WEL EN WEE VAN DIE MILITêRE VETERANE : BERIG 02/2017 NUWE E-POSADRES 1. Ons het n terugslag gehad, deurdat die Diensverskaffer verdwyn en sy server afgeskakel het, met die gevolg dat daar sedert 24/01/2017 geen berigte ontvang is nie. Dit is ook die rede dat hierdie Nuusbrief so laat uitgestuur word. Ons nuwe e-posadres is isajohan@johannisa.co.za. Ons het nou n domein by Afrihost, maar ek weet nie werklik wat dit beteken nie. Stuur maar asseblief al u berigte sedert 24/01/2017 weer n keer. WEE VAN DIE VETERANE 2. Afsterwe van Ewald Beneke van die Kavallerie * Willie Vos van die Kavallerie verwittig met leedwese dat Ewald Beneke op 03/01/2017 in 1 Mil Hosp oorlede is. Die herinneringsdiens het op 14/01/2017 vanuit die NG Gemeente Eldoraigne plaasgevind. * Hans Kriek van die Kavallerie voeg by dat Ewald in 1 Mil Hosp aan kanker oorlede is. Sy weduwee, Carla, se selno is 082 901 1798. 3. Passing of Willem Jacobus Green of Logistics Attie Keeve has advised that Willem s daughter, Annelize Kraounakis, has informed him with great sorrow... that my father (photo below) had passed away on 14/01/2017 after being very ill in 1 Mil Hosp since 20/12/2016. His funeral was held on 20/01/2017 at the NG Church in Wierda Park. My cell no is 083 310 3780. 4. Passing of Pierre De Wet Wright of the SAAF Philip Weyers of the SAAF advises with regret... of the passing of Pierre on 20/01/2017 after a duel with cancer. He was the driving force behind the SAAF Association and the SAAF Museum in Hoedspruit and will be sorely missed. 5. Afsterwe van Jack Rayner van die Genie Verlede week het Shai Mulder van die Genie met leedwese van Jack (foto hieronder) se afsterwe op 02/01/2017 verwittig. Hy was onder andere die RSM van 2 Vd Genie Regt op Bethlehem en die Div Sammajoor van 8 Div.
6. Passing of Cynthia Botha : Widow of the Late Cdre Chris Botha of the SAN After reporting in the previous Newsletter of the passing of Chris, Angel now has to advise of the passing of Cynthia barely three weeks after his passing. Cynthia passed away peacefully at the home of their eldest daughter Vanessa on 17/01/2017. We extend our deepest sympathy to Vanessa and Sonja and their families. 7. Passing of Pat McNaughton ; Widow of the late James McNaughton of the SAN Angel advises with the deepest regret that Pat had passed away peacefully on 16/01/2017 in Fish Hoek. Our sincerest condolences to Stuart, Patricia and Peter and their families. A wake for family and friends was held at the Seven Seas Club on 27/01/2017 to pay homage. 8. Operasie vir Gert Nel van die Parabats Ek het my prostaat laat verwyder, want dit is n kwessie waarmee baie mans bo 50 dikwels n probleem mee het. Alles het goed afgeloop en ek is sonder pyn en vinnig besig om heeltemal te herstel. 9. Operasie vir Tenk Smuts : Voormalige RSM van WP Sein Eenh Voorheen het Deon van Zyl van die Seiners rapporteer dat Tenk (foto hieronder) n biopsie van sy prostaat in 2 Mil Hosp ondergaan het. Robbie Roberts van die Seinersvereninging in Kaapstad verwittig nou dat Tenk my ingelig het dat daar kankerselle in my prostaat gevind is en ek het besluit om my prostaat te laat verwyder. Ek sien weer die Uroloog op 22/02/2017 wanneer reëlings vir die operasie by die N1 Hospitaal in Kaapstad getref sal word". HULDEBLYKE 10. NTR.
