W01 C HOLLIDAY John James Clarke Holliday, First Ser­ Language, That Helped Me

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

W01 C HOLLIDAY John James Clarke Holliday, First Ser­ Language, That Helped Me “I was born in Pretoria, and as regards W01 c HOLLIDAY John James Clarke Holliday, first Ser­ language, that helped me. But when I joined geant Major of the SADF, must be one of the SADF after leaving school, that’s when I the last full-time members to wear service became bilingual. I wasn’t before joining the ribbons from World War 2. It is an SADF. indication of the span of his long career “In my time in the SADF it has always and the immense wealth of experience he been predominantly Afrikaans — the per­ can bring to his new appointment. manent force ratio is perhaps 70-30. But I Born on October 16 1927, Holliday is have not become Afrikanerised. It’s not an armour specialist who joined the Army something I could claim for myself. But I while still a schoolboy. He got his first have greater insight into the Afrikaner than rank — lance corporal — at the age of 19 many of my countrymen. in 1946, as an instructor at 1 Special “There have been the Rogerses, the Ed­ Service Battalion. He stayed there until wardses, the Frasers and so on. I can mention he became an instructor at the Army many names in the upper echelons. Gymnasium in 1962. He later served as “To me the major factor is that the De­ Squadron Sergeant Major at OFS Com­ fence Force is not attuned that way. If it was, mand, and later Northern Transvaal it would be looking for trouble because of the Command. question of racial, cultural, political and reli­ In 1969 he became Command Ser­ gious affiliations. It is not just the question of geant Major of Northern Trans English churches. This is a heterogeneous Command and in July 1984 Sergej society. So if the Defence Force becomes Major of the Army. cliquey it is looking for trouble. The post of Sergeant Major of the “I’m glad.to say that the opposite is true. Army is a comparatively recent one, hav­ We take pride in being the one big organisa­ ing been instituted in 1970 only (the first tion which can get people together. So there incumbent was the legendary WOl Ock- is no place for pettiness or sectarianism. ert Snyman, who died recently). Obvious­ Jp'People from the US and UK have asked ly Snyman and his successors have made me: Taking into account the fact that there is the appointment work, because this year a greater percentage of Afrikaans-speakers the new post of Sergeant Major of the in the officer corps and therefore automati­ SADF was created, and Holliday was cally more conservatism, what hope do you firs t the post appointed. see for the Defence Force to move in the direction of enlightenment? “And being English-speaking, I have-to manent Force (PF) and more English-speak- “Something which has been very good in correct them by saying: You’re stating that as ing youngsters found themselves in leader the Defence Force in the past 10 years has a fact. I grant you the majority is Afri­ training, the situation would be improved. been the atmosphere in the top structure. kaans-speaking, but why prejudge the Afri­ It’s a pity more English-speakers don’t want There has been good cohesion and a spirit kaner as necessarily conservative? to be part of it. They have themselves to which encouraged a man to express himself “When it comes to mixing people the De­ blame for the situation. So I ask them to in his own language. fence Force has a head start on the rest of the come forward. And there is no doubt we in “We respect each other’s language, and country. It has the privilege of putting them the PF must pay more attention to the lan­ I’ve never had a problem in expressing my­ all together. guage problem. self as an English-speaker. In any case, when “The trouble is that people come along speaking we all switch across from one lan­ with pre-conceived ideas. It is a pity, but guage to the other for better expression. It’s these ideas got into the minds of English- no trouble. speakers, and so for a long period in the “Hopefully this is happening throughout Fifties and Sixties few of them joined the the SADF. That way we can form this multi­ Permanent Force. tude into a cohesive organisation.” ‘‘Now it’s slowly being rectified. I think On his religion: As a Roman Catholic, percentage of English-speakers has in­ Gleeson belongs to a church which has been creased. But because Afrikaans-speakers outspoken in his condemnation of the South were predominant in recent history there is African government and its employment of no doubt