SOUTH AFRICAN CONSTABULARY (SAC): POTCHEFSTROOM
Two SAC-members on Patrol
DIE ONTWIKKELING VAN ‘N EIE SUID-AFRIKAANSE INTELLIGENSIEKUNDE (SESTIEN): INFILTRASIE-AGENTE
Henning van Aswegen Elke aksie, optrede, aktiwiteit én plan wat ’n infiltrasie-agent insluit, is daarop gemik om sy dekking te verstewig en te verdiep sodat hy sy intelligensieteiken kan infiltreer. Gerard Ludi, wat daarin geslaag het om die ANC en SAKP te infiltreer, het sy opdrag van die SAP Veiligheidstak en RI ontvang via klandestiene kommunikasiekanale wat vóór sy ontplooiing deur sy hanteerders in plek
gestel is. Slaperagente is infiltrasie-agente, omdat hulle ’n geïdentifiseerde intelligensieteiken sistematies en doelmatig nader en rysmier, van onder af, oor ’n lang termyn. Penetrasie-agente word binne-in ’n intelligensieteiken gewerf, gewoonlik deur die aanbied van geld, afpersing of dwang.
Slaperagente word al vir bykans ’n eeu lank deur intelligensiedienste gebruik om ’n vyandiggesinde land binne te dring en te infiltreer. In 1927 het die gebruik van langtermyn-slaperagente skerp onder die soeklig gekom in die Britse pers. Die Britse polisiemag se Special Branch (wat hoofsaaklik vir die veiligheidsdiens werk) het die kantore deursoek van die All-Russian Co-operative Society (Arcos), ’n Brits-geregistreerde maatskappy in Londen met slegs Russiese aandeelhouers.
Engeland se SB het vasgestel dat die Russiese handelsverteenwoordigers wat vir Arcos werk, inderwaarheid Russiese spioene, spioenmeesters en agente was. Tydens die Koue Oorlog (1947–1991) tussen die Sowjetunie en Westerse lande het die Tsjeggo-Slowaakse intelligensiediens honderde slaperagente na die Weste gestuur met die opdrag om vir politieke en ekonomiese poste in Westerse regerings- en staatsdepartemente aansoek te doen. Baie van hierdie agente het daarin geslaag om Westerse regeringsdepartemente te infiltreer, waar hulle later goed geposisioneer was om kommunistiese denkwyses en ideologieë te bevorder, wel op ’n slinkse en subtiele manier, omdat hul ware identiteit nie aan hul werkgewers bekend was nie.
Sedertdien gebruik die Russiese intelligensiediens residente in hul ambassades om spioenasiebedrywighede teen ’n gasheerland (die land of streek waar die ambassade geleë is) te koördineer en te bestuur. Die resident is aan die hoof van die Russiese Geheime Diens, die KGB, of SVR-komponent in die Russiese Ambassade wat verantwoordelik is vir alle spioenasie- en teenspioenasiebedrywighede in die gasheerland. ’n Ander naam vir die KGB is die Eerste Hoofdirektoraat van die Russiese Komitee vir Staatsveiligheid. In Desember 1991 verdeel die KGB se verantwoordelikhede tussen die Sluzjba Wnesjnei Razwedki Rossijskoi Federatsii (SVR RF) (Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation – FIS of Buitelandse Intelligensiediens) en die Federal’naja Sluzjba Bezopasni, die Federal Security Service of Federale Veiligheidsdiens (FSB). Die KGB is ’n belangrike politieke instrument van die Sowjetunie wat gepoog het om SuidAfrika skade te berokken, hoofsaaklik deur proaktiewe spioenasie en ondermyning. Rusland, as kernlid van die Sowjetunie, was direk by die drie belangrikste spioenasiegevalle in Suid-Afrika se geskiedenis betrokke, te wete dié van Joeri Loginof, Alexei Kozlof en Dieter Felix Gerhardt. Gerhardt het vir die Russiese Militêre Intelligensiediens (GRU) gespioeneer, terwyl Loginof en Kozlof deel was van slaperagente-netwerke wat die KGB in Afrika probeer vestig het. Die doel van hierdie slaperagente was spioenasie en ondermyning om die leemte te vul wanneer diplomatieke verhoudinge verbreek word. In so ’n geval kan die wettige residente en netwerke in ambassades
nie meer hul spioenasiewerk doen nie en moet daar van ander metodes en tegnieke gebruik gemaak word.
Die resident beheer sy spioenasienetwerke deur middel van ’n groep hanteerders, projekhanteerders, spioenmeesters en kontroleurs, wat in kontak is met infiltrasie- en penetrasieagente, ondersteuningsagente, uitskakels (tussengangers) en slaperagente. Die netwerkhanteerders reis dan in die gasheerland rond waar hulle spioene en agente ontmoet, met hulle skakel deur middel van persoonlike ontmoetings, geld aan hulle betaal en reëlings tref vir toekomstige ontmoetings. Die agente word intensief opgelei in klandestiene kommunikasiemetodiek (kanale) en maniere om kontak te maak sonder dat die teenspioenasiediens van die gasheerland agterkom waarmee hulle besig is. Spioenasie is in baie lande met die dood strafbaar; daarom is spioene en hul hanteerders uiters versigtig oor hoe hulle te werk gaan.
Uitskakels is intelligensieterminologie vir persone wat as tussengangers tussen ’n agenthanteerder en ’n spioen optree. ’n Lewende uitskakel is dus ’n persoon, byvoorbeeld ’n koerantverkoper of ’n loodgieter, wat ongesiens en stil-stil kontak met spioene kan maak om inligtingsverslae van hulle te ontvang of geld te oorhandig. ’n Dooie uitskakel is ’n wegsteekplek (byvoorbeeld ’n telefoonhokkie of ’n gastetoilet in ’n hotel) vir geld, of mikrofilm of foto’s wat van ’n agent aan sy hanteerder gestuur word. Al hierdie werksmetodes is deur RI gebruik om die SAKP te infiltreer om inligting oor hul ondergrondse bedrywighede in te samel. Die langtermyndoelstelling van ’n intelligensie-operasie is dus om ’n infiltrasie-agent te werf, en dan geduldig te wag totdat hy in ’n goeie posisie is om intelligensie-inligting van waarde te produseer.
Gerard Ludi
Gerard Ludi is in Suid-Afrika se intelligensiegeskiedenis waarskynlik die beste voorbeeld van ’n suksesvolle infiltrasie-agent. Ludi was só effektief as agent dat sy optrede en die inligting wat hy aan sy spioenmeesters gegee het, ’n deurslaggewende bydrae gelewer tot die inhegtenisname van lede van die opperbevelstruktuur van MK by die plaas Liliesleaf in Rivonia in 1963. Ludi het geweet dat die opperbevel van die SAKP in kontak was met mekaar en dat hulle gereelde vergaderings by ’n geheime lokaliteit hou. Sy inligting het ook in 1964 direk tot die ondergang van die Algemene Sekretaris van die SAKP, adv. Abram (Bram) Fischer, gelei. Fischer was as algemene sekretaris die leier van die Sentrale Komitee van die Kommunistiese Party – die uitvoerende gesag van die Party. Die Politburo van die SAKP het uit ses dagbestuurslede bestaan, terwyl die Sentrale Komitee ongeveer 30 lede gehad het. Die Sentrale Komitee het alle regerings-, militêre-, sekuriteits-, intelligensie- en personeelopdragte (nomenklatura) in die SAKP beheer en gereguleer. Artikel 6 van die SAKP-grondwet het bepaal dat die Sentrale Komitee die “leidende rol” in die partystruktuur speel en beleidsbesluite neem. Die oppergesag van die SAKP was in die hande van die Sentrale Komitee
en die grondwet bepaal dat die algemene sekretaris verantwoordelik is aan die Sentrale Komitee. Dit is betekenisvol om te onderskei dat die SAKP enige politieke pos, byvoorbeeld die presidentskap van die land, as ’n ex officio-eretitel beskou. Dit beteken dat die Algemene Sekretaris eerstens verantwoordelik is teenoor die Party, en nie die staat nie.
Volgens Ludi het hy as student aan die Universiteit van die Witwatersrand bevriend geraak met ’n ingenieurstudent, Barry Strachan, wie se pa vir die Veiligheidspolisie gewerk het. Ludi is oortuig om die by die SAP aan te sluit en het kort voor lank die spioenmeester en latere polisiekommissaris, Johann Coetzee, ontmoet. Att Spengler het Ludi se potensiaal as spioen raakgesien en later aan Johann Coetzee oorhandig vir hantering. Ludi is in November 1960 deur Spengler gewerf en die kode Q-018 is aan hom toegeken. John Brooks, ’n kollega van Ludi, was Agent Q-019. Hulle het gelyklopend die SAKP geïnfiltreer deur eers by die ANC en toe by die COD aan te sluit. Ludi het reeds vroeg in sy loopbaan as lid van die Veiligheidstak getoon dat hy ’n uitnemende spioen kon wees. Sy bogemiddelde intellek en indrukwekkende vermoë om blitsvinnig van taal, kultuur, ingesteldheid en politieke siening te verwissel, het hom toegerus om sonder moeite die rol van verkleurmannetjie in linksgesinde politieke kringe te vertolk.
Ludi het hom as ’n politieke joernalis voorgedoen. Hy het eers as jong joernalis opleiding by The Star ontvang, waarna sy aanleg vir skryfwerk hom ’n pos by die destydse Rand Daily Mail, ’n linksgesinde dagblad in Johannesburg, besorg het. Die opdrag van sy hanteerders was om die SAKP te infiltreer, om vriende te maak met die leierskap en lede van die organisasie, en sodoende inligting te bekom wat vir die staat van belang was.
Teen 1963 was Ludi goed geplaas binne die ANC en SAKP. Van die inligting wat hy aan sy spioenmeesters deurgegee het, het gelei tot die klopjag op Liliesleaf by Rivonia, noord van Johannesburg, op 11 Julie 1963. Die plaas is as geheime hoofkantoor van MK gebruik. Dit word ook beskou as die geboorteplek van MK, want dit is daar waar die ANC besluit het om voortaan van ’n vorm van gewapende stryd gebruik te maak.
Gerard Ludi (Q018) het sy taakopdrag van sy hanteerders, Att Spengler, Johann Coetzee en Mike Geldenhuys, op innoverende wyse en met oorgawe aangepak. Om die SAKP as infiltrasie-agent binne te dring, het hy eers by ’n frontgroep van die SAKP, die COD, aangesluit. Hier het hy die 18jarige Toni Bernstein, dogter van die prominente SAKP-lede Hilda en Lionel “Rusty” Bernstein, ontmoet en ’n verhouding met haar aangeknoop. Toni Bernstein was die boesemvriendin van Bram en Molly Fischer se middeldogter, Ilse Firscher, en ook vriende met die Fischers se seun Paul. Ludi en Toni Bernstein was nagenoeg een jaar saam voordat Toni die pad saam met ’n Amerikaanse kommunis gevat het. Hul verhouding en sy vriendskap met verskeie ander aktiviste het Ludi toegang tot waardevolle inligting oor die SAKP gegee. Stadig maar seker slaag Ludi daarin om die Sentrale
Komitee van die SAKP, waarvan die Bloemfonteinse advokaat Bram Fischer die algemene sekretaris was, te infiltreer en hoë-gehalte intelligensieverslae aan sy spioenmeesters te verskaf. Daarin het hy dikwels verwys na die noue band tussen Joe Slovo, eens die sekretaris-generaal van die SAKP, en Nelson Mandela, die leier van die ANC en latere president van Suid-Afrika. Slovo, ’n Jood wat in Litaue gebore is, was dekades lank een van Mandela se beste vriende in die SAKP, ANC en MK.
