Army Talk Magazine
Issue #1, March, 2008
The Smell of Diesel Smoke in the morning
Editorial Team
Contents
Editor:
Editorial
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John Dovey john@justdone.co.za
Gareth’s Photos
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Published by:
Cassinga Debate
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Just Done Productions P.O. Box 23 Gillitts 3603 South Africa http://www.justdone.co.za/
Some thoughts
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Electronic Version
The Young British Soldier
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Distributed online via email and the website http://www.justdone.co.za
Photo Gallery
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OVSAC #1: Boer Artillery Trophies in Australia and New Zealand 15
The free electronic version is a low-resolution version which is available only for reading on the screen and cannot be printed out.
Print Version The Print version is available http://Lulu.com/JustDone/
from
Each issue is available separately
Contributions & correspondence armytalk@justdone.co.za
Editorial Board Adm Chris Bennett Col Clive Willsworth Col Dudley Wall Col Pat Acutt Lt-Col Kevin Mulligan Lt-Col Steve Camp Maj Willem Steenkamp Dave Kenny
• • • • • • • •
Resources
Army Talk Email List: http://groups.google.co.za/group/ArmyTalk Officer’s List: isajohan@esnet.co.za Warrant Officer’s List: medlin@mweb.co.za Saffer Wiki: http://saffer.pbwiki.com (password Callup) Airborne Soldier” http://www.airbornesoldier.com SA Military: http://www.sa-military.co.za Roll of Honour: http://www.justdone.co.za/ROH/ SA Transport: http://www.sa-transport.co.za/military/
Cover: Map of Angola Inset: New style SANDF Tents and CTH Training from 2003
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Army Talk Magazine
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his is the first issue of the ArmyTalk Magazine. As you will have seen, the subtitle on the cover page is “The Smell of Diesel in the Morning” which is pretty descriptive of the purpose and direction that I would like to follow with this magazine. My idea is that this magazine should be a place for old soldiers and others interested in the Southern African military situation/history. It should be a collection of resources, websites, anecdotes, images and other information that relates to the military in the Southern African context. There has been a sudden proliferation of websites, Facebook groups, newsletters, books and various other things that relate to this topic in the last while, and it can be really difficult to keep up with what is available and where it is. There are also a lot of people who are interested in the topic and they are often not aware of the large number of resources that have become available over the last while. This “magazine” is not intended to replace any of the online resources, but rather to act as a place for highlighting them and informing people about them. It is also my hope that this magazine can become a place where past and present meet, so while it will focus on the historical, I hope that it will also be a place where thoughts/debates
Editorial serving in those places.
Your Editor’s Soap-Box
The South African Army especially is constantly being castigated in the media, and often by journalists who have very little background in military topics or who have a particular bias. It is hoped that we can address some of that by having good/balanced articles or debate here in AT Magazine which can be used to help to inform those journalists.
There have also been a number of debates recently on various issues which have played out as letters to the editor in various newspapers, as well as email messages sent to various discussion groups and newsletters. The two current examples are on the Battle of Cuito Carnavale and the Airborne Raid on Cassinga. These debates have not been captured in their entireity anyway, and it this sort of thing that this magazine and articles can be published that deal with could address. the current Southern African Military. Not With all that said, we hope to serve least is the idea that lessons learnt over the as a repository of information for last 50 years could be shared with the current history, debate and photos of our crop of soldiers who face the daunting task military experience. of acting as African Peace-Keepers in the face of lack of equipment, low budgets, restrictive Let’s have fun while we do it. ROE and various other difficulties. ATMAG It is also my intent to solicit reports back from the members of the SANDF who are currently deployed, so that we can share what information is available. The world is increasingly “global” so we will also include information/stories etc from Saffers deployed in all kinds of strange places around the world, as well as friends who are
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Issue 01 - March 2008
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Gareth’s Photos A selection of Photos
About Gareth Gareth spent a number of years in the Permanent Force and during that time he was an instructor at Infantry School. These photos are a few of his collection.
Going over the Obstacle
R4 in hand, this soldier jumps from the top of an obstacle
Visitor’s Day
Gareth explains how soldiers undergoing training have to stand inspection every morning to a crowd of interested friends and family.
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Army Talk Magazine
Wissel
A drill known and hated by everyone who has done “Platoon Weapons�. Here the LMG Number 1 rolls away, while the Number 2 goes over the top to take his place at the LMG.
Firing the LMG MAG
Above: The No 1 fires the LMG while the No 2 feeds the ammunition belt. Right: Firing from a Fire Support Base (FSB). The many empty cases (doppies) and links can be seen strewn around.
Issue 01 - March 2008
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T
Cassinga Debate
he debate on Cassinga rages on. The debate was revived recently when it seems that various people became aware of the Master’s Thesis of Gen McGill Alexander available from UNISA. The first salvo in the debate was fired by Tommi Lamprecht in response to the thesis, with a number of other people jumping onto the bandwagon.
After a while, Gen Alexander replied to them in a comprehensive response. The debate by no means ends here.. Subsequent to this, there have been numberous letters to the editor etc which we will include in a future edition of the magazine. ATMAG
Response to Tommie Lamprecht and Others
28 June 2007 Dear Tommie,
in debate. However, I do take exception farm in 2002. Regarding discipline, to personal attacks and I will not take Lew Gerber himself, in the document he wrote after the raid, described s you have chosen to them lying down. the extraction as “every man for make this issue public, Command and Control himself.” I will copy my response to your comments on Thank you for your comments in this In the dissertation I pointed out that my dissertation The Cassinga Raid, regard. I stated categorically in my there were varying levels of fitness together with my response to the dissertation that Jan Breytenbach was amongst the paratroopers. You and resultant, less measured outbursts the battalion commander. There is no I, Tommie, served as young Citizen of others directly to the editor of controversy about this, despite Gen Force lieutenants together in 2 the Nuusbrief vir Militêre Veterane. du Plessis’s insistence to the contrary. Parachute Battalion back in the early Hopefully, it will receive the same Where disagreements exist is concerning seventies. We both know that when level of distribution as did your the brigade HQ and the role of the then we attended camps there were some initial letter. Brigadier du Plessis. I spelled out the guys who had maintained a good level As I told you when I first received claims of the various people as well as of fitness, but there were others who your comments, I have been in the what I was able to trace from available reported absolutely unfit for the job midst of moving back to PE after documentation. However, the matter of a paratrooper. Come on, Tommie, my retirement from the Regular was never clearly documented and will let’s not kid ourselves! Because you Army. In fact, I am still surrounded therefore always be open to conjecture. regularly ran the Comrades does not by unpacked boxes, but feel that the This is therefore how I had to leave it in mean that every CF paratrooper did so. comments by some people in the the dissertation. Nuusbrief require a reaction on my You comment that “it is easy for Discipline and Fitness part, as to leave what they have said people who have not personally unchallenged could grace their words Regarding the breakdown of discipline experienced the absolute exhaustive with unmerited credibility. and the unfitness of the troops during nature of a fire fight to make such a I will forward a copy of the Debriefing the final extraction (the one where you wide sweeping statement.” I take it Reports for D Company to you once were not present), you neglected to you are referring to me, as the author I have completed my unpacking mention that the description I gave was of the dissertation, as having made and have located all the relevant based on interviews with people who, a sweeping statement. If so, I take documents. I would be pleased to unlike yourself, were there. One of these extreme exception to what you imply. obtain a copy of your original Orders was a helicopter pilot into whose aircraft You have not the vaguest idea what for the raid whenever it is convenient the paratroopers were scrambling, course my military career followed several others were officers amongst the after I joined the Permanent Force, for you to send it to me. paratroopers, one an NCO and then and you have no right to pass such a But first, let me deal with your there was General Viljoen himself. snide remark. comments. I have already thanked In fact, it was Viljoen who pointed out I served in the paratroops through you for your openness in sharing your views with me and have told that the fitness of the troops was not up most of the war years and I you that I welcome such comment. I to standard – both during a debriefing participated in many operations don’t expect everyone to concur with conference after the raid and in an and came under fire many times. I my views and I am happy to engage interview that I had with him on his commanded both Citizen Force and
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Army Talk Magazine
National Servicemen paratroopers in operations. I have led men in an airborne assault and I have lost men in action. I know what it is to have a man shot next to me while assaulting an enemy position. That horror is not your exclusive experience. I have undergone the physical drain that a fire fight causes and I have felt the cold fear and the angry heat of battle. I don’t need you or anyone else to question my combat experience. Over a period of many years I spent numerous periods of up to six months at a time away from home and I participated in operations where I was campaigning inside Angola for long weeks of constant tension broken only by contact with the enemy. It may be difficult to accept, but you and the others who were at Cassinga are not the only paratroopers who fought against SWAPO. But let me leave your apparent personal attack aside for the moment and get onto what you consider to be the biggest problem that you have with my dissertation, namely whether Cassinga was a legitimate military target and the alleged massacre of civilians.
