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Jimmy's Own Signaller of Note General Georg Meiring Jimmy’s Own Official Newsletter of the Signals Association Issue 5 - June 2018 Signaller of Note General Georg Meiring Keeping the flame burning 2nd Signals Association Annual Luncheon Do you know your Signals Units? Take the Jimmy Quiz and find out From the pen of Robbie Executive Committee 2018 What’s in this issue of Jimmy’s Own? Since our last issue in March very little has happened, other than another of the ever popular 10-Pin Bowling events which seems to increase in Robbie Roberts 4 2nd Annual Luncheon popularity all the time. Who knows, Chairman Keeping the flame burning. and judging from the curiosity shown by a professional team in the alley ad- 7 The Two-Minute Silence jacent to our two alleys, we may have Do you know where and when it be- to start applying our minds to joining gan? the WP 10-pin bowling league! Our association also celebrated its 2nd Annual Luncheon at the Parow Piet Jordaan 8 Frontiers of Science Golf Club on Sunday 6 May 2018 in Vice-Chairman How a former Jimmy played a rile in keeping with our promise made on 1 the Square Kilometer Array. May 2016 to continue the rich tradi- tion of our forefathers who staged 10 Strike luncheons for 70 years non-stop from Another successful 10-pin bowling Howard 1946 to 2016. Another 68 years to go evening. to even their record! Shagom We also participated in the week- Secretary end activities of 71 Signal Unit which General 13 The Jimmy Quiz celebrated their 72nd birthday on 1 How well do you know your Signals May 2018 with a Formal Dinner and a Units? Church Service. Congratulations to 71 Signal Unit for this milestone in their Wilna Bekker 14 Signaller of Note history. It is that unit which gave birth Treasurer In this issue we feature General to our esteemed organisation. George Meiring. Lastly, we are indeed extremely honoured to present as our “Signal- Front Cover ler of Note” General George Meiring General George Meiring. who, as a signaller went on to become C SADF and C SANDF. Read about this in this issue. Pierre Fourie Public Robbie Roberts Relations Chairman Officer 2 3 stretched hand of Mercury (Jimmy as friend, but as a Member of our organ- is commonly known worldwide), sym- isation. 2nd Annual Signals bol of the SIGNALS ASSOCIATION, After Alderman Justus’ speech, Dr by our Vice Chairman, Piet Jordaan. Elina Tagar, delivered a special poem Association Luncheon Following a moments silence in titled “The Cranes”, written by Rasul The Signals Association keeps the flame burning. honour of Major Charles Holloway, Gamzatov in 1967 and translated into and the saying of Grace guests sat English by Z. Korovin in 2003. Dr The SIGNALS ASSOCIATION down to a memorable lunch, where Tagar is involved with Russian mili- hosted its 2nd Annual Luncheon at the after Alderman Clive Justus who is tary veterans, with special emphasis Parow Golf Club on Sunday, 6 May the Chairman of the Economy and En- of those who fought during the Ango- 2018. vironment Portfolio Committee of the lan WAR. The Poem read: This was in keeping with our prom- City of Cape Town and a long stand- ise made on 1 May 2016 to continue ing friend of the Signallers in Cape “I often sense that our fallen sol- the rich tradition of our forefathers Town paid tribute to our association diers, who staged luncheons for 70 years and its cordial relationship with the Who left on battle fields their non-stop from 1946 to 2016. City of Cape Town. bloody stains, In the 2nd Issue of “Jimmy’s Own Alderman Justus spoke from the Did not lay down in their graves for in September 2017, we covered a full heart which resulted in his speech be- solace- article about our past relationship ing well received. He reminisced about But have been transformed into with the 3rd Brigade Signals Com- his national service days in the Corps white-winged cranes. pany Reunion Association and its al- of Signals with significant people such most century long rich history and we as signaller courier Chris Willemse, And we have seen since many years are pleased that we have managed to the Springbok cyclist and retired RSM ago: stage yet another successful event on of Western Province Command Signal They soar above and send their the road to try and even our forefa- Unit, WOI Johan Smuts, who was also mournful cry. thers’ record. Another 68 years to go! present at the luncheon as an associa- We are transfixed in our deepest A surely impossible target, given the FORMER JIMMY: Guest speaker Alder- tion member. Clive fondly recalls WO sorrow man Justus. current uncertain environment within Smuts as