that the English language doesn’t the SADF. But he does not experience an come fully into its own. Obviously the 50-50 inner conflict which could require him to language principle doesn’t either, and it’s choose between the church into which he was incumbent on the SADF to rectify this. born and the profession he has chosen to “In my mind it’s not an unwillingness on follow. the part of the Afrikaner to do something “I’ve never felt the need to change my about this. Many an Afrikaner has a com­ religion. If I’ve been guilty of backsliding, plex about English — for example, often he it’s not been to please my superiors or the can’t get his “is’s” and “are’s” right. We SADF, because the SADF is broad-minded have a definite policy of language tests, but I in its outlook on religion. It has more than think we too easily assume people are more 100 denominations, and 33 churches are per­ proficient in English than they are. manently represented by chaplains. Every “So you get a young Afrikaans-speaking man can practise his religion according to his corporal who has to address a bunch of men beliefs. So I’ve never stood back for my from the Cape Town Highlanders or the religion. Cape Town Rifles (Dukes), and he is fright­ “The Defence Force has some good basic ened. R M Pickersgill ... English rules — don’t discuss politics or religion in “If more English-speakers joined the Per- Methodist the mess. I’ve always practised my religion in my private life. The present Chaplain-Gen­ the Defence Force there is much in common. “If a Permanent Force member suffers a eral was my chaplain in SWA, and although The Defence Force pays much attention to religious conflict he is free to leave, and the we had different religious backgrounds I the religious aspects of military service and Defence Force has also gone out of its way to have great respect for him. tries to apply some of the principles, and so accommodate people who had problems. “Reconciliation is based on Christian val­ there is no problem reconciling all the differ­ “But in my own case I have no conflict of ues, and if one looks at the religious code of ent denominations. conscience.” ® Old and strong Is the South African Army the strongest in sub-Saharan Africa? It depends on how you juggle the fig u res f the yardstick is merely numbers, Army is the largest in I Africa, since fully mobilised it would be able to field about 300 000 men; whereas its nearest rival, Ethiopia, has but 220 000 (Ni­ geria, surprisingly, has a modest ground force of 94 000). But statistics are not enough. Both SA and Ethiopia have considerable numbers of part- time reservist troops. To make any sort of analysis one has to consider qualitative fac­ tors such as level of training, staff efficiency, command efficiency, logistical backup and that great but vital intangible, morale and fighting spirit. It is certainly the oldest army in Africa if one takes its development back to its roots. The history books say the SA Army dates from 1912, when it was put together from the odds and ends of the various more or less willing bedfellows in the new Union of SA. But it is directly descended from the merce­ nary company soldiers Jan van Riebeeck landed at the Cape in 1652, and many ofi~ present characteristics can be traced ba! several hundred years. Two interesting aspects that still charac­ terise South African defence thinking were there from the very beginning. Firstly, to save money, the size of the regular force was kept well below its require­ ments, the intention being that in time of trouble its ranks would be swelled by the levying of militia from the civilian popula­ tion. Goodwill — and “feel” Secondly, stress was laid on cultivating the goodwill of the indigenous population. This last was accomplished partly by exerting rigid discipline on the hard-bitten mercenar­ ies (in the 18th Century, for example, any soldier who got into the Castle after retreat had been sounded was thrashed by the ser­ Ready to roll ... an infantryman waits, R4 assault rifle at the ready geant of the guard). Apart from things like conscription, the the Abyssinian campaign, and so, almost 35 soldiers of today have inherited something SA ARMY STRENGTH years later, was Colonel Koos van Heerden more intangible but equally important: a Full-tinw members: 76 000 consisting of: in his swift advance up the Angolan coast in which he covered 3 000 km in 33 days of “feel” for mobile warfare involving maxi­ Permanent Force .................................... ....... 1 80 00 mum use of initiative and downright ingenu- National Servicemen .......................