Afgesien van beriggewing oor bande en kontak tussen SAKP-sellede, het Ludi ongemerk en subtiel bandopnames gemaak van elke vergadering wat die Sentrale Komitee gehou het. Die oudiobande is dan aan sy hanteerder in die Veiligheidspolisie oorhandig. Sodoende kon die SAP ’n volledige dossier oor die topstruktuur van die SAKP saamstel en elke beweging, telefoonoproep, vergadering en beplande terroriste-aanval van hulle notuleer. In ’n onderhoud wat die historikus Garth Benneyworth jare later met Ludi gevoer het, het Ludi erken dat hy daarin geslaag het om stuk-stuk inligting oor Operation Mayibuye in te win. Feite is bekom oor die wyse waarop die plan geïmplementeer sou word, die militêre fronte wat gevorm sou word, én die taktieke wat benut sou word. Die gesoute kommunis Brian Bunting het later opgemerk dat die SAKP se nalatigheid en ongeërgdheid betreffende sy eie sekerheid en sekuriteit veroorsaak het dat Ludi die organisasie so maklik kon infiltreer. Een van die drie Johannesburgse selle van die SAKP het elke maand ’n geheime aandvergadering in die woonstel van Esther Levitan in die Noordelike voorstede gehou, waartydens die klomp kommuniste lustig voor en na die vergadering die kommunistiese volkslied, die “Internationale” gesing het. Die “Internasionale” se woorde en lirieke is in 1864 deur die Marxiste Eugene Pottier en Pierre de Geyter geskryf en gereeld by vergaderings van die SAKP in Suid-Afrika gesing. Die sagte dreunsang van die kommuniste in Levitan se woonstel (die selvergaderings het om 02:00 begin) het haar bure wakker gemaak wat terstond die polisie laat weet het. Hierdie polisieverslag het natuurlik in die hande van die BSV se kantoor in De Villiersstraat, Johannesburg, beland, wat onmiddellik aan die werk gespring het deur opdrag aan ’n wetende agent gegee het om die sel te infiltreer. Dié agent, ’n groot en forse man met ’n welige baard en voorheen verbonde aan die Suid-Afrikaanse Raad van Kerke (SARK), het goed in sy taak geslaag, maar later rapporteer dat die klomp kommunistiese tantes hom nie wil uitlos nie en dat hy nie langer die SAKP-vergaderings gaan bywoon nie. Ná ’n bietjie oorreding deur sy twee hanteerders, waarvan een sers. Kleintjie Kleingeld van Rivonia-faam was, het die agent sy infiltrasiepoging van die sel voortgesit. Hy het later kompensasie van die Buro ontvang oor die ekstra take wat hy moes verrig en met homself gespot “that he served his country above and beyond the call of duty”. Hierdie agent het aan sy hanteerders rapporteer presies hoe ’n kommunistiese selgroep gestruktureer is en funksioneer. In die selgroep is daar verskillende subgroepe wat met finansies, propaganda, aktiewe optrede (met ander woorde geweldpleging en sabotasie), studente en opleiding gemoeid is. Van hierdie
subgroepe was die opleidingsgroep belangrik, omdat dit hier is waar die kommuniste die teorieë en doktrines van Karl Marx, Friedrich Engels, Vladmir Lenin, Leon Trotski, Joseph Stalin, Vo Nguyen Giap, Ho Chi Min en Fidel Castro bestudeer het. Van die jonger kommuniste soos Merle Barsel, Ian Robertson en Toni Bernstein het in die hierdie subgroep ook Russiese taalonderrig ontvang. ’n Derde groep van die SAKP het aan huis van Michael Harmel in Orchards, Johannesburg, vergader en is onder andere deur die Oos-Kaapse kommuniste Jean en Harold Strachan bygewoon, asook
Ann Nicholson, Ahmed Kathrada, Albie Sachs en Costas Gazides. Een van hierdie sel se belangrikste funksies was om kopieë van die tydskrif African Communist in Suid-Afrika te versprei. Joe Slovo het dikwels en gereeld die studieklasse van Marxisme in die drie Johannesburgse SAKPselle aangebied, een maand op ’n Dinsdag en die volgende maand op ’n Vrydag in ’n poging om die Veiligheidspolisie te verwar. Slovo se lesings het oor die teorie van dialektiese en historiese materialisme gegaan en somtyds oor die geskrifte van Lenin. Voorlesings uit die Kommunistiese Handves, wat in 1848 deur Karl Marx en Friedrich Engels gepubliseer is, was ook op die kommuniste se spyskaart. Joe Slovo het by hierdie selvergaderings dikwels dramaties aan sy grootoog kommunistiese dissipels verklaar dat die studie van Marxisme-Leninisme die enigste manier is om politieke wysheid te bekom. Merle Barsel, dogter van die gelyste kommuniste Esther en Hymie Barsel, het by geleentheid gekla dat sy na drie maande van Joe Slovo se klasse net een Russiese woord aangeleer het, “khleb” (brood). *
* In DIE BURO: Genl. Lang Hendrik van den Bergh en die Buro vir Staatsveiligheid, wat deur Imprimatur Uitgewers gepubliseer word, is daar ware Suid-Afrikaanse spioenasieverhale wat die waarde van agente en spioene illustreer (HUMINT), en ook die enorme skade wat hulle somtyds aanrig, onder die soeklig plaas. Die enigste werklike meetinstrument van die sukses van ’n spioenasiediens is die mate waarop hy of sy die geskiedenis beïnvloed het, of nie. Die Buro vir Staatsveiligheid het ’n invloed op die Suid-Afrikaanse geskiedenis gehad en verdien om onthou te word. Indien enige van ons lesers oor relevante inligting oor die ontwikkeling van spioenasie in SuidAfrika, beskik, word u hartlik uitgenooi om enige inligting en fotos aan intel@nongqai.org te stuur.
* Die artikelreeks Intelegere bevat 982 bronverwysings en voetnotas, wat op aanvraag van die skrywer bekom kan word. ‘n Verkorte weergawe van die verhaal van Dieter Felix Gerhardt en Ruth Johr verskyn in die boek Spioenmeesters, wat op Amazon verkrygbaar is.
* Word in die volgende Nongqai vervolg.
* Voorafbestellings vir DIE BURO kan by Imprimatur Uitgewers geplaas word.
DEEL 2: DIE NOODSAAK VIR INTELLIGENSIEWERK IN ‘N VERANDERENDE
BINNELANDSE EN INTERNASIONALE OMGEWING
Johan Mostert
Dagsê Hennie en Henning,
Mense buite die veiligheidsgemeenskap het gedurende die tagtigerjare dikwels smalend verwys na die eenogigheid van intelligensie wat 'n kommunis agter elke bos gesien het.
Min het hulle die diepgang van die interne besinning rondom alle fasette van die bedryf van intelligensie besef.
Die aangehegte twee artikels dien as voorbeelde. Die dokumente is geskryf deur ongeïdentifiseerde outeurs van die Nasionale Intelligensiediens (NI). Dit was nie amptelike dokumente nie.
(Die rekenaar het geweier om die pdfdokumente om te skakel na word.docx.
Ons is dus verplig om die .pdf om te skakel na .jpg en as .jpg’s in tabelle te plaas.)
Richard van Wyk
Source: “The Lekker old Days” on Facebookhttps://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=3585054701791631&set=gm.4071879499712639&idorvan ity=1660757527491527
1864: DIE VREDESBOOM: BRITS
HBH
Hierbo is ‘n foto van die Vredesboom naby Brits, wat ek ‘n paar jaar gelede afgeneem het. Die hele storie kan gevind word deur op die skakel te druk:
Die Vredesboom of Wagboom 1864 | Brits https://showme.co.za/brits/tourism/die-vredesboom-of-wagboom-1864/
SECOND ANGLO BOER WAR (ABW): THE BATTLE OF KRAAIPAN: 12 TO13
0CTOBER 1899
Compiled by Wolfgang Witschas
Introduction
The Second Anglo Boer War (ABW) started on 11 October 1899, when the President of the Zuid - Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR), Paul Kruger, in alliance with the Orange Free State (OFS), declared war on the British.
As in any war there are battles that are well remembered and then there are those, "the forgotten ones". The battle of Kraaipan is one of those battles.
The Battle of Kraaipan
Background
Kraaipan, a small town in what is now the North West Province of South Africa, situated approximately 40 km southwest of Schweizer-Reneke in the then Western Transvaal and some 60 kilometres southwest of Mafeking and north of Vryburg. It was a small station on the main railway line between Kimberley and Mafeking, bordering the Kalahari Desert. It was founded in 1898 and was strategically important due to its railway junction.
The Battle of Kraaipan, South Africa, was the first engagement of the Second Anglo-Boer War, fought on 12 October 1899 and was a Boer victory
Google:/https//www.angloboerwar.com/forum/6-places/31131-kraaipan
The Battle
The first encounter of the war occurred at Kraaipan, south of Mafeking, and to General De la Rey belongs the credit of securing the initial victory for the cause of the Republic.
The night of 11 October 1899, 800 men of the Potchefstroom and Lichtenburg commandos under General Koos de la Rey, one of General Piet Cronjé's field generals, had started from Cronje's laager with two hundred Lichtenburghers before artillery had arrived from Pretoria, in order to be over the border at midnight, and was to await the arrival of Captain Van der Merwe of the "Staats Artillerie" with guns before engaging any force he might locate between Vryburg and Mafeking. On reaching the railway station at Kraaipan he found that the English outposts at that place had retired
on seeing the approach of the Boers. De la Rey, occupied the railway siding in awaiting the arrival of Van der Merwe, tore up the railway going south to Kimberley, and cut the telegraph wires.
The object for which the column had crossed the border was accomplished, but De la Rey remained for possible developments from the direction of Mafeking. His scouts soon discovered an armoured train, the "Mosquito", carrying two 7-pounder cannons, rifles, ammunition and supplies, from the south towards the railway station. This mobile fort consisted of an engine and two trucks lined with bullet-proof armour sheeting and was armed with a Maxim and two mountain guns. The "fort" bore down upon the station at Kraaipan during the evening of the 13 October 1899, the officer in command being evidently ignorant of the damage done to the railway line. The engine and trucks capsized on reaching the derailed spot, but not so completely as to prevent the surprised occupants from trying to replace the train on the rails. This the Boers easily succeeded in preventing by their rifle fire. The English were enabled, however, to use their mountain guns and Maxim, and by this means to keep De la Rey at a respectful distance during the night.
At first light Captain van der Merwe of the Staatsartillerie, with men and two Krupp guns arrived and de la Rey positioned them strategically to fire on the stranded locomotive. Firing from the armoured train continued as it had done for hours without effecting anything. De la Rey told van der Merwe and his men to bombard the train. The third shot hit the boiler, sending up a frightful cloud of steam, and de la Rey raised his hand to say that was enough. As if to prove it, a white flag went up, and de la Rey and his men surrounded the train. Captain Nesbitt, who was in command of the train, was wounded, as well as some of the thirty men under him. They were rounded up and conducted as prisoners of war to the laager of General Cronje.”
The Boers were successful in seizing several field guns and ammunition and suffered no casualties. Most accounts of the battle record that there were nine of the British force who were wounded.
The official report of this opening engagement of the war, as compiled by de la Ray and sent by General Cronje to Pretoria, was as follows:
General De la Rey on his arrival at Kraaipan found that all the British troops and police had fled to Mafeking:
• He immediately tore up the railway lines on both sides of the station, and also cut the telegraph wires.
• In the evening a locomotive with two wagons, protected by iron work, was seen approaching the derailed spot (Armoured train “Mosquito”).
• On reaching it the locomotive capsized, together with the wagons.
• The burghers prevented the train from being replaced on the rails and were successful in their efforts throughout the night.
• Meanwhile the enemy kept up a hot fire with a Maxim and two mountain guns.
• The burghers kept strict watch during the night.
• In the morning Captain Van der Merwe arrived with cannon.
• Directly he opened fire with them, the white flag was hoisted, and the enemy surrendered.
• On our side there was no wounded.
• The enemy's casualties were their captain and eight men (slightly) wounded.
• Dum-Dum (Mark IV?) bullets were found with the enemy."
Plaque to commemorate the derailment of the armoured train "Mosquito" and the first battle of the Second Anglo Boer War (ABW) 1889 to 1902.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/battle_of_Kraaipan
Armoured Train "Mosquito" captured at Kraaipan
Battle of Kraaipan Memorial
www.battletoursza.com/kraaipan
Epilogue
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/ battle_of _Kraaipan
The battle of Kraaipan is unique regarding the history of the Second Anglo Boer War, as it was the first battle of the war and one of the least known battles written about by historians. In his book,
"Good-bye Dolly Gray" - The Story of the Boer War, the author Rayne Kruger does not mention the battle of Kraaipan but only refers to a "brisk engagement" and the capture of the British Armoured Train "Mosquito" by the Commando of General Koos de la Rey, on pages 68 and 69.