PERSOONLIKE BOODSKAPPE 11. Strooi van Wyle Dirk du Toit se As : Regstelling oor Wynand du Toit van Spes Magte * Verlede week het Johan van Wyngaard verwittig dat Oom Dirk se as in Des 2016 deur Marius en Hanneke du Toit op die familieplaas, Bakkerbosheuwel te Klipfontein, gestrooi is en dat hulle die broer en skoonsuster van wyle Wynand du Toit van Spes Magte is. Die foto hieronder toon die vervulling van Oom Dirk se laaste wens. * James Marx en Koos Louw reageer en noem dat Wynand du Toit springlewendig en gesond is en in die DRK boer. Jammer vir die fout. 12. Koos Reyneke van die SAV Ons is pas terug uit die Kaap na n bedrywige vakansie. Die weersiens van vriende, familie, kinders en bekendes was egter so aangenaam dat daar vir min anders tyd ingeruim kon word en as dit nie vir die brande in die Kaap was nie, was ons seker nog steeds daar en aan die kuier. Ons is saam met almal diep dankbaar vir die reën wat geval het, veral omdat ons tuin hier in Centurion, nie soos n vorige keer weens die droogte, agteruit gegaan het nie. 13. Gedagtes oor Kdoor Chris Botha van die SAV * Verlede week het Arne Soderlund met leedwese van Chris se afsterwe verwittig. * Theo Honiball van die SAV vertel dat Chris onder andere Bev SAS Duiker was, ons Vlootbasis in Toulon, Frankryk, wat vir die SAV se eerste duikbootflottielje in 1969 gestig is. Hy was verantwoordelik vir al die SAV en Skeepswerfpersoneel in Toulon en moes huisvesting vir die vlootpersoneel en hul families Toulon reël. Die Daphne Laerskool met drie SA onderwyseresse is in Toulon vir die kinders van ons lede stig. Die drie duikbote het elk n bemanning van 50 lede gehad, plus n aantal van ons eie vlootskeepswerf se personeel onder Franse opleiding. Na die laaste duikboot in Mei 1972 na die RSA teruggekeer het, moes Chris en sy span die kantore opruim, die woonstelle aan die Franse terughandig, terwyl die geboue van die laerskool aan die plaaslike munisipaliteit geskenk is. Chris is die SM vir sy uitmuntende werk in Frankryk toegeken en is later as H Vlootstaf Fin aangestel. Kyk par 5 oor die afsterwe van Cynthia. 14. Gedagte oor ons Gevalle Veterane Theo Honiball noem dat die afsterwe van so baie van ons lede my herinner aan die gedig, Morte d Arthur, van Lord Alfred Tennyson oor die dood van Koning Arthur. Net voor sy dood was Koning Arthur se laaste woorde aan Sir Bedivere dat the old order changeth yielding place to new en dit onthou ek nog van my Engelse voorgeskrewe werk in Matriek.
15. Grensoorlog As Kleynhans van die Lugafweer kyk na die herhaling van die reeks, Grensoorlog, wat tans deur KykNET gebeeldsend word en is van mening dat hy nou geen saak het met politieke korrektheid, skuldgevoelens en al daai nare goed nie. Oorlog is vieslik en wreed, maar as dit nie vir my 41 jaar in uniform was nie, het ek nooit die kosbare militêre familie gehad wat my elke dag nog met lekkerkry, trots en kameraadskap inkleur nie. Ek salueer elkeen van die Militêre Veterane en in besonder elkeen wat die hoogste prys moes betaal. 16. Besonderhede van Wyle Ivan (Fanie) Stefanus Coetzer van die Parabats Fanie se seun, Ivan Coetzer, benodig informasie van sy oorlede Pa se diens in die SAW en SAP, omdat hy graag sy Pa se verlede beter wil leer ken. My Pa het met Kursus 44V tydens 02/10-24/11/1967 by die Valskermopleidingsentrum as n Parabat gekwalifiseer en is in die sewentigerjare na die SAP oorgeplaas. Hy is op 26/11/2010 oorlede. My selno is 076 013 3531 en e-posadres is coetzeris@gmail.com. Sy foto, wat by 1 Valsk Bn geneem is, sal in die volgende Nuusbrief geplaas word. MILITêRE AANGELEENTHEDE 17. Reactivation of the SAAF Reserve Squadrons * In the Reserve Force Council Newsflash of Godfrey Giles it was stated that efforts to reactivate the squadrons in the Air Force Reserve Service (AFRS) gained impetus during a recent SAAF workshop. The meeting noted that the AFRS is an invaluable extension and acts as a force multiplier for the capabilities of the SAAF. The meeting comes almost two years after C SAAF said that he was addressing the unforeseen challenges that had grounded the SAAF Reserve which once numbered nine squadrons. The meeting resolved to start AFRS operational camps for ground and air training and get squadrons operational again. * Arne Soderlund of the SAN has always had a soft spot for the SAAF and states that C SAAF was probably referring to the Commando Squadrons of the past, namely those units flying light aircraft belonging to the pilots or to which they had access courtesy of their employers. Aaron Searl was such a member and the SAAF were a bit nonplussed when he walked in and said he would like to join and, yes, he did have access to an aircraft, a Learjet to be exact. Those units by their nature were cheap to run, but the SAAF hit a problem when the Treasury complained that they were tasking these civilians and their aircraft for missions instead of putting the missions out to tender. The logic of having these reserve squadrons seemed to have escaped the bean counters.
