Dan Pienaar Gun Park Launches Museum Into 21St Century

Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 2, Nr 2, 1992. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za DAN PIENAAR GUN PARK LAUNCHES MUSEUM INTO 21ST CENTURY

DR S. MONICK*

Note: Unless where otherwise stated, all photographs are by the author.

On 14 February 1992 there occurred Museum of Military History is a foremost the official opening of the Dan Pienaar custodian of artillery pieces, which Gun Park at the South African National encapsulate the history of gunnery. At Museum of Military History. The Gun the heart of the project is the highly Park is a newly completed exhibition original fusion of two - ostensibly area created by roofing and repairing disparate - approaches. The first is the the central courtyard between the application of the very latest develop- exhibition's main halls. Lt Gen G L ments in building technology; and, Meiring, SSA, SO, officially opened the secondly, the reconstruction of the Dan Pienaar Gun Park. The statue of atmosphere of the World War I era. Maj Gen 0 H ('Dan') Pienaar was Both pivot. to reiterate, upon the officially unveiled by his widow (now preservation of 9 extremely valuable Mrs Norma Seuffert). Maj Gen Pie- guns, evocative of central themes in naar's children, Fay, Barry and Nelia, the history of artillery. were also present, in addition to a very wide representation of the Pienaar Within this context, it should be noted family. that the project embodies a certain

Left to right: Lt Gen G.L. Meiring, Mrs Norma Seuffert (Gen Dan Pienaar's widow) and Maj Gen Philip Pretorms. Photo: Paratus

The occasion marked the completion degree of continuity with an article of a project which is founded upon previously published in Militaria, en- several unique and novel approaches titled Silent voices of time; a selectIve to the concept of a living museum; study of the sculpture of the South centred upon the preservation and African National Museum of Military conservation of several priceless guns. History.1 Two of the sculptural pieces As is well known, the SA National discussed in that article - the bust of

1 Monick, S. Silent voices of time: a selective study of the sculpture of the South African National Museum of Military History. Militaria, 21/4, 1991, pp 15-33.

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Wilhelm II and the statue of Maj Gen D Century. For European society was H Pienaar - occupy prominent places effectively destroyed on the Western in the new Gun Park. and Eastern Fronts in World War I; in terms not only of the irrevocable and far reaching loss of manpower, but also with regard to political structures, values and ideals. A major factor in the annihilation of that political and social world was rapid firing breech loading artillery which, together with machine guns and gas, was instrumental in the destruction of an entire generation. The barrages of the heavy artillery indelibly impressed itself upon the mind of that generation, fused with the image of barbed wire. In his renowned poem, Anthem for doomed youth, Wilfred Owen (one of the most distinguished poets of the Western Front, which claimed his life precisely one week prior to the end of hostilities), speaks of 'the monstrous anger of the guns'. He suggests the dominant impress of artillery fire upon all those who endured the ordeal of being Statue of Dan Pienaar. The pllOtoghaph was taken constantly subjected to the terrible rain in the early morning ligh~ which has cast a long of shells (whether helplessly enduring shadow upon an adjoining banner this fire upon their trenches, or being thrust into the maelstrom of artillery fire The interaction between the display of whilst assaulting the opposing lines of the guns and the evocation of the trenches). society which experienced the Great War, projects a most profound theme The main driving force and shaping in the military history of the 20th influence in the conception and deve-

Bust of Wilhelm II. The tracery pattern of the foliage in the background reflects the roofs access to the light.