This oversight highlights the battle's relatively unknown status, despite being the first engagement of the Second Anglo-Boer War.
Other notable historians, such as Thomas Pakenham in "The Boer War" and Martin Bossenbroek in "The Boer War: Harry Smith and the Siege of Ladysmith", also barely mention the Battle of Kraaipan.
Reasons for this lack of attention might include:
• Overshadowed by more significant battles (Magersfontein, Spioenkop, Paardeberg, Colenso, Modder River, Elandslaagte, Glencoe and Dundee etc.)
• Limited documentation and primary sources.
The incident involving the capture of the British Armoured Train "Mosquito" catapulted General Koos de la Rey to fame, but also created tension with Commandant Piet Cronje.
Cronje’s concerns:
• De la Rey's unconventional tactics: Cronje favoured traditional, cautious approaches.
• Fear of De la Rey's growing popularity: Cronje saw De la Rey as a potential rival.
De la Rey's assignment:
• Sent to block British forces relieving Siege of Kimberley in the north-east of the Cape Colony.
• Tasked with delaying Colonel Methuen's advance
• De la Rey's tactical genius: He chose to attack at Magersfontein, using innovative defensive positions
References:
Google:/https://en.m.wikepedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Kraaipan
Google:/https://www.battletoursza.com/kraaipan
Book: Good-bye Dolly Gray. The Story of the Boer War, Author: Rayne Kruger, Pages 68 and 69.
HBH
‘n Ou inwoner van Brits, wyle dr Hannes van Heerden, het my gewys waar genl CR de Wet tydens die Anglo Boere-oorlog oor die Magaliesberge getrek het.
Ek het die storie soos hieronder aangehaal, by dr Hannes van Heerden gehoor en ook so in genl De Wet se boek gelees.
“De Wet: Chapter XIX - I Return to the Free State
I decided on climbing the Magalies Mountains, without a path or road!
Nearby there was a hut, and I rode up to it. When the man came out to me, I pointed to the Magalies Mountains, and asked:
"Right before us, can a man cross there?"
"No, you cannot!" the man answered.
"Has a man never ridden across here?"
"Yes," replied the man, "long ago."
"Do baboons walk across?"
"Yes! baboons do, but not a man."
"Come on!" I said to my burghers. "This is our only way, and where a baboon can cross, we can cross."
Verwysing: https://www.angloboerwar.com/books/74-de-wet-three-years-war/1532-de-wetchapter-xix-i-return-to-the-free-state
UNION DEFENCE FORCE: 6 SA ARMOURED DIVISION: 6TH SOUTH AFRICAN ARMOURED DIVISION IN THE ITALIAN CAMPAIGN (PART 5)
Lt-Col WS Marshall (Ret)
Lt-Col WS Marshall
Above: Maj Gen William Henry Evered Poole, Commander 6 SA Armoured Division
6th South African Armoured Division (Part 5)
6th South African Armoured Division (Part 5)
The Pursuit to the Alps
The 6th South African Armoured Division was re-organising for the pursuit, but a delay was inevitable while US II Corps adjusted its dispositions. On the evening of 18 April 1945, the 13th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade had occupied Mt Giovule and Mt Baco without resistance. Reinforced by the 4/13th Frontier Force Rifles and with the SSB temporarily under command this brigade was ordered to secure a bridgehead over the Reno and continue the advance until relieved by 11th South African Armoured Brigade. The latter brigade, with the FCity/CTH under command, was to act as the main thrust of the 6th South African Armoured Division. The 12th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade with the PAG under command was to support the main thrust. The situation was so fluid that it proved impossible to adhere to the pre-arranged plans. Four American divisions, and the 6th South African Armoured Division, were all trying to debouch into the Po Valley west of Bologna, with mines and demolitions blocking the few available roads. But for the US Fifth Army engineers and staff, the traffic congestion did not become acute, and the US 34th Infantry Division was able to enter Bologna on 21 April 1945.
Above: After losing the 24th Guards Brigade in Jan 1945, the 13th SA Motorised Brigade was formed from other units no longer being used, such as Anti-Aircraft and Anti-Tank, these being converted to motorised infantry
The 6th South African Armoured Division had virtually no more fighting in the Apennines. The one aim of the Germans was to get to the Po River crossings but left a considerable number of stragglers in the mountains, and several hundred prisoners were picked up during the thrust down Route 64. These stragglers seldom showed any fight. The SSB leading the advance of 13th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade reached the outskirts of Casalecchio on the evening of 20 April 1945, and then the 11th South African Armoured Brigade with the SSB back under command, passed through on 21 April 1945.
The long bloody struggle in the mountains was over, and the fertile plains of northern Italy lay ahead.
On 21 April 1945, the 6th South African Armoured Division was given the task of leading the advance of US II Corps. The advance was to be carried out with the utmost speed and boldness on a broad front. German rearguards and delaying positions were to be by-passed. Important road centres, stream crossings, etc., to be held until relieved by the infantry divisions. 11th South African Armoured Brigade was directed through San Giovanni to Finale Nel Emillia and the 12th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade to Camposanto. Both brigades were to seize crossings over the Panaro River. The 13th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade was to concentrate north of Route 9 in divisional reserve. The PR was detached from the 11th South African Armoured Brigade command and was ordered to protect the 6th South African Armoured Division’s right flank, and contact the British Eighth Army in the vicinity of Bondeno. The American units under the command of the 11th South African Armoured Brigade had now left.
Above: A map showing the last great push of the Division from Bologna to Treviso
By-passing Bologna, the tanks of the SSB rumbled off at 10:30 on 21 April 1945. After many weary months the 11th South African Armoured Brigade had returned to mobile warfare. The tank crews were filled with tremendous enthusiasm and were determined to make the most of the opportunity. Sweeping up the long straight road to San Giovanni, the SSB soon started to collect prisoners and stragglers. At 11:00 hours shots were exchanged with enemy tanks, supported by self-propelled guns and Panzerschreck’s. The SSB was confined to a strip of ground on both sides of the road, bounded by a railway line on one flank and a dyke on the other. After a severe firefight the SSB tanks fought their way forward to within 11-miles of San Giovanni, but further progress was barred by a blown bridge. The SSB knocked out two Panzer IV tanks and PaK40 guns, for a loss of three Sherman’s disabled. Meanwhile, the ILH/KimR and “A” Squadron, SSB struck opposition at Calderara Di Reno to the east of the railway line, and the village was bombarded by the 4/22 Field Regiment.
A Panzer IV was put out of action and the place was occupied that evening. The 11th South African Armoured Brigade rounded up 300 prisoners on 21 April 1945, and identifications from many battalions illustrated the confusion of the retreat. Further to the east the PR reached Longara at nightfall, after meeting considerable opposition from Panzerschreck’s and losing two Shermans but they managed to round up 150 prisoners. It had been a successful day for the South Africans, but the country was badly cut by dykes and canals, and the going was by no means easy.
San Giovanni was occupied by American troops on the night of 21/22 April 1945, and the advance of the 6th South African Armoured Division was resumed on 22 April 1945, on a two-brigade front with the 11th South African Armoured Brigade advancing on Finale Nell Emilia while the 12th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade advancing on Camposanto. The 6th South African Armoured Division’s orders were to seize the crossings over the Panaro River at all costs. The SSB, with “B” Company, ILH/KimR under command, met considerable opposition just north of San Giovanni. The Germans had organised a very strong anti-tank defence with guns and Panzers concealed among houses and hayricks.
“B” Squadron, SSB, executed a flanking movement, and after severe fighting the Germns withdrew. Another strong rearguard position was encountered at Decima. “B” Squadron, SSB, again moved to a flank, while the ILH/KimR assisted the tanks by taking out Snipers and Panzerschreck’s. At nightfall the column was still some 5 miles south of Finale. The SSB claimed the destruction of 7 Panzers, with 8 Shermans and 3 Stuarts being destroyed or disabled.
The WR/DLR with “C” Squadron, PAG, and one Battery of 1/6 Field Regiment under command, led the advance of 12th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade, and moving very fast through San Giovanni and Crevalcore, reached the outskirts of Camposanto at 12h45. There was no opposition,
and progress was not impeded by demolitions or mines. Endless columns of American marching troops were passed on the road. The Panaro has high banks overgrown by grass, and the river is unfordable on foot. “B”Company, WR/DLR, leading the advance, reached the bridge at Camposanto at about 10h30 and found it intact. Camposanto lay on the northern bank of the Panaro. American troops had already reached the river, but drew back in the face of heavy small arms fire.
The WR/DLR made an attempt to rush the bridge with an infantry platoon, but the platoon was driven back by machine-gun fire along a fixed line. For two hours nothing was achieved, and it was impossible for the troops to show themselves without being shot. The Germans were not able to demolish the bridge from a distance and tried to send parties on to the bridge to destroy it. These were driven back by the fire of the WR/DLR. Finally, PAG tanks were brought up to give supporting fire and artillery concentrations were laid on. Covered by this fire, three Carriers loaded with troops rushed the bridge resulting in 46 prisoners taken in Camposanto.
The WR/DLR had achieved a notable success. On the evening of 22 April 1945, the 12th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade received orders to hand over Camposanto to an American unit, and to move with all speed along the south bank of the Panaro to Finale Nell Emillia. The plan was designed to trap considerable enemy forces caught between the converging US Fifth Army and British Eighth Army, and still south of the Panaro. The German army in Italy was now in its deaththroes. The pace of withdrawal was limited to that of animals and infantry, all the reserves had been engaged, and Allied aircraft speedily turned the Po crossings into deathtraps. On 21 April, 1945, a British Eighth Army Armoured column burst out from the Argenta area, and driving along the Reno occupied Reggio Renaticio that night. Sweeping on in a north-westerly direction the British Eighth Army spearheads reached the outskirts of Bondeno on the evening of 22 April 1945. A battle of annihilation began between the Panaro and the Reno.
Both the 12th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade and 11th South African Armoured Brigade were now directed on Finale. This small town lay on the northern bank of the Panaro River, and now that Bondeno was lost, the bridges across the Panaro at Finale were virtually the only escape route for the numerous German forces in the Cento area. The Panaro was not a formidable obstacle, but its steep banks form an impassable obstacle for vehicles. There were two bridges at Finale - a stone bridge leading into the town, and a wooden bridge some hundreds of yards to the east. Although the SSB had halted about 5 miles from Finale on the evening of 22 April 1945, the Germans in that area had already felt the weight of the 6th South African Armoured Division. On the evening of 22 April, the 7/23 Medium Regiment observed a great number of vehicles moving along the roads into Finale, where upon the 7/23 Medium Regiment and the 4/22 Field Regiment put down a series of concentrations and did tremendous damage.
The advance of 12th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade was led by the RDLI with “B” Squadron, PAG under command. The RDLI column advanced rapidly along the south bank of the Panaro, and by 20:45 on 22 April 1945, the troops were within a mile of Finale. Here they struck against the flank of an enemy column of vehicles and Panzers which was moving into the town. Confused fighting broke out in the darkness, and two PAG tanks were destroyed. But the RDLI maintained positions within 500 yards of the road, and the PAG tanks and battalion mortars fired steadily into the column. During the proceedings the stone bridge was demolished.
The Germans opposing the RDLI then betook themselves to the wooden bridge and crossed the Panaro by this means with the fighting dying down at dawn, and a patrol of the RDLI entered Finale and found the place clear of the enemy.