18. Programme of Commemoration and Associated Events Gert Opperman of the CMVO advises that the updated edition of the 2017 Annual Programme of CMVO related commemoration and other associated events is now available. The first draft was distributed on 23/09/2016 and has been updated to include information received from the responsible organizers. Any further amendments and additions must please be provided by not later than the 15th of Mar, Jun and Sep 2017 respectively. An updated version of the programme will be issued on a quarterly basis during the ensuing month. Organizers remain responsible for the detail of each event, including the communication to all concerned of more urgent changes to the programme. The CMVO cannot accept responsibility for any event not organised by the CMVO or for any errors or omissions in the programme. My e-mail address is gertopperman5@gmail.com or fax 086 615 9758. Your support to finalize and to keep the programme updated would be sincerely appreciated. 19. SAS Amatola Departs on Epic European Adventure In Angel s MN these photos of SAS Amatola appeared, showing the vessel departing from Simon s Town on 16/01/2017 on her way to Europe, on a 96 day operational, commemoration and diplomatic visit to various European and African countries, known as Op Ketane. The main purpose of Op Ketane is to participate in the centenary commemoration of the sinking of the SS Mendi in the UK. Other activities include training with the RN, participation in Ex Good Hope VII with the German Navy and diplomatic visits to four West African ports on the return trip. The vessel has undergone an extensive refit that cost R335 million, that took 18 months to complete under the leadership of the OC, Capt Frans Roux. 20. Two SAAF Oryxes Log 94 Flight Hours Fighting the Fires in the Cape Two Oryx helicopters of 22 Sqn at AFB Ysterplaat with four crews were deployed after the provincial government indicated they could not keep up with the need for aerial fire-fighting equipment. The two helicopters flew 94 hours on fire-fighting sorties within 11 days. By 07/01/2017 the helicopters were able to contain the fires to the extent that ground-based firefighting personnel could safely d suppress the fires. Three days later fires broke out in Du Toitskloof and 22 Sqn was tasked to assist, which continued with fires in Simon s Town and Paarl. The crews spent more than 12 hours a day in the air, 94 hours were flown and 2 778 000 litres of water were delivered on the fires.
21. Gedenknaald by 1 Ondh Eenh (OHE) in Kimberley * Ds Kaiser Cornelius noem dat sy broer, RSM FPJ Cornelius van 5 OHE in Ondangwa, saam met sy vrou en ander in n bus was wat in 1986 n landmyn in Sektor 10 geaktiveer het. My broer het gesterf en sy vrou, Gisela, het albei haar bene verloor. Volgens Gisela was n gedenknaald by 5 OHE opgerig en toe die eenheid sluit, is die gedenknaald na 1 OHE in Kimberley verskuif. Hierdie eenheid is intussen ook gesluit maar skynbaar was die gedenknaald nog daar en is dit ongeveer vyf jaar gelede verwyder. Die plaat met die name van die oorledenes was skynbaar toe ook nie meer op nie. RSM Frans Kruger van Kimberley het vir Gisela ingelig dat die gedenknaald moontlik na n museum of monument verskuif is, of moontlik iewers in n stoor lê. Sy sal die gedenknaald kan uitken, al is daar nie meer name op nie. Weet een van die Militêre Veterane dalk wat daarvan geword het? My e-posadres is jmpcornelius@telkomsa.net. * Gert Opperman van die CMVO reageer en noem dat die Naald beslis nie na die VTM verskuif is nie en ek weet nie waar dit is nie. Frans Kruger mag reg wees dat dit dalk êrens in n stoorkamer in Kimberley lê. 22. Guarding of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery * Last week this report was included due to the absolute professionalism that it represents and is available from mungusawadi@gmail.com. * Arne Soderland now mentions that this is an old hoax. The stories about no talking or watching TV is not true, nor is the bit about no drinking for life! If one Googles snopes tomb of the unknown soldier, the real facts are provided. 23. Tattoos in the New Zealand Navy (NZN)