2 Militaria 22/2 1992 Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 2, Nr 2, 1992. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za lopment of the gun park is Maj Gen informed the author in a taped con- Philip Pretorius, SD,SM, Maj Gen Preto- versation of 16 October 1991 - to be rius was appointed Director of the the most telling arm in military history South African National Museum of (and, more specifically, that of South Military History in 1988. His dominant Africa.) Maj Gen Pienaar was pre- impact upon the Museum's image and eminently an artilleryman, and his appearance, subsequent to his ap- outstanding successes in the Abyssinian pointment, is most manifest. The total and North African campaigns (suc- reconstruction of the Jan Smuts display cessively commanding 1 South African and development of the side panels, Infantry Brigade in Abyssinia and North both within the Brink Hall, are two Africa and, subsequent to March 1942, obvious illustrations. His dynamic ap- succeeding Lt Gen Brink as comman- proach has also been illustrated in the der of 1 South African Infantry Division), very considerable assistance which the pivoted upon the most skilful deploy- Museum has proffered to the Delville ment of his guns; especially the 25-pr. Wood Museum in France. He naturally became a focus of Maj Gen Pretorius's admiration and the He has remained a member of the latter considered that, in view of Maj artillery corps throughout his long and Gen Pienaar's role as an outstanding d isting uished milita ry career; c om- gunner, the gun park should comme- mencing his service in 10 Battery of 4 morate and revere the memory of this Field Artillery (as it was then termed, most distinguished South African com- subsequently redesignated 4 Artillery mander. Regiment which, together with 14 Artillery Regiment, forms 10 Artillery The Gunners' Association is also repre- Brigade). Maj Gen Pretorius is, of sented in this project by Col L Human, course, widely known within the Gun- JCD, who served as the Director's ners' Association, having served as technical adviser and was in charge of

Col L. Human, JCD, standing next to 15pr Mark IV field gun. The photograph was taken before the gun park was constructed.

National President of that body, Whilst the physical execution of the scheme, a cadet at the Military College (follo- Col Human joined the Museum in 1991, wing his graduation from the University following three years service on its of the Witwatersrand with a BA de- Board of Trustees. He is the head of gree), he rapidly developed a fascina- the Technical and Art Departments. tion for artillery and considers it - he His central role in the development of

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the Dan Pienaar Gun Park fuses and National Museum of Military History fully utilizes both his professional and encompasses some 1 000 square me- military careers. He graduated from tres of space (in effect adding a new the University of the Witwatersrand with exhibition hall) and spans the area a B Sc degree in electrical engineer- between the George Brink and Fritz ing, and also from the University of Adler exhibition halls. The roof is some South Africa (UNISA) with a Master in 12-15 metres in height, and exceeds Business leadership (MBl) degree. His the height of the two halls which it links military career has been that of a by approximately one metre. A major gunner. He served as Officer Com- revolutionary aspect of the design is manding an anti-aircraft regiment that it rests on six gigantic concrete, (ROV) during the period 1973-1982; as brick lined, steel reinforced pillars well as Deputy Director of Anti-Aircraft (three on each side, but none within for the Citizen Force and Staff Officer the interior area of the space co- (SO) Anti-Aircraft with 8 Armoured vered). The covering thus appears to Division. When he retired from the be suspended in space, without visible Citizen Force he had contributed no support (although this support is, of less than 43 years service. Col Human course, provided by the six pillars). The obviously possesses a deep and closely metal panels of the roofing are pre- informed interest in artillery. As in the varnished, sky blue in colour. Some 15% case of Maj Gen Pretorius, he is widely of its total surface is transluscent, thus known to members of the Gunners' admitting light. Association, serving as Deputy National Chairman. THE COURTYARD

At this point, it is deemed apposite to What does this futuristic roofing cover? elucidate the salient features of the The answer to this question introduces gun park, several of which have been the second forward-looking concept referred to above. involved in the gun park. The courtyard has been totally re-constructed. THE ROOFING Maj Gen Pretorius derived the idea of the courtyard from the Union Buildings It will be noted, in the course of this in Pretoria (designed by Sir Herbert article, that the term 'roofing' is em- Baker), characterized by its pre-1914 ployed, as opposed to 'ceiling'. The period piece round stairwells; al- latter word is, in actual fact. a mis- though, in the Museum's instance, the nomer, within the context of the Mili- paving is of brick, and not of sand- tary History Museum's new gun park. stone. The courtyard of the Dan The term 'ceiling' immediately suggests Pienaar Gun Park incorporates two a firm, solid plane, or area, which, levels; an upper level in the vicinity of superimposed upon the walls, seals the the existing office block, and a lower building from the exterior natural level adjacent to the administration environment. However, the roofing building. The interior thus reproduces which spans the Brink and Adler Halls the form of an amphitheatre; ideal for consists in part of transluscent glass lectures, book launches, dramatic panels, which will permit the visitor to performances and social functions view the sky above; the glass panels such as Remembrance Day services. being juxtaposed with those of metal. The gun park can thus be used to A vast amount of light and. air is thus accommodate this great variety of admitted to the courtyard below. demands made upon the courtyard area. Maj Gen Pretorius first conceived of the idea of the unique covering of the The entrance to the courtyard from the gun park whilst visiting the Imperial War grounds has been expanded, and the Museum in london, in 1990. This British widened archway thereby created museum has covered a courtyard leads into the gun park. Spotlights, situated between two buildings, fitted to the facing walls of the flanking creating a massive light area in the exhibition halls, will, at night, focus process. The roofing which covers the upon the guns and the other exhibits new gun park of the South African contained within the gun park.