At 07h05 on 23 April 1945, the 12th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade received orders to concentrate and resume the advance through Camposanto to the Po. The RDLI was ordered to relieve the ILH/KimR and the 11th South African Armoured Brigade was ordered to clear up the Finale area and during the day the SSB, ILH/KimR and FC/CTH rounded up some 900 prisoners south of the town. The Germans had a number of trenches in the area, and considerable opposition was encountered from snipers and Spandau posts, but organized resistance broke down during the day. The utter confusion of the enemy is shown by the fact that prisoners were taken from no less than eight divisions. During the morning contact was made with British 6th Armoured Division. The road leading into Finale was choked with vehicles of every description all jammed together in a shattered mass. From the bridge over the canal to the Panaro there was a solid mass of carts, oxen, mules and horses followed by trucks, guns towed and self-propelled and panzers. On the morning of 24 April 1945, a way had been bulldozed through the mass with many of the vehicles still smouldering. Prisoners stated that the initial block was caused by fighter-bombers, and then the artillery took full advantage of the congestion. German aircraft put in an appearance on the nights of the 21/22 April and 22/23 April and inflicted some casualties on the 6th South African Armoured Division. A Junker Ju-87 “Stuka” was shot down by “B” Troop of 1/12 Light Anti-Aircraft Battery.
On the morning of 23 April 1945, 12th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade began its drive to the Po. After a delay of some hours caused by the bridge at Camposanto being blocked by American traffic the WR/DLR crossed the Panaro at 10h30. The advance was pressed during the afternoon and “C” Squadron, PAG, which accompanied the advance guard, got in some effective shooting at disorganised groups. 150 prisoners were collected, but progress was hampered by American units moving along the roads in the same area. The WR/DLR column harboured some 5 miles from the Po. During the advance they noted that the northern sky was black with smoke, and that fighterbombers were continually overhead.
On the afternoon of 24 April 1945, 12th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade reached the Po in the Felonica area. Large numbers of stragglers were trapped on the south bank and the area was littered with guns, panzers, transport, and war material of all sorts. The WR/DLR rounded up 487 prisoners and the RDLI 250. The latter battalion captured a complete German hospital and staff. The PR, which was acting in an independent role, also reached the Po River that day and took 363 prisoners. Opposition was sporadic and unorganised. The 11th South African Armoured Brigade completed the clearing up of the Finale area on 24 April 1945, while the 13th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade concentrated south of the Panaro ready to support the 12th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade.
Further to the west 10th US Mountain Division had crossed the Po River in the San Bennetto area. On the night of 24/25 April 1945, a RDLI patrol swam the Po River and reported that the north bank was only lightly held. This was fortunate for the Po at this point was over 150 yards broad, and a very difficult obstacle. Bridging material was not immediately available but five assault boats were brought up during the night. “A” and “B” Companies, RDLI crossed the river the next morning and established a bridgehead against slight opposition. 12th Field Squadron operated a raft for jeeps, carriers and 10 DUKWs (Amphibious Lorries) to ferry troops over. 12th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade Group concentrated on the south bank to follow up the crossing. More rafts arrived on 26 April 1945, but heavy rain made the banks of the river soft and muddy and greatly impeded loading operations.
Above: A photograph of Divisional tanks in a waiting area
The crossing of 12th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade was completed on 27 April 1945. The greater part of the brigade crossed via ferries, but 240 vehicles were sent over a bridge at Ostiglia.
Wholesale disaster was overtaking the Germans in northern Italy. On 25 April 1945, US 88th Infantry Division made a remarkable advance from the Ostiglia bridgehead and reached Verona. All lateral communication between the German forces in the plain was cut, and the retreat of German forces west of the Tyrol was finally closed when US Fifth Army spearheads took Como on 28 April 1945. The German Army Group C was now a mere skeleton force. All their energy had been expended south of the Po River and without weapons and ammunition their retreat had become a rout. Practically all the tanks, assault guns, and heavy anti-tank guns were lost or stranded for lack of fuel and there was little left of the artillery. In these circumstances it was hopeless for the German command to hold a line along the Adige, or even to put up a serious defence in the Tyrol. Strong defences had been constructed during the winter east of the Adige River, but neither troops nor guns were available to hold them.
On 27 April 1945, the RDLI led the advance of 12th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade to the Adige, and the river was reached in the Castagnaro area. At 14:20 “D” Company, RDLI commenced a crossing using a boat supplied by partisans. These were soon supplemented by American DUKWs, and during the evening the whole battalion crossed the river, together with a troop for PAG tanks. The crossing was unopposed, and a number of stragglers were collected on the east bank. On the morning of 28 April 1945, the RDLI occupied Boschi, and at this point 12th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade passed into reserve. 13th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade with the PR under command was ordered to take the lead, with 11th South African Armoured Brigade moving in close support. The task of 6th South African Armoured Division was to maintain contact with the British Eighth Army, and protect the right flank of the US II Corps.
On the morning of 28 April 1945, 13th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade crossed the Adige near Legnago, on a bridge laid by American engineers. The NMR/SAAF led the way without waiting for the PR tanks to cross the river. No resistance was encountered until Noventa was reached, some 15 miles from the Adige. PR tanks were called up and the advance continued until the head of the column struck the strong defences of the Venetian Line and came under heavy anti-tank fire with one Sherman destroyed and two Shermans immobilised. A group of PR tanks moved to flank the Germans and broke their defences west of the Legnaro-Vicenza Road. Barbed wire obstacles and anti-tank ditches were not covered by fire. Pillboxes were found unoccupied. The 13th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade continued its drive to the Bacchiglione River, which was reached that evening. PR tanks advancing up the main Vicenza Road were held up by a canal and a blown bridge, and were received with heavy fire. Accordingly, the RNC with PR reconnaissance tanks under command, were ordered to move to Montegaldella.
The RNC collected a number of prisoners but failed to capture the bridge at this point in the face of machine-gun fire. The enemy blew the bridge in the early hours of 29 April 1945
During the day the US 88th Infantry Division captured Vicenza after stiff fighting and the 2nd New Zealand Division reached the outskirts of Padua. On the night of 28 April 1945, the 6th South African Armoured Division HQ ordered the advance to continue on a two-brigade front with the 11th South African Armoured Brigade advancing on Treviso and assisting the Americans in capturing that important town, while the 13th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade were to maintain touch with the British Eighth Army and follow a route south of the main Vicenza - Treviso axis. Both the 11th
South African Armoured Brigade and 13th South African Motorized Infantry Brigade succeeded in capturing bridges across the Bacchiglione. Early on 29 April 1945, carriers of the ILH/KimR occupied Longare and found the bridge undamaged, while the RNC crossed by a bridge south east of Monte Galdella.
Both brigades drove on to the Brenta against slight opposition. They collected hundreds of prisoners and reached Brenta that evening. “D” Company, RNC was involved in a sharp action at Limena, and the enemy’s resistance was not overcome until the battalion mortars and the guns of 15th Field Regiment, RA had been brought into action. A PR tank was destroyed here. A RNC patrol crossed the Brenta at Curtarolo using a captured raft, and 8th Field Squadron threw a Bailey bridge over the river during the night of 29/30 April 1945. While reconnoitring the bridging site the commanding officer and 8th Field Squadron and two other ranks were killed by Panzerschreck fire.
11th South African Armoured Brigade crossed at Curtarolo on the morning of 30 April 1945, and by nightfall was within three miles of Treviso. 500 prisoners were collected during the day, and it was
Above: Maj Gen WHE Poole (middle) in conversation with Brig JPA Furstenburg (left) in Bologna. Note the Divisional route marker on the wall
clear that the war in Italy was virtually over. The New Zealanders were in Venice, and the Americans had taken Treviso. The 6th South African Armoured Division concentrated in the Scorze area. From there it set off, on 1 May 1945, for Milan, to meet a threat from a German force.
En route the 6th South African Armoured Division heard of the surrender of the German Armies in Italy.
Axis Surrender and End of the War
Early on 2 May 1945, the German theatre commander, Generalfeldmarschall A Kesselring, agreed to Field Marshal HRLG Alexander’s surrender terms and broadcast orders to ceasefire. By 3 May 1945, the 6th South African Armoured Division was northeast of Milan when General der Panzertruppe Fridolin Rudolf Theodor, Ritter und Edler von Senger und Etterlin delivered the surrender of the German forces in Italy to Lt Gen MW Clark in Florence. This was followed by Winston Churchill’s announcement of the end of the war in Europe on 8 May 1945.
On 14 May 1945 the whole of 6th South African Armoured Division assembled on the Monza motor racing circuit, complete with its tanks, artillery and vehicles. A Guard of Honour was formed by the SSB, Maj Gen WHE Poole’s first command. As Prime Minister (Field Marshal) JC Smuts was in San Francisco writing the preamble on Human Rights for the United Nation’s Charter, he was represented by the Acting Minister of Defence, Commodore the Hon FC Sturrock who opened with a speech, bringing the 6th South African Armoured Division the thanks of Prime Minister and the people of South Africa for its part in the victory in Italy.
6th South African Armoured Division casualties in Italy totalled 5176, of which 753 were killed.
The ‘Top Brass’ included Lieutenant-General Mark W Clark (15th Army Group), General Lucian King Truscott, Jr. (Fifith Army) and Lieutenant-General Willis Dale Crittenberger (IV US Corps), all three having had the 6th South African Armoured Division under their command during operations from the Arno to the Alps. General Sir Pierre Helpperus Andries van Ryneveld and Major-General Francois Henry “Frank” Theron were the distinguished South African Generals present, together with senior Allied officers, including Italians.
Above: Maj Gen WHE Poole showing his pennant and Jeep
The parade was led by the ubiquitous TAC Division HQ Command Jeep with its 2 Star Plate and, as usual, flying the GOC’s pennant which so many men had seen during the year-long trek from Caddino. Maj Gen W.H.E Poole stood smartly at the salute as the battle-worn jeep came abreast of Commodore the Hon F.C. Sturrock. The Air OP pilots coincided their fly-past with the head of the huge march past. The Command Jeep then broke away, so that Maj Gen W.H.E Poole could join Commodore the Hon F.C. Sturrock at the saluting base. During the proceedings Lt Gen M.W Clark, presumably in his capacity as the senior US Officer in the theatre, decorated Maj Gen W.H.E. Poole on behalf of the President of the United States with the Legion of Merit (Commander), the Highest Award that could be made to a non-American citizen.
The South African brigades were then deployed to the Swiss and French borders for frontier duties with the 11th Armoured Brigade along the Swiss border, 13th Motorised Brigade around Turin and 12th Motorised Brigade in the Aosta Valley contiguous to the Franco-Italian border, which was drawn on the high ground separating the two countries. On 16 July 1945 the Italian Cremona and Mantova Battle Groups were placed under command of the 6th South African Armoured Division to assist in these duties, allowing some of the battalions to be withdrawn for repatriation to South Africa. The two Motorised Brigades were amalgamated and remained responsible for guarding duties in the province of Imperia until 18 August 1945 while the 11th Armoured Brigade was amalgamated with the division artillery.
Above: The Victory parade held on the Monza racing track, showing M10 Grouse passing the main pavilion
Lt Gen M.W. Clark commented on the 6th South African Armoured Division’s achievements during the Spring Offensive, stating:
“One of my visits was to the 6th South African Armoured Division, under a most competent leader, Maj Gen WHE Poole. This unit had previously been shifted to the Fifth Army front and had performed splendidly under adverse conditions. It was a battle-wise outfit, bold and aggressive against the enemy and willing to do whatever job was necessary.
In fact, after a period of day-and-night fighting, the 6th South African Armoured Division had in an emergency gone into the line as infantrymen. When the snow stalled their armour they dug in their tanks and used them as artillery to make up for our shortage of heavy guns. Their attacks against strongly organised German positions were made with great élan and without regard for casualties. Despite their comparatively small numbers, they never complained about losses. Neither did Smuts, who made it clear that the Union of South Africa intended to do its part in the War - and it most certainly did. Enough said!"
Lt Gen M.W. Clark – Military Memoirs
Helwan Riots
By the beginning of April 1945, it had become obvious that the war was coming to a close and that the 6th South African Armoured Division as well as many other South African troops serving as divisional, corps and army troops would require transportation back to South Africa for demobilisation. On 1 May 1945, the Union Defence Force realised that no plans had yet been made to get all men back and instructions were prepared, whereby No. 1 and No. 5 Wings of the SAAF were to be merged to form No. 4 Group which was to be used in an Intensified Transport Service/Shuttle Service to move 5000 troops per month by air commencing 1 July 1945.
A further 15,000 men were to be transported home by sea during the second half of the year, resulting in the repatriation of 45,000 soldiers by the end of the year.
