Silent Voices of Time

Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 21, Nr 3, 1991. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za

SILENT VOICES OF TIME

A SELECTIVE STUDY OF THE SCULPTURE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MILITARY HISTORY BY DR S MONICKl* (Photographs by author)

INTRODUCTION

The following article assumes the char- outrage that swept through the city acter of a photographic essay. Through acted as the final stimulus to Picasso, the medium of a highly selective study and he chose as the title for his pain- of the sculpture displayed at the South ting Guem/ca. Working rapidly he African National Museum of Military completed sketch after sketch until at History, Johannesburg, it is intended to last he arrived at the final form - a illustrate one aspect of the rich artistic devastating canvas II ft. 6 in. high by 25 resources displayed at this Museum. ft. long - which chronicled the terror of The critical aesthetic evaulation of the not only that single event but the entire sculptured pieces related to this study war. In this painting women run screa- are totally excluded from the writer's ming, a horse (symbolic of the people) terms of reference. (He is, in any event, is transfixed, a child lies dead, a house totally unqualified to proffer aesthetic is in flames, and a magnificent bull is judgements). Nevertheless, the writer stoically awaiting destruction, together has felt at liberty to project his indivi- forming a flood of havoc which moves dual, subjective response to the pieces from right to left across the canvas. discussed. Even the centre of the sun seems to be artificial, having at its core a naked The central motivation underlying this electric light bulb. A warrior lies in article is to capture and enhance - in fragments, shattered by the sweeping photographic form - an oft neglected destruction. The whole canvas is a theme in military history; viz that war- pictorial equivalent of the devastation fare embodies a fundamental cultural of the Civil War...This is one of the most aspect of human history which gene- powerful pictures with a message, and rates artistic expression. This process of as such it is above the narrow catego- articulation through the medium of art rization of schools or movements, but is as germane ro a nation's military no mention of Picasso's work is com- history as are other central driving plete without reference to it.' forces in its socio-cultural development which are embodied in such expres- In this article, the sculptured forms are sion; eg myth, religion, etc. An obvious approached from the viewpoint that illustration of this process is the art and they are the expression of central the- poetry generated by the Western Front mes (of a military character) within a of World War I. It is noteworthy that nation's development. one of the most dramatic and emotive paintings of the 20th Century was The subjects upon which the study is motivated and inspired by an action in focused are extremely variegated in the Spanish Civil War; viz the bombing both spatial and chronological dimen- of Guernica in 1937. The painting is, of sions (ie in terms of both national course, by Pablo Picasso and entitled origins and time). They consist of: Guem/ca. The painting was exhibited in the Spanish Pavilion at an International (1)The figure of the Greek goddess Exhibitionln sponsored by the French Nike, which surmounts the Rand Regi- Government. One writer states:2 ments Memorial;

. When, in 1937, the news of the bomb- (2)A silver shooting trophy originally ingand wiping out of a small Basque owned by the Johannesburg Mounted market-town reached Paris the sense of Rifles;

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(3) A bust of Wilhelm II captured by terpoints the SADF Memorial in so far as South African forces serving in South both are silent but dramatic recep- West Africa in 1915. tacles of sealed phases in the military- political history of Southern Africa. (4) A bust of Benito Mussolini;

(5) A statue of Maj Gen D H Pienaar; 1 THE GREEK GODDESS NIKE SUR- MOUNTING THE RAND REGIMENTS' (6) A miniature version of the SADF War MEMORIAV Memorial at Fort Klapperkop; The figure of the Greek goddess of Nike surmounts the memorial dedicated to (7) The Rhodesian 'Trooper'. those who fell during the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902, in the service of The selection detailed above has been regiments based in the Witwatersrand. shaped by a central theme; viz the This impressive and graceful monument principal landmarks in the nation's is situated adjacent to the South military-historical development, within African National Museum of Military a compass of time that spans the History and is visible from many van- critical phases in South African history. tage points north of Parktown ridge This approach commences with the (especially at night, when it is floodlit). Anglo-Boer War, the impact of which is It is not (contrary to a common mis- symbolized by the Greek goddess conception) a part of the South surmounting the Rand Regiments' Me- African National Museum of Military morial; encompasses the evolution of History. In point of fact, it is included the pre-Union Volunteer Corps and within the responsibilities of the Jo- succeeding Citizen Force within the hannesburg Municipality; although the Union Defence Forces, embodied in Museum does share in this respon- the Museum's display of regimental sibility to a certain extremely limited silver; points to the UDF's important extent (eg ensuring that it is properly contribution to the North African thea- maintained and not vandalized). In so tre in World War II. This is projected by far as the Monument is so closely the statue of Maj Gen Pienaar; this related to South African military history, aspect being reinforced by the bust of the sculptural aspect of the Memorial Mussolini. underscoring the pivotal role (Nike) is included within the scope of of South African forces in the destruc- this study. tion of Italy's East African Empire (a facet which, obviously, forms a most The Memorial itself was first conceived important theme in the career of Maj at a meeting of the Johannesburg Gen Pienaar, thus fusing his statue and town council in the September of 1904; Mussolini's bust in a juxtaposition of at which a Capt George A Hamilton- themes). The study extends to the Dickson gave notice of a motion that a military history of the post-Common- site be allocated for the purpose of wealth period, captured in bronze in erecting a memorial to all ranks who the form of the statuette upon which had been killed in the recent war, and the SADF Memorial at Fort Klapperkop that the Council should initiate a sche- is based. Within this context, the inclu- me for its erection. Sir Lionel Phillips sion of 'The Trooper' might conceivably was a key figure in the implementation strike a dissonant note, in so far as it of the project, which was not com- symbolizes the Rhodesian war effort, pleted until 1913, following a decade spanning the period 1965-1980. How- of contention, obstruction and finan- ever, the statue has been included for cial impediments. two principal reasons. First, the conflict that it mutely commemorates occurred The monument was designed by the within the Zambezi salient, and, being world famous architect, Sir Edwin Lut- geographically contiguous with the yens, who became renowned for his defence of the Portuguese Lusophone war memorials following the end of colonies of Angola and Mozambique, World War I. exercised profound repercussions upon the subsequent military history of the The figure of Nike, the focal point of Republic. Second, it graphically coun- this section, occupies an interesting

