 Oldest WWII Veteran Celebrates 99 Years

generations of South Africans will be able to visit the memorial that will add detail to the rich story of South Africa’s history.

OLDEST WWII VETERAN CELEBRATES 99 YEARS By Boipelo Mere

WILLIAM van Wyk, the oldest World War 2 veteran in South Africa, and last member of the World War 2 Veteran of South African Coloured Cape Corps ExServicemen's Legion of the Royal Commonwealth Wealth Ex-Serviceman League, celebrated his 99th birthday on Thursday, 9 June 2022. As usual, Van Wyk, ranked Lieutenant General, celebrated his birthday in the company of his family as well as some of his fellow surviving veterans in the Northern Cape, who went to wish him well at his small Colville home.

The 99 year old is still going strong for his age. He can still walk, chase his great great grandchildren around, work in his small garden, and keeps himself busy as a handyman in the yard. He can still see regardless of losing one of his eyes during the war. He only suffers from poor hearing which, according to Van Wyk, is due to the noise of the battlefield.

Van Wyk was born in Beaconsfield and started primary school at St Silvers Mission School until his parents relocated to Modder Rivier in 1933. He joined the army at the age of 18 when the Second World War broke out. He now lives with his second youngest child, Cindi, and several grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. His daughter, who is one of his five surviving children, is his primary caregiver.

Throughout his life, Van Wyk and his wife Marie were blessed with 13 children, 30 grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren, and seven great great grandchildren. His wife died at the age of 80. He expressed that his pride and joy for reaching the age of 99 was clouded by the sadness of not being recognised by the army since his return from the war. One of his grandchildren, Barenice Katz, applauded him for the discipline that he has instilled among his family.

Katz said Van Wyk never gets sick, is not on any chronic medication, and has a good memory. She said they always ensure to embrace his presence and give him the deserved recognition whenever they can as they know that not many families are as privileged as they are. "We try to honour every special moment with our elder because we never know what tomorrow holds for us. "It is such a blessing to

us to know that he survived Covid-19 while many of his age did not make it.“ Van Wyk proudly shared that his secret behind living for so long is respect, discipline, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. "I have never smoked or drank alcohol in my life," he gloated.

He said he was very proud to have fought for his country and the world. "When I joined, the army base was still in Beaconsfield. I registered in August, and we were dispatched to the north in September. From there we continued to advance to the Middle East, travelling to Cairo, Egypt, and then to Italy to fight the enemy. Shedding a tear, he shared how his excitement was dampened by a sad experience of losing a comrade at sea en route home after the war ended. He said his troop was travelling to Kimberley after the war was over, and they were very excited, and were looking forward to returning home.

"In the midst of our excitement, the ship was not far from Durban, our troop member, Willem Boss, who still looked healthy, suddenly said he was not feeling well, and headed to the sick bay to ask for tablets. "A few minutes after he went downstairs we noticed that the ship was starting to slow down, before one of the officers emerged and told us the sad news that Boss was no more. "We were told that he died on the operating table and we requested that his body be buried at home.

"Apparently permission was not granted in Durban for the ship to dock with a body on it. The only solution was a burial at sea, which was devastating to us because we felt that we were already on home ground after putting our lives at risk." He described the incident as the most devastating experience that he had to go through since he joined the army. "Tears were shed when the body fell from the stretcher as it was about to be buried in the sea, which was a sign to many that the ancestors were not happy," he said. He said the army did not even delegate anyone from leadership to go to the family of the deceased to share the sad news.

"Once I arrived home I was told that my mother had been cut from the army grant due to reports that I was reported lost and dead." He said he was disappointed that the army was not even prepared to take care of his family while he was fighting for his country.

"We were discharged from the army in 18 April 1946. Do you know what we got as compensation? "A bicycle, and 18 pounds, and our military uniform, after fighting on the battlefield and almost being killed." He said he had to start the process of proving his existence from scratch after the war was over. Van Wyk's family expressed how disappointed they are in the army for putting their grandfather through such pain at such an old age.

"Our grandfather was never given the respect and recognition that he deserved until today. Instead he is being used at every opportunity for the benefit of some. "He is still on a normal old age pension and lives in poverty, while the other military veterans, including their partners, were handsomely compensated. "He is still cramped in a small old house and uses an outside toilet. He was only put on the army’s medical scheme six years ago. His wife died while sill waiting for the compensation. "Instead he is continuously given certificates of merit. What difference is that piece of paper supposed to make in his life,“ they asked. "He gets invited to all the wreath laying ceremonies of fallen heroes at the Battle of Square Hill but only gets a taxi fare for showing his face. "It is so heartbreaking to hear him tell everyone how participating in the war has broken him. His pride of being part of a historical