A Legitimate Military Target or Not? You go to some lengths to give your deductions that lead you to the conclusion that Cassinga was in fact a legitimate military target. Yet nowhere in my dissertation do I say anything to the contrary. However, I did not write the dissertation as an apologist for the SADF or the paratroopers – it was intended as a dispassionate analysis of an airborne operation, if anyone can indeed be dispassionate. You need to understand that an academic study is based on a carefully formulated hypothesis. This hypothesis provides the researcher with an aim and with the scope, or parameters within which he will conduct his research. The aim of my dissertation was to prove or disprove the hypothesis. Any professional soldier will confirm the importance
of carefully selecting the aim and then of maintaining it. Those who understand the writing of a military staff paper will know that one formulates the aim of the paper before using that to determine the scope of the discussion. I clearly set out my hypothesis in my introductory chapter and I repeated it in my conclusion. For your benefit, I give it again: “A parachute raid on Cassinga was the only way that the SADF could strike that objective without encountering major resistance en route, the objective itself was a strategically weak point in SWAPO’s defences, the raid was totally unexpected by SWAPO and its allies, and the subsequent extraction of the paratroopers from the objective area was so rapidly executed that SWAPO and its allies were unable to react effectively to the raid.” My dissertation revolved around this hypothesis. My conclusion, at the end of the dissertation, is that a parachute assault was indeed the only way that Cassinga could be attacked; that Cassinga was in fact a strategically weak point in SWAPO’s defences (though not of sufficient strategic value to disrupt insurgent activity for more than a few months); that an airborne raid on Cassinga was unexpected by SWAPO and its allies (though they had an idea that there could be some sort of raid, for which they expected to receive ample forewarning); but that the final extraction (for reasons which I clearly set out) was not executed rapidly enough to avoid a Cuban counter-attack and the success of the raid was negated by SWAPO winning the subsequent propaganda war. That was what I intended to establish in my dissertation, and that is what I did. I was at pains to explain that I was not going to try to prove or disprove the claims of the opposing sides regarding the contentious issue of whether Cassinga was a refugee camp or a military base, but that I would concentrate on the purely military aspects of the SADF side of the operation. I stated in my introductory chapter that ”…it is not the purpose of this dissertation to resolve it, nor to endorse one or the other contention.” It is this approach which determined the hypothesis that I formulated. Nevertheless, my deductions set out at the end of Chapter 3 (“The Nature and Defensibility of Cassinga”) make it abundantly clear that the objective was a military base. Nowhere do I say
Issue 01 - March 2008
that Cassinga was not a legitimate military target and I object to you creating the impression that I did. Those of us from the old SADF who made a study of revolutionary warfare and read the works of Mao Zedong as well as the classics on counter-insurgency by Sir Robert Thompson and John J. McCuen, and less well-known works by the likes of Colin Mitchell, will understand the composition of an insurgent base. I set this out in summary in the deductions at the end of Chapter 3 of my dissertation. From this it is perfectly obvious that women and even children and old people are likely to be found in significant numbers in an insurgent base. But whether or not that disqualifies it from being considered a legitimate military target is open to debate. Perhaps those who planned the bombing of Dresden and other German cities in the Second World War, fully aware that they would be killing civilians, could provide us with an answer. I did state quite clearly in Chapter 3 of the dissertation that “Cassinga, although it might not have been an exclusively military base, most certainly housed SWAPO guerrillas and played some significant command and control role in the PLAN structure.” Furthermore, I go on to state in my deductions that “as a military objective, Cassinga was well suited to an airborne attack, based on the information available to the SADF.” In my final conclusion at the end of the dissertation, I state “the balance of evidence indicates that, although there were many civilians at Cassinga, it also housed, at the very least, SWAPO’s military headquarters for southern Angola.” Do I need to be more explicit? Clearly, from what emerged in my research any reader could make his or her own deductions and come to certain conclusions of their own. This is exactly what you did. But those conclusions are outside the gambit of my hypothesis, so I did not make them. If you and others are going to castigate me for what I did NOT say, that is your problem, not mine. I
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can only take responsibility for what I did say. If you disapprove of my hypothesis, then you are perfectly at liberty to make your own and to prove or disprove it. I cannot apologise for not selecting the hypothesis that you would like to have seen.
The Alleged Massacre of Civilians Nowhere in my dissertation do I claim that the paratroopers massacred civilians. For you to state this is disingenuous and misleading. Your quote from my dissertation in this regard is out of context and unacceptable. You fail to point out that it was a reference to the effects of the bombing by the Air Force, which most certainly did cause mass, indiscriminate death (as any bombing attack in any war does). You also fail to observe that I pointed out in the next sentence that “documentary evidence indicates that the SADF grossly underestimated the number of civilians at Cassinga, and that the intention had never been to kill civilians, specifically not women and children.”
means that I condone what they did. Would I have spent 15 years of my life actively and literally fighting Communism at considerable sacrifice to my family if I condoned their actions? Your argument about wanting to criticize or condemn SWAPO for housing civilians in a military base is in any case a tenuous one. Do you want to also condemn the SADF for housing civilians in Oshakati, right next to the main operational HQ for all SADF activities in Owamboland and a large part of Southern Angola? Or are you going to try to convince me that the wives and children of Permanent Force soldiers stationed there were in no danger of being subjected to stand-off bombardments, landmines, ambushes and other techniques employed by SWAPO in the way that they waged the war? It is most unfortunate that you have chosen to accuse me of “putting a knife into the Citizen Force soldiers.” Your diatribe about the English and Afrikaans speaking paratroopers and their political affiliations is a little hard to follow, particularly as I am personally acquainted with most of them. I served proudly as a CF paratrooper for eight years before joining the PF, and now that I have reached compulsory retirement age from the Regular Force I have again joined the Reserves. I have no axe to grind with the citizen soldiers. If I did have, I wouldn’t be one.