16 Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 21, Nr 3, 1991. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 21, Nr 3, 1991. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za position in the Greek mythological that the Memorial should bear a plaque pantheon. Sheisthe Greekgoddessof victory to the effect that the sculpture sym- and is the daughter of Pallas by Styx, bolized Johannesburg's tribute to and sister of Zelos (zeal), Kratos Wernher but the idea never attained (strength) and Bia (force). Her name is concrete expression. The goddess perpetuated in the glorious winged arrived from Paris and was placed 'Victory of Samothrace', displayed in above the Memorial in April 1914. It is the Louvre as well as in the tiny temple referred to in contemporary docu- of Nike Apteros (Wingless) in the Acro- ments as the 'Angel of Peace'. How- polis at Athens (1). ever, the designation is definitely erroneous in the light of the figure's mythological background, cited above. The sculpture, which faces west, is the It is feasible that this mistaken con- work of the Russian, Naoum Aronson, notation was calculated, in order to who was commissioned by Sir Hugh allay the criticism of those who argued Lane, following consultation with Lut- that the Memorial should comme- yens and Phillips. [Sir Hugh Lane was a morate the attainment of peace, as friend of the famous sculptor, Auguste opposed to the victory of one ethnic Rodin, and was asked to commission group over another. In point of fact, his friend to create the work. However, Sir Lionel Phillips shared this approach, for some reason Rodin was reluctant to and for this reason was initially op- undertake this task, and Aronson was posed to the Monument being sur- thus a second choice.) Aronson had mounted by a copy of the goddess. been a pupil of Rodin, and it is ge- [The figure of Nike recurs on the ob- nerally considered that the master verse of the Allied Victory Medal, one exercised a major influence upon his of the three campaigns medals awar- student's creations. Aronson had ded for service in World War I. Within achieved distinction through the me- this context, the original mythological dium of his busts of famous perso- context of the goddess appears to be nalities; including Chopin, Beethoven, paramount]. Certainly, the association Tolstoy and Lenin. When he received of Nike with peace strikes a decidedly dissonant note when one views both the commission to sculpt Nike, he was the domestic and international climate working on the busts of the Boer com- prevailing in the April of 1914. The manders, Louis Botha, J H de la Rey Union had been racked by the labour and C R de Wet. [These works had unrest which bedevilled its first decade; been commissioned for the Johan- manifested in virtually mini-insurrections nesburg Art Gallery and financed by in July 1913 and January 1914 (ominous funds that Lady Phillips had extracted harbingers of the Rand Revolt of 1922); from Senator Samuel Marks, the friend whilst, on an international plane, Europe and confidante of President S J P was on the eve of the holocaust that Kruger.] The Art Gallery (in the de- was to erupt in August 1914. Today, velopment of which Lady Phillips was the sculpture presents a definite forlorn appearance, being weatherbeaten instrumental) had previously acquired and stained. The succeeding decades a work by Aronson, entitled L'adoles- have certainly not been kind to her. Is cence (paid for by Abe Bailey). It is a it fanciful to detect a note of rejection most impressive sculpture in white in her appearance? Certainly, the marble. This,and the three other works Memorial which is her home has gene- referred to, are presently exhibited at rated divisive sentiments within the the Johannesburg Art Gallery. Thus, white population of South Africa. One through the medium of these four writer states:6 pieces, and the figure surmounting the Rand Regiments' Memorial, Aronson's 'The memorial which eventually mate- work is extensively represented within rialized was of no interest to those and South Africa.4 their descendants who served on the opposing side, to whom it was, and perhaps still is, known as 'die Kakie- Nike was -paid for by Sir Lionel Phillips monument'. from his personal funds. It formed his gift to the citizens of Johannesburg, The writer• is quoting a description and embodied a tribute to Sir Julius contained in the Transvaler, dated 19 Wernher.6 It was originally intended August 1964.

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In this respect, the Memorial must be Guards, his well-known aversion from considered a failure when compared party politics, his brash assertions of with Lutyens's other creations, which German world policy and his much- have served as a focal point of col- expressed faith in the superiority of lective national sentiment. These in- German character, efficiency, youthful clude the Cenotaph In London as well aspirations, and industriousness, all as the Cross of Sacrifice, the Stone of reflected and mirrored what the Ger- Remembrance and the white head- mans of his time liked to feel them- stones which characterize the war selves to be. So novel and breath- cemeteries of both World Wars. (The taking were the outward trappings of degree of this failure becomes ap- the reign, so heartening his repeated parent in the light of the precedent insistence on Germany's outward urges which the Rand Regiments Memorial and armed might, that contemporary created with regard to succeeding war observers became too dazzled to memorials; eg the Memorial to the realize that only the style, not the Missing of the Somme at Thiepval substance, of the reign was new. The (France) and the All India Memorial Kaiser was no innovator, no creative Arch in New Delhi, India; both cap- ruler like Louis XIV or Frederic k the turing the serene spiritual atmosphere Great, who reshaped their kingdoms which Lutyens strove for. governmentally and socially in accor- dance with the political facts of their times. Wilhelm II merely exaggerated 2 BUST OF WILHELM II and overdramatised what he had inherited, his main motive being to Very little information is available with lead the Reich in a direction that regard to this sensitively sculptured and would be' the precise opposite of finely detailed bust of Wilhelm II. To everything his parents with their liberal reiterate, it was acquired by UDFtroops English orientation had wanted. So he serving in South West Africa in 1915. evolved with great aplomb his role as a The bust was found in Windhoek. personalising egocrat whose word and will was supreme law. It was the Born on 27 January 1859, third in resurrection of the fake Kais~r leading succession to the throne of Prussia, the Reich under God and Bismarck that Wilhelm II ascended to the throne of had corrupted him as a human being - Germany in 1888 and died in Holland on 4 June 1941. the artifice of sham absolute power that, in his case, turned him into an It is noteworthy that this exhibit will be accomplished and very produceable greatly enhanced in terms of impact actor. Throughout his reign he re- by its relocation in the Dan Pienaar ceived the thunderous applause of his Gun Park, at present under con- subjects, while abroad his posturing struction. Its position in the Museum's and oratorical aggressions came to be recreation of the spirit and atmosphere regarded as political facts of con- of the world of 1914,:1918 perfectly sequence and moment. '7 accords with the work's embodiment of the impress of Kaiser Wilhelm II It is an instructive exercise to compare throughout this period (and, indeed, this piece with the blatantly aggressive the preceding two decades). The work Fascist sculpture embodied in Musso- manifests a sense of grandeur and Iini's bust; cf below. The contrast in pomp which is so clearly visible in the impression is the more remarkable in so far as both were regarded, in their monarchies of the pre-World War I respective periods, as very similar; Ie in period. Within this context, it is ger- terms of aggressive, militaristic per- mane to quote an interesting comment sonalities. Possibly the very great upon Kaiser Wilhelm II's impact upon difference projected by their sculp- both Germany and Europe during the tured personalities is rooted in the fact pre-World War I period: that, whilst Wilhelm II was a scion of the European monarchies (more speci- • He was the ideal interpreter of the fically the Hohenzollern throne), Mus- Second Reich. His sense of the drama- solini was characteristic of the Fascist tic, riding in splendid uniform through adventurers who seized power during the streets of Berlin at the head of his the inter-war period.