In Angel s MN it was reported that Sailor Rawiri Barriball (photo below) has become the first sailor to get clearance from the NZN to wear a full facial Māori tattoo known as a Moko. Barriball, who has served in the Navy for 20 years, had to apply under Naval law to gain approval for the tattoo which took approximately ten hours to complete. In pre-european Māori culture, many high-ranking people received a Moko as an important milestone between childhood and adulthood. Angel adds that the Māoris threatened that if the request for tattoos was not approved by the NZN, they would refuse to be further available to play for the All Blacks. 24. Development of Smart Bullets for Deck Guns In Angel s MN it is stated that research is being undertaken to provide the USN with a new guided munition, the smart bullet. It is intended to defend warships from swarms of small attack craft. Each round would be able to alter its flight path in real time to target, track and engage multiple fast-moving targets. The goal is to develop technologies for a mediumcalibre guided projectile that would combine the guidance, precision, and accuracy of missiles with the speed, rapid-fire capability and large ammunition capacity of bullets. A medium-calibre Mk38 auto-cannon has a large magazine capacity, offering more sustained fire than precision guided missile systems and it can reliably fire off two hundred rounds per minute at a single target and be able to direct this firepower at dozens of targets simultaneously. MILITêRE MEDIESE VERSORGING 25. Epidemie van Geelsug in Owambo * Voorheen het Paul Els verwys na die Geelsug-epidemie wat in 1978 in Owambo uitgebreek het, terwyl Tony Dippenaar van Cela verduidelik het van die stappe wat geneem is om die epidemie onder beheer te bring. * Dan Lamprecht van Spes Magte was toe die 2IB van 2 Mil Gebied (later Sektor 10) en brig Kat Liebenberg was die bevelvoerder. Dan vertel dat hy die taak gehad het om optrede te ko-ordineer en het vir Frik van Oudtshoorn van die Genie, dr Margaret Isaacson en n professor van UP in 'n Puma vanaf Elundi in die Ooste tot Ruacana in die Weste vergesel om al die veldlatrienes te besoek, sodat hulle aanbevelings kon maak. Daarna het ek vir Dawid Grobbelaar, SSO Genie te Leër HK, vergesel om weereens al die toilette te besoek,
om dr Isaacson se aanbevelings, regstellings en middele vir konstruksie te orden. Die epidemie was n groot bedreiging en alhoewel die tempo van aansteek onder die troepe al begin afneem het, was dit nodig om ook vir genls Viljoen, Niewoudt (GG) en Gleeson na dieselfde toilette te neem om self die toestand te evalueer. Daar was onmiddellik n groot verbetering in die basiese hygiene en wasbalkke van vlekvrye staal en bottels van ontsmetmiddels het oral gepronk. There was also a better construction of many of the long drops and as I prided myself on being well versed in the art of the long drop, I could give well founded advice on the construction, the aesthetic aspects and the appropriate hygiene requirements there-of. This epidemic posed a huge threat and had to be contained and eradicated and as the best Army in Africa, we achieved our mission. TOEKOMSTIGE OORLOë 26. NTR. EIETYDSE MILITêRE GESKIEDENIS 27. Acts of Bravery by John Wahl during Op Savannah There was an account of the brave actions of John in a previous edition of the Newsletter. However, Willie Lombard of the Cavalry states that John was a member of the SAAC and not an Infanteer as stated in the article. 28. Die Franse Vreemdelingelegioen. Paul Els noem dat Spik Botha die volgende verhaal, vertel deur Francis Smit op n geleentheid van Spes Magte se Veterane-vereniging, op FaceBook geplaas het: Die Franse Vreemdelingelegioen loop altyd agter tydens n parade want meeste weermagte op parade marsjeer teen so 120 passe per minuut, terwyl die Legioen teen 88 passe per minuut marsjeer. Vanaf die 1930s is My Sarie Marais hulle eenheidslied. Buiten dat die lied so erg Afrikaans is, het die Legioen hulle al baie soos Recces gedra. Daar word vertel dat tydens die Mexikaanse-oorlog moes 67 van hulle n vrag goud oppas en is toe deur 2 000 Mexikane aangeval. Na n dag se geveg was net die Betaalmeester en vyf troepe oor en het elk net een patron oorgehad. Hulle het almal die laaste patroon geskiet en die vyand met hulle bajonette bestorm. Die Mexikaanse bevelvoerder het toe beveel dat daar nie verder geveg moes word nie en is die laaste ses se lewe gespaar. Die groep se bevelvoerder, kapt Jean Danjou, was toe reeds dood. Sy hand is vroeër erens in Afrika afgeskiet en hy het n houthand gehad. Dié hand is saam met die oorlewendes terug Frankryk toe en word vandag nog op die Legioen se parades vertoon. Die Legioen se musiek is op die skakel by https://www.youtube.com/watch? v=iii2k2gywtm beskikbaar. 