Recommended publications
  • Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa Report: Volume 2
    VOLUME TWO Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa Report The report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was presented to President Nelson Mandela on 29 October 1998. Archbishop Desmond Tutu Ms Hlengiwe Mkhize Chairperson Dr Alex Boraine Mr Dumisa Ntsebeza Vice-Chairperson Ms Mary Burton Dr Wendy Orr Revd Bongani Finca Adv Denzil Potgieter Ms Sisi Khampepe Dr Fazel Randera Mr Richard Lyster Ms Yasmin Sooka Mr Wynand Malan* Ms Glenda Wildschut Dr Khoza Mgojo * Subject to minority position. See volume 5. Chief Executive Officer: Dr Biki Minyuku I CONTENTS Chapter 1 Chapter 6 National Overview .......................................... 1 Special Investigation The Death of President Samora Machel ................................................ 488 Chapter 2 The State outside Special Investigation South Africa (1960-1990).......................... 42 Helderberg Crash ........................................... 497 Special Investigation Chemical and Biological Warfare........ 504 Chapter 3 The State inside South Africa (1960-1990).......................... 165 Special Investigation Appendix: State Security Forces: Directory Secret State Funding................................... 518 of Organisations and Structures........................ 313 Special Investigation Exhumations....................................................... 537 Chapter 4 The Liberation Movements from 1960 to 1990 ..................................................... 325 Special Investigation Appendix: Organisational structures and The Mandela United
    [Show full text]
  • SADF Military Operations
    SADF Military Operations 1975 -1989 Contents 1 List of operations of the South African Border War 1 2 Operation Savannah (Angola) 3 2.1 Background .............................................. 3 2.2 Military intervention .......................................... 4 2.2.1 Support for UNITA and FNLA ................................ 5 2.2.2 Ruacana-Calueque occupation ................................ 5 2.2.3 Task Force Zulu ........................................ 5 2.2.4 Cuban intervention ...................................... 6 2.2.5 South African reinforcements ................................. 6 2.2.6 End of South African advance ................................ 6 2.3 Major battles and incidents ...................................... 6 2.3.1 Battle of Quifangondo .................................... 7 2.3.2 Battle of Ebo ......................................... 7 2.3.3 “Bridge 14” .......................................... 7 2.3.4 Battle of Luso ......................................... 7 2.3.5 Battles involving Battlegroup Zulu in the west ........................ 8 2.3.6 Ambrizete incident ...................................... 8 2.4 Aftermath ............................................... 8 2.5 South African order of battle ..................................... 9 2.6 Association .............................................. 9 2.7 Further reading ............................................ 9 2.8 References ............................................... 9 3 Operation Bruilof 13 3.1 Background .............................................
    [Show full text]
  • Military Despatches Vol 24, June 2019
    Military Despatches Vol 24 June 2019 Operation Deadstick A mission vital to D-Day Remembering D-Day Marking the 75th anniversary of D-Day Forged in Battle The Katyusha MRLS, Stalin’s Organ Isoroku Yamamoto The architect of Pearl Harbour Thank your lucky stars Life in the North Korean military For the military enthusiast CONTENTS June 2019 Page 62 Click on any video below to view Page 14 How much do you know about movie theme songs? Take our quiz and find out. Hipe’s Wouter de The old South African Goede interviews former Defence Force used 28’s gang boss David a mixture of English, Williams. Afrikaans, slang and Thank your lucky stars techno-speak that few Serving in the North Korean Military outside the military could hope to under- 32 stand. Some of the terms Features were humorous, some Rank Structure 6 This month we look at the Ca- were clever, while others nadian Armed Forces. were downright crude. Top Ten Wartime Urban Legends Ten disturbing wartime urban 36 legends that turned out to be A matter of survival Part of Hipe’s “On the fiction. This month we’re looking at couch” series, this is an 10 constructing bird traps. interview with one of Special Forces - Canada 29 author Herman Charles Part Four of a series that takes Jimmy’s get together Quiz Bosman’s most famous a look at Special Forces units We attend the Signal’s Associ- characters, Oom Schalk around the world. ation luncheon and meet a 98 47 year old World War II veteran.