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From the roofing there is suspended naval expansion) which ultimately the flags of the Union of South Africa gave birth to the holoca ust of 1914. and Imperial Germany, hovering a- bove the guns of those nation's re- Certainly, the guns, flags and bust of spective forces. The future develop- the German Kaiser will combiAe with ment of the gun park envisages that the spotlight to create an unforget- panels, also suspended from the trans- table experience; in which the visitor, luscent covering, will contain infor- bathed in the light streaming through mation relating to the pivotal figure of the transluscent roof, will imagine Maj Gen Pienaar; the socio-political himself/herself transported in time to background of European society on the World War I era. the eve of World War I; the historical development of artillery; in addition to The project accommodates several other themes embodied by the exhibits important priorities of the Military in the courtyard. As intimated above, History Museum. The first is the them- the courtyard also features a recently atic and dramatic display of eight of its restored bust of Kaiser Wilhelm II, most important guns. The second is the originally captured by South African relocation of the statue of Maj Gen forces in Windoek in 1915. This bust is Pienaar (formerly situated within the most appositely placed within the Museum grounds) to a context fitting context of the historical reconstruction to this most distinguished South African contained within the courtyard. As soldier. intimated in a previous article in Mili- tarla,2 the Kaiser exerted a most domi- The revolutionary development of the nant impression upon his contem- area between the two exhibition halls poraries in the decades which pre- represents the first phase of a five year ceded the outbreak of World War I; plan, involving the phased introduction and was an instrumental figure in the of additional facilities. The essential creation of that overheated inter- feature of this development plan is national climate (characterized by an that it will be financed entirely from arms race pivoting upon artillery and Museum generated own funds. No

6 - in Mk XIX gun. In the background is seen the bust of Wilhelm II.

2 Monick, S. Silent voices of time: a selective study of the sculpture of the South African National Museum of Military History. Militaria, 21/4, 1991.