29. Video of Events Between Sep 1987 and Apr 1988 in Angola Ben Foord has provided this interesting video of events relating to Ops Hooper and Packer. The video is available from Ben s e-mail address at bensfoord@gmail.com. DIE SAW SE ELEKTRONIESE ONDERSKEPPING IN DIE GRENSGEBIED 30. Koos Louw van die SAV Is daar al ooit oor hierdie funksie, bekend as Op Brush, geskryf? Ek was met tye ontplooi om saam met hulle te werk en het groot bewondering vir hierdie NDPs gehad. Daar was verskeie Portugese winkeleienaars se kinders om die bande te vertaal en Duitssprekende troepe wat die tegniese uitrusting versorg het, met n verdwaalde Spaanssprekende wat aan die Kubane se berigte aandag gegee het. Hulle het altyd onder die radar gebly en het selde
erkenning gekry vir hulle werk wat van kritieke belang was. Dit het darem ook vir groot humor gesorg as die vyand begin swaarkry het. Ons taak by Afd Inl se Seksie Wesfront was om elke oggend die onderskepte radioberigte te ontleed om FAPLA se eenhede te identifiseer en op die kaart te stip. Op hierdie wyse is n beeld van die struktuur en aktiwiteite vanaf peloton- tot brigade-vlak opgebou. Daar was n probleem met plekname en n inligtingsoffisier, Gerrit van Zyl, het in 1979 voor die reuse kaart gaan sit en elke pleknaam met ruitverwysing op die rekenaar ingelees. Dit was n massiewe en uiters vervelige taak, maar by die voltooiing daarvan kon die SAW vir die eerste keer n duideliker beeld van bewegings en ander aktiwiteite verkry. Hy het ongelukkig, kort na voltooiing van die taak, tydens sy eerste ontplooiing aan die grens gesneuwel. 31. Herman du Plessis van die Lugafweer en Leërinligting vanuit Taiwan Die werk by die Inligtingsafdeling van HK Sektor 10 het vroegdag reeds met die ontleding van ingesamelde informasie en van die vyand se berigte van die vorige 24 uur begin, om die intensies, planne en posisies van die vyand te bepaal. Hierdie meeluistering (ML) se transkripsies was algemeen as die comics bekend. Dit was gedoen vir insluiting in die oggend se eerste inligtingsvoorligting aan Bev Sektor 10 en sy staf, maar dan was ons afleidings en gevolgtrekkings reeds aan HK SWAGM, Leër HK en Afd Inl gestuur. Na die voorligting was die Bevelvoerder se woorde gewoonlik iets soos nou ja Ops, daar het julle dit. Wat gaan julle daaraan doen? 'n Beplanningsiklus het gewoonlik daarop gevolg om 'n taktiese operasionele en ondersteuningsplan te inisieer. Baie van die berigte was in kode en dit was die taak van die staf by die ML stasies om dit te ontsyfer. Wanneer daar in 'n kontak beslag gelê was op n vyandelike radiobediener se dokumente was daar groot opgewondenheid, want honderde gekodeerde berigte kon dan vertolk word. Een van die beste voorbeelde was 'n eenvoudige berig, naamlik we are at Iona." Ons het geweet watter groep dit gestuur het, wat hulle intensies was en min of meer waar hulle hulself bevind het. 'n Deeglike soektog op 'n 1:250 000 kaart het die plekkie in SW Angola Noord van Kaokoland aangedui. Na 'n fisiese verkenning is die groep van sowat 200 PLAN vegters bevestig en het 32 Bn se Op Super die vyand 'n gevoelige slag toegedien. ML het baie taktiese waarde gehad. Rigtingpeiling (RP) het 'n groot rol gespeel om die ligging van HKe of groepe te bepaal en is gewoonlik met fisiese verkenning deur Spes Magte, 32 Bn of deur lugfotoverkenning gevolg, wat tot menige, suksesvolle voorsprongoperasies gelei het. Die resultate van 'n RP was gewoonlik redelik akkuraat. 32. Foto van Sjinese ML Platform So lyk moderne ML! Foto het in Angel se MN verskyn.