In addition to the 6th South African Armoured Division and other troops in Italy,there were thousands of recently released South African prisoners from the 2nd South African Infantry Division who had been captured at the battles of Sidi Rezegh and Tobruk who had been held in Italy. And this also created problems as their numbers had not been factored into the demobilisation plans.
Above: Members of the Division relaxing after the end of the war at one of the restaurants
The staging depot at Helwan north of Cairo was soon overcrowded and by 20 August 1945, the depot, designed to hold 5000 men was holding 9000
An official announcement on 9 August 1945, stated that 3000 – 5000 men were expected to be repatriated by sea at the end of the month, but less than a week later it was announced that the expected shipping had been delayed, and that further announcements would be made later. Food was in short supply and the lack of adequate numbers of chefs caused extended queues and delays at meal times. The standard of discipline deteriorated further as the men arriving at the depot were split up alphabetically by surname, and then according to their demobilisation categories.
Priority was determined by the length of service in the UDF, the basic principle was “First in, first out”. All the members of the UDF were classified in groups ranging from Group A with attestation dates between September 1939 and 30 April 1940 to Group M with attestation dates from 1 January 1945 onwards. White men and women, the Cape Corps and Indian and Malay Corps, and the Native Military Corps were grouped separately. Demobilisation took place on an individual basis rather than a unit basis since the whole dispersal depot machinery, which was built up during the war, was based on a system of individual discharges. This meant that men were grouped together with fellow soldiers and NCO’s whom they did not know, and unit structures were lost.
Above: Air transport was to be used to ferry members back home, here a C-47 Dakota
Military personnel within the Union were considered for demobilisation first, with the exception of those personnel serving in certain key positions and those whose demobilisation depended on the complete demobilisation of personnel from other theatres of war. The second stage commenced on the arrival of troops from areas elsewhere in Africa; and the final stage was reached on return of troops from other operations, those held POW. and those on duties in enemy territory.
Delays in the repatriation process arouse with problems relating to the reconversion of aircraft to passenger planes, shortages in finding fuel and a general lack of shipping space, created problems in the repatriation of soldiers from overseas. Some of the soldiers were of the opinion that the whole situation was pretty shocking, and some described the air evacuation scheme as a complete failure. Some soldiers even questioned the sincerity of the government's promise of a speedy return and their smooth reinstatement into civilian life.
More changes in the official discharge policy led to a severe criticism and delays in finding suitable post-war employment. Initially, the discharges were to take place on a FIFO basis according to the soldier's date of attestation. However, this changed when the military authorities discovered that practically all A and B groups consisted of officers and NCO's; and decided to adopt a ratio scheme of 3 officers, 14 NCO's and 18 other ranks to be discharged in that order. Consequently, privates were released before officers who had a longer service record. This led to widespread criticism. The soldiers felt that those who were most likely to be prejudiced by their return to civilian life being postponed, should receive priority.
Above: Members of the Division were also shipped home
Morale declined even further when it was decided that 500 volunteers would go home as a top priority to assist in the demobilisation process back in South Africa, their return home irrespective of their demobilisation category. In addition, all trading rights except those of the NAAFI were controlled by Egyptians; the men felt that they were being exploited by inflated prices charged by these traders. There was also unhappiness over the two cinemas, when men who had bought tickets frequently found that they were unable to get in due to lack of space.
A protest meeting was held on 20 August 1945, where a crowd of 1500 men were addressed by various individuals. As the size of the crowd increased, the meeting became violent. The usually disciplined soldiers became a mob bent on trashing, looting and burning and their first objectives were the two Egyptian owned cinemas, which were set alight. The mob then split up and further Egyptian premises, blocks of shops, motor cars, bungalows and book stalls were set alight. They also set fire to one of their own messes and broke down and looted the NAAFI store
Maj Gen WHE Poole flew in from Italy to address the troops, promising that immediate steps were to be taken to speed up the rate of repatriation. To tighten up on discipline and improve morale at Helwan, the housing of troops on a unit basis was instituted and a Brigadier was appointed to command the depot. A public address system was installed to keep everybody in camp up to date on the latest news and free outdoor film-shows were implemented. On 26 August 1945, the Director General Officer - Administration (DGQ-A Italyand Egypt), appointed a court of enquiry to investigate, their report detailed the frustration and despondency related to overcrowding which had been one major contributing factor, as had the failure of the airlift to repatriate the published number of troops per day.
Above: A parliamentary member speaking to the Division in Helwan
The first official statements on 24 and 31 May 1945, declared that the repatriation rate by air would be 500 a day. From 1 July 1945, this figure was amended to 300 a day. The average daily number
of men repatriated during the first twenty days of July was only 108. The court assessed the total cost of the damage at £22,768,431. Then by 25 January 1946, 10,1676 men had been ferried back to South Africa with the last aircraft leaving Egypt on 26 February 1946, which included Maj Gen WHE Poole.
Credits: J.C. von Winterbach, Scott Sutherland, Mike Bersiks, Rex Barret and Barry Cooper, W.S. Marshall.
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• 6th South African Armoured Division In Italy. Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies (Vol. 4, No. 3, June 1974).
• The Record Of The Coldstream Guards, 1650-1950; 1951-1974 - R. J. Marker, A. G. C. Dawnay, E. R. Hill, E. I. Windsor Clive (The Coldstream Guards, 1975).
• South African Forces World War II, Vol. 5: Victory in Italy “South African 6th Armoured Division in Italy” - N.D. Orpen (Purnell, 1975).
• The History of the Transvaal Horse Artillery, 1904-1974 – N.D. Orpen (Transvaal Horse Artillery Regimental Council, 1975)
• Anti-Aircraft Artillery In The Second World War. Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies (Vol. 7, No. 1, June 1977).
• South African Forces World War II, Vol. 6: Eagles Victorious: Operations of the South African Forces over the Mediterranean and Europe, in Italy, the Balkans and the Aegean, and from Gibraltar and West Africa - H.J. Martin and Neil Orpen (Cape Town: Purnell, 1977)
• South African Forces World War II, Vol. 7: South Africa at War “Military and Industrial Organization and Operations in Connection with the Conduct of the War, 1939-1945” - H.J Martin, N.D. Orpen (Purnell, 1979).
• South African Forces World War II, Vol. 8: Salute the Sappers, Part 2 “Operations from Alamein through Italy” - N.D. Orpen, H.J. Martin (Johannesburg: Sappers Association, 1982).
• The “Duke’s”: A History of the Cape Town Rifles “Duke’s” – N.D. Orpen (Cape Town Rifles “Duke’s Regimental Council, 1984)
• South Africa in World War 2 – J. Mervis (Times Media, 1989)
• South African Forces In The Second World War. Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies (Vol. 19, No. 3, June 1989).
• A Bugle Calls: The Story of the Witwatersrand Rifles and Its Predecessors, 1899-1987 – S. Monick (Witwatersrand Rifles Regimental Council, 1989)
• War In Italy: With the South Africans from Taranto to the Alps – J. Kros (Ashanti Publishing, 1992)
• Ace of Aces: M. St. J. Pattle – E.C.R Baker (Crecy Publishing, 1993).
• Demobilisation And The Pot-War Employment Of The White Union Defence Forces Soldier. Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies (Vol. 23, No. 4, June 1993).
• South Africa In World War II, a Pictorial History – J. Keene (Human and Rousseau 1995)
• Theunissen, Maj. A.B. - “Major-General W.H. Evered Poole, CB, CBE, DSO: 1902-1969 Personal Retrospects”. Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies (Vol. 9, No. 5, June 1994).
• Second to None: The History of the Coldstream Guards 1650-2000 – J. Paget (Pen and Sword Books Ltd; Revised and new edition, 2000).
• Silence on Monte Sole - Jack Olsen (I Books, 2002).
• The Scots Guards 1919-1955 – D. Erskine (Naval and Military Press, 2009)
• Camouflage and Markings of the 6th South African Armoured Division: North Africa and Italy 19431945: Part 1: Armoured Vehicles – W. Marshall (Model Centrum Progres, 2010) (http://www.sacolours.co.za)
• Camouflage and Markings of the 6th South African Armoured Division: North Africa and Italy 19431945: Part 2: Wheeled Transport and Artillery – W. Marshall (Model Centrum Progres, 2012) (http://www.sacolours.co.za).
• Come Back to Portofino: Through Italy with the 6th South African Armoured Division - James Bourhill (30 Degrees South Publishers, 2011)
• The Royal Newfoundland Regiment 1775-1952: A Complete History of the Regiment – J.F. O’Flaherty (Unpublished Manuscript, Museum Library Copy)
• 1:35 Decals: 6th South African Armoured Division in Africa and Italy 1943 - 1945 – Starmer’s Armour (mikestarmer18@gmail.com).
• South African Military Police Corps 1939-1946 (http://home.mweb.co.za/re/redcap/1939-46.htm).
• British and Commonwealth Orders of Battle (http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/index.htm)
• British and US Orders of Battle (http://www.bayonetstrength.150m.com)
• German Order of Battle (www.Axishistory.com) (www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de).
• All Photographs provided by the South African Military Museum (http://www.ditsong.org.za/militaryhistory.htm).
• All Paint Guide Photos & Tactical Markings provided with Permission from Lt Col William Marshall (http://www.sacolours.co.za)
• List of Prefixes on South African WW2 Medals (Special “Thank You” to Mr. Gordon Bickley of the South African Military Medals Society).
ARMY SIGNALS IN SOUTH AFRICA: THE STORY OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN CORPS OF SIGNALS AND ITS ANTECEDENTS
Compiled and edited by Walter
3. EARLY
SIGNALS
V. Volker
IN SOUTH AFRICA (1652 – 1914)
The Task of the Signaller still Underdeveloped 'Difficult it must have been for those early Frontier campaigners, operating in hostile territory many hard-riding miles from the base, and with very inadequate communications.’ [246]
The British government which took over the Cape in 1806 over a period introduced its own customs. To the extent that the danger of invasion by a foreign power diminished, the weekly military postal riders were gradually replaced by Hottentot runners, with the result that a quick, reliable and secure link with the interior was eroded. Only a few years later in 1809, when magistrate Cuyler needed urgent help to reinforce his small Commando against Ndlambite, he was forced to urgently send his Field Commandant Stoltz as special despatch rider to Cape Town to request assistance. This incident resulted in the first soldiers being sent to the Eastern Cape Boder area, and together with them also over time the British military traditions which most certainly made a permanent impression on the defensive systems in South Africa. The traditional Commando would henceforth fight side by side with the more conventional soldier. The troops on the Eastern Cape Border would become a permanent part of the territory when Sir John Cradock launched his policy of a double row block house system along the border in 1812, which required a permanent garrison. This Border War immediately exposed the lack of an effective and speedy communication service, resulting in the governor instituting measures to improve the postal service.
The forts on the border were equipped with artillery, and so artilleryman, infantry, mounted soldier and Commando member were to be the defenders of the interior’s borders for almost a full century. For the communication lines from the front with the base and with the government there was only one solution: the despatch rider. Visual signals were virtually impossible due to the long distances in the Colony and the densely vegetated and hilly terrain. As a result, in 1877 during the wars against the Galekas, commanders such as G.B. Chalrners was forced to send messages in person with Sub-Inspector Hamilton to Mr Ayliff who oversaw a Fingo Regiment. In other battles an adjutant was sent with messages. At the time there was no such thing as a specialised despatch riders Corps.
While the telegraph cable and the heliograph played such a crucial role during the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879, a year later during the Basuto War Col Carrington was still entirely dependent on messengers for communication at the front and also between the front and the government. Maj Deare who was in command of the Prince Alfred's Guards and who had driven Lerothodi out of his defensive position during the campaign, had received all his instructions verbally from Capt Shervington who had been sent by the Colonel with the messages.
For the Voortrekkers there was also only one means of transmitting a message: a man on horseback. For this important task a reliable person was usually selected, and who would transmit the message verbally. In this way after the Battle of Vegkop, Hermanus Potgieter was sent to Gerrit Maritz to request assistance, while the despatch rider Francois Hatting was sent with a message to Andries Pretorius in August 1838.