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The sensitively sculptured and flIJely detailed bust of Wilhelm II acquired by UDF troops serving in South West Africa (now Namibia), at Windhoek, in 1915

The popular conception of Wilhelm II, intrinsically and fundamentally a mani- discussed above, has an important festation of the central theme eluci- bearing upon the bust as a mani- dated in this article. festation of art generated by war. It may, with justice, be argued, that the 3 REGIMENTAL SILVER work's association with military history is effected through the medium of asso- It is important to bear in mind, within ciation (in so far as it was obtained this context, that silver is an important during the German South West African medium of the sculptor's art (pos- campaign.) Such a viewpoint would sessing the distinct advantage of being argue that its relationship with the most malleable). The South Afrlcon central theme of this article is extrinsic, DIgest (2 March 1984) informed the and not intrinsic. However, one may public of the South Africa National justifiably present a counter-argument Museum of Military History's display of to this approach, implicit in the dis- regimental silver. An extract from this cussion of Wilhelm's impress upon the article (entitled A fortune In mllltory society and politics of the pre-World hIstory) reads as follows: War I period. In a fundamental sense, the German Kaiser was a pivotal figure , The South African National Museum of in the overheated international climate Military History is presenting a magni- which generated, ultimately, the out- ficent display of 50 items of regimental break of World War I. As indicated in silver that have been borrowed from the passage quoted above, Wilhelm the collections of units throughout the underpinned a blatantly militaristic Republic ...the silver is being shown for society. To this extent, his bust is the first time. Visitors to various messes

20 Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 21, Nr 3, 1991. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za may have seen specific items, but never before has there been a single collection for public viewing as this. With one exception all the items on display are of sterling silver.'

The collection includes:

(i)A finely worked silver port flagon possessed by the Natal Carbineers. This was a Bisley trophy, dating back to 1884.

(ii)A rose bowl, of sterling silver, presented to Wemmer Pan Commando by the well known South African, Col H Oppenheimer, in 1960.

(iii)A trophy depicting a mounted rifleman, presented to Sir Percy Fitz- patrick (the author of the world famous novel, Jock of the Bushveld), who, in turn, presented it to the Imperial Light Horse Regiment (now the Light Horse Regiment). He was one of the founders of the Regiment. The Dale Lace Trophy, which appears on the (iv)The magnificent Dawson shooting cover of this issue trophy of the Kaffrarian Rifles, featuring a buffalo and Maxim gun. This piece was presented to the Regiment in 1905. Citizen Force. The vast majority of British troops garrisoned in South Africa (v)A silver beermug owned by the left the Union in 1914, and the final Natal Carbineers, dating back to 1878 remnants in 1921. Their extensive ser- and first awarded for a horse race. vice in the colonies of the Cape and The myth of Jason and the Golden Natal, as well as in the two Boer Fleece is depicted on this piece. republics in the course of the Anglo- Boer War bequeathed an enduring The Johannesburg Mounted Rifles, the legacy to the South African military regiment associated with the trophy system; in the form of the regimental which is the focus of study in this structure and its profound implications. section - the Dale Lace Trophy - has Within this context, the following ex- been long defunct. The regiment was tract from the regimental history of the disbanded in 1907. The Rand Light Witwatersrand Rifles is deemed to be Infantry acts as custodian of the silver apposite (2): collection displayed in the Military History Museum. The Assistant Director '[The Regiment] is a concept which of the Museum, Capt J L Keene, is the derives ... from the British Army (the former Regimental Sergeant Major and regiments of which have often been present Adjutant of the Rand Light compared to a series of tribal groups, Infantry and played a major role in the characterized by the fierce assertion of display of the Collection. separateness and independence; there is no Royal Army, as there is the Royal The regimental silver displayed by the Air Force and Royal Navy). The British Museum bears an extremely important model has been a prominent shaping relationship to South African military influence in the volunteer corps which history; a relationship which is dis- were eventually integrated into the cernible in several dimensions. First, it Citizen Force. This association between bears graphic testimony to the central a regiment and a tribal group pos- role of the regimental concept in the sesses a fundamental core of truth.