Militaria 22/2 1992 5 Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 2, Nr 2, 1992. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za state assistance whatsoever is en- by the Dutch in the Far East. visaged at this point in time. (ii) Two German 150 mm howitzers. THE GUNS The correct designation of these guns is the 15 cm (150 mm) sFH02 Howitzer. The three central features of the gun Designed and first manufactured by park are the 9 guns exhibited, the the Krupp works in 1902, this heavy statue of Maj Gen Pienaar and the howitzer was an improved version of bust of Wilhelm II. The latter two the earlier 15 cm sFH93 employed exhibits have been discussed in detail against South African troops during the 3 South West African campaign of 1914- in a previous issue of Militaria . This article will, accordingly, focus upon 1915. Together with the 15 cm (150 the guns. mm) sFH13 (long) and the sFH13/02, the two pieces exhibited represent one of GERMAN ARTILLERY the standard German howitzers employed throughout the horrendous war on the Western Front. The guns dis- (i) A German 7,5 cm (75 mm) moun- played were manufactured in 1917 tain gun, Model 08. It was captured and were captured on the Western in German South West Africa by Front during the following year. The troops of the Union Defence Forces, British Government despatched them and then used against German for- to South Africa, as war trophies, fol- ces in East Africa, during World War I. lowing the end of World War I; and for some years the guns stood in front of The gun was designed by Herr Erhardt. the Johannesburg City Hall until the Jo- of the Rheinesche Metallwaaren und hannesburg City Council presented Maschinenfabriek of Dusseldorf. He them to the South African National War was a prominent designer of guns at Museum (as the Military History Museum the dawn of the present century, and was then named) in 1952. Both ho- designed the first 'long recoil' gun of witzers are painted in the camouflage the British Army; viz the 15-pr QF. There colours adopted circa 1917. were no mountain artillery units in the German Army of the pre-World War I period. In 1904 Erhard produced his (iii) An 8 cm (80 mm) gun. Originally design of a mountain gun. It repre- used by Austro-Hungarian forces in sented a seminal landmark in the World War I, it served Mussolini's ar- development of artillery, as it incor- tillery in World War II. The weapon was porated the facility of 'variable recoil'; manufactured by Skoda, at its arma- ie long recoil at low angles of pro- ments works in Pilsen (now located in jection, and short recoil at high. It is Czechoslovakia). In 1918 a consider- possible that this gun represents the able number of these guns were cap- very first field artillery possessing va- tured by the Italians, who thereupon riable recoil, a normal feature of absorbed them into their own gunnery modern guns. The gun was first pro- arm; and, lacKing any major modifi- duced in several versions; viz in 1904 cations, the guns were utilized and 1906. The piece is distinguished by throughout the inter-war years; to be its folding trail. Whilst mountain guns later deployed in the Abyssinian and demanded a short trail (for mobility North African campaigns during World and towing purposes, and also to War II. The gun exhibited was cap- achieve high elevation) a long trail tured by South African forces at Mega was necessitated by the demands of (February 1941) in the former theatre of stability on firing. Both demands were war; and many more were taken in the met by Erhardt through his telescopic Western Desert. The gun exhibited at trail. The gun was principally em- the Museum was manufactured in ployed in the German colonies, in- 1917. It was originally designed as a cluding South West Africa. Some guns horse-drawn gun, and could be broken were sold to the Portuguese for use in down into three loads: barrel and Angola in 1906; and others employed recoil mechanism; carriage; and

3 Monick, S. Silent voices of time: a selective study of the sculpture of the South African National Museum of Military History. Militaria, 21/4, pp 19-20,26-27.

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wheels and shield. The piece has been ling of recruits from the new middle repainted in its original World War I classes to infiltrate the reserve. Above colours. all, the junker class monopolized the three personal secretariats (or Cabi- (iv) A German 7,7 cm (77 mm) gun, nets); one for the Army, one for the used by the German artillery, in Ger- Navy and one Civil, whrch discharged man South West Africa during World the supreme executive responsibilities War I. The official nomenclature of this of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The armed forces gun is the 7,7 cm (77 mm) Krupp Field lay beyond the power of the civil Gun M96 (new type). This weapon was constitution in all matters save budget- developed in 1904, and, at the outset ary control, the senior officers (and, of the Great War, became the stan- indeed, officers of whatever rank) dard field gun of the German Army. appointed by, and responsible to, the The gun, together with an identical Commander-in-Chief; ie the Kaiser. A mOdel, stood outside the Supreme commission in the Army Reserve was an Court in Johannesburg from the end of essential badge of respectability for a World War I until 1983, when it was business or professional man. donated to the South African National Museum of Military History. The German field guns exhibited in the gun park possess a specific, as well as It is extremely significant that the 7,7 generalized symbolic value. For the cm (77 mm) gun, discussed imme- focus of German military power was diately above, bears the legend, directed upon artillery, It has with 'Ultima ratio regis' ('the last argument justice been said that rapid firing of kings'), above which the arms of the breech loading artillery was the pre- Hohenzollern dynasty are impressed. World War I counterpart of thermo- Louis XV ordered the motto to be nuclear weapons, and cast steel that impressed upon all artillery pieces, of nuclear fission. underscoring its pre-eminence in war. In historical terms, it is especially The heart of Germany's economic apposite that this Latin legend should power resided in the Ruhr, in actual be juxtaposed with the arms of the fact the Ruhrgebeit, the environs of the Prussian ruling house (the Hohen- Ruhr waterway. In this basin the zollerns); Germany having been unified German mine as much coal as the under the leadership of the Hohen- remainder of the continent combined, zollern dynasty, and thus 'Prussianized' and produce more fine steel. Some 15 in the process (exemplifying Bismarck's cities are encompassed by the Ruhr, maxim of 'blood and iron'). The the heart of which has been Essen, German state which emerged follow- since the last quarter of the 19th ing the Franco-Prussian War of 1870- Century. The area forms Europe's 1871 was underpinned by the exal- prime source of coke - pure carbon tation of military power, personified in (acquired by 'cooking' coal to extract the figure of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The its gases) - a spongy, brittle coke that is presence of the Prussian Royal Arms indispensable for the conversion of iron upon both the 77 mm gun and also the into steel. The Ruhr was the pivot of a 75 mm Model 08 thus symbolize the relationship which has been defined overriding impress of the German (to quote a phrase that became popu- military establishment upon Wilhelmine lar during the 1970s) as the military- Germany. industrial complex. During the .final quarter of the 19th Century the Ruhr The traditional Prussian 'junker' class became dominated by fewer than a (whose traditions were essentially of a dozen Schlotbarone ('smoke stack militaristic character) provided the barons'); ie industrial leaders, the social and military elite and dominated founders of dynasties (foremost among positions of power within the new which was the Krupp concern, which state, The military aristocracy provided recurs in the discussion of the German virtually all the officers of the pro- pieces above.) This new social force fessional army; not only of the Guards displaced the declining feudal aristo- but for most cavalry and infantry cracy. The energies of this vast con- regiments also, allowing a mere sprink- centration of economic, social and