The most famous despatch rider in the history of South Africa is probably Dick King who in May 1843 broke through the Voortrekker lines and role for close to 1 600 kilometre in ten days by horse to deliver an urgent message in Grahamstown on behalf of the besieged Capt Thomas Smith at Congella.
Following the arrival of the British at the Cape, the practice of using cannon signals in the interior was also phased out. The responsibilities of the Field Cornet were also redefined, according to which he would henceforth also be held responsible for the call-up of his troops. This system was adopted by the Voortrekkers and was still common practice by the time the Second Anglo-Boer War broke out in October 1899.
First Cable Connection
The first (submarine) cable connecting Africa to the growing network of international telegraph cables was proposed in 1879 and completed in 1880. It was laid from Aden in the Arabian Gulf along the East Coast of Africa to Durban, landing en route at Zanzibar, Mozambique and Delagoa Bay. The governments of Natal and the Cape contributed to the project together with the British and Portuguese.
In 1885 the African Direct Telegraph Company was formed to lay a cable to the West Coast of Africa and the existing route to St Vincent was extended to Bathurst in the Gambia and to Freetown, Accra and Bonny in Nigeria. A second line was laid on this route in 1889 and with the outbreak of the Boer war in 1899, a third was laid in deeper waters, making it less vulnerable to deliberate cutting or damage.
Left: Eastern Telegraph Company offices in Cape Town, 1900. Right: Telegram from Queen Victoria to the Governor of the Cape Colony.
SOUTH AFRICAN INDIAN SERVICEMEN WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES
The South African Indian Legion of Military Veterans
SOUTH AFRICAN COMMONWEALTH WAR CASUALTIES BURIED ACROSS THE WORLD – PART EIGHTY-THREE.
By Captain (SAN) Charles Ross (SA Navy Retired)
South Africans participated in almost every war theatre during the First and Second World Wars. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Casualty Data Base 7 290 (includes 607 unknown) First World War casualties and 9 986 (includes 84 unknown) Second World War casualties are buried in 1 207 cemeteries. In contrast, 2 959 First World War and 2 005 Second World War casualties are commemorated on 48 memorials. This does not include the more than 2 700 South Africans not recently commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. A new memorial to commemorate these South Africans has been constructed in the Gardens in Cape Town and will be unveiled during January 2025.
• Vis-En-Artois Memorial – France
This Memorial bears the names of over 9,000 men who fell in the period from 8 August 1918 to the date of the Armistice in the Advance to Victory in Picardy and Artois, between the Somme and Loos, and who have no known grave. They belonged to the forces of Great Britain and Ireland and South Africa; the Canadian, Australian and New Zealand forces being commemorated on other memorials to the missing.
The Memorial consists of a screen wall in three parts. The middle part of the screen wall is concave and carries stone panels on which names are carved. It is 26 feet high flanked by pylons 70 feet high. The Stone of Remembrance stands exactly between the pylons and behind it, in the middle of the screen, is a group in relief representing St George and the Dragon. The flanking parts of the screen wall are also curved and carry stone panels carved with names. Each of them forms the back of a roofed colonnade; and at the far end of each is a small building.
The memorial was designed by J.R. Truelove, with sculpture by Ernest Gillick. It was unveiled by the Rt. Hon. Thomas Shaw on 4 August 1930.
• 16 World War One South African casualties are commemorated on this memorial.
•
Cassino Memorial - Italy
On 3 September 1943 the Allies invaded the Italian mainland, the invasion coinciding with an armistice made with the Italians who then reentered the war on the Allied side.
Progress through southern Italy was rapid despite stiff resistance, but by the end of October, the Allies were facing the German winter defensive position known as the Gustav Line, which stretched from the river Garigliano in the west to the Sangro in the east. Initial attempts to breach the western end of the line were unsuccessful. Operations in January 1944 landed troops behind the German lines at Anzio, but defences were well organised, and a breakthrough was not actually achieved until 18 May, when Cassino was finally taken.
The site for CASSINO WAR CEMETERY was originally selected in January 1944, but the development of the battle during the first five months of that year made it impossible to use it until after the Germans had withdrawn from Cassino. During these early months of 1944, Cassino saw some of the fiercest fighting of the Italian campaign, the town itself and the dominating Monastery Hill proving the most stubborn obstacles encountered in the advance towards Rome. The majority of those buried in the war cemetery died in the battles during these months.
There are now 4,266 Commonwealth servicemen of the Second World War buried or commemorated at Cassino War Cemetery. 284 of the burials are unidentified.
Within the cemetery stands the CASSINO MEMORIAL which commemorates over 3,100 Commonwealth servicemen who took part in the Italian campaign and whose graves are not known. In addition, over 900 Indian soldiers are commemorated on this memorial whose remains were cremated.
The Memorial was designed by Louis de Soissons and unveiled by Field Marshal The Rt. Hon. The Earl Alexander of Tunis on 30 September 1956.
• 13 World War Two South African casualties are commemorated on this memorial.
It was opened in 1911 and contains war graves of both World Wars. The 1914-1918 burials are mainly in Plot 1. After the war, a Cross of Sacrifice was erected on the northern side of the chapel in honour of all the servicemen buried in the cemetery. The 1939-1945 War burials are widely spread throughout the cemetery.
• Nine World War One South African casualties are buried in this cemetery. They are all members of the South African Native Labour Corps who died when the SS Mendi sank on 21 February 1917.
The Memorial commemorates men of the land forces who lost their lives in the advance from the south into Italian Somaliland and Ethiopia and during the occupation of those territories, and who have no known grave. Along with them are honoured those who died during the operations in Madagascar in 1942 and who have no known grave. Besides those who died in these campaigns, many men and women who were lost in the sinking of the troopship 'Khedive Ismail' en route to Ceylon on 12 February 1944 are commemorated here; they include a great part of the 301st Field Regiment, East African Artillery.
• Portsmouth (Milton) Cemetery – United Kingdom
• East Africa Memorial
Kenya
In the Cemetery, a lawn of about 23 metres long and 9 metres wide is surrounded by a hedge. Within this enclosure is a pier which bears the inscription:
1939 - 1945 THE COLUMNS IN THIS ENCLOSURE BEAR THE NAMES OF TWO THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED MEN AND WOMEN OF MANY RACES UNITED IN SERVICE TO THE BRITISH CROWN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN ITALIAN SOMALILAND, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA, KENYA AND MADAGASCAR, BUT TO WHOM THE FORTUNE OF WAR DENIED A KNOWN AND HONOURED GRAVE
Flanking this pier on either side stand two rows of columns, twelve in number, on which are carved the names. The columns are of a light pinkish artificial stone, the bases and capitals being darker in colour. Beside the pier with the main inscription there is a seat; this, and the entrance, are flanked by flower beds.
(Since the erection of the memorial and engraving of the dedicatory panels the burial places of 188 casualties have since been discovered and they are now correctly commemorated by headstone at the graves).
• 16 World War Two South African casualties are commemorated on this memorial.
• Arras Flying Service Memorial - France
The French handed over Arras to Commonwealth forces in the spring of 1916 and the system of tunnels upon which the town is built was used and developed in preparation for the major offensive planned for April 1917.
The Commonwealth section of the FAUBOURG D'AMIENS CEMETERY was begun in March 1916, behind the French military cemetery established earlier. It continued to be used by field ambulances and fighting units until November 1918. The cemetery was enlarged after the Armistice when graves were brought in from the battlefields and from two smaller cemeteries in the vicinity.
The cemetery contains over 2,650 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, 10 of which are unidentified. The graves in the French military cemetery were removed after the war to other burial
grounds and the land they had occupied was used for the construction of the Arras Memorial and Arras Flying Services Memorial.
The adjacent ARRAS FLYING SERVICES MEMORIAL commemorates almost 1,000 airmen of the Royal Naval Air Service, the Royal Flying Corps, the Australian Flying Corps and the Royal Air Force, either by attachment from other arms of the forces of the Commonwealth or by original enlistment, who were killed on the whole Western Front and who have no known grave.
During the Second World War, Arras was occupied by United Kingdom forces headquarters until the town was evacuated on 23 May 1940. Arras then remained in German hands until retaken by Commonwealth and Free French forces on 1 September 1944. The 1939-1945 War burials number 8 and comprise 3 soldiers and 4 airmen from the United Kingdom and 1 entirely unidentified casualty. Located between the 2 special memorials of the 1914-1918 War is the special memorial commemorating an officer of the United States Army Air Force, who died during the 1939-1945 War. This special memorial is inscribed with the words "Believed to be buried in this cemetery". In addition, there are 30 war graves of other nationalities, most of them German.
Both cemetery and memorials were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).
• A single World War One South African casualty is commemorated on this memorial.
THE JOURNEY TO UNVEILING THE CAPE TOWN LABOUR CORPS MEMORIAL
Via Captain (SAN) Charles Ross (SA Navy Retired)
January 2025 will mark an extraordinary moment in the history of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, as we unveil our newest memorial to the missing in Cape Town’s Company’s Garden. This new memorial will commemorate by name over 1700 South Africans who served in the military labour corps and died during the First World War. These men were previously unrecognised, with no known grave or commemoration. Completing this new memorial is the culmination of years of work, starting with the research that led to the identification of these casualties, through to the collaborative design and creation of our new memorial in Cape Town.
The Company’s Garden has strong ties with the history of the region and the communities that live in Cape Town and across the rest of South Africa. Our new memorial joins the Iziko South African Museum, the South African National Gallery and the home of the South African government, as well as many other museums, galleries and heritage centres, in this part of Cape Town. The memorial is situated close to the Delville Wood Memorial within the garden, emphasising the links between the Labour Corps forces and the South African soldiers who fought and died at Delville Wood, and those who served in other theatres around the world.
With due acknowledgement to the CWGC web page.
RHODESIAN DESK
Col David Reeve
Some ongoing research. Some readers may know that the temporary Police Training School at Gilgil in Kenya lasted only 9 months, starting in Sep 53 during the Mau Mau Emergency. This was for the large influx of contract police officers, mainly from UK – also apparently for KPR recruits. There is not a great deal officially recorded about it, but the rather austere site had been used previously for Jewish internees after the war.
A well-known ex KAR soldier, a Maj Ted Onslow MC (and bar), was central to the training as something like the Chief Instructor there – the Camp Comdt appears interestingly to have been a senior naval officer, presumably retired RN - but I can’t find his name at the moment. Maj Onslow was obviously KPR at that time, as apparently many other instructors were – there were also a few serving soldiers on the staff. the course was supposed to be 6 weeks long, but some officers spent less time there, as it was during the height of the Emergency.
I believe that this group photo here was of the permanent staff at Gilgil, with Ted Onslow seated third from the left. We do know for certain that the Sikh police officer is Randhir Singh. He was an ex British Indian Army Captain and also a Gilgil PTS instructor – still working on the others! The camp had to be wired off on occupation and the facilities were very basic indeed.
Colin Whittle
Accompanying my brother Robin, a remember of the Swaziland Police, on an overnight conservation and anti-poaching programe within the Hlane Royal Reserve in Swaziland.
1974 -1976 MOZAMBIQUE REFUGEES IN SOUTH AFRICA
Tony Fernandes
SPECIAL REPORT
Part VI N0 37
Swaziland –The nearest country of refuge from Mozambique. 19741976 Introduction.
On 24 March 1966, the first independent, legal casino in Southern Africa, originally licensed and owned byan Italian group, called The Royal Swazi Spa Hotel Casino and Country Club, in Ezulwini, near Mbabane, Swaziland (now Eswatini), was inaugurated.
Due to casinos being strictly forbidden or banned in South Africa, Rhodesia and Mozambique, South Africans, as well Rhodesian and Mozambicans, after obtaining valid passports flocked to Swaziland, particularly over weekends.
Casinos and entertainment in Swaziland
• The Royal Swazi Spa, Hotel, Casino and Country Club – since 1966
• The Nhlangano Hotel and Casino Royale - since 1940
Many tourists of all races became regular patrons, not only for (their favourite) casino gambling slot machines, poker, black jack and roulette tables, located at the casino, but also to attend popular nearby live-venue international acts.
These included shows and a variety of performances as follows:
• Singers, bands and dancing artists
• Comedians
• International golf tournaments held at the Royal Swazi Country Club (Main hotel)
• Friendly football internationals, held at the nearby Somholo Football stadium in Lobamba.