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For, in a very real sense, a regiment is ber of the regiment being lifted from an extended family, bound, not by ties the battlefield by a mounted comrade. of blood (although family tradition It was made by Elkington and Com- does play an important role in the pany in 1904 and inscribed as the process of continuity ...), but by com- "Inter Squadron Shooting Trophy". mon loyalty to a central body of (Today it is known as the Dale Lace tradition, founded upon shared ap- Trophy and competed for annually by proaches to experience.' Citizen Force regiments in Witwaters- rand Command.' The origins of the pieces contained within the Collection bear testimony to It is probable that the statuette illus- the lineage of these Volunteer corps - trates a situation - the rescue of a shaped by the British regimental tra- dismounted comrade from the battle- dition - which predate the institution of field - which was actually enacted in the Citizen Force in 1913 (in some the course of the Anglo-Boer War. The instances by some four decades). The (admittedly sparse) documentation statuette depicted in this article relates available lends a certain degree of to the Transvaal Volunteer corps, the credence to this hypothesis. A 2nd Lt basic impetus to which were those C G Greehem was Mentioned in Des- irregular corps raised for service in the patches (Lord Kitchener's Mentions of Anglo-Boer War. The Johannesburg 28 July 1901) for his actions of 30 June Mounted Rifles was raised on 12 De- 1901, when he twice exposed himself to cember 1900. The corps was com- heavy fire in order to rescue his bro- manded by Lt Col H K Stewart and ther, who had been stunned by the fall possessed a strength of 600. A second of his horse (5). The piece projects a battalion was raised in January 1901, startling immediacy and powerful dra- under the command of Lt Col M A matic impact, strangely suggestive of Warren (3). The irregular volunteer its being a medium or record of an corps which had served in the Anglo- actual event. Viewing the work from a Boer War were duly disbanded on 7 strictly documentary standpoint, the July 1902, but, largely due to the trophy encapsulates, with fine detail, influence of Lord Kitchener, those units the uniform and accoutrements of which had rendered sterling service mounted troops in the Anglo-Boer War. during the War were revived as com- ponents of the Transvaal Volunteer The second important th~me implicit in corps. Thus, the Johannesburg Mounted the trophy featured in this section is its Rifles continued its life as a mounted embodiment of the close interaction unit within the Transvaal volunteers betweend the Rand mining magnates (being reraised in terms of Ordinance and the Transvaal Volunteer corps. In No 33 of 1902.) However, the Regiment so far as his name is inscribed on the enjoyed only 0 brief tenure of exis- piece, and in the light of the fact that tence subsequent to its revival in 1902. Lt Col Lace commanded the corps with It proved the victim (together with the which the trophy was originally asso- Scottish Horse and South African Light ciated, it is deemed apposite to furnish Horse) of organizational changes exe- a detailed biographical profile of Lt cuted on 1 July 1907, and ceased to Col Lace (6). He was the first Officer exist from that point hence. Commanding of the Johannesburg Mounted Rifles, following the con- The trophy illustrated in this section, clusion of the Anglo-Boer War. Born in presented to the Johannesburg Moun- the Isle of Man, John Dale Lace was a ted Rifles by its OC, Lt Col John Dale most influential financier and mining Lace (1859-1937) is described in one magnate, based on the Witwatersrand, source (4) in the following terms: to which he moved in 1886 following service with the Bank of Africa in its 'Lt-Col Dale Lace endowed the regi- Cape Town and Kimberley branches. ment with probably the most specta- He subsequently served on the boards cular of the many splendid pieces of of the Violet Consolidated Mines, silver given the various regiments of the Champ d'Or Deep Levels and Vogel- Transvaal Volunteers by their colonels. struisfontein Consolidated. For many It is an equestrian statuette of a mem- years he was Chairman of Knights

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(Witwatersrand Gold Mining Ltd.), pro- in the economic, social and political moted the Lace Diamond Mining Com- life of the Witwatersrand; a role which pany ,and owned gold mining pro- counter-pointed and paralleled his perties in the Far East Rand, which he position in the Volunteer corps. sold to the Lace Proprietary Mines. Lace's interests also extended to coal, Third, it is singularly noteworthy that the and he promoted the Natal Navigation trophy has continued to serve as a Colliers and the Cassell Coal Com- focus of shooting competitions almost pany. In 1920 he was Chairman of the a century after the demise of the Postmas Diamond Prospect, in which Johannesburg Mounted Rifles. In this capacity he was responsible for the respect, the piece symbolizes the development of the Postmas mine in central role of rifle shooting in both the Postmasburg. Foreseeing a promising military and social life of South Africa future for base metals, he, L T H Shone until the post-World War II period. and R Saner founded, in 1925, the first Within this context, one source states manganese company in South Africa; (7): the Union Manganese Mines and Mine- rals Ltd. In 1929 he was appointed , It is important to bear in mind that Director of the Manganese Corpo- shooting enjoyed far greater promi- ration Ltd, which was eventually nence as a national sport during the merged with the Associated Man- 1920s and 1930s than it does today. ganese Mines of South Africa Ltd. During this period rugby and cricket did not enjoy the extensive sponsorship Lace played an important role in the which they receive at the present time politics of the Witwatersrand, imme- and were, therefore, far more elitist diately prior to and succeeding the sports. However, a member of the Anglo-Boer War. He was a member of District Rifle Association or Citizen Force the 'Uitlander Reform Committee". Fol- Regiment would receive his rifle and lowing the failure of the Jameson Raid ammunition free of charge. The Natio- of 1896, Lace was imprisoned in Pre- nal Bisley enjoyed extensive press toria Jail for three months and fined £2 coverage, and attracted senior and 000 for his role in the insurrection. From distinguished members of South African 1899 onwards he represented the society. Thus the prominence of [a Chamber of Mines on the Council of Citizen Force regiment] in the sphere of Education of the Witwatersrand. Fol- shooting would certainly register in the lowing the end of the Second South public imagination. To gain an award African War in 1902 he was offered by in the British Bisley was certainly de- Lord Milner and accepted a seat on serving of praise and renown.' the nominated Town Council of Johan- nesburg; this Council having been Thus, when Sgt F H Morgan of the appointed to organize municipal affairs Witwatersrand Rifles gained the King's pending the election of a municipal Prize at Bisley, in 1920, the adjutant of council. In 1903 he was elected as a the regiment (then Capt (later Maj member of the town council and was a Gen) F L A Buchanan) addressed the prime mover in the conception of the following circular (dated 1 October ward system of local government. 1920) to the officers and NCOs of the Predictably, Lace played a prominent unit: role in the social and sporting life of Johannesburg. He was a founding TO ALL OFFICERS AND N.C.O.'s OF member of the Wanderers' Club and REGIMENT also a member of several prestigous clubs in both London and Johan- Sergeant F.H. Morgan, Witwatersrand nesburg. Further, he was a noted Rifles, winner of the King's Prize, British philanthropist; contributing freely to Bisley, 1920, is expected to arrive at such charitable projects as Nazareth Park Station on Wednesday next, 6th House. His financial resources con- instant. siderably declined in his later years. The Transvaal Rifle Association are It is clearly apparent from the fore- arranging an official reception for him, going biographical details that Lt Col at which the District Staff Officer and Lace was a most prominent personality Staff of NO.8 Military District will attend.