Militaria 22/2 1992 7 Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 2, Nr 2, 1992. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za political power were heavily orientated in the case of the 7,5 cm (75 mm) towards armaments production. In- mountain gun, discussed above. this deed, it was this powerhouse - centred piece represents a milestone in artillery on Krupp - which produced the artillery development; in this case with regard which had crushed France in 1870- to the Royal Horse Artillery. For the 1871. Thenceforth, until 1945, the Ruhr very first time in the Royal Horse Artil- underpinned the military power of both lery's armament, a bullet proof shield the Second and Third Reichs. The was fitted. This development was artillery pieces discussed above thus witness to the terrible vulnerability of encapsulate vital themes in the poli- horse gunners to the new magazine tical-military history of Germany during rifles introduced during the last de- the period 1870 - 1945. cade of the 19th Century; gun detach- ments being exposed to accurate and rapid small arms fire at ranges of 1 800 metres. To reiterate, it was the gun of ALLIED ARTILLERY the Royal Horse Artillery, and was employed throughout the Great War of 1914-1918, firing some 1,5 million shells (v) A British QF (Quick Firing) 13-pr in the course of that conflict. It field gun. This gun was the staple continued in service until the years arm of the Royal Horse Artillery immediately preceding World War II, during the decade preceding the being superseded by the 25-pr. South outbrea k of World War I, and during African artillerymen used this gun in the that Wa r itself. South West African and East African

13 pr Mark IV Field gun The QF 13-pr's design was finalized in campaigns of World War I. The gun 1903 and taken into service in 1904. Its exhibited in the Military History Museum introduction embodied the recognition is mounted on a light, robust pole that the British 12 and 15-pr guns, carriage, and was manufactured in employed during the Anglo-Boer War 1913. of 1899-1902, were inferior in ma ny respects to the French Creusot and It should be noted that this weapon is Krupp guns deployed by the Boers. As not totally obsolete, as it is fired by the

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King's Troop of the Royal Horse Artillery 15-prs of various marks were still in on the British Sovereign's birthday and service and, as the production of the other ceremonial occasions. 18-pr was initially slow, it was decided to up-date and modify the later mo- dels of 15-prs and retain them in (vi) A British Ble 15-pr Mark IV field service until all could be replaced. gun. The Bl 15-pr was the sta ndard Trials were undertaken in 1907 and British field gun during the Anglo- 1908, and the BlC 15-pr was intro- Boer War of 1899-1902, and prob- duced for service as a 'stop gap' gun ably experienced more extensive in 1909; being issued to British Territorial modifications and changes of name Army batteries and to various colonial than any other gun in British service. artillery units. These guns remained in The breech loading converted field use until approximately the end of gun exhibited is the end product of 1915; at which point in time all had all these. been replaced by 18-prs.