continuously reminding his Becoming speechless as the cranes which military veterans find them- However, we were extremely priv- soldiers of the need to always “leave soar by. selves to exist nowadays. ileged to have present Sergeant Syd better than you found; Taking pride in It was with sadness that Major Ireland, Age 97, one of the last two all that you do; and delivering on what They soar, they soar exhausted (Retired) Charles Holloway, the last remaining WWII Signallers. Eddie you promise”. white triangles, Chairman and President of the 3rd Mills, the only other member of the Thank you Alderman for your inspi- And pierce the fog in a spell-bound Brigade Signal Company Reunion 3rd Brigade Signal Company is in rational speech and in so doing con- line… Association could not be present as he frail care and could not be present at tribute towards a success luncheon. As I spy a gap in their ranks – not for passed to higher order in February this the luncheon. a former Signaller yourself we thank angels. year, just four months short of when As per association tradition, the you for applying for membership of This space, I clearly see, may soon he would have celebrated his 100th ‘Flame of the Signaller / Vlam van our association and look forward to be mine. birthday on 15 June 2018. die Seiner’ was lighted by our Sec- having you in our midst, not only as a retary General and then placed in the 4 5 The Two-Minute Silence Article and photograph byRegine Lord. n Monday, 14 May 2018, the On hearing the boom of the Noon Gun, Noon Gun of Cape Town fired and the Westminster Chimes coming Onot just once, but twice, with a from the clock tower, they stood up, brief pause between the two thunder- united in their grief, to observe the tra- ous booms. ditional Angelus pause that was com- The reason for this unusual occur- mon practice in the Anglican Church rence was that a special tradition was they both attended. being commemorated that day: the Councillor Brydone then suggested Centenary of the Two-Minute Silence, that the observance of a brief period of which was first introduced right here in silence be introduced in the city centre, Cape Town on 14 May 1918. in remembrance of all those who had In 1918, news of the terrible battles fallen in World War I. Mayor Hands GOOD FOOD, GOOD COMPANY: Some being fought on the Western Front in was taken by this idea, and after some of the guests at the second Signals As- France, and of the many soldiers killed discussion, it was implemented. sociation luncheon. and wounded, had been reaching their The daily public ritual was synchro- families in Cape Town. When lists of nised with the firing of the Noon Gun casualties were read out during church on Signal Hill, to remember the fallen services, parishioners were asked to and acknowledge their ultimate sacri- participate in brief moments of silence fice, and to give thanks for those who in honour of the fallen. had returned alive, wounded and car- The day will come, when I will join Cape Town Mayor Sir Harry Hands rying the scars of the terrible fighting the row was grief-stricken on receiving the they had endured. Of birds inside their even flying news of the death of his eldest son, Thus, on 14 May 1918, as soon as chain, Captain Reginald Harry Myburgh the Noon Gun was fired, all residents And call you, whom I left behind, Hands. After days of continued fight- of Cape Town stopped what they were below, ing and being repeatedly exposed to doing, traffic and trams came to a halt, By the voice of a slender, white- mustard gas, Captain Hands had died and all stood in silent prayer, heads winged crane” during a poison-gas bombardment bowed, thinking of their loved ones on 20 April 1918, while off-duty and who had given their lives and those She also honoured Syd Ireland by seemingly safe behind Allied lines. who were still fighting on the battle- presenting him with a book titled “The After a special City Council meet- fields of WW1. A bugler on a balcony FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE: Dr. Elina Hidden Thread”, which is about Rus- Tagar presents a book to Syd Ireland, ing, at which those present expressed of the Fletcher and Cartwright build- sia and South Africa in the Soviet Era. one of two remaining World War II signal- their sympathy to the Mayor and his ing on the corner of Adderley and Dar- The event ended with the “‘Flame lers. wife, one of the councillors, Mr Rob- ling Streets, played the Last Post and of the Signaller” in the hand of Mer- ert Rutherford Brydone, approached then the Reveille to signal the end of cury being extinguished.
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