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The Commanding Officer desires that lying spirit of these units survived in the all available officers and other ranks of interwar years, in the form of the the Regiment will attend. Defence Rifle Associations. During the post-Commonwealth period the Com- DRESS-UNIFORM...' mandos were greatly encouraged and revived in a distinct military form. The Rand mining magnates manifested During the initial phases of their history a deep interest in shooting, which was they were differentiated from Citizen naturally translated into the Volunteer Force regiments in so far as their area corps upon which they exerted such a of operations was limited to their home powerful impress; with the resultant base. Today there is very little dis- high profile which musketry occupied tinction, if any, from Citizen Force in the life of these units. [The Witwaters- Regiments; and, indeed, many Com- rand Rifles (cf above) and Rand Light mandos have altered their designation Infantry are important exemplars of this to that of regiments.) The Boers cer- dominant theme in the history of the tainly attached pride of plac e to Transvaal Volunteer corps; and, after marksmanship (as the British troops 1913, the Citizen Force]. The tradition painfully experienced at Majuba in whereby the OC or Honorary Colonel 1881, during 'Black Week' of December of a Volunteer unit donated a silver 1899, and in subsequent actions during trophy, often awarded for skill in marks- the Second South African War.) Such manship, exemplified this two-fold shooting skill underpinned success in interction between the encouragment both hunting and war by the Boers. of musketry by the Rand mining mag- However, the Boer precedent acting as nates, and the vital contribution of the the motivation to the role of shooting in latter to the Volunteer corps. Lt Col the Transvaal is questionable. It is more lace personifies this process. In com- probable that the impetus derived mon with the majority of the OCs of from the traditions created by the Transvaal volunteer regiments, he was British Volunteer corps (instituted in keenly interested in the development 1859 and merged, together with the of marksmanship among the volun- other auxiliary forces (the Yeomanry teers. Two further important figures in and Militia) into the Territorial Force in this regard were Lt Col R Schumacher 1908). The Volunteer Movement in (later ffennell) (a wealthy mining mag- England was the prime moving force in nate and OC of the Witwatersrand the formation and development of the Rifles during the period 1908-1909, and National Rifle Association. Within this the regiment's Honorary Colonel be- context, one source comments (8): tween 1909-1923); Col Sir Lionel Phillips (Honorary Colonel of the Witwaters- , With regard to the National Rifle rand Rifles during the period 1908-1936, Association, the seeds of the organi- at which latter date he died, and zation had been planted in October sharing the honour with Col Schu- 1859, when a committee had been macher during the years 1909-1923); established to organise such an asso- and l t Col W Dalrymple of the Scottish ciation. The Committee was led by Earl Horse. Lt Col lace and the last named Spencer, Proctor Beauchamp, Archi- officer were the first two trustees of the bald Boyle, Henry Templar, Wilbraham Transvaal Rifle Association. Taylor (12th Middlesex Rifle Volunteer Corps) and Edmund Warre, of Eton The high priority which skill in marks- College. Simultaneously, other metro- manship enjoyed in the Transvaal politan rifle volunteer corps, including volunteer corps and the succeeding the london Rifle Brigade, had orga- Citizen Force regiments is frequently nized their own committee, chaired by construed as a legacy of the Boer lord Elcho (of the london Scottish Rifle Commandos, who impressed the im- Volunteer Corps) and Earl Grosvenor portance of shooting upon the British (Queen's Westminster Rifle Volunteer Army in the course of two Anglo-Boer Corps). The two groups met at Spen- Wars. [These Commandos encap- cer's london residence. On 16 Novem- sulated the military history of the ber 1859, at a joint meeting at the Afrikaner section of the white po- Thatched House Tavern, a council was pulation in South Africa. The under- established for the new Association.

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The objects of the Association were to Both awards were translated into South secure the permanence of the volun- African Volunteers awards in the form teer movement and the encoura- of the Colonial Auxiliary Force Long gement of rifle shooting as a pastime. Service Medal and Colonial AuxlJlary Forces Officers Deco-ration (VO) re- The first meeting was convened on spectively.9 Wimbledon Common on 2 July 1860 (largely as the result of the proposal of It is important to bear in mind that the the Association's secretary, Edward Volunteer corps was more closely inte- Mildmay). The event was opened by grated into the British Regular Army (ie Queen Victoria and her bullet - fired Permanent Force) in 1881 when, as from a carefully aimed and wired Arm- part of a far reaching re-organization strong rifle - scored a bullseye. The (which included the abolition of former Queen commented upon the manner numbered regimental titles in favour of in which the traditional British fondness territorial designations) the majority of for sports had been channelled into such corps were established as volun- the defensive needs of the country, for, teer battalions of Regular regiments. In she stated, it was the purpose of the the light of the extremely close asso- Association "to make the rifle what the bow was in the days of the Planta- ciation between the Volunteer move- ganets."8 Her comments encapsulated ment and the National Rifle Association the principal aim of the advocates of it is very probable that the sensitivity to the volunteer movement prior to 1859. the role of shooting within the British It was most apposite that the medals Army derived from the Volunteers; an awarded by the National Rifle Asso- impact enhanced by the reorga- ciation depicted an archer of the nization of the latter in 1881. ensuring a period 1300-1500 standing next to a more immediate influence. In view of rifleman of 1860, with the motto sit the impress of the British Volunteers perpetum. The meetings of the Natio- upon their Transvaal counterparts, the nal Rifle Association continued to be role of shooting in the latter owes its held on Wimbledon Common until ultimate derivation to the former. 1890, when they were transferred to Bisley (mainly because the Duke of Hence, the regimental silver displayed Cambridge objected to the com- at the South African National Museum petitions held at Wimbledon, as the of Military History exemplify a British tra- bullets were reaching his land at dition centred upon South Africa, in Coombe). terms of both the regimental concept and shooting prowess. It is highly significant that the national shooting competition in South Afri.:a bore the name Bisley. 4 BUST OF BENITO MUSSOLINI The argument that the emphasis upon The source of this exhibit is contained marksmanship within the Transvaal Vol- within a letter published in The Sapper, unteer corps derived from the prece- dated November 1979, written by dent established by the British Volun- Charles Higgins: teer corps pivots impress by the latter upon the former. This process is lent 're: Bust, Mussolini's head considerable credence by the awards made to members of the South Afri- Sapper Atkinson, myself, and Capt. can Volunteer corps (and later Citizen Midgely, as I knew him, expropriated Force). These awards were rooted in the bust of Mussolini's head now on those made to the British Volunteer display in the War Museum at the Zoo. corps. Thus, the Volunteer Long Service Medal was instituted in 1892 for those We took it from the 33rd Barracks in non-commissioned members of the Addis Ababa and posted it to the Volunteer forces who had completed Governor General's War Fund in Jo- 20 years service. The Volunteer Officers hannesburg, South Africa.' Decoration (VO) was instituted in 1892 also, as a mark of efficient and meri- It appears from the letter cited above torious service in the Volunteer corps. that the three Individuals therein named

25 Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 21, Nr 3, 1991. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za were members of 35 Works Company, on the Allied side in World War I). It South African Engineer Corps. should be noted that Ethiopia had featured in Italian expansionist am- The bust, executed in bronze, is colour- bitions during the last quarter of the ed black (possibly indicating the pa- 19th Century, attaining a horrendous tina of the artist) and is presently and tragic climax in the crushing displayed in the Adler Hall of the South defeat imposed upon Italian forces by the Ethiopians at the Battle of Adowa (1896). The Italian invasion of 1935 was conceived in terms of revenge for this humiliation and a renewal of that nation's pride.

