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February 2009 Edition
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I feel fairly certain that I am not the first newly-appointed editor of an Outpost magazine to ask the question “How did I let myself be talked into accepting this position?” Many of us in advancing years use the phrase - “Must have been a senior moment”. That could be the answer. So here goes. I have read on a number of occasions that Outpost editors have called for readers to submit articles for publication and very few positive responses result. So why not take a step back in history (as, after all, that is one of the reasons we cherish as members of the Association). I intend not only quoting from the past but including photographs where appropriate, hoping to stimulate interest, especially among those former members who, for one reason or another, seem to prefer to stay in the background and not participate in events involving former colleagues. I have been known to ask the question – what happens when the last of us has to turn out the lights? My critics say that is a long way off so why worry about it? OK – I'm not worrying because it certainly won't be me! But when I learn that yet another of our 'fastly' diminishing group has left us I then wonder how long it will be before someone somewhere has to perform the task. So, being someone who likes to ask questions – just how many of us are left today, world-wide? I have 'spoken' to Andrew Field in Harare and with his help, plus the various Branch secretaries involved, I hope to be able to advise in future issue of the Natal Outpost – what is the world population of the ex-BSAP and where are they? Going back for a moment on the cover photo - long shot maybe – but can any reader perhaps identify any of the three main characters – the piccanin, the trooper or the horse? Also – how about submitting a suitable alternative caption? Those of us who served during the period November, 1956 to January, 1961, will remember a cartoon character identified as “A. C. Kachemu. He first appeared in the November, 1956, issue of the Outpost and from the pen of P. M. Jackson. I cannot find any further trace of him after the January, 1961, issue so must assume that he then retired. I would like to reproduce some of Pete's illustrations of Kachemu in this and future editions as they certainly bring back memories for me. Another regular feature I would like to include is headed “Natal Profile”. I recall a couple of years ago our then Chairman, Rob Hamilton, suggesting that , starting with the members of the committee, we each prepare a resume of our careers to date. The result was a blank look from all of us – probably as were all too shy to write about ourselves. So, instead of waiting for volunteers I intend taking the initiative and approaching the various personalities in our Natal midst individually and hoping to persuade them to “talk to me”. My result of my first approach was “bingo”! Mr Justice Hilary Squires, resident in Cowies Hill, joined our Police Reserve in 1960; is currently an honorary life member of the Association; a strong supporter of our various functions in Natal; and had a close affiliation with the BSAP in Rhodesia through all stages of his legal career. He has produced a wealth of interesting information and rather than even attempt to reduce any of it by editing I have included his narrative in two episodes – the first in this issue and the follow up to be in April's edition. Starting with this issue of the Outpost we are experimenting with a revised format involving the cover and colour photos. The new cover design is self evident but, in order to reduce printing costs significantly, instead of including colour photos with the text to which they refer we have created a 'photo section' at the centre and on the back cover of the magazine. This requires a form of cross referencing but hopefully our readers will soon get used to it. It has always been my opinion that the editors of the original Outposts were professionals and they over the years continually produced a magazine of a very high standard. So another intention of mine is to repeat their words whenever appropriate or likely to create some interest. In keeping with the theme of this issue's cover I quote Paddy Watson's 'Editor's Notes' for the April, 1961, edition - “Remember the old, tall tales – the ones that began with “... there was I “ ? Remember the men who used to tell them: the matelots, the fighter pilots, the tanks crews? The fellows who swore that once the war finished they wouldn't even join a brass band in case they had to wear a uniform again. Remember arriving with them at Depot.... and getting a uniform.... and a saddle... and a horse? Ah, yes. The saddle and the horse – the well schooled, clockwork horse that walked, trotted and cantered obediently only on the command of the equitation instructor, and was contemptuous of the man on its back. Remember how the tall tales suddenly came to an end? How the press-on types who had often climbed beyond the clouds to do battle seemed strangely nervous about climbing onto a horses back; how the men who had vigorously raced at the enemy with tank and bayonet used to hesitate when it came to pushing their way into a loose box; how the chaps who could once navigate a landing craft through mined waters, sing the old 'left-hand-down-a-bit system, used to have trouble squeezing themselves between the near side of a horse and the stable wall? Remember the strained faces on the dawn patrol to the stables; the flared nostrils that spouted steam as you tried to prise open the teeth and insert the bit; the nervous gabble of voices as you steeled yourself for the coming ordeal? Mounted at last, round-bottomed matelots rolled helplessly in the gentlest of canters – worse things happened at sea; white-faced Spitty pilots shouted, “Whoa, boy, there's a nice horsey,” as they blindly groped for a lever that would let down the flaps and decrease the terrible speed; out-sized tank crews kicked about with large and well-developed feet for a rudder bar that would steer their jolting mounts. Well, yes, you say: I remember. But – so what? Only this. Had it not been for the horse we would perhaps have remained a bunch of individualists; still conscious of wartime rank or peacetime wealth, or social background, or the skeletons in the family cupboards. But the horse was the great leveller. He was the enemy. So we ganged up on him. We got together; we gave each other a hand. We never wholly conquered him, but that was no dishonour. When we broke off our concerted attack we were a good team. What's more, we still are......... that is the point. ” In our drive to try and persuade some of our former colleagues to come back to the party if you know of anyone in your vicinity who chooses to remain a 'reluctant hero' area why not at least them read your copy of Paddy Watson's wise words written 48 years ago? Trevor Dutton