You also chose not to mention that I had stated “during the fighting both civilians and guerrillas sheltered in the same trenches, making civilian casualties inevitable.” The only reason that none of the CF soldiers Had you taken the trouble, you ever spoke out about what happened would have noticed that just a few at Cassinga was because there was no lines further on in the dissertation I deliberate massacre. (I won’t even go into used the term “massacre of refugees” the despicable implication in your letter in inverted commas, thereby clearly that PF officers would have countenanced casting doubt on the veracity of the such a thing, but the CF would not have!) term. Nobody (not even you) denies that Why did I not condemn SWAPO for housing civilians in a military camp? Come, now, Tommie, I think I’ve explained that one! It was not my intention to criticise SWAPO’s actions – my hypothesis makes it clear that I am focussing on the military aspects of the SADF action. You want me to condemn SWAPO, but you have missed the purpose of the dissertation. By not commenting on the morality of their employment of the tenets of revolutionary warfare as set out by Mao Zedong, hardly
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were on the same level of fitness would have been better suited for the job, I fail to see where I have been harsh on the part-time soldiers. And I stand by what I have said. It makes basic military common sense. The fact is (as I explained in Chapter 6) that there was not such a battalion available at the time, so a composite battalion of mostly CF paratroopers was used. And in the deductions to Chapter 6 I clearly state that “the composite parachute battalion was well-trained in the available time.” If you feel that I left SWAPO “smelling like roses” simply because I did not analyse their part in the battle, then I can again only say that you have missed the point. You have approached my dissertation with your own preconceived idea of what you feel I should have commented on, and you have failed to carefully consider what my intention was. You expected me to portray SWAPO in a negative light, and because I did not conform to your expectations you have decided that I have failed all paratroopers. I analysed a military operation. I did so as a professional military man and a scholar who has devoted his life to the study of airborne operations. I had and have no interest in analysing SWAPO’s actions. You’ll have to look elsewhere to find someone to do that for you. Perhaps someone with an Intelligence background.
In what sense do I then “deliver a most devastating blow to the integrity of the South African paratroopers?” Surely this is your own perception, civilians were killed at Cassinga. I have not based on a misrepresentation of what apportioned blame for those deaths to the I have written? Here are some of my paratroopers, nor to SWAPO. Civilians comments on the operation: die in war. That is a fact of life. I made it 1. “The short duration of the raid, clear that the SADF never intended killing the rapidity of the extraction civilians. I am happy with that. If you are and the airborne nature of that not, once again, that is your problem, not extraction, all being done without mine. employing an airfield, made the operation exceptional, and also You are apparently convinced that I have my highly risky.” knife in for the Citizen Force paratroopers who were at Cassinga. Yet other than to 2. “The operation was, according to state that a regular battalion of paratroopers what it set out to do, a resounding with an established and practised HQ and success and what could very soldiers that knew one another well and easily have gone wrong did
Army Talk Magazine
your comments published in the Nuusbrief you have reached a wide audience for your claims. Some of those who read them will, as is already evident, accept them at face value. I would like to believe that the majority will first read the dissertation themselves and come to their own conclusions.
not. From a military point of view it was a daring, high-risk venture in the classic mould of an innovative airborne surprise attack. Casualties amongst the paratroopers were light and the only major failure in terms of the objectives set was the inability to bring back prisoners.”
organisation collapsed during the post 1994 era? Where was their expertise and experience when it was desperately needed? Why is it that our two Reserve Force parachute battalions can barely muster one platoon between them today? What happened to the dedicated part-time paratroopers? And where is the expertise that lay with all those experienced Permanent Force paratroopers? 3. “The reasons for the success can They left, took their expertise elsewhere and be ascribed to initiative and we only ever heard of them again through innovation on the part of certain of the grapevine. the paratroopers and maintenance Only a small handful of us faced the problem of the aim by the commander as and battled to resurrect that capability in the well as the vital role of the Air face of tremendous adversity. And only now Force.” is a semblance of the old capability beginning I would hardly call this a devastating to emerge as a result of these efforts. Where blow to the integrity of the were those who are so quick to criticise now? paratroopers. On the contrary, I Most had long ago baled out and left the would say that it reflects extremely organisation and the paratroopers to sink. favourably on their actions. It hardly So who actually failed the paratroopers?
I understand your burning desire to see only what you want to see, particularly given your involvement in the operation and the actions you took to clear the trench leading to the AA gun. What you did can only be described as heroic. Many people who were there feel bitter that you were never awarded a medal for your actions. By all accounts they are right and nobody would have been happier than me to see you get that acknowledgement. But your personal involvement does make you subjective. One of the reasons I selected the Cassinga Raid as the subject for my dissertation is precisely because I was not there. And in case your closing salutation is meant to imply that I’m not proud to be a paratrooper, let me correct your impression.