• Greyhound dog racing, held opposite the Ezulwini Holiday Inn Hotel.
• Annual trade fair in Matsapha
• The annual total rally and the Castrol International rally (both held in the Usutu Forest)
• “Light adult entertainment movies” shown at specific cinemas in Mbabane, Ezulwini and Manzini.
• The Hlane and Mlilwane Game Reserves – inaugurated 1964.
• The Mkhaya Game Reserve –inaugurated 1979.
Another nearby well-known hotel in Ezulwini was the Happy Valley Hotel and it’s very popular original, “The Why Not” discotheque with regular live music and acts from a scintillating night club.
Swaziland had ten border crossings
On 6 September 1968, Swaziland became independent, and the Holiday Inn Group took new ownership of The Royal Swazi Spa, Hotel Casino and Country Club and also opened new casinos in Nhlangano, Swaziland, Maseru Lesotho and in Gaborone Botswana.
These casinos continued successfully throughout the 1970’s but the busiest casinos were in Swaziland, due to its convenient accessible border crossings (or posts) with South Africa and two border crossings with Mozambique.
In 1979 the Sun International Group in South Africa took over the hotels in operation in Swaziland, including the Royal Swazi Spa Hotel Casino and Country Club, as well as other popular nearby hotels, namely the Ezulwini Sun International Hotel, The Lugogo Sun International Hotel and The Nhlangano Sun International Hotel.
The nearest accessible border-control crossing of Namaacha/Lomahasha, Swaziland experienced short refugee road-convoys - 1974 -1976 (by Saõ Dos Santos and Jose Monteiro)
Tourists and local Swazi citizens, travelling in and around the country of Swaziland were oblivious to the unrest and chaos caused by the Frelimo Lourenco Marques rebels in Mozambique during the period of 14th of September 1974 till late 1976. As a result of the unrest in Mozambique, Swaziland began to receive a steady stream of new travellers from Mozambique.
These refugees travelled in the form of short road convoys of vehicles with desperate families who had lost all their possessions in Mozambique, when arriving at the Namaacha/Lomashasha border crossing. The refugees included Portuguese citizens and Mozambican citizens, mainly from the city of Lourenço Marques and surrounding towns, suburbs and villages.
This border crossing activity, culminated with refugees entering Swaziland, particularly from October 1974 to February 1975. During this, entire critical period, an estimated 2500 to 3000 refugees from Mozambique, who were mainly in transit to South Africa, crossed into Swaziland, using this border crossing.
On entering a tranquil peaceful Swaziland, the refugees felt completely protected. This was after experiencing all the mayhem and dramatic, traumatic events which had taken place in Lourenço Marques from 7 September 1974 until 14 September 1974.
The mainly white refugees who crossed at the Namaacha/Lomahasha border at 07:00 when it opened, until 16:00 when it closed, had the originally planned to travel onto the PWV area of South Africa/Gauteng, intending to travel directly through to South Africa, to stay with family and friends. Portuguese army escorts were unreliable and the Namaacha/Lomahasha border crossing route was preferred – thanks to some LM Radio Portuguese service bulletins.
Although most refugees from Lourenço Marques had initially used the main - Ressano Garçia/Komatipoort border crossing to reach South Africa, most refugees were later reliably informed, before departing Lourenco Marques, that the main road conditions in respect of safety to reach South Africa, a distance of 120km, was becoming very dangerous without a Portuguese army escort.
Deadly attacks on vehicles had already taken place at roadblocks, bridges, etc. on this road by Frelimo rebels. Many refugees, therefore, opted instead to travel the safer, shorter alternative route of 70km from Lourenco Marques via Boane to Namaacha/Lomahasha border crossing through Swaziland, to reach South Africa.
Despite the risk factor on the former route, there had also been some (R.C.M-A-Radio Clube De Moçambiqoue-Programa-A) L.M. Radio Portuguese service, road information bulletins in Portuguese, as well as accompanied reports, before departure by word-of-mouth circles, of a few incidents of attacks by Frelimo rebels on the alternative route of fleeing refugees during their short road convoys.
These convoys did not always include the assistance of Portuguese army escorts, as these escorts often never turned up at specified departure points in Lourenço Marques.
The alternative route, however, through Namaacha/Lomahasha, Swaziland not only became safer, but the preferred route to reach South Africa for many refugees, as long as the individuals possessed a passport or an identification booklet-card.
NB. Some smaller convoys and individuals also safely crossed at the Goba/Siteki border crossing from Mozambique into Swaziland between 1974 and 1976
Refugees arriving from Mozambique of all ethnic groups.
In December 1974 and early 1975 Mozambicans of all ethnic groups arrived at the Namaacha/Lomahasha border crossing in Swaziland.
These refugees were taken and transported by bus and firstly accommodated by local Swazi immigration officials at a small, tented transit-camp near Mpaka, for a number of days and later transferred to another larger tented camp at Malindza, near Big Bend.
In 1976, approximately 7000 refugees from Mozambique, were accommodated at the Malindza camp.
The first stop – Manzini and “The Moçambique Restaurant in Manzini” – by José Monteiro.
Once the refugees were in the safety of Swaziland, they travelled a pleasant 83km journey towards Manzini, passing through 2 roadblocks manned by local police officials – firstly at Simunye and the other near Mpaka, where they were greeted by Swaziland Immigration officials and required to register their names and destination.
When the refugees finally arrived in Manzini, they first obtained important information which they received from helpful local Portuguese residents and establishments, as well as receiving kind donations of food, refreshments, telephone, medicine etc. from them. A good Samaritan – was a Portuguese resident who had been living in Swaziland for about 5 years – a local businessman and the owner of a restaurant called, “The Moçambique Restaurant, Manzini”
His name was ManuelCaires. This gentleman and his staff not only took care of most of the refugees that arrived penniless at his establishment, but if they needed money, or if they needed to exchange any currency and some of their jewellery, for South African Rands, he gladly assisted.
In all cases he didn’t charge them for their meals, but also assisted them with temporary accommodation in a large, four-bedroomed house, situated behind his restaurant, as well as arranged accommodation for larger groups of people at the homes of local friends for short periods - all free of charge!
The finding of jobs was a difficult exercise but also became a rewarding experience – by Joaquim Mendonça
Most of the refugees that arrived in Swaziland from Mozambique were skilled artisans and had originally planned to travel onto the PWV (Pretoria/Witwatersrand/Vereeniging) now Gauteng area,
of South Africa, intending, with permission from South African authorities, to remain and planned to look for employment opportunities, accommodation etc, in order to start new lives for themselves and for their children.
However, some interested refugees who wished to remain in Swaziland managed to obtain work permits through their prospective employers, at the district High Commissioner’s office in Mbabane. Other refugees meanwhile found jobs in the second largest town, Manzini, including in many of the smaller Swaziland towns.
They found employment as welders, boilermakers, panel beaters, carpenters, electricians, vehicle mechanics, working in trading stores, miners working on asbestos and iron-ore mines in rural areas, but were mainly employed in civil construction and in the building industry.
Many Portuguese citizens from Mozambique, before 1974 and after, also found employment in other sectors, particularly, on the large sugar estates of Big Bend, Mhlume, and Tambankulu and later in Simunye. The sugar estates of Swaziland were the largest employers in the country.
These industrious, skilled, enterprising refugees originally acquired their skills by attending industrial, agricultural, and technical colleges in Mozambique. After a number of years of living in Swaziland, they certainly contributed and made a difference to the economy of their new country. Soon they not only became self-employed, but some also became owners of small companies, businesses etc, later successfully employing hundreds of local Swazis
Usutu Pulp Mill and Forestry Company – Mhlambanyatsi – Swaziland. The untold saga of the contribution of the many Portuguese employees who turned their village into a metropolitan community – by Amelia Vaz and Usutu – 50 years of forestry, 1950- 2000 (Booklet Annual)
Introduction- Brief history of the USUTU Forestry Company, Mhlambanyatsi, Swaziland 1950 – 2000.
The forestry project of USUTU was established in December 1949 in conjunction with the British Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC). The longest serving forest Manager (from 1949 – 1964) was Charles Hubbard, who was regarded as “The father of Usutu”
The Usutu Pulp Mill and Forestry Company started in Mhlambanyatsi on 1 January 1950. By 1958, 4 million pine trees had been planted, dams built in the forestry, a road network constructed, a village built, complete with an airstrip and social services. The adjoining mill sector was expanded in January 1960.
Mhlambanyatsi – The name given to this village means, “Watering place of the buffaloes,” which was named after a famous Swazi (military) regiment, whose base camp was located there.
The first Portuguese residents in Swaziland to work for the Usutu Forestry Company -1953
In July 1953, 55 Portuguese builders were recruited from Lourenço Marques (now Maputu) Mozambique, to build the villages for the workers and for the management of the Usutu Forestry Company. In the year 2000, 2 of the original builders were still working for the company. They were José Do Rego and Françisco Gonçalves.
Sub-contracting operations and the (local) roads network
In the 1960’s and 1970’s, Usutu Forestry Company, despite having a compliment of over 600 wage workers, also had sub-contract operations, mainly run by former employees of the company. This was established in partnership with Usutu’s Forest operations.
During this period, a well laid out and maintained network of 4000km of mainly dirt roads were built. This was done, also to stage the Usutu Total Rally in the forest, on an annual basis.
The annual Castrol International Rally event held in the Usutu Forest.
The ever-popular Castrol International Rally (formerly known as the Total Rally) was held annually from the early 1960’s and 1970’s, through the Eastern Transvaal, including Lourenço Marques and parts of Mozambique (until 1973), as well as the Usutu Forest of Swaziland. Throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s, this rally always remained popular.
During the 1991 rally, for example the first 160km stage was held in the Eastern Transvaal, while the bulk of the stages, i.e. 450km of the total 610km of special stages, were held in the Usutu Forest.
The Usutu Forest stages were regarded as the “Best Rallying Country in the World” and a “great annual highlight, special spectator and enthusiast event of the year!” Unfortunately, due to the lack of South African sponsorship, this event was terminated, after1998.
Swazi Entrepreneurship
In 1989 SAPPI (Kraft) from South Africa acquired Usutu and the land was returned to His Majesty, King Sobhuza II, who formed the “Royal Trust”. In 1993 many Swazi nationals (ex-employees), were self-employed within the Usutu Forest, running transportation, harvesting, catering and operating silvicultural businesses.
Production in the year 2000
The Usutu Pulp Company was the only integrated forest pulp mill operation in Southern Africa. The mill’s annual production of 180 000 tons of good, consistent quality softwood, provided Swaziland with a valuable source of foreign revenue.
My personal experiences of living in Mhlambanyatsi – Usutu Forest, Swaziland – by Amélia Váz.
Introduction.
Amélia was born in the Deilaõ district of Bragança, Portugal and as a young child moved with her parents in 1953 to Lourenço Marques. During the same year, her father, José Do Rego, was offered a job as a builder at the Usutu Forest Company in Mhlambanyatsi, Swaziland.
The family first stayed in a corrugated home in the temporary, early housing complex of the residential village of Mhlambanyatsi and later moved into a brick house.
She attended the local Mhlambanyatsi Primary School until standard 3, and later attended St. Marks Primary School in Mbabane. In high school she attended the St. Theresa’s Convent in Manzini and later attended the Ermelo Convent High School as a boarder, where she matriculated.
Amélia’s first job was working for the Usutu forestry company in 1968 as an accounts clerk and then, as a general buyer for the company until 1972. She later met and married her husband, Joaõ Váz in 1969, and joined him in his business called, “Swazi Engineering Company”, Manzini in 1974.
Memories of Mhlambanyatsi Metropolitan village
Amélia has only fond memories of the metropolitan village at Mhlambanyatsi, where South African, English, Irish, Scottish and Portuguese workers stayed and lived together as a metropolitan community. They often celebrated together when it came to special events – for example – St Patricks’ day for the Irish, or a “By invitation only”- Scottish Caledonian evening - a band would come from Scotland, specifically for the evening. This band would include bagpipes, and traditional haggis, including all the cuisine. All such functions were held at the Portuguese clubhouse.
The Portuguese community, in particular, was the largest and totalled approximately 1000 residents in the Mhlambanyatsi village in 1972.