The year 2008 probably had more ‘downs’ than ‘ups’ for many of our members. The December 2008 (78 th) edition of the Outpost carried a Roll of Honour of members who died during the year. The list is long and all would have felt a loss of someone we were close to during the days of service in the BSAP and thereafter. Their passing will no doubt be seen as one of the depressing factors of 2008. There are many on the list that I never met, but on looking at the names I find myself not saddened, because those that I knew always were great to spend time with and will be fondly remembered. Year end media summaries focus on the world economic downturn, conflicts in so many parts of the globe and, for us, the situation in Zimbabwe is most depressing. The situation here in South Africa brings mixed feelings to most. Foremost in our minds is crime and concerns about the future for our children and grand-children. The changing political climate brings mixed feelings as, on the one hand, there could be an escalation in violence but, on the other, a more balanced democracy following the 2009 elections. We, however, are members of the BSAP Regimental Association. The Association can be described as ‘global’, and regardless of whether we live here in Natal or in another part of the world, we are there for one another. In 2008 there have been many, many examples of the wonderful friendship and support that exists between us. If a member of the committee has stood down, another has come forward to fill the gap. There have been situations when someone has been in need of assistance and others have been there to lend a hand or have volunteered to assist, should the need continue. There has been support for pensioners and others in Zimbabwe. We have received donations from members as individuals and groups such as the Dog Section and Support Unit. We are linked not only to other branches of the BSAP, but to other Associations, such as RASA/Flame Lily, the former armed forces of Rhodesia; and therein are many fine people also serving others and our links with them is a privilege. More recently, and in conjunction with RASA and members elsewhere, we have been in touch with overseas media and the matter of lost pensions has again arisen. The London Daily Telegraph published articles in December along the lines that if the British Government does not have a legal responsibility to honour the pensions of Rhodesian civil servants they certainly have a moral one. We will remain in touch and will endeavour to influence matters where possible. Communication is, I believe, the key to Associations such as ours. We do this via our personal links with one another at gatherings, the Outpost publications and Occurrence Book (OB) Extracts. If there is a purpose to this comment it is to say to members to stay in touch and remain a member of our Association. Influence others on the outside to be part of us again. If the reason for leaving is that of membership subscriptions, we can make a plan to meet specific situations. Lastly, as Chairman of the Natal Branch, I say thank you very much to members of our committee for all you have done during 2008. The year 2008 has been a good one for the Association and I believe 2009 will be better, Nobby Clark What lies in our power to do lies in our power not to do - Aristotle
In Natal we have the two branches of the Association – Natal and Natal Midlands. Natal is further sub divided into five Stations – Durban North; Durban South; Hillcrest; Margate; and Westville. For accounting purposes there is a nominal roll of paid up members but, apart from local and personal knowledge, there does not exist a list of former members of the BSAP known to be residing in Natal. When we report on a Branch or Station function we include a list of members and guests attending which then gives the reader some idea of where some of his former colleagues are to be found but then that is not the whole story – there are a number of us out there who, for a number of reasons, do not want (or perhaps cannot be) associated with the BSAP. In an attempt to rectify the situation but at the same time avoiding the temptation to criticize an apparent lack of interest we should try and identify at least ALL current as well as former members of the Association and thus keep some sort of record of an ever dwindling number of once proud people? So in this and future issues of the Natal Outpost will be published a list, by Regimental No. and name only (no contact details) of all known BSAP personnel in a particular Station area, with the request that any reader who can add another name or more, to do so. Durban South Beginning with our smallest Station at present. The Member in Charge is 5042 Peter Arnold and he currently has 16 members (not all of whom choose to be paid up but hopefully that might change) - 5042 Arnold,Peter; WPO96 Austin, Val; 9998 Coleman,Gerald; 5888 Cook,Neville; 20445 De Beer,Eddie; 7253 Eastes,Barry; 3335 Flavell,Richard; 5156 Gibson,Peter; 9051 allett,Brian; 16911 ohnson,Errol; Joyce, Mike; 6836 Naish,Paul; 5794 Parker,Jack; 6439 Ross-Jones,Steve; 6564 Shawe,Stan; 5939 Sutherland,Vic Hillcrest A Bring & Braai was held at the Augusta Estate clubhouse on Sunday 30 November It was another excellent gathering where folks brought their own eats, drinks, plates, etc. and enjoyed the company of friends and ex-colleagues. Those attending were: Des and Trish Howse; Derek and Megan Kerr; Rob Bristow; Peter Cutting; Peter and Gill Colepeper; John and Chris Lees; Trevor and Beryl Dutton; Ken and Yvonne Wood; Trevor and Linda Wilson; Derek and Marian Wyatt;; Nobby and Natascha Clark; Fred and Lindsay Mason; Trevor Gwyer ex-Nyasaland Police (Guest); Hugh & Gill Dickson; Robin Johnson. Apologies Dave and Maddy Lynn; Pete and Elsabe Gatland; Thanks to the ‘Hillcrest Station Team’ of Des Howse and Derek Kerr for organising yet another excellent do. Mike (Kudu) Taylor Mike was, until the latter part of 2008, a member of Hillcrest Station, but then he and his wife, Di, decided to re-locate to England. Just prior to Christmas Fred Mason received the following e-mail from Mike - “Hi Fred, Thanks for the OB extracts which I picked up from my old email address. Can you please change my contact address to this one - kudutaylor@gmail. com as I am terminating my ISP contract in SA shortly. We are slowly settling into life in the UK and getting used to the weather - actually the weather for the first two months here was not bad, it is only in the last few weeks that it has got cold, even snow! We are now based in Thetford (Norfolk) where we are renting a small, but very nice, two bedroomed house just around the corner from where my brother lives. It is a great help having someone to point you in the right direction as there is a lot to do when you first arrive here. We have found everyone to be very friendly and helpful but not really interested, of knowledgeable, about Africa. They all think Mugabe is terrible and should be removed, but, beyond that they don't have much interest in what is going on. The newspapers and news bulletins never have any African news, other than an occasional article on Zimbabwe. I have not had a chance to get into London to a monthly BSAP get together do but will try and do so next year - we are coming back to SA for a holiday in February/March next year and will be paying a short visit to KZN around the 6/7th March - we will try and see as many old friends and colleagues as possible. Give my regards to everyone. All
the best and keep in touch PS Our postal address is now 98 Magdalen Street, Thetford, Norfolk, UK, IP24 2BT and phone number in 01842 763613 - I will continue to be a member of the Natal branch!