33. Jock Harris : Previous OC 5 SAI Bn and Later OC 32 Bn Last week it was stated that Jock had offered the centre position on the photo of 5 SAI Bn to the Chaplain, Kobus van Zyl, but he now says that the member in the centre position is JP Snyman, his 2iC, who has also retire in Port Elizabeth. Kobus is on his left in the photo. 34. Lied van 5 SAI Bn CC (Doep) du Plessis van die Infanterie onthou dat in die tagtigerjare was ek en Anton Kritzinger staflede by 5 SAI Bn en Jock Harris was die bevelvoerder. Die eenheid het n eenheidslied gekry en dit is met groot vertoon in Ladysmith se Stadsaal bekendgestel. Jock het bepaal dat al ons staflede die lied moet ken en op gereelde basis sal iemand genomineer word om die lied op te sê. Weens my goeie tenoorstem was ek sy gunsteling om gereeld op aandag uit volle bors te moes sing dat 5 SAI links regs aan die Noorde van die pragdorp Ladysmith, trotse berge staan op aandag, elke slagveld in gelid. Ai, daardie dae 35. The Springbok Who Went to War. Roy Jackson of the Cavalry says that this story was sent to him by Anthony Eedes, grandson of the famous gunner, Gen Neil Webster, of which the following are a couple of extracts: In Mar 1915 a letter was placed on the desk of Maj-Gen Sir Henry Timson Lukin at Army HQ from Mrs McLaren Kennedy of the farm, Vierfontein, near Bothaville in the Free State. She offered a year-old Springbok ewe named Nancy as a mascot for SA soldiers due to serve overseas and wrote that she felt Nancy would keep the men s memories of South Africa alive. A more appropriate mascot could not have been found as the badge of the SA Bde was the head of a Springbok. Nancy was to serve with 4 SA Inf Regt (Transvaal Scottish). When she arrived she was put in the care of the regimental bugler, Jimmy Petersen, who soon trained Nancy to respond to all regimental bugle calls and she conducted herself with dignity on the parade ground. She was the darling of the soldiers, and much bragged about. Nancy appeared quite oblivious to the gunfire around them, but during a German bombardment at the Somme Offensive in Jul 1916, a shell exploded near Nancy. She bolted in fright, struck a wall and broke her left horn. The horn later started to grow at an angle and was permanently out of alignment and Nancy was assigned to light duty only. On 15/07/1916 The SA Bde was ordered to take and hold Delville Wood at all costs and despite being surrounded and constantly attacked, they dug in and held firm. The Brigade all but ceased to exist when it was finally relieved. On 20/07/1916 Lt-Col EF Thackeray, two other officers and 140 exhausted men marched out of the shattered wood and entered military fame.
In Feb 1918 Nancy led four battalions of the SA Bde to the first Delville Wood service, prancing to the pipes on her four spindly legs. Sadly, this was to be her last parade. She caught pneumonia, and despite desperate medical attention, died on 26/11/1916. Her death was announced in General Orders and the Last Post was played in her honour by Petersen. Her head and skin can now be viewed at the War Museum in Johannesburg. The full report can be obtained from Roy at roy@jackson.co.za. 36. Appointment of Gen James Mattis as the USA Secretary of Defence This appointment was previously mentioned in the Newsletter. The author, Al J. Venter now mentions that Mattis earned his nickname of Mad Dog by garnering a reputation as a charismatic and tough-fighting military commander. In the war in Iraq he was a popular leader, known for getting into the trenches with his troops and was labelled by the Marine Corps Times as the most revered Marine in a generation. What is not generally known is that his father was in the US Merchant Marine, who married a South African that worked in SA Army Intelligence during WW2. NUWE MILITêRE BOEKE 37. New Book About Op Savannah Mike McWilliams of the Parabat Veteran Organization states... that Kevin Vos, a Parabat and the author of Salute the Eagle, has approached us with a most generous offer. Kevin s new book is an action packed story about the role of the Parabats during Op Savannah and has just been launched. The book is a must have for all Paratroopers worldwide. Kevin and his publisher have pledged to remit 20% of the sales price to the Bring Skillie Home Fund, of every book that a Parabat buys. As an author myself, I can tell you that that does not leave anything for Kevin. Please support both Kevin and Skillie by going to https://www.facebook.com/salutetheeagle/?fref=ts and ordering your copy of Salute the Eagle. 38. Battle for Angola by Al J Venter Last week mention was made of this new book by Al, who now reports that printing of the book has been delayed and the work will only reach the publisher in the middle of Feb 2017. There are two publishing houses in Lisbon that also want the book for translation into Portuguese. The following is the dust-cover of the book: PAUL ELS SE BOEKE