Still proud to be an active portrays them as “incompetent” I get the impression that you see “the paratrooper! (the word you used to describe the impression you accused me of creating). You see, Tommie, it all depends on where you lay the emphasis in what you read! Of course, I had much criticism for some aspects of the raid. I feel these were justified criticisms from a military point of view, but they remain my opinions. Other professional soldiers may have a very different view, and that is their professional right, as long as it is based on sound, accepted military principles. I set out to do a critique of the operation. You may have wanted me to be more complimentary, but that is not how one analyses a military operation. If you feel I have “failed the paratroopers” then perhaps you can explain to me where all the dedicated paratroopers were when the airborne
paratroopers” as only those people who served with you. I’m afraid that I take a far broader view. Whilst I harbour deep feelings of affection for the people I served with in the paratroops 25 years ago, I also have feelings for those I’ve worked with in the paratroops over the past 15 years. But in my dissertation I’m concerned with a concept within the art of war, not merely a small group of people. By ensuring that the concept is correct and that shortcomings in the paratroopers of yesterday are addressed, I can contribute to better possibilities for the paratroopers of today and tomorrow. This I do by still attending airborne exercises and training, jumping with the paratroopers, researching airborne matters and revising the airborne doctrine of the SANDF. On the whole I found your comments unfortunate and very selective. You took many of the quotes you refer to out of context and you failed to balance them with other references I made. By having
Issue 01 - March 2008
McGILL ALEXANDER (BRIGADIER RESERVE FORCE)
GENERAL,
Responses to Other Comments in the Nuusbrief
Berig 23/2007 dd 03 Jun 07
It is a pity that whoever wrote the comment under the heading “The Airborne Assault at Cassinga” didn’t take the trouble to establish his facts first. “The Cassinga Raid” was a History MA dissertation. I did not submit the dissertation to Tukkies, but to Unisa and I did not submit it last year, but in 2003. It was accepted the same year and the degree was awarded cum laude. It was evaluated by four examiners: two from Unisa, one from the University
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of Stellenbosch and one from the University of Cape Town. Three of them were Heads of their universities’ Departments of History and one had served in the old SADF. The force involved was a battalion minus and not a battalion plus. I never anywhere claimed that the battalion was guilty of the indiscriminate killing of refugees and I never “bandied about” the word “massacre.” That is an infamous lie and I reject it outright. Where I used the word I did so with the utmost circumspection. If you don’t have the inclination, time or ability to read the dissertation, then try to take the trouble to read my response to Tommie Lamprecht who at least read the document before commenting. Clearly, whoever this anonymous person is who gaily throws out such libellous statements, never took the trouble to first read the dissertation. He is treading on dangerous ground that could lead to litigation if he had the courage to identify himself! I also question the integrity and credibility of the Nuusbrief if it publishes such unsubstantiated trash without first verifying and identifying the source. Wat Daan Nell se kommentaar aanbetref, kan ek net meld dat ek taamlik teleurgesteld is. Daan, ek ken jou as ‘n man van integriteit met ‘n gematigde uitkyk op die lewe en wat eers dink voordat hy praat. Ek het nog altyd waarde geheg aan jou opinies. As jy regtig dink dat ek nie eers ‘n onderhoud met Jan Breytenbach gevoer het nie, hoe verduidelik jy dat my verhandeling na nie minder nie as vyf verskillende onderhoude met hom verwys? Hy was een van 45 mense met wie ek onderhoude gevoer het oor ‘n tydperk van 12 jaar en met baie van hulle het ek meer as een onderhoud gevoer. Maar dit is duidelik dat ook jy nie die verhandeling gelees het nie. Kom, nou Daan, dis nie wat ek van ‘n oud KS verwag nie! Terloops, ek het deur sy seun vir Jan ‘n afskrif van my verhandeling laat
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kry. Jan het my gebel nadat hy die verhandeling gelees het, en alhoewel hy nie met sekere aspekte van my uiteensetting van die bevel en beheer opset saamstem nie, het hy geen ander besware gemaak nie. Die verhandeling is ook deur lt genl Ian Gleeson, wat oorhoofse bevelvoerder van Operasie Reindeer was, gelees. Hy het vir my deeglike geskrewe terugvoer gegee en nie een van die besware geoffer wat in die Nuusbrief verskyn het nie, insluitend dié van Tommie Lamprecht.
Berig 24/2007 dd10 Jun 07
my 13 jaar in die nuwe SANW het ek my ook nooit gewend tot gatkruipery nie, ten spyte van die feit dat ek nooit ‘n bro was of kon wees nie. Wat ek bereik het, het ek self gedoen en ek het deurgaans slegs op hulp van bo en op my eie Godgegewe en hard verdiende vermoens vertrou. Vir jou om aantuigings te maak dat dit nie so is nie, is nie net verregaande, dit is veragtelik. Jy ken my nie eers nie (alhowel jy oor my geskryf het, sonder om met my ‘n onderhoud te voer en met verkeerde feite), maar jy het die vermetelheid om my integriteit te bevraagteken. Ek dink dit is laag, uiters laag!
Buiten dit, impliseer jy daardeur dat die universiteit wat die graad aan my toegeken Ek kan maar net Deon Fourie se raad het oop is vir gatkruipery en dat hulle grade beaam: lees eers die verhandeling. gevolglik bevraagteken behoort te wees. Al Fred Kruger, try advising people to wat ek kan sê is dat Unisa vir my behandel read the whole thing and not just Gen Alexander (right) at the selected pages. It may help them to “US Friendship Jump” Exercise put what they read into context. Willem Steenkamp, ek sou nooit verwag dat jy met my gevolgtrekkings sou saamstem nie. Ek maak my gevolgtrekkings soos in ‘n militêre waardering, uit die oogpunt van ‘n professionele soldaat. Jy maak joune uit die oogpunt van ‘n journalis wat ‘n boek skryf wat moet verkoop om suksesvol te wees. Dit is dus onwaarskynlik dat die twee sou ooreenstem. Dit is egter jou volle reg om te voel dat my gevolgtrekkings ongegrond en onregverdig is, maar dit is ook my volle reg om te voel dat hulle op goeie militêre beginsels gebaseer is. Ek het immers valskermsoldate in die geveg aangevoer en ook my vakgebied oor baie jare beide hier en in verskeie buitelandse weermagte deeglik bestudeer by militêre skole, kolleges, akademies en opleidingsentrums.
Normandy - 12 December 2004
Graag wil ek weet met wie jy so oortuig is dat ek witvoetjie speel? Ek skuld niemand iets nie en verwag van niemand iets nie. In al my 27 jare in die ou SAW het ek nooit so laag gedaal dat ek by enigiemand gat gekruip het nie, ten spyte van die feit dat ek nooit ‘n broeder was of kon wees nie. In
Army Talk Magazine
Towed Artillery in the desert.
Issue 01 - March 2008
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het net soos jy sê die ou SAW jou te evalueer en aanbevelings te maak. behandel het met die skryf van jou Hoekom sou dit nou “sogenaamd” wees? Was André Bestbier ook “sogenaamd”? boeke. Of verwys jy ook na wat ander gesê het En waar het ek jou bestempel oor my verhandeling, wat jy erken jy ook as een van die instrumente van nog nie gelees het nie? apartheid? Vir iemand wat sê hy’t die verhandeling gelees moes jy dit uiters Herman du Plessis, jy is vinnig om oppervlakkig gedoen het. Ek het Tommie se standpunt te steun. Het jy wel jou boeke beoordeel as onder dié darem, soos hy, eers die verhandeling group wat “unashamedly biased in gelees? Indien wel, dalk het jy dan ook, favour of the apartheid government” soos hy, die pot misgesit ten opsigte van was en as “pro-SADF” In vergelyking die doel van die verhandeling? met baie van die ander sekondêre Paul Gerber, it is not so very funny to have bronne wat ek gebruik het was hulle refugees on a parade. At most refugee wel. In elk geval, dit was my opinie, camps the people are gathered together in waarop ek geregtig is. Maar as ‘n the mornings to allocate tasks to them for “instrument van apartheid,” nee! the day. Have you ever been to a refugee Dit het ek nooit gesê nie. Om dit camp in Darfur? I have. For the record, te beweer is dalk goeie joernalistieke included in my dissertation are photos taktiek, maar dit is nie waar nie. (Unfortunately, no photos are displayed Terloops, jou boeke was nooit deur my gebruik as primêre bronne nie. Dalk verstaan jy nie dat ‘n boek van daardie aard, wat tweedehandse informasie besit, in die akademie nooit hoër as ‘n sekondêre bron kan wees nie. Dit beteken die informasie moet getoets word voordat dit aanvaar word. Jou boeke was deel van die 144 gepubliseerde werke wat ek wel geraadpleeg het, buiten honderde ander sekondêre bronne.