4019 Philip 'Phil' Thomas Owen passed away peacefully in his sleep on 30 October 2008 - he had been unwell for a considerable period. Phil attested on 28 April 1946, retiring as an Assistant Commissioner on 3 January 1971. 9749 Derek John Beets who collapsed and died at work on 24 November 2008 in Durban. Derek served between 14 September 1976 and 1 December 1982 retiring as a Detective Section Officer. The Honorable Mr Justice Charles Edward Lukin (Ted) Beck passed away 9 December 2008 in a Durban hospital. Ted was a great supporter of the Natal Branch and had been a guest speaker. Judge Beck had over 34 years experience on the bench, first as a Trial Judge in South Africa and Zimbabwe and then as an Appeal Court Judge in Zimbabwe, Transkei, Lesotho and Swaziland. 4920 Derek John Moore passed away in Cape Town on 15th December, 2008, following a long illness. John attested on 5/05/1952 and retired on pension on 7/05/1972 in the rank of Chief Inspector. F/R 17392D John Maurice Ovenden passed away peacefully in his sleep on 18th December, 2008, at his home in Perth, Western Australia “A” Reservist Charles (Chas) John Aitchison, stationed at Highlands during the mid 70s, died of heart failure at Atlanta, Georgia, on 22nd December, 2008, aged 70 years. 8792 Ian Douglas Page died following a motor accident in Cape Town on 11th January, 2009. He served from 28 March, 1972 to 27 March, 1975, leaving in the rank of Patrol Officer. He was a member of the Western Cape Branch. Zimbabwe Pensioners On December 4, 2008, I received a call from a Clare Rewcastle, who said she was doing some work with the London Daily Telegraph. We established email contact. Her interest concerned the plight of persons who no longer received pensions from the Zimbabwe Government. She had been given my name by John Redfern, Chairman of RASA, on the basis that it was the BSAP that had more persons of British origin than other members of the Rhodesian Civil Service. In the initial exchanges I attempted to obtain a little more information about her but my questions were not answered. I also expressed concern about her focus on just those of British origin and explained that there was always, and will always be, great affinity between Rhodesians, whether born in Britain, Rhodesia, South Africa or elsewhere. Her response was that if there was to be a re-action to the plight of pensioners in Britain then there needed to be a British emphasis to any newspaper comment on the matter – fair enough! I alerted friends in the U. K. and Zimbabwe about Clare’s interest. I was advised that she is a researcher for the BBC and that she is believed to be the sister-in-law of Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Subsequently articles appeared in the London Telegraph newspaper on 23rd December, 2008, and two are reported in this issue of the Natal Outpost I have thanked Clare Rewcastle for their efforts towards getting some re-action from the British Government on the matter of Rhodesian pensions. We hope good will come of it, but it is not the first time that the matter was raised with the British Government. One wonders what more can be done! Nobby Clark Zimbabwe: Britain accused of deserting Rhodesia pensioners Hundreds of pensioners who served the Crown in pre-independence Zimbabwe have been rendered destitute because no country – including Britain – recognises any obligation towards them. By David Blair, Diplomatic Editor, London Telegraph. 23 December, 2008 Many retired officials who spent decades in the government of Rhodesia, which became independent Zimbabwe in 1980, have been left without pensions and at the mercy of charity despite having paid contributions throughout their working lives. President Robert Mugabe's regime, which is legally obliged to pay their pensions, stopped giving anything to former civil servants living overseas in 2003. Those in Zimbabwe still get their pensions - but hyperinflation has destroyed their value. In all, some 2,000 elderly people, many of them Britons, have been left with very little. Campaigners believe that Britain has a moral obligation to help people who served the Crown before Zimbabwe's independence. Most are now believed to live in South Africa, with a few hundred in Britain and Zimbabwe. 'We have over 1,700 names of Zimbabwe pensioners on our database, many of whom are too proud to ask for help,' said John Redfern, the chairman of the Flame Lily Foundation, which helps the former officials. 'They have been treated as if they don't exist by the country they came from and once loyally served. It is scandalous that a wealthy country like Britain has just abandoned them to their fate. ' When Zimbabwe won independence, Mr Mugabe's new government assumed formal responsibility for the pensions of civil servants who had worked for the old Rhodesian administration. At Britain's urging, this commitment was written into Zimbabwe's new constitution. The Foreign Office argues that all legal obligations towards retired civil servants accordingly transferred to Zimbabwe. It also points out that these former officials were never employed by the British Government through the Colonial Service. They worked for Rhodesia - which had self-government from 1923 onwards and unilaterally declared independence from Britain in 1965. But Lord Malloch-Brown, the Foreign Office minister responsible for Africa, conceded during a House of Lords debate last year that Britain still had a 'moral' obligation. After hearing a plea from Lord Waddington, the former Conservative Home Secretary who chairs the Overseas Service Pensioners' Association, Lord Malloch-Brown said: 'I shall go back to officials and examine this extremely carefully as I think that he has a case. ' The minister added: 'There is a moral and pragmatic case here, and a responsibility to public servants who have served the Crown so honourably. ' In later correspondence, however, Lord Malloch-Brown retreated from this position. 