    [Show full text]
  • Vietnam War Turning Back the Clock 93 Year Old Arctic Convoy Veteran Visits Russian Ship
    Military Despatches Vol 33 March 2020 Myths and misconceptions Things we still get wrong about the Vietnam War Turning back the clock 93 year old Arctic Convoy veteran visits Russian ship Battle of Ia Drang First battle between the Americans and NVA For the military enthusiast CONTENTS March 2020 Click on any video below to view How much do you know about movie theme songs? Take our quiz and find out. Hipe’s Wouter de The old South African Page 14 Goede interviews former Defence Force used 28’s gang boss David a mixture of English, South Vietnamese Williams. Afrikaans, slang and techno-speak that few Special Forces outside the military could hope to under- stand. Some of the terms Features 32 were humorous, some Weapons and equipment were clever, while others 6 We look at some of the uniforms were downright crude. Ten myths about Vietnam and equipment used by the US Marine Corps in Vietnam dur- Although it ended almost 45 ing the 1960s years ago, there are still many Part of Hipe’s “On the myths and misconceptions 34 couch” series, this is an about the Vietnam War. We A matter of survival 26 interview with one of look at ten myths and miscon- This month we look at fish and author Herman Charles ceptions. ‘Mad Mike’ dies aged 100 fishing for survival. Bosman’s most famous 20 Michael “Mad Mike” Hoare, characters, Oom Schalk widely considered one of the 30 Turning back the clock Ranks Lourens. Hipe spent time in world’s best known mercenary, A taxi driver was shot When the Russian missile cruis- has died aged 100.
    [Show full text]
  • Military Despatches Vol 47, May 2021
    Military Despatches Vol 47 May 2021 That wasn’t very clever 10 wars started for really stupid reasons Tanks for the info Some interesting trivia about tanks Falklands Air War The aircraft used in the conflict Paddy Mayne Ireland and British Lions rugby international and a founding member of the Special Air Service For the military enthusiast Military Despatches CONTENTS YouTube Channel May 2021 Page 12 Click on any video below to view Army Speak 101 The SADF had their own language. A mixture of Eng- lish, Afrikaans, slang and tech- no-speak that few outside the military could hope to under- stand. Paratrooper Wings Most armies around the world Elite Military Quiz also had their own slang terms. Units Quiz Most military paratroopers In this video we look at some Most military forces have an are awarded their jump wings of them. elite unit or regiment or a spe- Special Forces - Danish Jaeger Corps after they have qualified. cial forces component. In this quiz we show you 15 In this quiz we show you 15 different wings and you tell us and you tell us who they are and 40 where they are from. where they are from. Features Job Maseko - WWII Warrior 6 How does a man not officially Ten stupid wars allowed to carry firearms go on Wars have often been started for to win the Military Medal for New videos really crazy reasons. We look at gallantry? Job Maseko was one each week ten of them. of those that achieved this feat. We will be uploading new 32 videos to our YouTube channel What’s in a name 42 each week.
    [Show full text]
  • Kaplan Auctions 115 Dunottar Street, Sydenham, 2192, Johannesburg Po Box 28913, Sandringham, 2131, R.S.A
    KAPLAN AUCTIONS 115 DUNOTTAR STREET, SYDENHAM, 2192, JOHANNESBURG PO BOX 28913, SANDRINGHAM, 2131, R.S.A. TEL: +27 11 640 6325 / 485 2195 FAX: +27 11 640 3427 E-MAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] and [email protected] Please insist on a reply. WEBSITE ADDRESS: www.aleckaplan.co.za AUCTION B95 SALE OF MEDALS, BADGES , MILITARIA TH 19 JUNE 2019 TO BE HELD 6pm AT OUR PREMISES PLEASE NOTE: ALL THE ITEMS MAY BE VIEWED ON OUR WEBSITE: www.aleckaplan.co.za 115 DUNOTTAR STREET, SYDENHAM, 2192 JOHANNESBURG THE LOTS WILL BE ON VIEW AT OUR PREMISES –ONLY BY APPOINTMENT. BIDDING PROCEDURE NO BIDS WILL BE ACCEPTED AFTER 12 NOON ON DAY OF AUCTION NO BIDS WILL BE PLACED WITHOUT COPY OF IDENTITY DOCUMENT 1. The Auctioneer’s decision is final. 2. Please ensure that you quote the correct lot number when bidding by post. Mistakes will not be corrected after the sale. 3. This is a live auction and bids may be submitted in writing by, letter, e-mail or by telephone for those who cannot attend in person. 4. All items will be sold to the highest bidder. 5. Reserves have been fixed by the seller but should a reserve, in the opinion of a possible buyer be too high, I will be pleased to submit a reasonable offer to the seller, should the lot otherwise be unsold. 6. Lots have been carefully graded. Should anyone not be satisfied with the grading, such an item may be returned to us within 7 days of receipt thereof.