The bust is a most revealing illustration of Fascist art, and, most importantly, the manner in which Fascism conceives of art; viz as a vehicle by which to inculcate reverance for the personality cult, underpinning the dictatorships of both Germany and Italy. The bust captured in the photograph is undoubtedly characterized by a mas- sive, brooding dominance. The work may be defined in terms of 'super realism', being entirely consistent with the Dictator's own (massively exaggerated) conception of his image and personality. The distended character of the planes from whence the features have been sculptured bespeak of this process of exaggeration. There is an unmistakeable impression of posturing implicit in the work, which is perhaps Bust of Benito Mussolini which came from Addis Ababa the source of an undeniable atmosphere of ridicule or farce projected by the work. One feels that it signally fails to achieve its objective. The work is African National Museum of Military symptomatic of the fact that, of the History. However, it is shortly to be three Fascist dictators who bestrode relocated in a display, in the same hall. the European scene during the inter- This display is at present under con- war years (Hitler and Franco being the struction. It is devoted to the Fascist other two) Mussolini was taken the least adventure in Africa during the period seriously. 1935-1943. It is not commonly known that, of all The original location of the bust is most the inter-war dictators, Benito Mussolini apposite. For Mussolini conceived of enjoyed the longest tenure of power; Abyssinia (or Ethiopia, to quote its commencing in 1922 and only ending traditional name) as the manifestation in 1943. and projection of Fascist power on the African continent; the re-creation of 5 STATUE OF MAl GEN D H (DAN) ancient Rome's provinces in Africa. PIENAAR, CB, DSO & BAR Italy invaded Ethiopia in the October of 1935. Other Italian controlled sectors The background and career of Maj of East Africa and North Africa (eg Gen D H (Dan) Pienaar, CB, DSO & Bar Somaliland, Libya) were conceived in - centring upon his command of 1 the same light (although Italy's pos- South African Infantry Brigade in both session of these latter territories derived Abyssinia and North Africa and being from the immediate post-World War I climaxed by his leadership of 1 SA period, as a reward for her intervention Infantry Division at the Battles of EI

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Alamein in July and October of 1942 - protection from useless or thoughtless has been the subject of such extensive sacrifice evoked among them a re- detailed studies (including Maj Gen sponsive affection and respect.' Pienaar's biography), that it is considered profitless to attempt such a Maj Bierman writes: recapitulation within the limited space available in this article. However, the , Pienaar was born on a farm at Lady- reader will have noticed the writer's brand in the Free State and grew up practice of counterpointing the sculp- on a farm near Wakkerstroom in the tured work with a pen portrait, in order Transvaal. Smuts, who came from a to provide a background to the artist's similar background in the Western reconstruction. This approach is adop- Cape, noted that ted within this section. " in the traditions of his race Pienaar An article published in Uniform (May was not hidebound by the military 1980) entitled 'Pienaar of Alamein', by textbook, but he drew freely upon the Maj H Bierman, contains the following law and experience of the veld, which tribute to Maj Gen Pienaar: had been his background, for the adaptation of military principles to the , It is difficult to imagine how the story various situations which he, as a senior of South Africa's role in the Second officer, had from time to time, to face." , World War would have read without the colourful and inspiring contribution As is well known, Maj Gen Pienaar's made by Major-General Daniel Her- career was suddenly and most tra- manus Pienaar, C.B" D.S.O. (and Bar) gically cut short when his aircraft to his country's martial prowess.' crashed at Kisumu, in East Africa, on 19 December 1942. The writer quotes Field Marshal Smuts's foreword to the biography of Maj Gen The Dan Pienaar Memorial Statue was Pienaar, entitled Plenaar of Alameln, originally located at the Jimmy O'Con- by A M Pollock (published in 1943 and nor Welfare Services Club Building in commissioned by the Union Bureau of Jules Street, Malvern, Johannesburg. In Information). This foreword graphically captures the character of Maj Gen Pienaar's leadership and the rhythm of his personality. An extract from this foreword reads as follows:

, ...a simple, unassuming South African soldier who made a great name for himself and for his country on the battlefields of Abyssinia and Egypt ...His popularity as a leader of men did not rest merely on such fickle and mutable things as his luck. Nor was his popularity due wholly to the unaffected cameraderie and good fellowship which were so characteristic of him.

There was something more intrinsic, more practical, in his gift of leadership than even these essential qualities and the entertaining whimsicalities of his personality. He radiated confidence - both in himself and his men and in the outcome of battle; his personal courage and indifference to hardship and danger were infectious; and his per- The Dan Pienaar Memorial Statue was originally sistent solicitude for the welfare of the located at the Jimmy O'Conner Welfare Services troops under his command and their Club in Malvem,Johannesburg