'Although we recognise the moral arguments for providing assistance, we have concluded that, unfortunately, we are not able to provide direct financial support to this group of pensioners at this time,' he wrote. The annual cost of paying a full pension to the 2,000 people concerned would be about £25 million. The Government's bill for the pensions of former colonial officials falls by £2 million every year because of deaths. 'These people were civil servants, working for the Crown,' said David Le Breton, the secretary of the Overseas Service Pensioners' Association. They paid for their occupational pensions for over 40 years. Some were in very senior positions and all of them had expectations of an appropriate pension income when they retired. Now in the twilight years of their lives, they find themselves destitute and abandoned. ' The Hon. Mr Justice Hilary Squires
Born in August 1932 at St. Cuthberts Mission Hospital at Tsolo in the former Transkei, where my father was the medical doctor. In 1936, and after a spell at another sister mission in the Transvaal, he left missionary work to join the then British Colonial Medical Service, being sent to Bechuanaland, now Botswana. From there I went to junior school at REPS, outside Bulawayo. Senior school was in Cape Town and from there to UCT. Graduated from there in 1955 and joined the Southern Rhodesia Department of Justice in January 1956. My first work was as judge’s clerk to Justice Dendy Young as the second resident judge in Bulawayo.
Admitted to the Rhodesian Bar in June 1956 and was transferred to the Public Prosecutors Office at Bulawayo Magistrates Court in April 1957, where I remained until February 1959. One of my fellow clerks at the High Court was John Gordon-Davis who later followed to the prosecutor’s office in Bulawayo. He was fairly harum-scarum in those days, but already showed a talent for writing readable, if slightly racy, prose. His first venture being a series of articles for the Bulawayo Chronicle on his experiences on a whaling fleet during the long university summer vacations, but even then he was accumulating material for his first published novel “Hold my Hand I’m Dying”, which had it’s genesis in the township disturbances and petrol bombing by rival black political parties of the late 50’s and early 60’s. He later amplified these whaling experiences into another novel called “Cape of Storms”, but it never achieved the eminence of “Hold my Hand I’m Dying”, which was actually a statement made by the dying victim of a petrol bombing. It was during the spell of work in the magistrate’s court that I met the many members of the BSAP that feature more or less permanently in my memory. In the prosecutor’s office alone there were always a few policemen doing prosecutions, and who came and went as their career paths dictated. Iain McMillan and Pete Berry were there when I arrived, and over the course of the next two years there came and went people like Guy Houghton, Peter Short, Cliff Lovett, Joe McBride, George Barron and Sandy McCall-Smith, father of the successful author of the same name. These were on the prosecutor’s staff at one time or another, but in the course of various prosecutions, one inevitably met a much wider spread of the “fuzz”. Some of those I recall were Will Sunter, Luke Dancer, Brian Chalk, Trevor Dutton (the present editor of this magazine), Glen MacDonald who, I think, returned to Canada not long after, George Stuart, Eddie MacKay, Basil de Lorme, John Brett and even Peter Allum, the then Member i/c C. I.D. Bulawayo – not the H.Q. C.I.D. which was Bill Crabtree, but the “working” C.I.D. There were also some memorable black members like D/S/I Bara who seemed to have been in the BSAP for ever and a day and D/I Chendamudima, who had a legendary knowledge of the Bulawayo black underworld and who reportedly solved most of his h/b and theft cases sitting at his desk, knowing the modus operandi of the particular housebreaking, who was out of jail at that moment; who probably did it, and where the likely culprit could be found. Then there were characters who assumed greater prominence during the early riots and stone-throwing such as Jim Collins who, as Member i/c Mzilikazi was in the front line of these fracas’, “Tubby” Tomlinson, who also did a spell as Licence Inspector and who once saved Guy Houghton’s head being stove in by a brick during one melee in a township punch-up, and “Scouse” Jones, who was also one of our Police Reserve commanders. In the early days the court prosecutor was responsible for getting everything ready for court, and this duty, if not sensibly delegated could easily cause the onset of dyspeptic ulcers and other symptoms of aggravated stress. The duty included the assembling of all the days witnesses, all the accused – most of whom had to be brought from either the Bulawayo Central goal or various police holding cells, and all the necessary exhibits as reflected in the Charge Book. One speedily learned to in-span the court interpreter to help with this task, indeed one had to, in order to check the black component of the days work. But even this relief did not mean the resolution of all problems. I well remember a fairly typical occurrence because the message of non-achievement was delivered with magnificently cheerful insouciance by my interpreter of the day, an ex-BSAP African sergeant called Josiah. At about 8:55 a. m. , 5 minutes before court was due to start, he came to my office door, and with a huge smirk right across his cheerful face, he said: “Ah! Nkosi, no exhibits” – which was not infrequently the case, “no witnesses” – also a not unusual event, and, here his