    [Show full text]
  • AG1977-A11-5-1-001-Jpeg.Pdf
    END CONSCRIPTION COMMITTEE P. 0. B O X 208 WOODSTOCK 7915 SOUTH AFRICA 26 February 1985 Dear Friend The End Conscription Committee (E.C.C.) is a broad front of organisations which have come together to oppose compulsory conscription into the South African Defence Force. The campaign is being waged nationally and aims to raise awareness of the militarisation of our society and to unite and mobilise as broad a sector of the population as possible. A brief history of the campaign is enclosed. Young people are most directly affected by conscription. They are often antagonistic to the S. A. D. F. and its role in defending Apartheid. They are therefore potentially open to the message of E.C.C. E.C.C. has decided to prioritise the International Youth Year campaign in 1985. In particular it is aiming to give a strong anti-conscription content to the npeacen theme. E.C.C. is taking up the I.Y.Y. campaign in two ways: firstly, through the organisation of the youth constituency against conscription and secondly, by participating in other I.Y.Y. structures. Presently E.C.C. is represented on the I.Y.Y. committees of both the United Democratic Front and the South African Council of Churches. The Western Cape E. C. C.'s plans for Youth Year are enclosed. We would greatly appreciate any assistance you might give us, in particular any resources. Anything received from you will be circulated to our branches in Johannesburg and Durban. We are also currently trying to raise finances through overseas agencies.
    [Show full text]
  • Defence Dangerous Object
    work within the system could be defined as a national key point, Mr Myburgh said.4 In May the Control of Access to Public Premises and Vehicles Act of 1985 was gazetted by the state president.' It granted the owners of public premises or vehicles wide powers for the safeguarding of those premises and vehicles. A person authorised by the owner of any public premises or public vehicle may, for SECURITY instance, require of a person who wants to enter such premises or vehicle that he/she subject himself/herself, or anything in his/her possession to an examination by an electronic or other apparatus in order to determine the presence of any Defence dangerous object. In terms of the act. powers of search and the authority to demand identification are given. The only qualification was that physical searches In November the minister of defence, Mr Magnus Malan, was handed the report of women be done by women. of the committee of inquiry set up in May 1984 under the chairmanship of the chicf On 13 December the state president, Mr P W Botha, amended the general of the army, Lieutenant General Jannie Geidenhuys, to investigate the South regulations promulgated under the Defence Act of 1957 by the addition of a new African Defence Force (SADF) and related aspects affecting the Armaments chapter to increase the powers of the South African Defence Force (SADF) in Corporation of South Africa (ARMSCOR) in the context of the economic situations of internal unrest. Regulation 1 provided that the SADF might be used situation and the future needs of the country (the Geidenhuys committee).
    [Show full text]
  • Music and Militarisation During the Period of the South African Border War (1966-1989): Perspectives from Paratus
    Music and Militarisation during the period of the South African Border War (1966-1989): Perspectives from Paratus Martha Susanna de Jongh Dissertation presented for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Stellenbosch University Supervisor: Professor Stephanus Muller Co-supervisor: Professor Ian van der Waag December 2020 Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Declaration By submitting this dissertation electronically, I declare that the entirety of the work contained therein is my own, original work, that I am the sole author thereof (unless to the extent explicitly otherwise stated), that reproduction and publication thereof by Stellenbosch University will not infringe any third party rights and that I have not previously in its entirety or in part submitted it for obtaining any qualification. Date: 29 July 2020 Copyright © 2020 Stellenbosch University All rights reserved i Stellenbosch University https://scholar.sun.ac.za Abstract In the absence of literature of the kind, this study addresses the role of music in militarising South African society during the time of the South African Border War (1966-1989). The War on the border between Namibia and Angola took place against the backdrop of the Cold War, during which the apartheid South African government believed that it had to protect the last remnants of Western civilization on the African continent against the communist onslaught. Civilians were made aware of this perceived threat through various civilian and military channels, which included the media, education and the private business sector. The involvement of these civilian sectors in the military resulted in the increasing militarisation of South African society through the blurring of boundaries between the civilian and the military.