Blikkies Blignaut, ek staan verstom oor jou uitlating. Ek het jou altyd as ‘n vriend beskou en was jou nog altyd immers dankbaar dat jy my aanbeveel het om voor ‘n offisierskeuraad te verskyn. Dit was na afloop van ‘n “Escape and Evasion” oefening wat ek en ander Burgermag valskermsoldate meegemaak het toe ek nog ‘n korporaal was in 1970. Maar nou verwys jy skertsend na my as “die sogenaamde ‘Master Paratrooper’”. Ek was, nadat André Bestbier die Weermag verlaat het, aangestel as die “Master Paratrooper” deur die Hoof van Gesamentlike Operasies. My taak was om hom op hoogte te hou van die SANW se gesamentlike lugstormvermoë en hom raad te gee oor lugstormaangeleenthede. Dit het ek gedoen deur die valskerm- en lugmobiele magte te besoek tydens ontplooiings en oefeninge, hulle
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learned to accept and process their criticism and evaluation, even when we didn’t always agree with it. The DS criticised constructively with an eye to improving us (or that was the theory behind it, anyway). If I have been brutally frank in my evaluation of the military dimensions of the Cassinga Raid, I make no apology for it. Ten slotte, miskien moet ek julle met ‘n aanhaling uit die laaste bladsy van my verhandeling los:
“There can be no doubt that the final word on Cassinga has not yet been spoken.”
T
his is the extraordinary tale of an extraordinary man. An honestly told story of his military career, of a man who was twice decorated for valour, who pioneered and developed the concept of “small team reconnaissance” within the South African Special Forces.
on the website copy of the dissertation) of PLAN cadres on parade at Cassinga prior to the raid – irrefutable proof that it was a military installation, even if there were refugees there too. But then, you probably have also not read the dissertation, and would rather make inane, meaningless He was a consummate warrior and and unfounded statements. gentleman and has told his story with Berig 25/2007 dd 17 Jun humility and a disarming sense that what he did was simply the job he was 07 given, when even the most cursory Seker ook maar goed dat julle nie Frans reading will show that it was anything Botes se opmerkings geplaas het nie, want but simple or easy. dit wil voorkom dat hulle ook gebaseer is op wat ander gesê het, die meeste waarvan From start to finish, his life was truly a nie eers die verhandeling gelees het nie ‘Journey without Boundaries’. maar wat baie gretig was om oordeel te These memoirs were written by Col vel. Diedericks, better known as "Diedies", Willem Steenkamp, ek is bly jy beskou before his untimely death from cancer die verhandeling as ‘n waardevolle bydrae in 2005. The book is available for tot die Cassinga-verhaal. Dat jy aanstoot purchase from Just Done Productions neem oor party van my gevolgtrekkings via their website at http://www. en woordkeuses is jou volle reg, net justdone.co.za/. soos dit my reg is om, soos jy hierbo sal agterkom, aanstoot te neem oor jou skewe aantuigings. I was once a DS and later returned for some years as the Chief Instructor at the SA Army College’s Command and Staff Duties Branch. Those of you who had the privilege of undergoing senior Staff training will recall that it was the job of a DS to be “brutally frank” about your prowess. When we were on course, we
Army Talk Magazine
W
e built the bloody place, and are Oh, so sad, to see it crumbling apart!!!
We are the National Service generation. The youngest is about 35 and the oldest of us are into our 60's. We built the New South Africa!
Some thoughts!!! adrenaline and occasional arse-clamping terror. And the camaraderie that lasts a lifetime. Others' kept the system working. As guards, clerks, store-men, chefs, drivers, and maintainers' of many things. "Tiffies" of every sort abounded, and we all developed special skills and insights. We met people from every strata, division, or group in society. By and large we got on with each other. And these were experiences which stood us in good stead in later life.
We are the generation who provided our time to the nation in many different ways. Many of our Dads and Granddads had Africa Stars and other 39-45 war medals. We (sometimes) got a Pro-Patria, but mainly are now just getting contempt and denigration and a kick in the We were no angels, more like lusty tomgat. cats with a terrible We were a polyglot bunch made up thirst! But we did the of many nationalities, thrust together needful, and did not and welded into a fairly damn shoot or "frag" our effective outfit. Some 300 thousand officers. After initial of us were born on the wrong side service, we resumed of history. Today, we are branded our "Civvy" lives, the "baby killers" of Africa. That is, and became the of course, if anyone even remembers students, farmers, our contribution and us. apprentices, trainees, learner officials, and From ages between seventeen and office juniors' of the whatever, we took time out from lives, world. loves, jobs, education and "normal working Later on we things" and donned nutria browns. became the Shift We were subjected to the rigours sparky's, of "Basics", and many of us chose Bosses, plumbers, miners, to endure even further hardships of doctors, technicians, advanced training; as leaders, special and forces, parabats, mecchies, Op's accountants, middle managers of medics, and a multitude of other the country. In the mining specialities. We learnt quickly, and assumed the mantle of professionals, industry, we made a lot of people all within a very short time. We in London very rich. As engineers, we kept performed! 18, 19 and 20 year-olds the ESCOM grid alive and expanding, carried out the tasks, that in other bringing electricity to the furtherest reaches military forces, would be carried out of the country (without blackouts). Also by seasoned career professionals. We as engineers, we built some of the finest structures in Africa and completed projects did the business as youngsters! of great complexity (in the face of sanctions We served in so many ways, sometimes and fuel restrictions). enthusiastically, and sometimes with no great fervour. Many endured the We built hospitals (and staffed them with peculiar experience of Border duties. world class doctors, nurses and other Heat and dust (sometimes cold and professionals), and kept places like Bara mud), mozzies, snakes and crap and Natalspruit open under full-scale war food. The odd mixture of tedium, conditions, we built schools and colleges interspersed with bouts of high (with world class educationalists). We built
Issue 01 - March 2008
an international and commercial powerhouse in Africa, the only one! We were leaders, creators and innovators. We made things happen. We "made a plan". And still later, we continue to lead, build, protect and make things happen....... all over the world Many of us started or took over small businesses. Some were highfliers and progressed rapidly through the corporate and businessworld. Some too, "crashed and burned" or took some wrong turns in their lives. They paid a price. We contributed too, in wider society. As parents, members of the community, through churches, cultural groups, schools and universities, youth and sporting organisations we helped to build a wider community. Many of us were volunteers in a service capacity. Fire, ambulance, sea-rescue, life-saving, scouting, Voortrekkers, Rotary, Round Table, St Vincent de Paul, police reserve, and a multitude of charities and groups all derived leadership, effort and support from our generation. Plenty of us were passionate about the environment, and we did things about that too. Hopefully, this legacy will last. But, lurking in the background, was always nutria brown. From time to time (some more often than others) we got the call-up again. As part-time soldiers, we engaged in the last "hot battles of the Cold-War". Indirectly, we helped to bring "The Wall" down.