smile became even broader – “no accused”. A total wipe out! Fortunately a court orderly system was later introduced, staffed by policemen. Phil Stock was the Member i/c of this office, charged with the service of all summonses, subpoenas and other court documents, and ensuring witness attendance and exhibit availability. It was also this offices’ function to liaise with the police cells or prisons to ensure all accused were at court. One of Phil’s assistants was a fairly disorganized young constable called Mallinson, who once attracted considerable magisterial wrath by apparently falsifying a return of service of a summons or subpoena stating he’d served it on the recipient when in fact he had not. When the purported recipient of the service was brought to court under arrest to explain his non-attendance, he was able to establish that the signature on the return of service that purported to be his, was plainly not. In Mallinson’s temporary absence, the magisterial wrath was directed at poor old Phil Stock. What passed between Phil Stock and Mallinson after that, history does not relate, but things must have been a bit tense down in their office. The personnel in this office were later changed to police cadets who were discernibly more efficient. From time to time I was sent to prosecute a High Court criminal session and it was in the course of one of these that I encountered the almost mythical member-in-charge of the Mphoengs outpost of the BSAP. This was John Alexander Somny, he of the unique buffalo horn moustachios. On the opening day of one criminal session he arrived at the prosecutors office, introduced himself and asked with a completely straight and serious face if I could possibly take his cases first because he needed to return quickly to Mphoengs on account of the serious industrial unrest that was brewing there. It was done in such a cheerfully and serious manner that it was impossible not to burst out laughing and tempt one to accede to his request. It got an “A” for effort, if nothing else. It was not readily possible to visualize the illegal strikes, demonstrations and politically inspired thuggery that had characterised the large urban centres within recent memory, taking place in Mphoengs. ... to be continued and completed in the next issue of The Natal Outpost
O. B. Extracts Functions such as the Dog Section and Support Unit Black Boot re-unions served to reinforce just how strong the bond still is between members of the BSAP - forget the concerns as to who will lock up or be left to close the door - there is plenty life left in the old dog so join in and enjoy! The Hillcrest, Durban South and Margate Station get-togethers attest to the strength of the association. Yes, maybe we need to look at the format and time of the Annual Dinners – should they be daytime or remain as evening functions? Is it a case that functions need to be aligned more to the needs of members rather than rigidly sticking to the old formula that we have outgrown? (Would be nice to hear your views!) Support Unit Black Boot Gathering: The 151Bash The weekend 14 – 16 November 2008 saw the gathering of ex-members of the Support Unit at Midmar Dam. Members came from all over South Africa, from Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Ireland, Zambia, Sierra Leone and the UK. It was the re-union of all re-unions – to some it was a lost weekend and to others a weekend packed with memories and the renewing of friendships. The weekend started on Friday evening with a braai and social get-together at the yacht club. Saturday evening was the dinner where the lads tried to be serious for a few minutes! The attendees were: Alan & Flick Bennett; Alistair Sempill; Alistair Stuart; Bob & Kim Packer; Brian & JennyHutchinson; Brian & Trish Pitt; Linda Franklin & Chris (guest) Clive & Luisa Sharp; Darroll Brent; Dave & Caroline Nixon; Dave & Cal Panton; Dave Callow; Dave Griffiths; Derek & Jackie Lowe; Des Niemand; Duncan ‘Porky’ & Doreen Paul; Ewan Isedale; Fred & Lindsay Mason; Garth & Hillary Von Horsten; Gus & Brenda Albertson; Hamish Scott Barnes; Jim & Di Van Dyk; Jimmy & Joan Collins; Kevin & Barbara Allen; Hans Hoffman; Ian Hogg; Hugh ‘Jabule’ Denise Temple Les & Kathy Milne; Manie Du Preez; Mike Crabtree; Pat Deasy; Pete & Cindy Allanby; Peter & Sheila Francis; Phil Day; Red Smith; Richard & Jo Fiddler; Richard Hogg; Rob & Vicky Veale; Rob Kemp; Rob Parker; Rowland Kennard; Ron & Alyson Rink; Sakkie McKay; Ron & Anne Jamieson; Rusty & Nan Hustler; Brian “Teddy Boy’ & Rose Goddard; Tim Sidey; Tony &Yvonne Merris; Mac Calloway; Roger Shaw; Gus Forbes; Frik Hanekom; Kelvin Shewan; Steve Nightingale (Friday only). The organisation was great and judging from the responses it would not surprise me if the 151 Bash (ZEF151 was the Support unit radio call sign) were to become a regular event. On the subject of the 'Black Boots', Malcolm Wiltshire has the following to offer - “These are a few details of what I can recollect of the early days of the Support Unit - I suspect the official records will show little detail of its birth and the initial period. The unit was ‘created’ originally from the old ‘Platoon' which was a unit based in (what was then) APTS. It comprised just over two hundred men from what I can recall and was used for ceremonial purposes, guarding Government House (e. g. Gibbs residence at the time of UDI ) and supplying various instructors for the African recruit training squads. There was usually one white instructor, and two black instructors per squad. Many of the men in the Platoon were of Malawi (Nyasaland) origin. Once insurrection became more prevalent in the early sixties I assume it was realised that some manpower assistance was necessary for the provinces as they were finding it difficult to cope with outbreaks of