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1990 it was transferred to the tranquil with his FN rifle and individual webbing grounds of the South African National equipment. The Memorial is called " Museum of Military History. The statue The Trooper". was cast by the firm of R Vignali Foun- ders, of Pretoria North, in 1944. Renzo The Memorial is to be saluted by Rho- Vignali (1903-1945), an Italian foun- desian soldiers as they pass by; it was dryman, emigrated to South Africa in unveiled at a parade headed by Lieut. 1931. He was motivated in doing so by General Peter Walls, and the general the influence of Anton van Wouw, the of the Army, Lieut.-General John Hick- well known South African sculptor, who man. The O.C. of the RlI, Lieut. Col. I.R. had admired Vignali's work whilst Bate, addressed the Battalion para- visiting Italy. Vignali established his ded for the unveiling, observing that foundry in Pretoria North. In 1940 he the statue represented "Courage, skill was interned at Koffiefontein but was and endurance." He deplored the released after one month, as he was "dismal Jummies" who suggested that busily engaged on the sculpture of as soon as black majority rule had Gen louis Botha (presently in the Union come into effect, the statue might be Buildings Gardens). The statue of Maj torn down. "It will live as long as there Gen Pienaar will form a pivotal place in is a single breath in a surviving Rli the Gun Park presently under con- trooper", he said.' struction. It is most fitting that this unique area of the Museum is de- The following article appeared in the dicated to the memory of an officer journal, The fightIng forces of ZIm- who was, undoubtedly, South Africa's babwe-RhodesIa (No 6, July 1979): pre-eminent gunner. The key to Maj Gen Pienaar's victories resided in the 'The Trooper disposition of his artillery. " It is with great pride that we honour 6 THE TROOPER today those men of the Regiment who have made the supreme sacrifice and This statue was cast by Romillo Fiorini, we dedicate this statue to their mem- from a piece sculptured by Capt Mic- ory", said lieutenant Colonel I.R. Bate, hael Blackman. The casting was exe- MlM, Commanding Officer of the 1st cuted with re-smelted cartridge cases. Battalion of the Rhodesia [sIc] Light It was modelled on Tpr H Wayne, who Infantry, at the dedication and un- was conceived as typifying the youth- veiling ceremony of " The Trooper". ful resilience of the Rhodesian Light Infantry. The life-size statue was origi- The statue, which stands on a plinth in nally erected as a memorial at the the centre of "Holy Ground" in the Rli barracks of the Rhodesian Light In- Barracks, is cast in bronze and is a life fantry in Harare (formerly Salisbury), size replica of a typical "troopie" of Zimbabwe-Rhodesia (formerly Rho- Zimbabwe Rhodesia's crack airborne desia, now Zimbabwe). The statue was Light Infantry Regiment. unveiled on 1 February 1979, the date being the official Regimental Birthday It stands in memory of all those mem- of the unit, which was founded in 1961. bers of the Battalion who have died in Indaba, dated September 1979, de- action since the beginning of the war. scribed the memorial as follows: The Rli Regimental Birthday on Fe- , Rhodesian memorial pays homage to bruary 1 1979, was chosen for the Rli men who died in action dedication and unveiling which took the form of a parade, commanded by Rhodesia has commissioned a bronze Major Pat Armstrong, with represen- memorial to commemorate the fallen tative guards from each Commando. in the protracted fighting of the 99 The troops marched on to the specially members of the Rhodesian Light In- prepared Holy Ground to the accom- fantry who have lost their lives in anti- paniment of the Band of the Rhodesian terrorist combat. African Rifles. The names of the Roll of Honour for each Commando were It takes the form of a ... ranker, dressed read by the Sergeant Majors of each in the bush tee-shirt, shorts and takies, Commando. 28 Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 21, Nr 3, 1991. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za

Lance Corporal R.N. Phillips, SCR [Silver two bronze slabs with the regimental Cross of Rhodesia], one of the most badge on them is also in the possession highly decorated members of the of the museum. These slabs were on battalion, unveiled " The Trooper". the statue in Rhodesia but will now only Trumpeters of the RAR sounded the " be replaced when "Troopie" finds a Last Post" and " Reveille" and the permanent home. parade marched off to the Regimental march, " The Saints". According to a letter Uniform received from Mr Brayley, he was one of the The RLI was the first regular infantry people who [helped] load "Troopie" battalion formed in this country and it onto a truck when it left Rhodesia. ' has earned a world-wide reputation as one of the best fighting units in the The work is, obviously, far removed world. A fitting tribute was made by a from the highly formal, often stylized veteran of the Malayan campaign, works which are dedicated to the Warrant Officer Herod, of the RAR fallen. The conception is highly 'de- [Rhodesian African Rifles] who said, mocratized' in so far as it seeks to after he had been through a successful recapture the spirit and conditions of skirmish with terrorist guerrillas along- the soldier in the bush. side a group of RLItroops: " They have the faces of boys, but they fight like lions". ' The statue elicits provocative reactions and sentiments. Clearly, it has ceased Lt Col Bate's optimism in relation to the to be a memorial, being displaced permanence of The Trooper's home from its original national context. has not been confirmed by subsequent However, one is tempted to wonder events. For, following the accession to whether, even if it had not been power of Robert Mugabe's Govern- uprooted, it would have fulfilled the ment, the statue accompanied many function of a memorial. In one im- Rhodesians who emigrated to the portant respect, it shares a feature in Republic. It should be emphasized that common with the I~and Regiments the Military History Museum is only a Memorial, discussed above. In both temporary custodian of the statue; a instances, the memorial is a focus of point emphasized by the Museum's sectional, parochial sentiments, rela- former Public Relations Officer and ting to a specific ethnic group within Curator of Ordnance, Cmdt (later Col) the society. The difference resides in o E F Baker (who has since retired). the fact that, whereas the Rand Regi- Col Baker's comments are contained ments Memorial embodies the victory within an article by Craig Mark, pu- of the sector of the population to blished in Uniform (28 April 1988): which it is dedicated, the "Trooper" is evocative of defeat. The same consi- ' ... As Commandant Baker, the mu- derations could be extended-- to the seum's public relations officer and 'Heroes Acre' in the Matopos, similarly curator, told Uniform, " It has not found representative of sectional interests in a permanent home here. The Museum the war. The writer has gained the is only acting as custodian until the impression, in photographing the sta- Rhodesian "Old Boys" have found them- tue, that it manifests a sense of lone- selves ground where they can settle liness and neglect. In this respect, it is themselves and "Troopie". counterpointed by the figure of Nike, discussed above. 'The Trooper' pro- "The complaints that it was no longer a jects a strong atmosphere of brooding monument are now easily answered, as defeat and exile. a museum is not the right place for a monument but rather for items aimed From the strictly artistic viewpoint, both at public interest", Commandant Baker the statue of Maj Gen Pienaar and that added. ' of the Rhodesian Trooper share a cu- rious feature in terms of design. The The article continues: creators in both instances have pro- duced works which duplicate precisely ' ...Mr T.S. Brayley from Barnstaple, Eng- the dimensions of the original. This life- land, will be pleased to know that the sized reproduction generates, in the