15 pr gun at the foot of the statue of Maj Gen Pienaar

The gun was originally produced in A few BlC 15-prs were used by South 1883 as the Bl 12-pr of 7 cwt, for use by African artillerymen during the South the Royal Horse Artillery. In 1895 it was West African campaign of 1915. At modified to enable it to fire a 14 Ib least two of these guns underwent yet (6,35 kg) shell. It was then rede- further modification in the Salt River signated as the Bl 15 pr Mark I and Railway workshops in Cape Town, issued to the Royal Field Artillery; the where they were fitted with special horse artillery being issued with the high angle mountings in November new, and lighter, 12-pr gun. In 1899 1914 and despatched to South West the 15-pr Mark II gun appeared. It was Africa, as anti-aircraft guns. Nick- fitted with a new and improved 12-pr named 'Skinny Liz', they were the first breech mechanism which remained South African anti-aircraft guns. interchangeable between this type and all subsequent marks of 15-pr. The (vii) A British QF 18-pr field gun; the BlC 15-pr Mark IV is fitted with this staple armament of the British field mechanism. When the QF 18-pr was artillery during World War I and also accepted as the standard British field that of the South African artillery gun in 1904, a considerable number of during the period 1918-1942. This gun is

Militaria 22/2 1992 9 Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 2, Nr 2, 1992. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za similar in both design and construction the Union Government realized that to the 13-pr field gun discussed above. two of South Africa's major ports - East This slightly heavier field gun entered London and Port Elizabeth - were British service in 1904. As in the case of totally devoid of coastal artillery. the 13-pr gun, it embodied the recog- Accordingly, in August 1939 two Mark nition of the inferiority of the British 15- XIX guns were sent to each of these pr gun to the Creusot and Krupp field ports and, mounted on a specially guns used by the Boers. By 1914, 18-prs designed concrete platform, installed had replaced the majority of 15-pr in a coastal artillery role. The gun guns in service with the Royal Artillery displayed at the Museum is one of the and the process had been completed two despatched to East London. by the end of 1915. Several 18-prs had When, in 1940, standard coast defence been sent to South Africa during the guns were installed in that city, this course of the South West African piece and its companion were sent to campaign. South African gunners Durban, where it remained in reserve used this piece during the subsequent for the rest of the war. At approxim- campaigns in East Africa, North Africa ately the same time, standard coast and Palestine. In 1916 the Mark II defence guns were mounted at Port carriage, fitted with a larger cradle Elizabeth; and the two 6-in guns origi- and a hydro-pneumatic recoil system, nally positioned there were transferred made its appearance. The gun exhi- to Cape Town, to be installed in a bited at the Museum is mounted on this similar temporary role at Apostle Bat- carriage. By the end of 1918 these tery, near L1andudnow. guns had fired over 100 000 shells. The gun enjoyed a long life, being the A few 6-in Mark XIX guns were de- subject of further modifications during ployed in France during the early the 1930s. It was deployed extensively stages of World War II. but were by South African artillery in the Abys- rendered obsolete with the advent of sinian campaign of 1940-1941. the BL 5,5-in gun.

