 100% sure what to expect on arrival at 133 ACF, but got off to a good start with a warm and cheerful greeting at the gate and directed where to proceed to. (Apologies to the young man on the gate, but his name completely eludes me. Probably because he was directing us to the pub and that information was more important at the time).

A spread of biscuits, cakes and refreshments awaited us and numerous helpful and happy faces to assist. After the niceties were over, and the formalities began I started to realise exactly what 133 is all about.

We were in the company of a good representative group of cadets, from new starters to some old stalwarts of 133.

This was interesting as we witnessed the various stages of a youngster’s transition from recruit to proud and "Paraat" ouman. To see the pride and unity amongst them was really great. Although unarmed, they are comparable to any Brothers in arms.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 .

While socialising, we had a small glimpse of some of their backgrounds. These young men and women come from all walks of life and have their individual strengths and weaknesses. They also all have their individual home lives full of good luck and misfortune. It was the sad story of the passing of one of our brothers in arms that was the catalyst to bring the Royal British Legion – South African Branch and the 133 Army Cadets together. This is the "raw" material that Lt Sealy has to work with and from where she tweaks out the best in them.

Such is their enthusiasm, we were treated to displays of kit and a presentation on their research into the South African military history, with a personal touch by their SA member whose father was a Sapper in the old South African Defence Force (SADF).

Lt Sealy and her 2 In Command, Sgt Reynolds, have done an incredible job in transforming these young men and women into the cadets they are now.

Legionnaire Peter Dickens signing the agreement with Lieutenant Sealy looking on.

Cadet Cpl Black, who could compete with any RSM on drill, is an amazing testament to what can be done. This young man has already been recognised for his ability and was the recipient of a mayoral award for his work in the cadets. I would happily have served alongside men of his calibre during my time in the military. He has already decided that his future lies in the military, and I wish him all the success he deserves. I'm sure that he will rise through the ranks.

However, as was pointed out in the speeches, not all cadets will go on to a career in the military. What was obvious though, was that they will all leave cadets better for the experience. More disciplined and focused people with a better ability to work within a team. They will have experience that will help them to contribute more positively to society.

As I said, Lt Sealy and Sgt Reynolds are doing an incredible job and the evidence was there for us to see. We can be proud to have 133 affiliated to us, and I look forward to future interaction with the cadets. .

Legionnaires are urged to make every effort to engage with our new affiliates whenever combined events happen.

These youngsters are part of our future, and I feel they have a lot to contribute.

OBITUARIES LEGIONNAIRE/MOTH/SIGNALMAN MALCOLM DIRK KRIEL - 23 SEPTEMBER 1942 TO 15 JULY 2015 Friday 24 July 2015 was the memorial Service for Legionnaire/MOTH/Signalman Malcolm Dirk Kriel in the Westview Methodist Church in Wierda Park. The service was attended by many Military Veterans from various Veteran Organisations. Following a moving service by Pastor Wendy Walker, the Legion and MOTH funeral rituals performed by Lgr Bazil Kriel and MOTH’s Dave Berry and Thinus Prinsloo. During the MOTH ritual the Last Post and Reveille was sounded while the Lament was played the Last Post and Reveille.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 Malcolm was born in Bloemfontein and spent his youth at Tempe Military Base, Voortrekkerhoogte and the TEK camp in Snake Valley. Malcolm attended the Pretoria Technical College and loved building electronic gadgets, especially crystal sets.

After school Malcolm joined the South African Army Corps of Signals in 1962 where he qualified as a Radio Technician and spent brief periods in Bloemfontein and Port Elizabeth Signals Units before returning to Voortrekkerhoogte to serve both the School of Signals and 1 Signal Regiment. He was transferred to Cape Town as Warrant Officer at the Air Defence School Technical Workshop and later became the Regimental Sergeant Major of the Western Province Signals Unit. After this stint Malcolm was transferred to School of Signals in Heidelberg.

In the early 1980’s Malcolm was transferred to the South African Army Headquarters, Director Signals Memorial service for Legionnaire Malcolm Kriel. where he was selected as the Warrant Officer of the new night vision project. He served at Director Projects and was considered the night vision expert in the South African Army until retirement in 1992.

After retirement Malcolm worked for ELOPTRO, the Denel subsidiary of night vision equipment and finally for Mechem until 2004.

Malcolm became a MOTH in the late 1970’s and served as Old Bill of Aerial Shellhole in the 1980’s. He became Chairman of the Pretoria Branch of the South African Legion of Military Veterans in 1989 and Provincial Chairman of the Transvaal Region in 1994. During the 1990’s he was instrumental in arranging the annual SS Mendi Memorial Services at the SS Mendi Memorial in Atteridgeville. Malcolm also served as Chairman of the Pretoria Ex-Serviceman’s Council. Malcolm was also a member of the Signals Association and was a very active radio amateur with call sign ZS-MDK. This call sign is now silent.

In 2004 Malcolm moved to Sasolburg where he served as a MOTH and the Sandy Shellhole, an active radio amateur and as Liaison Officer of the Free State Provincial Committee of the South African Legion of Military Veterans.

In 2010 he moved to Bloemfontein where resided at the South African Legion of Military Veterans Village, Springbok Park. He joined the MOTH George Coombs Shellhole, Bloemfontein Branch of the South African Legion of Military Veterans and the Bloemfontein Combined Ex-Serviceman’s Organisation.