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We confronted Russians, Cubans and Re-action to the Above by legions of "freedom-fighters" of every Jan Breytenbach description. And some of them were received this a day or two ago and tough. They gave us a run for our money. I am forwarding it so that others But we prevailed. Later on, we served in too can read this 'cry from the the townships. We maintained a form of heart' by a NSM. As a former PF stability, and were often RESPECTED officer I am personally proud to have and WELCOMED. had men such as this unknown author This is an inconvenient fact that the under my command. They were ninety revisionists would seek to bury. In urban percent of the best army South Africa operations we stood between warring ever had, certainly the best in Africa by factions. We protected ordinary residents a very long shot and, to my mind, one as far as we could, and separated violent of the best in the world. ANC and Inkatha protagonists regularly. In doing so, some of us got hurt. The most I call on all former PF officers and effective units got vilified and succumbed NCOs to do their duty towards to propaganda. We served in the country- these men who now feel neglected side too, and ensured that rural life and by the country they had served so the farming communities could get on well but who are now being harassed, with the business of providing food to particularly in the media, by a former Sub-Saharan Africa. Sometimes two enemy who are downright jealous of or more generations served inthe same the splendid war record of these NSM and CF soldiers, airmen and sailors. Commando. Former senior officers, especially, We also established the necessary stability should remind themselves that the first to allow the 1994 elections to take place. pincipe of leadership is 'loyalty to one's These democratic elections would not / troops' even long after the bullets have could not, have happened without the stopped flying around. I regret to say "National Service Generation". It'sworth that there are now a few former senior adding, that in all these conflicts, black officers who have climbed on the band and white soldiers frequently stood wagon of disparagement armed with shoulder to shoulder. a bucket of tar and a brush to break And then, national service ended. Some down the hard won honours of the continued to serve in an integrated force SADF and its NSM and CF soldiers, (and still do so). The whole nation revelled especially as regards the Cassinga and in the spirit of Rugby World Cup 1995. Cuito Cuanavale battles. To counter Reconciliation was the order of the day. A this damage done, by fighting back vigorously, we owe it to our former "Rainbow Nation" was born.
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troops to speak out in the press and in public against a developing tendency to steal or denigrate our battle honours and to make us look like gangs of murdering psychotics, sometimes even like a bunch of turkeys as was attempted about both the Cassinga and Cuanavale battles from certain quarters. And to hell correctness!!
with
political
(From the WO’s Newsletter) To subscribe to the Warrant Officer’s List, send email to Rowley Medlin at medlin@mweb.co.za
And now? Bit by bit, it all seems to be sliding away. And the ENORMOUS contribution of the National Service Generation is being written out of history. If indeed, it is included in history, then the "baby killer" tag is applied. This is pure revisionist claptrap. We built the bloody place!!! We have every right to be proud of our contribution. And we must make it known. Dave Initially posted to Army Talk and subsequently forwarded all over the place
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“She says she IS Lili Marlene”
Army Talk Magazine
Oranje Vrijstaat Artillerie Corps kruppgun@yahoo.co.uk
Historical Study and Re-enactment Group Bloemfontein, South Africa http://www.heilbroncommando.com
O.V.S.A.C. Study No.1
Boer Artillery Trophies in Australia and New Zealand
Introduction
Despatches from South African High he distribution and current Commissioner...” location of captured Boer A subsequent letter from the Secretary artillery pieces is one of the of Defense dated 18 November 1904 main research subjects of showed the intended distribution of the OVSAC. Our search has revealed these guns and rifles: that the two former British colonies New South Wales: of Australia and New Zealand not only received a large number of trophy • One 75mm QF gun • 150 rifles Victoria:
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• One 75mm BL gun • 150 rifles Queensland: • One 75mm BL gun • 150 rifles S. Australia:
The Transvaal 75mm Krupp QF gun at the NSW Memorial, Observatory Park in Sydney
• One 2-in Whitworth gun • 150 rifles W. Australia:
BL
pieces, but also that quite a few of these • One Maxim gun • 150 rifles have survived. Tasmania:
Original Allocation
In a cablegram from the Secretary of State for Colonies to the GovernorGeneral of Australia dated London, 25 January 1904, the following was stated: “Trophies South African War. Queensland, Western Australia, Tasmania, each awarded Pompom; South Australia Maxim; as mementoes of special engagements. 15 guns and 2,500 rifles and carbines also available for distribution among Colonies sending Contingents, but no decision possible as to allotment of these pending receipts of
• 450 rifles. To determine which of these were in actual fact shipped to the two colonies, the Public Records Office in Kew, London was consulted. Record WO 32/7028, “Return of all guns captured or recovered from the Enemy, rendered in accordance with letter from D.G. of O. No.57/ Cape/218 (O3) dated 12th July 1901.” gave the summary in Table 1. A second list in the same file gave further distribution detail. (Table 2)
Issue 01 - March 2008
Jun/Jul 2002
This list also made mention of a “1/2 pdr” (probably 1-pr SBML) shipped to: “Robt. McKillop Esqre, Burgh Surveyor, Perth” on 5/7/04.
The Surviving Guns
With the help of some friends overseas and the Internet, a list of surviving guns was compiled (Table 3) This list is probably not complete as we hope that more surviving pieces will be traced in future. Further, it will be noted that this list confirms some of the original allocations as per WO 32/7028, but it some cases it differs. The exact distribution will probably never be known. To help in identifying the various types, a short description of each is included.
75mm Krupp QF (Schnellfeuer-Feldkanone L/24)
This gun was one of eight used by the Transvaal Staatsartillerie. The first six were ordered in 1895 and a further two in 1896. Grouped into two mounted batteries of four guns each they formed the: “2de en 3de Rijdende Battery”. The gun is easily identifiable by its horizontal sliding breech block systems, which opened to the right. A cartridge case was used to help in obturation, i.e. to prevent the escape of gases to the rear. This also allowed for a rapid rate of fire, which, combined with its use of smokeless powder, made it a true early QF gun. It has a ridged carriage with no buffer. This specific gun (No.2) is the only know
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The Free State’s 75mm Krupp BL gun No.10. Type
Place Captured
Disposal
3 at Paardeberg
1 in Victoria,
(Nos. 4,5,13)
1 in NSW
The Wanganui 75mm Krupp BL gun. survivor of its type. The exact date and location of its capture is not certain.
75mm Krupp BL 1 at Poplar Grove (No.6) 1 in New Zealand 75mm Krupp BL 1 at Parys (No.10)
to NSW
Table 1 Serial Type
No.
75mm Krupp QF
2
New South Wales 04/5/05
Date
75mm Krupp QF
-
New Zealand
24/8/04
75mm Krupp BL
7
West Australia
13/2/05
75mm Krupp BL
1
Victoria
illeg.
75mm Krupp BL
14
Queensland
04/3/05
75mm Krupp BL
2
New Zealand
24/8/04
37mm Single Load QF 2
Tasmania
04/3/05
2-in Whitworth BL
-
South Australia
04/3/05
37mm Pom-pom
-
West Australia
13/2/05
37mm Pom-pom
-
New Zealand
24/8/04
37mm Pom-pom
-
Queensland
illeg.