(viii) BL 6-in Mark XIX gun: The 6-in gun It is thus apparent that the guns exhi- originated in a British naval piece of QF bited in the Dan Pienaar Gun Park 4,7-in calibre, mounted on a specially exemplify a priceless heritage of his- designed field carriage created by toric artillery pieces. The collection is Capt Percy Scott in the Royal Naval unique in several important respects. dockyards at Simonstown, during the First, several of the guns embody early phase of the Anglo-Boer War important milestones in the develop- (1899- 1902). ment of artillery. The 75 mm German gun, for example, illustrates the first Three such guns were used during this design to facilitate 'variable recoil', as war. Some were sent to France in 1915 well as exemplifying the multi-purpose in response to the urgent need for 'folding trail'. The British 13-pr field gun heavy artillery. As the 'Scott carriage' represents the very first British artillery limited the gun's elevation and range, piece utilized by the Royal Horse a new carriage facilitating greater Artillery to be fitted with a bullet-proof elevation was designed. However, this shield. Second, one observes the equipment weighed in excess of 25 variety of roles embodied in the col- tons and was too heavy. It was lection; ranging from the horse gun- superseded in 1917 by a new 6-in Mark ner's arm (the 13 pr), to field artillery XIX wire-wound gun mounted on a (the 15 pr and 18 pr) and a specialized slightly modified 8-in howitzer carriage. version of field guns, in the form of the The new weapon weighed little more 75 mm model 08 mountain gun. Third, than 10 tons. It possessed a range of the pieces displayed closely interact 17 820 metres (firing a streamlined with and inform the history of South shell). By the end of World War I, in African artillery. Thus, the German 75 1918, 108 Mark XIX guns were in ser- mm mountain gun's history is closely vice on the Western Front. related to South African artillery in World War I; as also is the British 13-pr At the close of hostilities four of these gun and the 15-pr, unique versions of weapons were sent to South Africa. As the latter representing the very first the outbreak of World War II loomed South African anti-aircraft guns.

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Fourth, one observes the extremely supporting services - the SA Engineer wide compass of artillery history em- Corps, SA Corps of Signals and SA braced by these guns; extending from Medical Corps- obviously continue to the mid-1890s to the early years of serve the SADF at the present time. It is World War II. Thus, the standard field hoped that these units will be strongly guns which served both the Central supportive of the South.African Nation- and Allied powers on the Western al Museum of Military History - as the Front, as well as the standard German home of this memorial to Maj Gen howitzers deployed in this theatre, are Pienaar - in its continuing efforts to contained in the display now housed in perpetuate the memory of South Afri- the Dan Pienaar Gun Park. ca's fighting men of all races.

CONCLUSION The most fitting conclusion to this article is undoubtedly formed by the following extract from Lt Gen Meiring's Ultimately, the central motivation un- speech at the official opening: derlying the creation of the new gun park is reverence for the memory of ' ... 1 would like to congratulate the one of South Africa's most distin- Chairman and the members of the guished gunners, Maj Gen D H Pienaar, Council of the South African National CB, DSO & Bar. In his role of brigade Museum of Military History for embark- and divisional commander, his career ing on an ambitious long-term deve- inevitably interacted with the histories lopment of this Museum in spite of the of those units contained within the mili- financial constraints unfortunately tary formations that he commanded. imposed by the State and by the Some of these formations have, in- economy of the country. I wish you evitably, ceased to exist. However, well with your endeavours and shall many continue to retain their identity take note of future progress with (albeit, in some cases with altered interest. I would also like to stress that designations) to the present day. Thus, the South African Army fully supports the Order of Battle of 1 SA Infantry the Museum in its efforts to improve its Division, on 17 October 1942 (the date facilities and the scope of its exhibits. I of the commencement of the 2nd am fully aware of the educational role Battle of EI Alamein) included the the Museum plays in the community following infantry battalions whose and of its importance to the South existence has continued to the present African Defence Force as a whole. As day (to reiterate, in some instances a former member of the Council of this with altered nomenclatures): 1 SA Museum I am delighted to be here Infantry Brigade:- Regiment President again and to see such an impressive Steyn; 2nd Regiment Botha (Divisional display area and I am particularly HQ); Royal Natal Carbineers; Duke of pleased that tribute is to be paid to Edinburgh's Own Rifles; Transvaal Scot- one of our best-known and admired tish; 2 SA Infantry Brigade:- Natal military leaders. This gun park with its Mounted Rifles; Cape Town Highland- statue of Dan Pienaar and the well- ers; Middelandse Regiment; 3 SA Infan- preserved guns is a permanent remin- try Brigade:- Royal Durban Light Infan- der of our military exploits and the try, Imperial Light Horse; Rand Light sacrifices made by our men and wo- Infantry. The critical artillery compo- men in uniform.' nent comprised 1 Field Regiment (Ca- pe Field Artillery) and 4 Field Regiment. Both gunner units continue to maintain * Dr Monick is the Curator of Medals and Numismatics at the South African National their identity to the present day. The Museum of Military History.

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