    [Show full text]
  • Army Special Forces Legend
    Military Despatches Vol 45 March 2021 Thanks, but no thanks 10 dangerous roles in the military It pays to be a winner The US Navy SEALs An offer you can’t refuse Did the US Military and the Mafia collaborate? Colonel Arthur ‘Bull’ Simons US Army Special Forces legend For the military enthusiast CONTENTS March 2021 Page 14 Click on any video below to view How much do you know about movie theme songs? Take our quiz and find out. Hipe’s Wouter de The old South African Goede interviews former Defence Force used 28’s gang boss David a mixture of English, Williams. Afrikaans, slang and techno-speak that few Special Forces - US Navy SEALS outside the military could hope to under- 46 stand. Some of the terms Features Changes to the engine room were humorous, some 6 were clever, while others The Sea Cadets announce new were downright crude. Ten dangerous military roles appointments. These are ten military roles in 48 history that you did not want. Remembrance Day Part of Hipe’s “On the 22 32 Seaman Piper Pauwels from couch” series, this is an Who’s running the show? It’s not really a game TS Rook researches the mean- interview with one of The nine people that became How simulators are changing ing of Remembrance Day. author Herman Charles Chief of the SADF. the way the military trains. 50 Bosman’s most famous 24 36 characters, Oom Schalk Memories of a Sea Cadet An offer you can’t refuse Long distance air mail Deene Collopy, Country Man- A taxi driver was shot Lourens.
    [Show full text]
  • WHY INSURGENTS NEGOTIATE by Colin P
    THROWING IN THE TOWEL: WHY INSURGENTS NEGOTIATE By Colin P. Clarke B.A., Loyola University Maryland, 2002 M.S., New York University, 2007 Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Pittsburgh in partial fulfillment Of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy University of Pittsburgh 2012 i UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH GRADUATE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS This dissertation was presented By Colin P. Clarke It was defended on 18 October 2012 and approved by Professor Dennis M. Gormley, Senior Lecturer, University of Pittsburgh (GSPIA) Dr. Donald M. Goldstein, Professor Emeritus, University of Pittsburgh (GSPIA) Dr. Forrest E. Morgan, Senior Political Scientist, RAND Corporation Dr. Phil Williams, Professor/Director of Ridgway Center, University of Pittsburgh (GSPIA) ii THROWING IN THE TOWEL: WHY INSURGENTS NEGOTIATE Colin P. Clarke, B.A., Loyola University (’02); M.S., New York University (’07) University of Pittsburgh, 2012 Copyright © by Colin P. Clarke 2012 iii TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 1 1.1 PURPOSE ............................................................................................................. 1 1.2 METHOD ............................................................................................................. 4 1.2.1 Case Selection ................................................................................................... 4 1.2.2 Analytic Framework.......................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • The State Inside South Africa Between 1960 and 1990
    Volume TWO Chapter THREE The state inside South Africa between 1960 and 1990 I INTRODUCTION 1 The security forces used both overt and clandestine methods to suppress resistance and counter armed actions by opponents of apartheid. Overt methods included bannings and banishment, detention without trial, judicial executions and public order policing. More clandestine and covert forms of control included torture, extra-judicial killings and support for surrogate forces. I BANNINGS AND BANISHMENT 2 Between 1950 and 1990, the former state restricted the lives and activities of political activists and other individuals it considered a threat through the use of orders of listing, banning and banishment. Although listing was an intrusion on civil liberties, the Commission does not regard it as a gross violation of human rights. A listed person could not be quoted, could not hold parliamentary office and could not practise law. 3 The laws which provided for such restrictions included the Riotous Assemblies Act (1930), the Suppression of Communism Act (1950), the Public Safety Act (1953), the General Laws Amendment Act (1962), the Suppression of Communism Amendment Act (1967, amended 1972), the Terrorism Act (1976), and the Internal Security Acts (1976 & 1982). Banishment 4 The 1927 Native Administration Act empowered the Minister of Bantu Administration and Development (acting through the Governor General) to order “any tribe or native” to proceed forthwith to any designated place and not to leave it again VOLUME 2 CHAPTER 3 The State inside South Africa between 1960 and 1990 PAGE 165 without permission “whenever [the Minister deemed] it expedient in the general public interest”.
    [Show full text]