violence and occasional major incidents. Obviously that assistance would have to comprise a unit of trained and properly equipped men who could help deal with riots, armed attacks, petrol bombing, attacks on chiefs, headmen, etc. At that stage the war was not envisioned and it was only later that the Support Unit was greatly enlarged and in effect became another military battalion. I was transferred into the ‘new’ unit almost simultaneously with its birth. Ted Cutfield (an Inspector then) was i/c and the first white member in the unit. On arrival (as a Sgt. ) I became 2 i/c and that was on the 23rd October 1962. We remained like that for some months. To support my earlier comments about problems in the Provinces I had , whilst stationed at Beatrice, been seconded for some months to take charge of a small special section which roamed Mashonaland and Midlands investigating a spate of ‘Mau Mau’ type attacks e. g mutilating & killing dairy cattle, stock thefts ,etc. The section was successful and I got the usual ‘ note of good work performed’ etc. I had some excellent African police who really deserved all the credit, not me. Tragically my 2 i/c in that special section ( Peter Seegers) shot and killed his 9 month pregnant wife in Salisbury during that time and then committed suicide whilst driving his car at high speed into the Railway Avenue Charge Office. (I was on CID duty that night and attended both scenes – the murder and later the suicide – td. ) Needless to say at that time neither Ted or I (and most of the African Police) were adequately trained for the task at hand and we had to go through a steep learning curve. Even so we were very unprofessional by today‘s standards or even the later standards of the Support Unit. Some of the African members had military service ( and really were traditional ‘old soldiers’), and if I remember correctly the Sergeant-Major of the Unit (MACHADO - I think) had fought in Malaysia in the war there and had some campaign medals. On retirement later he gave me his (nicely chromed) SMLE Bayonet as a keepsake and I still have it. Black scabbard of course. The issue of whether we should switch the Support Unit black leather work to the usual BSAP brown came up quite a few times in our early days and I can remember Ted and I discussing it reasonably often and whether we should approach the hierachy to get it changed . In the end it was decided to leave it - and it went on to become its ‘trade mark’. We used to get called out to the odd Riot in Highfields and Harare Townships and spent a fair bit of time patrolling there (in Groups of 12 if I recall correctly!) but my first foray into the Provinces came in December 1962. ‘The Matabeles’ had started petrol bombing the factories in the Industrial areas around Bulawayo and it was getting out of hand. I flew down urgently on a RRAF Dakota just before Christmas with 30 ‘Askari’ (as the old Platoon members were sometimes called) and were were placed on permanent night duty to patrol the areas and hopefully catch the culprits. It would be nice to tell you this was a success but initially it was somewhat disastrous. Arriving a day or two before Xmas we had not been paid and the men had no money at all. I went to see OC Prov- I think his name was Peck - a really nice man who was a big help whilst I was there. He arranged for me to immediately get a £1 as a loan for each of the men from local ‘benevolent’ funds. I passed this on the men about lunchtime on the first day we were there. Later that evening I took the heavy vehicle I had been given to use to the African Police ‘lines’ in Bulawayo camp where the Support Unit members were billeted to collect the men and drop them off at strategic points in the Industrial Sites. Virtually every one of them was rolling drunk and incapable of going on duty! They had been imbibing in the camp canteen. I had to get some coffee from the Mess and we brewed it up in dixies and doctored them, plus made them walk round and round the parade square in the camp until they were sober ( more or less!). I was due to take them out at 8pm and I think we only launched about 10pm with some difficulty. Quite a few of the old Platoon members were very poorly educated & were real ‘hard cases’ when it came to this type of situation. I remember one of the Support Unit men I took down smashed his rifle butt into the face of a constable on the access gate to the Bulawayo camp when he was challenged for his ID card. (They were pretty quick to fix their bayonets on too when we were in riot situations and one had to watch them carefully - not always easy, as you can imagine). We carried the old Mk1 303’s with live ammo ( no rubber bullets in those days) and some grenade launchers. ‘Greener' shot guns, plus riot guns for tear gas shells and ‘flite-rite’projectiles which pierced doors etc. We used some awful tear gas (ex British Army I think) called L1A1 - known colloquially as ‘puke smoke’ for obvious reasons. I carried a Sterling and sometimes a shotgun slung across my back. We also had some ’38 and a few ’45 revolvers. Hardly a sophisticated armoury. I was transferred back to Salisbury in January, 1963, and at the end of March that year I left the Support Unit and joined Steve Stephens as a squad instructor. I stayed at APTS for a couple of years and from time to time, even though I was a squad instructor, I was hauled in to go with the Support Unit to various places. I recall that we had to go to some drama at Rusape when Nkomo was arrested there and later flew up for the Wankie Riots which got quite serious. It's all 'water under the bridge now' but with the recent interest in the gathering of ex-Support Unit members at Midmar Dam it may have some relevance. Regards, Malcolm