39. Finale Behoeftes vir die Boek oor Owambo. Ek is besig om die boek oor Owambo af te rond en het die volgend finale behoeftes nodig: * Wat is die snaakse noemname wat aan troepe gegee is op die grens en veral onder die Boesmans en lede van 32 Bn. * Ek het een of twee fotos nodig van die operasie op o/kpl Manro van 32 Bn waar die geweergrenaat uit sy bors gesny is. Ek het die volledige storie maar geen fotos nie. Daar was n berig in die Rapport van 11/03/1986, maar Rapport kan nie help nie. * Volledige lyste en datums van Bevelvoerders en RSM van die volgende eenhede: 1 SWA Spes Eenh se RSMs vanaf 1981. Laaste twee RSMs van 51 Bn te Ruacana, naamlik AO1 Boshoff en Butler, se datums, asook voorletters en datums van die eerste RSM, naamlik AO1 I. Lourens. Bev 51 Bn, kmdt Lambrecht, se voorletters en dienstydperk. Wie was die bevelvoerder na Lambrecht en wat is kmdt Fouche in 1986 se voorletters? HK Sektor 10 se RSMs. Een was AO1 JJ Jacobs tussen 1982 en 1984. 102 Bn se RSMs.Ek het drie name maar nie tydperke nie. * Kon nog steeds nie iets kry nie van die SAS & Hawe Polisie wat by Oshivelo teenwoordig was. 40. Hilda Lugafweermissielstelsel * Volgens die Internet was die Hildalugafweermissielstelsel as 127 Esk bekend en ek wil bevestig dat dit n eenheid van die SALM was. * Chris Hartzenberg van die Pumas noem dat die Hildas beslis deel was van die SALM en 127 Esk klink geloofwaardig. Die SALM het ook skouergelanseerde missiele gehad, maar ek weet egter niks meer daaroor nie. ALGEMENE ASPEKTE 41. Besonderhede van AO2 Brian Vernon Alexander Hill van die Parabats Bertus de Klerk verwittig dat hy in Botswana deur Calvin, die seun van AO2 Hill (foto hieronder) genader is om inligting oor sy Pa te verkry. Calvin was maar 14 jaar oud toe sy Pa in 2001 op die ouderdom van 48 jaar in Botswana oorlede is. Calvin weet min van sy Pa se loopbaan in die SAW en will graag met van sy Pa se kollegas kontak maak om meer besonderhede oor sy Pa te verkry. Volgens Calvin het sy Pa by Sector 70, in Potchefstroom, by die SA Leërgevegskool en by 32 Bn gedien. Nadat hy en sy vrou geskei het, is hy na 1 Valsk Bn verplaas en is daarna na die SAGD oorgeplaas. Hy het later bedank en in Botswana gaan werk. Lede wat vir Brian geken het, word versoek om vir Calvin op sy e-posadres te info@toclemo.co.bw te kontak.
42. Onderhoud van die Ou Begrafplaas in Thaba Tshwane Raadslid Peter Millar van die Stadsraad in Tshwane wou by ons vriendelike politikus, Piet Uys van die Geskut, verneem wat hy kan doen om te verseker dat optrede geneem kan word sodat die swak toestand van die ou begrafplaas in Thaba Tshwane, beter bekend as Voortrekkerhoogte, reggestel kan word. Hy noem dat sy Pa en Oupa daar begrawe is en dat hy die SANW wil dwing om die plek te onderhou. Piet soek advies en sê sy e-posadres is pduys@lantic.net. 43. Graf van Sktr Kleinbooi Paul Els vertel dat ongeveer ses jaar gelede is die familie van Sktr Kleinbooi na my verwys wat hulle oupa se graf wou opspoor. Die foto toon die geleentheid toe ek dit vir hulle in Voortrekkerhoogte gaan uitwys het. Volgens die grafsteen het hy op 24/01/1918 in Europa gesneuwel. 44. Tentative Arrangements for the Memorial and Dedication Service in Kenya Gert Opperman of the CMVO advises that after some delay, is has now been decided that the four headstones for the victims of the Blenheim aircraft, that crashed on Mount Kenya during a training flight on 23/07/1942 with a SAAF crew, will be unveiled during a memorial service at Nanyuki War Cemetery on 23/03/2017. The service will be arranged by the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), supported by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) in Kenya, in consultation with the British and RSA Missions in Kenya and the Ebo Trust. It was regrettably not possible to locate the human remains during the two expeditions undertaken to the crash site during Oct 2016, but nevertheless led to the decision that no further expeditions to the crash site to search for the human remains would be undertaken, as the CWGC has declared the crash site to be considered their official grave and this will be specifically indicated on the four individual head stones to be erected in the Nanyuki War Cemetery. The service will thus not be a reburial, but instead a memorial/dedication service,