Most of the Portuguese workers came from Mozambique.
The Portuguese workers and communities that lived in the village of Mhlambanyatsi and the sugar estates of Swaziland mostly came from Mozambique. Many spoke very good French, which was compulsory at high schools during the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s.in Mozambique and a little English. However their English did improve when they travelled often, prior to 1974, between Mozambique and South Africa, to visit friends and family.
Nevertheless, with their mediocre English, Portuguese citizens from Mozambique managed to obtain jobs at the Usutu Pulp Mill and Forestry Company and the sugar estates of Swaziland. This
was due to the fact that these companies were seeking, not only to fill various clerical positions, but were also recruiting qualified, experienced, skilled and independent artisans to work directly for the company, or on a contract basis.
Advantageous company benefits
All the residents of the community of Mhlambanyatsi enjoyed the benefits of working for the Usutu Forestry Company, such as being accommodated in fully furnished, free rental homes, being supplied free water and electricity. They also enjoyed all sorts of facilities, being members of the Portuguese clubhouse, enjoying meals at the excellent, very reasonable Portuguese restaurant, attending Christian chapel or church, while the homes in which they lived, were all modern, neat and proudly built by Portuguese builders.
Portuguese Festivals
The most incredible, important Portuguese highlights of the year on the Portuguese calendar, were the annual traditional festivals.
Who can forget all the special Portuguese festivals, held in the village? From celebrating Catholic baptisms, holy communions, confirmations, weddings, birthdays, to annual traditional Portuguese festivals such as, “Festa De Nossa Senhora De Fatima”, Saõ Joaõ, Santo Antonio, Saõ Pedro, as well as celebrating annual Christmas, New Year and Easter functions. They were all such fun to attend! We all thoroughly enjoyed the festivals and always looked forward to them!
In late 1976, after the 7th September 1974 unrest event in Mozambique had taken place, the Portuguese community in the village of Mhlambanyatsi in actual fact, doubled in number to approximately, 2000 residents.
Kind tribute
The Usutu Pulp Mill and Forestry Company grew quite substantially, from 1974 – 1978 with more Portuguese Mozambican workers being employed, as needed for the company’s growing business requirements.
In kind tribute, Dave Christian - Usutu Pulp Mill and Forestry Company’s deputy managing director and Alan Young – operations director, in an annual end-of-year speech in 1979, to a packed audience, which took place in the main clubhouse, warmly thanked all workers including the Portuguese employed by the company, past and present, who proved to be, not only invaluable to the company, but who all played pivotal roles.
Memories and memorabilia – Amélia Váz
Amélia Váz and her family from Manzini have over the years, always been concerned about the welfare of past Portuguese communities and individuals – especially those that fled Mozambique during 1974 until 1976, who she had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know these hapless people. Others meanwhile, later became lifelong friends who, to this day, still remain in contact with each other, despite living worlds apart.
All these friends admit that over the years, after working alongside fascinating, comical, fantastic colleagues, particularly with diligent, local Swazis and living in the splendid scenic beauty of the Country of Swaziland – sometimes only for a short period – they were left with lifetime memories and collected various, unique memorabilia, of the wonderful period spent at the Mhlambanyatsi Usutu Forestry in the Kingdom of Swaziland
Conclusion
According to the Portuguese Consul of Swaziland, Carlos Lopes (since 1988), there was a total of 3000 registered Portuguese residents living in Swaziland in 1972. However, by 1978, there were a total of 4500 registered Portuguese residents living in Swaziland.
Acknowledgements and dedication.
Usutu –
50 years of Forestry. 1950- 2000 (Annual booklet)
Amélia Váz –from Manzini, for all her tireless assistance and efforts in compiling this special report with the author. From her early days of growing up in the village of Mhlambanyatsi in the Usutu Forest, to all her kind recollections of some of the poor refugees from Mozambique, who eventually stayed and worked for the forestry company, as well as, worked in other sectors, throughout Swaziland.
Fernando Silva and Joaõ Silva. – both brothers from Manzini who owned a wholesaler called “Seafoods Swaziland”, for their outstanding memories of Portuguese communities and assisting some individuals who lived and worked in Swaziland, since 1973.
Joaquim Mendonca - from Manzini, for all his efforts in assisting some individuals finding employment in Swaziland, as well as ascertaining special memories of Portuguese communities and of certain comical characters who lived in Swaziland, since 1975.
José Monteiro – from Mpaka, who lived in Manzini since 1963, for recounting his own experiences with refugees from Mozambique that arrived in Manzini in 1974/1975, while he was employed at “The Moçambique Restaurant, Manzini.”
Saõ Dos Santos – from Johannesburg, who was a young teenager (at the time), from Lourenço Marques, who crossed into Swaziland at Namaacha/Lomahasha border crossing with her parents
and siblings. They first stayed at the Mpaka tented transit refugee camp for a day, before being allowed to travel onto Manzini– after two days they then crossed the Ngwenya/Oshoek border post, and travelled to Johannesburg, South Africa.
Avelino Gonçalves – an ex-military veteran who served in Northern Mozambique from 1972 - 1974. He was a director of the Manzini Portuguese Sporting Club since 1976 and owner of a concrete block yard, for building purposes in Ezulwini. He kindly assisted the author with recollections of past sporting-club communities and soccer players who played for this club – including futsal or a fivea- side indoor football. Many of these soccer-playing members in the early 1970’s, had played previously for other clubs and leagues when living in Mozambique.
Avelino became synonymous for organizing not only all types of celebrations, parties, festivals, weddings, etc., at the Manzini Portuguese Sporting Club, restaurant and recreation centre Hall, but also assisted with preparations of unique special lunches called, “Almoços De Academia De Bacalhau”, or the “Codfish Academy Lunches”
Since 1988, important leading business members of the Portuguese community and the club, were invited to attend these lunch groups at the club restaurant, every first Sunday of each month. This was indeed, for a good cause and good reason – it was to raise money for local Swaziland charities, etc.
This included helping any Portuguese citizen, who was in need of assistance – for example – of urgent medical treatment, who could not afford the high costs. These lunches, which to this day still take place, were also held at the Mbabane Portuguese Sporting Club, as well as at other restaurants around the country. Avelino Gonçalves remains an unforgettable, gentleman for his concerning care of his community initiative, to the Portuguese residents in Swaziland.
Vicky Vila-Pouca - from Mbabane kindly assisted the author (originally) on the subject of Portuguese refugees from Mozambique. Her husband José, first lived in Mozambique until he was 10 years old, before moving to Swaziland. His father already owned an engineering business in Manzini, when unrest began in September 1974 in Lourenço Marques, Mozambique.
Vicky who grew up in Piggs Peak and Mbabane, was an avid regular Swaziland English newspaper reader. She kindly verified all the important occurrences of Portuguese refugees, narrated in this special report, that fled Mozambique to Swaziland during the period 1974 until 1976, as true.
Tavares de Almeida and Carlos Lopes – In 1974 Tavares de Almeida was the Portuguese Consul in Swaziland in Mbabane until 1978. He assisted all Portuguese residents and citizens that arrived from Mozambique with all necessary documentation they required for onward travel to South Africa
and overseas. However, due to political circumstances in 1978 in Portugal the Portuguese consulate office in Mbabane was closed.
In 1988, the Portuguese Consulate in Mbabane was re-opened, and Carlos Lopes became the Portuguese Consul of Swaziland.
His ever kind, friendly character of personal attention to detail and consular services to all Portuguese citizens living in Swaziland, past and present, remains commendable.
BOEKE | BOOKS
DIE BURO
Henning van Aswegen
KERSBRIEF UIT OOSTENRYK
Marthinus de Lange
Kersbrief uit Oostenryk
Dis alweer daardie tyd van die jaar.
Ek persoonlik het nooit van Kersfees gehou nie. Toe ek jonk was, het ek 'n aantal persoonlike tragedies oor die Kerstyd beleef en dit was altyd vir my 'n hartseer tyd met slegte herinneringe. Ek het ook geen familie gehad om saam Kersfees te vier nie. Om eerlik te wees, was ek een van die polisiemanne wat nie omgegee het om op Kersfees te werk nie.
In Suid-Afrika het dit ook nooit regtig vir my soos Kersfees gevoel nie. Ons het mos somer in Suid-Afrika oor Kersfees en, vir my, het dit net nie gepas by die tradisionele prentjies en kaartjies met wintertonele nie.
Nou ja, die jare gaan verby en dinge verander.
'n Goeie vrou kan wondere vir 'n man verrig!
Waar ek nou woon is die sneeu hier, dit word vroeg donker en die Kersversierings is uit. Hier lyk en voel dit regtig soos Kersfees!
In Oostenryk word Kersfees anders gevier as hoe ons dit in Suid-Afrika ken.
Soos met 'n paar ander Europese lande werk mense net halfdag op die 24ste (Die 25ste en 26ste is egter steeds vakansiedae) en die viering vind op die aand van die 24ste plaas. Mense gee vir mekaar geskenke en daar word 'n tradisionele Kers-aandete, “Weihnachtskarpfen”, geëet. In Afrikaans vertaal beteken dit: “Kersfees karp”. As ou Transvaler is ek gewoond daaraan om karp in damme te hengel (Ek is meer een van daardie ouens wat jammer voel vir die visse en hulle vrylaat nadat ek hulle hulle gevang het) maar die smaak van varswatervis is nou nie eintlik my ding nie. Alhoewel ek moet sê dat, op die manier waarop dit hier voorberei word, dit nie sleg smaak nie.
My vrou Isabella vertel altyd die storie van hul eerste Kersfees in Suid-Afrika. Sy en haar ma het by 'n Afrikaanssprekende gesin in Pretoria gebly, hulle was net 'n paar maande in die land en die taal en gebruike was vir hulle nuut. Die twee van hulle het die gewone Kersfees vieringe op die aand van die 24ste verwag. Toe almal mekaar 'n goeie nag gewens het en gaan slaap het, sonder om iemand anders 'n “Geseënde Kersfees” toe te wens, of vir mekaar geskenke te gee, was Isabella en haar ma nogal geskok. Toe hulle die volgende oggend wakker word en geskenke ontvang, was hulle nog meer verbaas. Ons sal nou nie eens oor die Kersfees klappers praat nie! Die twee van hulle het ook 'n klein kersboompie in hul kamer gehad. Op tradisionele Oostenrykse wyse het hulle dit met klein waskerse versier. Oornag het die onversteekte kerse in die Suid-Afrikaanse somerhitte gesmelt en hulle het toe redelik verlep gelyk.
Ai tog 'n nuwe land met nuwe gebruike! Om nie eens van 'n ander klimaat te praat nie.
Gelukkig was ek beter voorbereid toe ons die eerste keer in 1995 vir Isabella se familie in Oostenryk kom kuier het, en ek het ten minste geweet wat om te verwag. Alhoewel daardie “Weihnachtskarpfen” besigheid altyd iets sal bly waaraan mens gewoond moet raak.
Die twee van ons wens alle Nongqai redaksie en lesers 'n geseënde Kersfees en 'n gelukkige nuwe jaar toe.
In goeie Duits: “Frohe Weihnachten und ein gutes neues Jahr!”
ZARP: PETER COMPLOIER
Silvio Luiz da Rocha
Geagte meneer Hennie Heymans
Ek wil jou bedank vir jou aandag en hulp rakende Peter Comploier.
Ek doen nou al 'n paar maande navorsing oor sy lewe. Ek het op die internet 'n paar dokumente gevind wat relevant is daarvoor en ek wil dit met julle deel.
Ek het inligting van Peter Comploier as beampte in die Transvaalse polisie, maar ek het net die data bekom. Wat ek regtig wil hê is een of meer afskrifte van die oorspronklike dokumente, wat in die Nasionale Argief van Suid-Afrika is.
Ek het probeer om afskrifte van die oorspronklike dokumente aanlyn te bekom, maar ek kan nie toegang tot die nasionale argiefwebwerf kry om 'n afskrif te bekom nie.
As iemand my kan help om hierdie dokumente te bekom, sal ek baie dankbaar wees vir die hulp en ek stel myself op dieselfde manier beskikbaar in my land.
Die uwe
Silvio Luiz da Rocha