An Item from Country Life But when they are former Crown servants for whom the government admits a moral responsibility, the blood boils. Zimbabwe's forgotten pensioners are such a case. These are individuals who were recruited to run the civil service of Southern Rhodesia, as it then was, before independence. When Ian Smith's regime declared UDI in 1965, Harold Wilson urged them to stay at their posts. During the Lancaster House talks of 1979, which negotiated the transition to majority rule, they were assured that their pensions would be secure. Since 2003, the ex-civil servants who now live in South Africa or the UK have received no pension at all. Those who have remained inside Zimbabwe find that their pensions won't buy so much as a postage stamp. All are eking out their final years in conditions of direst poverty and distress. In a House of Lords debate last October, Lord Crickhowell, who was a member of the Thatcher cabinet during the period of the Lancaster House talks, spoke of his 'sense of deep shame and embarrassment that we are now in this position' and expressed his 'hope and expectation that this Government will do something to honour the pledges given'. To which the whole nation, surely, would cry hear, hear. Since 1973, Britain has been committed (under the Overseas Pension Act) to paying the pensions of the civil servants who ran other colonies. Arrangements in Southern Rhodesia had always been slightly different. Being exceptionally well administered, it enjoyed a great degree of autonomy, recruiting its civil servants directly, often through Rhodesia House in London. Today, the Foreign Office is hiding behind this technicality in its refusal to honour the Lancaster House commitment. That commitment was partly enshrined in the constitution of Zimbabwe, paragraphs 112 and 113, which protected the pension rights of 'public officers'. While this placed the onus of paying the pensions on the new state, British ministers clearly believed that they had ensured, in the words of one of them, 'full safeguards for public service pensions and their remittability'. Nobody foresaw the tragedy that Robert Mugabe's tyranny and mismanagement would inflict on a wonderful country. Now that Zimbabwe has become a failed state, the British government must surely honour the clearly stated intention to protect the pensions of Crown servants, to which some of them have contributed for 40 years. Lord Waddington, championing the pensioners in the House of Lords, put it succinctly. 'The fact remains that it was not the archangel Gabriel who granted independence to Zimbabwe - it was the British Government ... How on earth in those circumstances can the Government say that what has happened to the pensions is nothing to do with them? That is completely ridiculous. ' Waddington focused his argument on the civil servants who were recruited to Britain, and returned to Britain after they retired. There are 350 of them, mostly now in their 80s and 90s. Often they are living on minimum state benefits and charity. Because the Department for International Development already has a fund to pay the pensions of Crown servants in other colonies, the additional money that the government would have to find is a paltry £2 million. At a time when we have been used to assessing fresh Government commitments in billions, if not trillions, this is the equivalent of small change. It amounts to 0. 0002% of the £500 billion bank bailout announced in October. The government could help 1,700 times the number of Zimbabwe pensioners in Britain for the £3. 4 billion it produced for Northern Rock. The comparison with the gold-plated, inflation proofed pensions available to UK civil servants working comfortably in their home country need hardly be made. There is a group of over 1,700 now in South Africa and Zimbabwe itself, sometimes having been trapped by regulations that have prevented them taking any of their savings out of Zimbabwe. Their plight is even more pitiful and desperate. Many are effectively homeless and live on minimum South African state support of £16 a week. According to the Flame Lily Foundation, a charity in South Africa, they are often too proud to seek help. 'They have been treated as if they don't exist by the country they came from and once loyally serves,' claims the Chairman, John Redfern. 'It is scandalous that a wealthy country like the UK has just abandoned them to their fate. ' Incredibly, Lord Malloch-Brown, Minister of State in the Foreign Office, acknowledges the 'moral and pragmatic arguments' for supporting the pensioners, yet will not offer financial help. Instead, he falls back on the laughable assurance that the FO 'will continue to remind the Zimbabwe pension authorities of their legal commitment to former employees of the Southern Rhodesia Government' - even though the Zimbabwe dollar is now valueless and the government reneged on its pension responsibilities to these former civil servants five years ago. Day by day, the unfolding horror in Zimbabwe, now smitten with cholera, seems to take a new turn. For the most part Britain, whom Mugabe tries to blame for the appalling suffering that he has brought on his people, can only sit by and watch. But while we may be powerless to rectify most of the wrongs that have been inflicted on what is now a wretched country, the misery of former Crown servants is easily within our power to redeem - it is indeed our clear duty to do so. This case has echoes of the wretchedly mean treatment meted out to the Ghurkas. It took the High Court to give these former soldiers the right to remain in the UK, regardless of when they retired or were stationed. The Zimbabwe pensioners can only hope that the Ghurkas victory will show the government the way of compassion. May Gordon Brown can find the charity in his heart to rescue them from destitution this Christmas.