37mm Pom-pom
-
New Zealand
24/8/04
.45-in Maxim
473
South Australia
illeg.
Extra Light Maxim
-
West Australia
13/2/05
Extra Light Maxim
-
New Zealand
28/8/04
Table 2
75mm Krupp BL (Feldkanone L/27)
The Free State Artillery Corps made use of a different model 75mm Krupp. Six of these L/27 guns were imported in 1892 and a further eight in 1897. Its horizontal sliding breech was of an older, cylindrical wedge design (C73), which opened to the Carriage Limber left. It was made gas-tight by means Yes Yes of a steel ring in the breech end of Yes Yes the chamber and a steel removable Yes Yes plate on the face of the breechblock, which fitted against the expanding Yes No steel ring. It still used a bagged, Yes No black powder charge, which caused Yes Yes an extremely visible smoke cloud Yes No when fired. The carriage was plain with axletree-mounted seats while Yes No wheel brakes helped to control Yes No recoil. No No The gun in the photo is No.10, Yes Yes the Rensburg Drift gun, which is Yes No on display at the Australian War Memorial Museum (AWM). It Yes No was captured by troops of the New Tripod South Wales Mounted Rifles on Tripod 27 October 1900 near the town of Parys where De Wet abandoned it on the main road after a wheel was lost.
Type
Serial No. Current Location
75mm Krupp QF
2
NSW Memorial, Observatory Park, Sydney
75mm Krupp BL
6
Australian War Memorial “Mitchell Annex”
75mm Krupp BL
7
Kings Park, Perth
75mm Krupp BL
10
Australian War Memorial Museum, Canberra
75mm Krupp BL
13
Australian War Memorial Museum, Canberra
75mm Krupp BL
illeg.
Wanganui Regional Museum, New Zealand
2-in Whitworth BL -
Fort Glanville/Private Collection?
37mm Pom-pom
Queensland Museum
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-
Table 3
A second gun (No.6), captured at Poplar Grove on 8 March 1900, is on display as part of the Trelore Collection (“Forging of a Nation Tour”) at the “Mitchell Annex” of the AWM. No.13, one of the three Paardeberg guns, is also said to be at the AWM.
Army Talk Magazine
Another De Wet gun, one of the three guns captured on 6 November 1900 near Bothaville, can be viewed at King’s Park in Perth. This gun, No.7, is mounted on British 12 or 15-pr gun wheels. A fifth gun rests outside the Wanganui Regional Museum in New Zealand. A plaque on the gun reveals that it was buried by the Boers and only afterwards discovered. After the war it was shipped to New Zealand, where it was again buried in the
traditionalists who were against the idea of breechloading ordnance. The breech was externally threaded and closed by a threaded cap, which swung on a carrier pivoted on the right side of the gun. Whitworth rifling consisted of a hexagonal bore with rounded angles into which a precisely shaped shell fitted with negligible windage. To ensured complete sealing a
37mm Pom-pom and crew outside Mafeking
guns. The replacement guns took almost a year to arrive in Bloemfontein, which forced the Free State, who was still at war, to assemble one serviceable gun from the remains of the two damaged guns. Contemporary Commando Rapports indicate that both breech and muzzle-loader types saw action thereafter during the later battles of the Basuto War.
The 6-pr Whitworth RBL barrel at Green Point. 1940’s, because it was believed that it might attract the eyes (and bombs) of Japanese aircraft! It lay buried until the late 1950 or 1960’s. Today rust damage makes it impossible to identify its serial number. Earlier it was stated that No.2 and one Paardeberg or the Polar Grove gun were shipped to New Zealand. Since both No.6 and 13 are in Australia, this could either be No. 2, 4 or 5. No. 2 was one of three guns discovered submerged in the Rhenoster River on the farm Tierbank near Lindley on 23 March 1902.
6-pr Whitworth RBL (2-inch)
This gun is an example of the early built-up, rifled breech-loaders that were constructed during the 1860s. It was designed for use as either a RBL or a RML, probably to satisfy
greased wad was used in the rear, between the projectile and its bagged charge. The carriages resembled the typical wooden field carriages used on most guns of that period.
When Major Albrecht took command of the Free State Artillery in 1880, he found one 6-pr Whitworth RBL and one 6-pr Whitworth RML among the collection of antique guns in the fort. Various sources state that the Free State had one 6-pr Whitworth gun in 1899, but none say whether it was a RBL or a RML gun. PRO 32/8111 mentions that a 6-pr Whitworth was captured at Bloemfontein on 13 March 1900. It is more likely that this gun, and a few other antique pieces, were
In 1864 the Free State ordered two 6-pr RBL guns. The guns accompanied the Artillery Corps to the Basuto border in 1865, where one blew its breech out after only ten shots were fired. After the second gun later exploded under similar conditions, Whitworth agreed to replace the damaged pieces with two new RML Krupp factory photograph of the 37mm QF L/30.
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found abandoned in the old fort. A photo of captured guns taken at Green Point Common in Cape Town very distinctively shows the barrel of a 6-pr Whitworth RBL gun lying on wooden blocks among other old pieces that were also taken from Bloemfontein. PRO 32/7028 states that a “2-in Whitworth BL” gun, with a carriage, was dispatched to Southern Australia. It can be assumed that this carriage was only added after its capture. A similar Transvaal 6-pr Whitworth RML (bought from the Free State in 1873) survived in South Africa, and is mounted on a made-up carriage, flanged together from the steel carriage parts of a British 15-pr and some agricultural equipment spares.
field carriage and was equipped with a water jacket to cool the barrel. Most Boer guns also had a shield of 1 m2 (3 ft 4 in square). Between 1896 and Jan 1899, Maxim-Nordenfelt (MNG&ACL) and later Vickers Maxim (VSM) shipped twenty-two Pom-poms to the Transvaal (Serial numbers: 2080, 2081, 2122-2125, 2090-2095, 2311-2320). The gun got its name, ‘Pom-pom’ from the peculiar noise of its discharge. On Boer side it was also called a ‘Bommeksim’ (Bomb-Maxim) or ‘Doodsklok’ (Death’s Bell).
So far the only surviving gun that could be traced is the Queensland Museum gun. It was first on display at the Botanical Gardens and later the grounds of the old museum at Bowen H i l l s until the museum was moved in 1986 after which it was placed in A maxim of unknown calibre mounted on a cavalry the repository. carriage. This gun, said to have been To date two guns of this caliber have captured by Sir Harry Chauvel been traced in Australia. The first is said himself on 4 May 1900 at Vet River, to be at Fort Glanville, while a second is in dire need of restoration. gun finds itself in a private collection in Victoria. Apparently, the Victoria gun Another gun, No.2125, was buried is mounted on a newer steel carriage. It near Christchurch in 1941 after is not sure whether any of these two are the Pearl Harbor attack. This gun in actual fact the Boer gun. Any further incorporated a lock from No.2122. Could it still be out there waiting to detail on the location and condition of these guns and their carriages will be greatly appreciated.