In January 2015 Malcolm was admitted to 3 Military Hospital with Dementia and Urinary Tract infection. During March 2015 Malcolm and his wife Sheila were moved to the MOTHWA Haven Frail Care Centre in Eloffsdal, Pretoria. Malcolm’s condition deteriorated and was Called to Higher Service in the early hours of the morning of 15 July 2015.

Malcolm was a well-respected Soldier, Mentor, Veteran and Radio Amateur. He was a person who had a passion for electronics and he always wanted to pass on his expertise to others, which included his juniors in the military, his apprentices and to the sons of his brother, Bazil. The latter being guided by Malcolm’s knowledge and enthusiasm as they spent many a June/July high school holiday with Malcolm where he taught them everything about radio and electronics.

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 He was known to fight for his apprentices and juniors and did not hesitate to express his feelings to seniors if he believed that he was right. This earned him the nickname “Wooden Spoon” from his subordinates because he could stir.

In all the organisations that Malcolm served he always became involved and made things happen, he made a difference.

Malcolm will be sorely missed by his family, the South African Legion of Military Veterans, MOTH Order, Signallers and friends.

Bloemfontein. Lgr H. H. Neary.

Brakpan. Lgr D. Strathem and Lgr M. Archibald.

Cape Town. Lgr M. G. J. Giulford, Lgr L. A. Dwight, Lgr Eric Scholten, Lgr H. H. Hanna, Lgr I. R. H. Black, Lgr N. Baguley, Lgr E. G. Howie, Lgr D. E. Smit, Lgr N. E. St Leger Sharples, Lgr T. J. Crighton, Lgr M. M. Webb, Lgr D. Hogg, Lgr E. C. Essel, Lgr H. Attwood, Lgr E. Goodier, Lgr Eric Stroud, Lgr K. G. Overton, Lgr L. C. Muller, Lgr C. C. G. Steytler, Lgr Bernard J. Cooper.

Central Wits. Lgr L. M. Miller, Lgr Meerholtz, Lgr H. R. Fisher, Lgr M. N. Borkham, Lgr C. P. M. Sweneey.

Durban. Lgr F. Knights, Lgr E. M. Coetzee, Lgr R. B. Palmi.

East London. Lgr V. C. Soneman, Lgr Jihn Hay McNeilage, Lgr R. C. D. Schroder, Lgr F. Streek (Canada), Lg E. M. Green.

Klersdorp. Lgr P. Steer, Lgr M. Calitz.

Kroonstad. “It is with great sadness that Kroonstad Branch lost one of its stalwarts by the name of Lgr Louis La Grange who passed away this morning at 03:50, he was a member of the branch committee in 2012 – 2014 and was the past two years been diagnosed with lung cancer, he lost this morning his battle against cancer. He did turn 80 years two months ago, he will be missed for his sense of humour and passion for the “Old Soldiers” Pietermaritzburg “Sad news, God’s window opened for Lgr Chappie Horner. He was a great guy with a very big heart.

He will be sadly missed by all.”

Pietermaritzburg. It is with great sadness of the passing of Andy Jordaan. Andy walked a long Path he was 92 years old and one of the longest old soldiers that lived. He joined the Moth Order in 1944, while he was fighting the war in Italy.

Pietermaritzburg. God’s window opened yet again and Lgr Dave Job was called to greener pasture.

Pietermaritzburg. Lgr E. Coombes, Lgr R. Delamere, Lgr K. A. Fismer, Lgr S. M. Vorster.

Port Alfred. Lgr G. J. Kerr.

Port Elizabeth. Lgr Deryck Gordon-Davies, Lgr G. W. Smith.

Strand and Somerset West. Lgr G. Bradley, Lgr A. A. Brandt.

Virtual. Lgr L. A. Rae, Lgr R. T. Mautsoa “WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”

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SPRINGBOK – DECEMBER 2015 SA LEGION STRUCTURE Patron in Chief: President, Hon. Jacob C Zuma Past Presidents for Life: Lgr Tony C. Chemaly Lgr Rodney W. Monthe Lgr Lawrie F. Poorter Lgr Jurie Van der Merwe Lgr Chris P.C. de B Venter Honorary Life Vice Presidents: Lgr Arthur Blake Lgr Lourens Human Lgr C. J. J. Jooste Lgr Basil Kriel National Executive: National President: Lgr Godfrey J Giles National V/President: Lgr John Del Monte National Treasurer: Lgr Hilton Kaplan National Secretary: Lgr Marrietta Venter National Marketing: Lgr Shadrack Sealome National Transformation: Lgr S Nosenga National Gender: Lgr M Manetjie National Welfare: Lgr Dave Francis National PR: Lgr Charles Ross Regional Chairmen: Central: Lgr Deon Bester Eastern Cape: Lgr Brian Klopper Kwa-Zulu Natal: Lgr Rick Andries Branches Adelaide Alexandria Atteridgeville Brakpan Bedford Benoni Bloemfontein Botshabelo Cape Town Central Wits Durban

East London Ennerdale-Orange Farm Graaff-Reinet Grahamstown Kimberley King Williams Town Kroonstad Lower South Coast Pietermaritzburg Port Alfred Port Elizabeth

Pretoria Sedibeng Southern Cape Soweto Stilfontein Strand Stuttereim UK & Europe Virtual

Springbok, the Journal of the South African Legion of Military Veterans, ISSN 2221-9854, is the responsibility of the Public Relations Portfolio. Edited by Lgr Charles Ross. Layout and typesetting by Lgr Godfrey Giles. Body text was set in Calibri 10 and headers in Calibri 11 bold. Printed using Nashua Printer, thanks to Nashua Central.

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