conducted by the Chaplain of BATUK. The OC of BATUK has offered to erect some sort of memorial at the crash site in due course. 45. Remnants of Another Blenheim Aircraft in the Aberdere Mountain Range Gert also state that there are remnants of another Blenheim aircraft, flown by a SAAF crew, in the Aberdere Mountain Range, which was discovered way back in Jan 1943 less than a year after it had crashed. The whereabouts of the human remains of the SAAF crew are unknown. The site could possibly be visited to positively identify the aircraft, but it will have to be dealt with as a new and completely separate project without any participation or support from the RSA authorities, the CWGC or the Ebo Trust. A private trip to the Aberdare Mountains could be arranged in Mar 2017. Anyone interested to participate must let me know urgently on my e-mail address at gertopperman5@gmail.com. Hoping to see you in Kenya! 46. Travelling in Mocambique Arlene Bronkhorst of the SADF Association was informed that although Mozambique is fairly safe South of Beira, but North of that it is far from safe. Our cars were fired on without warning at an ambush site. They used AK47s and aimed at the drivers, so their intent was quite obvious. The next car was stopped, held up at gunpoint and robbed of money and possessions. Visiting there at present is life threatening and we were fortunate to escape with only a few scratches. 47. Nongqai op die Net Hennie Heymans noem dat sy algemene bladsy op die Net, met al sy tydskrifte, by die skakel by https://issuu.com/hennieheymans/docs gevind kan word. Die jongste Nongqai se skakel is: https://issuu.com/hennieheymans/docs/vol_7_no_13. SOEKTOGTE 48. NTR. GELEENTHEDE, FUNKSIES EN KURSUS- EN ANDER RE-UNIES 49. Informal Gunner Lunch in Johannesburg Gunner Niel Wiid states that Gunners and Friends of the Gunners are invited to the lunch at the Rand Club from 12:30 on 10/02/2017, located at 33 Loveday Street. Dress is Blazer and Gunners Tie. Please let me know at 082 776 2233 or wiidniel@gmail.com if you are available. Ubique 50. Re-unie van D Spes Take van Afd Inl At van Wyk en Cor van Niekerk reël 'n bymekaarkoms van alle lede wat by D Spes Take (DST) van Afd Inl betrokke was, hetsy in die HK, of by een van die buitebasisse soos Rundu, Boa Fe, Sasha en die opleidigsbasisse. Dit sluit alle dissiplines soos dokters, verpleegsters, loggies, tiksters, registrasieklerke, seiners, vlieëniers, ens in. Die funksie gaan om 11:00 op 06/05/2017 by Chatterleys te Vindhellastraat 1 in Valhalla plaasvind, reg oorkant die ingang na LMB Swartkop. Koste is R50 vir die ete en daar is n kontantkroeg. Laat weet asb vir At of Cor voor 22/04/2017 as u gaan bywoon. At is by 082 456 2491 of suzettevwyk@gmail.com en Cor s n is 082 700 9275 of corvanniekerk@gmail.com. NETWORKING
51. Heuning vir die Veterane Verlede week het Die Byeboer, Henk Redelinghuys, vir die makkers in Gauteng laat weet dat hy weer suiwer rou heuning beskikbaar het en dat sy selno 083 659 1574 is. Henk is egter verkeerdelik as n Infanteris aangetoon en is bly oor die voorreg, maar verwittig dat hy eintlik n lid van SA Leërinligting was. ADMINISTRASIE 52. Nuwe Lede * Buks de Klerk * CC (Doepie) du Plessis * Paul Kelly * Tuppy Grové LAASTE LAWWE (EN SOMS ERNSTIGE) STUKKE 53. Intimidasie van die Militêre Veterane. Ons is soos die Jakkals hieronder. Ons laat ons nie intimideer nie! 54. Sterre in Suid-Afrika Paul Els neem sy vrou gereeld om te gaan vliek en noem dat Charlize Theron nie die enigste Hollywood-ster is wat familie in Suid-Afrika het nie. Na jare van geheimhouding het dit nou bekend geword dat die akteur Brad Pitt vier broers het wat almal in Suid-Afrika woon. Die oudste broer is n boer in die Vrystaat en sy naam is Mielie Pitt. Die tweede oudste broer werk in Brakpan by n motorhawe en sy naam is Tapp Pitt. Die derde oudste broer is n vlieënier en sy naam is Kock Pitt. Die vierde boet is blykbaar heeltemal van koers af en ondersteun vir Numwa One en sy naam is Stu Pitt! 55. Minister of Health Makes Medical Discovery Paul Els keeps a close watch on what ignorant politicians say and found it especially amusing to note that the Minister of Health has stated... that unprotected sex is the leading cause of pregnancies in the RSA. 56. Feasibility of Nuclear Energy in 1932 Deon Potgieter says that Albert Einstein stated in 1932... that there is not the slightest indication that nuclear energy will ever be obtainable, as it would have to mean that the atom would have to be shattered at will.
57. Raad oor die Huwelik Volgens die Kinders. Arlene Bronkhorst van die SAW Vereniging verskaf die volgende: * Geen mens besluit regtig voor hulle groot is met wie om te trou nie. God besluit dit lank voor die tyd en jy vind eers later uit met wie jy sit. (Kirsten, 10) * 'n Vreemdeling kan getroude paartjies uitken deur net te kyk na watter man en vrou op dieselfde kinders skreeu. (Derrick, 8) * As mense nooit getrou het nie, sal daar verseker 'n klomp kinders wees wat verduidelikings soek. (Kelvin, 8) 58. Final Note A wise man once said nothing. SLOT 59. And on that quiet note, sterkte vir die res van die week en onthou om water te spaar. Johann