Uganda 2008 Back on the escarpment and winding our way through felled, burnt forests and the never ending banana plantations , we reached the outskirts of Hoima Nothing to report at this town other than the ruins of Katasiha fort one of a chain of forts built and manned by Major Lugard's Sudanese troops in the last decade of the 19th century. Down on the rift valley floor once more after leaving Hoima, the road into the Murchison Falls park improved in quality until eventually we arrived at the Nile Safari camp on the high banks of 'the great green, greasy' Nile river. The ladies went off in search of the elusive shoebill whilst other guests who had booked in at the same time with a very voluble English guide, opted for a sundowner cruise. On their return they reported sightings of leopard, elephant, Rothschild's giraffe and other plains game On obtaining local information, the itinerary the next day was adjusted . The patrol boarded the UWA launch at 0900 hrs, one of two daily departures, at the ferry point crossing the Nile to Paraa Lodge (home of the hippo) on the opposite bank and chugged upstream to within 600 meters of the base of the Murchison Falls. Accreditation for the discovery of the Falls by the first European is given to Samuel Baker who happened upon this roaring cascade of water in 1864. He described the moment: 'Upon rounding a corner in our canoes,. a magnificent sight burst upon us... Rushing through a gap that cliff the rock exactly before us, the river, contracted from a grand stream, was pent up in a narrow gorge scarcely 50 yards in width (15 meters). Roaring furiously through the rock bound pass, it plunged in a single leap of about 120 feet (37 meters) perpendicular into a dark abyss below. We were to wait two hours before we were to gaze on this wonder. In the meantime, the craft hugged the north bank on which oodles of game were at the waters edge, bathing, wallowing, and drinking their fill. Much to be seen; similar to that sighted earlier on the Kazinga channel but more numerous. Giant, pied, grey headed, woodland Kingfishers perched and dive-bombed into the tide. Red throated bee-eaters, Abidan storks in their thousands added to the panorama. At some points the river was nearly 1000 metes across so it was well we were close up! Beware of the tsetse fly though. Unwelcome passengers on the boat, these blighters' sting feel like a red hot poker. The bite is sensitive for days afterwards and can have lethal results. Gradually the spray of the hidden fall came into view. Areas of foam and scud floated on the surface of the river over a large, dark deep pools guarded by armadas of basking Nile crocodiles. The guide told us of the monster Nile Perch which inhabits the deep, some reaching weights of up to 100 kgs. ( Local lore is that 160kg specimen was caught in a net some years previously). A catastrophic action by a British official 60 years ago, lead to the introduction of this voracious carnivore into the upper waters of the river. Together with another introduced fish ,the Nile Tilapia, they subsequently found they way into lake Victoria and have eaten over 200 endemic species into extinction. In the last 35 years, cichlids have declined from 80% of vertebrate biomass to just 1%. An example of man the fore again destroying his environment! All this was forgotten when the cascade leapt into view. It was exactly as Baker had described it. The whirring and clicking of cameras took precedence. All the tourists on board zeroed into get the best shots from the decks of the boat nudged into the base of a rock in the middle of the river. Regrettably, the boat weighed anchor and drifted for another hour down the current to the mooring blocks from we we disembarked and made our way to Paraa lodge (the home of the hippo) on the north bank for a refreshment. If you want an African experience, this up-market lodge is not for you. It reminded me of a rabbit warren To be sure, everything is available that the visitor could want but it doesn't blend with the environment. A dismissive,arrogant clerk at the foreign exchange desk definitely needs a lesson in courteous behaviour as one of my guests will testify. The only discordant note from a Ugandan on the entire trip. Time was against the party from enjoying a full game drive on the north bank where most of Murchison's game is concentrated. The ferry's arrival and departure times dictate this. To accommodate the wish of the tour to visit the upper platforms of the Falls, an hour only was spent searching for animals. Rothschild's giraffe, elephant, lion,oribi were all there, but alas, no northern white rhino which were shot out years ago. Numbers of game were badly depleted, again, from the civil wars and a surfeit of automatic weapons, but happily is on the increase. After disemarbarkation from the ferry on the south bank, a quick stop was made at the Red Chilli Hideaway for a bite to eat, an establishment which will suit the back packer offering reasonably priced packages and accommodation. The road to the top of the Murchison Falls was an hour away and a must for any traveller to complete the full Falls experience. The entrance gate was un-manned so we parked off in a parking bay and picked up the inevitable lurking 'guide' and hived off down the footpath. The most impressive view is on the edge of the first drop where huge volumes of water ricochet off the narrow, solid rock face, shaking it to its very foundations. Because of the closeness that one can get to this seething, angry torrent, (once spanned by a footbridge,washed away and never replaced) it's a better experience than the Victoria Falls for the kind of stupour and total oblivion which overcomes one. Dragged away from this awesome, unrivalled sight, we climbed higher and had our first view of the equally strong but not as impressive,Uhuru falls on the right bank of the river which is divided from its neighbour by an island in-between both steams and which meet up at the lower terraces and make the Nile one river again. The incredible power of water. One can spend a day here watching the spray and swirls of the river. Combined with the movement of the Earth around the sun, rays of light probe dark fissures below, the shimmering rainbows changing in colour and description every minute. The day was ending at its normal time of 18h30 on the equator when we moved into our accommodation and a good night in the moonlit African bush. The last day in Uganda was a a bit of an anti climax, though contrary to what I said earlier about the Budongo forest not having any established facility, a tourist centre has been carved out at the Kanio Pabidi complex in the north east of the Murchison park and is ably handled by the Jane Goodall Institute. A one hour guided chimp and birding trail can be undertaken at half the cost one pays at the Kibale Forest reserve. An alternative is a 5 -10 hour chimp trail at US$100,00 a person where one can spend a leisurely day with habituated chimps. The guide brochure will tell you that you can also see over 465 plant species including giant mahogany trees over 60m tall and over 300 years old. Of the 366 bird species that have been recorded , several are endemic to the area. Basic but comfortable dormitory or cabin en suite accommodation is offered together with a kitchen and refreshment outlet. At 20h00 after reaching Kampala once more, 280kms away from the Murchison park, farewells were exchanged at the airport and left reflect on the wonders of the 'Pearl of Africa' and to consider new adventures on the dark continent. Conclusion: Go to Uganda! It's an experience. Like all destinations, difficulties will be encountered. Tourism generally is in a fledgling state and standards are nothing like you would expect in the 1st world. But that’s part of the fun. On a scale of 1 to 10, I rate Uganda as a 7, boosted primarily due to its friendliness and helpfulness. You will hear the clarion call wherever you go 'You are WELCOME!' Get used to it. They mean it! Paul Naish Proposed Calendar of Events for 2009. Sunday 8th February Durban South braai Sunday 29th March Hillcrest braai April Margate braai Friday 5th June Durban AGM Sunday 26th July Inchanga Bowls & braai Thursday 24th September Annual lunch (public holiday – Heritage Day) Sunday, 15th November Hillcrest Irish Medical Dictionary Artery.... the study of painting;
BSAP Regimental Association: Natal
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