37mm MaximNordenfelt Mk. II
The Pom-pom was simply a large belt-fed machine gun, firing explosive rounds. It was mounted on a
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be discovered?
37mm Krupp QF (SchnellladeGebirgskanone L/30) This single loading mountain gun consisted of a 30 caliber long barrel equipped with a striking bolt breechblock. The assembly was mounted on a light carriage and was sometimes equipped with a shield. Its lightweight enabled it to be towed by a single horse, or if necessary, hitched behind a wagon. The Transvaal imported its first 37mm single-loading QF gun from the German firm of Hermann Gruson in the early 1890’s. A few years later Gruson was taken over by Krupp, from whom the Transvaal ordered three more guns in November 1895. One of the three, No.2, was shipped to Tasmania after the war. It is not known whether it survived. Another example (No.3) did survive in South Africa, and consists of a Krupp-Essen manufactured barrel mounted on a Krupp-Gruson carriage.
.450-in Maxim-Nordenfelt
The Maxim gun got its name from its inventor, Hiram Maxim. This was the world’s first true machine gun and was manufactured in a variety of calibers. The first maxim adopted by the British World was the .450-in (Martini-Henry) ‘World Standard’ model maxim manufactured by MNG&ACL. It had a water-cooled barrel and was mounted on various kinds of horse-drawn carriages and tripods. Early in 1896, the Transvaal seized eight ‘cavalry’ maxims from the ill-fated Jameson Raiders. Most of Jameson’s maxims were originally shipped to the British Cape Colony of which one, No. 473, was imported in 1890/91. This specific gun was recaptured during the Boer War and subsequently awarded to Southern Australia. Rumors have it that it was again pressed into service during the Japanese invasion scare! Its current whereabouts is unknown.
.303-in MaximNordenfelt ‘Extra Light’ ‘Extra Light’ Maxim and Boer gunner.
After the worldwide adoption of small caliber smokeless rifle ammunition, Maxim designed a
Army Talk Magazine
light infantry version of his famous gun. This gun was known as the ‘Extra Light’ and first appeared in 1895. The Transvaal government acquired twelve, tri-pod mounted, 0.303-in guns of this design from MNG&ACL. They were numbered 5428 to 5438 and 5549/5597. After the war an example was shipped to Western Australia and New Zealand, respectively. No further details are known. A Call on All Who Read This It is very obvious that there are still pieces out there to be discovered. We call on all interested parties to keep an eye out for these trophies, especially for Pom-poms and Maxims. So, go have a look at that old gun in your local park or museum, and do contact us with any detail, photos or comments. MC Heunis Sekretaris, Corps der Artillerie We would like to acknowledge and thank the following people for their friendly assistance and photographs: •
Matthew ‘Midge’ Carter Australia • Michael Cecil & Geoff Brewster - Australian War Memorial • Michelle Horwood - Wanganui Regional Museum • Tony Lucking - UK • Robert Wotton - SA War Virtual Library PS: Since the first circulation of this piece, the following additional information has come to light:
The Young British Soldier
When the 'arf-made recruity goes out to the East 'E acts like a babe an' 'e drinks like a beast, An' 'e wonders because 'e is frequent deceased Ere 'e's fit for to serve as a soldier. Serve, serve, serve as a soldier, Serve, serve, serve as a soldier, Serve, serve, serve as a soldier, So-oldier OF the Queen!
When 'arf of your bullets fly wide in the ditch, Don't call your Martini a cross-eyed old bitch; First mind you steer clear o' the grog-sellers' huts, She's human as you are -- you treat her as sich, For they sell you Fixed Bay'nets that rots out your An' she'll fight for the young British soldier. guts -Fight, fight, fight for the soldier . . . Ay, drink that 'ud eat the live steel from your butts -An' it's bad for the young British soldier. When shakin' their bustles like ladies so fine, Bad, bad, bad for the soldier . . . The guns o' the enemy wheel into line, Shoot low at the limbers an' don't mind the When the cholera comes -- as it will past a doubt -shine, Keep out of the wet and don't go on the shout, For noise never startles the soldier. For the sickness gets in as the liquor dies out, Start-, start-, startles the soldier . . . An' it crumples the young British soldier. Crum-, crum-, crumples the soldier . . . If your officer's dead and the sergeants look white, But the worst o' your foes is the sun over'ead: Remember it's ruin to run from a fight: You must wear your 'elmet for all that is said: So take open order, lie down, and sit tight, If 'e finds you uncovered 'e'll knock you down dead, And wait for supports like a soldier. An' you'll die like a fool of a soldier. Wait, wait, wait like a soldier . . . Fool, fool, fool of a soldier . . . When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains, And the women come out to cut up what remains, Jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains An' go to your Gawd like a soldier. Go, go, go like a soldier, If the wife should go wrong with a comrade, be loath Go, go, go like a soldier, To shoot when you catch 'em -- you'll swing, on my Go, go, go like a soldier, oath! -So-oldier of the Queen! Make 'im take 'er and keep 'er: that's Hell for them both, From: The Young British Soldier An' you're shut o' the curse of a soldier. by Rudyard Kipling Curse, curse, curse of a soldier . . . Now, if you must marry, take care she is old -A troop-sergeant's widow's the nicest I'm told, For beauty won't help if your rations is cold, Nor love ain't enough for a soldier. 'Nough, 'nough, 'nough for a soldier . . .
Various military Caps and Badges are available for sale from Just Done
The West Australian ‘Extra Light’ maxim (no, 5438) has indeed survived and has been seen as recently as 1993 in the store of the West Australia Museum at Perth. The Whitworth gun at Fort Glanville has turned out to be a 2-pr (1-inch) rifled muzzle-loader and not the 6-pr (2-in) rifled breech-loader. This means that the 6-pr might still be out there somewhere… The Queensland Pom-pom has a post Boer War carriage number (3428), indicating that it might not be a Boer War Trophy. Hopefully the restoration work will reveal more detail.
When first under fire an' you're wishful to duck, Don't look nor take 'eed at the man that is struck, Be thankful you're livin', and trust to your luck And march to your front like a soldier. Front, front, front like a soldier . . .
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If there is something you want embroidered, then let us know and we will do it for you!
Issue 01 - March 2008
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Photo Gallery Random Military Photos from all over
Above: How things have changed! These are the new “tents”. These semipermanent structures are erected at the unit’s base camp when it is deployed.
(Photo: John Dovey)
Below: And how things stay the same. This photo was taken after a route march by some members of CTH up Table Mountain in the rain.
(Photo: John Dovey Collection)
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Army Talk Magazine
On the beach with full kit. Practising carrying a “wounded” member of the section in an improvised stretcher.
Durban Light Infantry, Alpha Company Training Weekend. Photos: © John Dovey
Sgt Major Hornby in Full Cry.!
The Section Leader brief’s his section while an instructor looks on. They are about to tackle the Urban Warfare course (overleaf). Issue 01 - March 2008
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Moving through the course. Helmets have been removed to improve hearing and visibility.
A pause while the Section Leader evaluates a report of a possible ambush from the soldier on point.
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Army Talk Magazine