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eyes of the observer, a distorting im- combing thick bush in pursuit of terro- pression. rists. Two enemy machine guns suddenly opened fire on Lieut leelie and 7 MINIATURE VERSION OF SADF Lance Corporal Hillebrand. Lieut lee lie MEMORIAL AT FORT KLAPPERKOP and Lance Corporal Hillebrand imme- diately went to the attack. Lance The South African National Museum of Corporal Hillebrand was virtually pin- Military History also displays a miniature ned down in the enemy position but version of the SADF Memorial located Lieut leelie, without thought for his at Fort Klapperkop. The statue repre- personal safety and in spite of the sents the first national war monument extreme danger to which he was in South Africa, and was unveiled on 31 exposed, stormed the enemy position May (Republic Day) 1979 by the (then) and forced one machine gun to with- Prime Minister (later State President), Mr draw and overpowered the other, P W Botha. The Memorial embodies a regrettably losing his life in so doing. tribute to all members of the SADF killed in action since the institution of As a result of this selfless act in the face the Republic in 1961. The sculptor of of personal danger, the left flank of the the twice life-size statue is Mr Henk van patrol was able to redeploy owing to der Merwe; and Mr Hennie Joubert the lessening of enemy fire. The charge cast the work in bronze. The statue took place over a distance of fifty depicts a charging soldier. In point of metres ... ' fact, the statuette - mounted on a plinth - displayed at the South African It is most apparent, therefore, that the National Museum of Military History statuette displayed at the South Afri- predates the national memorial. The can National Museum of Military History work at Fort Klapperkop is a replica of possesses a profound interest, on both the statuette posthumously presented the personal and historical planes. to next of kin who died in action during With regard to the former, it symbolizes the Angolan War of 1975-1976. The a unique act of gallantry. actual piece displayed by the Military History Museum is inscribed:

'FREDDIE lEELIE/ONS SAL ANTWOORD OP JOU ROEPSTEM/ONS SAL OFFER WAT Jy lYRA'

A second plate reads: '23-6-74.' This particular work probably pre-dates the statuettes presented to the next-of-kin of those killed in Operation Savannah. It was, in all probability, the very first to be presented to the deceased's rela- tives. For Lt leelie was the very first man to be killed in" border operations, being killed in action on 23 June 1974.

The South African National Museum of Military History is privileged to display the awards (The Louw Wepener De- coration and Pro Patrla Medal), in addition to the beret, tunic and sword, of Lt lee lie, who was a member of the Reconnaissance Commandos. The Citation to the award of the Louw Wepener Decoration (LWD) reads as follows:

'On 23 June 1974 at about 17h45 Lieut Miniature version of SADF Memorial at Fort lee lie was on the left flank of a patrol Klapperkop, Pretoria

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With reference to the latter, Lt Zeelie's South West Africa. The policy attained death occurred at a point in time expression in a series of spectacularly which signalled the introduction of a successful attacks by highly mobile most intense phase in the activity of SADF task forces, directed against the nation's armed forces, spanning SWAPO bases during the period 1978- 1983. The most extensive of these operations were: Reindeer (May 1978); Sceptic (June 1980); Protea (August- September 1981); Daisy (October- November 1981); Super (March 1982); and Askarl (December 1983). In the course of Operation Protea (which represented the largest mechanized operation undertaken by the SADF since the conclusion of World War II), large quantities of sophisticated arma- ments were captured; whilst the enemy's entire logistical system in Southern Angola was destroyed. These cross- border strikes by armoured task forces had been heralded by South African military intervention in the Angolan civil war of 1975-1976, in which the SADF actively supported the FNLA and UNITA forces against the MPLA government which had seized power in the wake of the Portuguese withdrawal. Simulta- neously, an intense CO IN war continued to be waged by the SADF in South West Africa.

Both the statue of the Rhodesian Troo- per and the miniature version of the SADF Memorial symbolize the high profile assumed by the armed forces in the respective nations' collective con- sciousness at a point in time when the societies in question were confronted Lt Freddie Zeelie, the first SADF member to be by hostile forces within their territories. killed in action during border operations ( 23 June The unveiling of the Defence Force 1974) Memorial occurred during a most intense and aggressive phase of acti- the period 1975-1990. In 1975 the SADF vity on the part of the South African assumed responsibility for the military armed forces, directed towards the security of South West Africa (as that defence of South West Africa (as it was territory was then designated). Ini- then termed) against SWAPO insur- tially, a defensive posture was adopted gency and the extension of that con- in response to the SWAPO-Ied insur- flict into Angola. Today, the entirely gency. However, commencing in 1978 different military configuration of Southern a far more aggressive policy mani- Africa (including the independence of fested itself; expressed in the cross- Namibia (as South West Africa is now border pre-emptive raids directed a- termed) under a SWAPO government) gainst SWAPO bases in Angola. This has effectively sealed this stage of the approach was motivated by the reali- SADF's history. Thus, it is extremely zation that the only truly effective improbable that South African forces method of defeating SWAPO was to will ever again enter Namibia and strike at that organization's rear bases; Angola with hostile intent. in the process disrupting the insurgents' logistic communications and other These two pieces exemplify a further, facilities and thus pre-empting their most intriguing aspect of art related to ability to wage guerrilla warfare within historical developments. For,' in the

32 Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 21, Nr 3, 1991. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za case of both works, the phase of BIBLIOGRAPHY:SOURCESREFERREDTO history which they embody and com- IN THETEXT memorate appears to be be perma- nently sealed. Certainly, the defence (l)Warrlngton, J. Everyman's classical of the Rhodesian white republic dictionary 800 Be-AD 337. Rev ed. London: (instituted by the Unilateral Declaration J M Dent; New York: E P Dutton, 1965, p of Independence of November 1965) 364. has been relegated to a closed phase (2)Monlck, S. A bugle calls: the story of in the history of Southern Africa, ending the Witwatersrand Rifles and Its pred- over a decade ago. In this respect, ecessors 1899-1987. Germlston: Witwa- the Rhodesian War is akin to the Portu- tersrand Rifles Regimental Council, 1989, p guese defence of her Lusophone Afri- xv. can colonies 6f Mozambique and Angola, which ceased in 1974). (3)The Information relating to the Jo- hannesburg Mounted Rifles Is derived from Conclusion the following source: Keene, J L. The Johannesburg Mounted Rifles. Museum Review, Vol 2 No 2, March The title 'Silent voices' contains, ob- 1989, pp 59-65. viously, an innate paradox which is particularly revealing within the con- (4)lbld Item (3) above, pp 60-61. text of sculpture. The muteness of these works is overriden by their dra- (5)South African War honours and awards matic embodiment of highly significant 1899-1902. London: Arms and Armour Press themes in history (more specifically, (In association with Hayward & Hall), 1971, military history). It may be argued that p 66. (Reprint of South Africa 1899-1902; published by Army and Navy Gazette this projection is dependent only par- (1902». tially upon the artist's skill. It is underpinned, to a large extent, by the (6)The Information relating to Lt Col Dale awareness of the observer in relation to Lace Is contained In the following source: the historical context which pressures South African National Biography. Pre- and generates the work. To this extent, toria: Human SCiences Research Council, the sculpture (and, indeed, other forms Vol V, pp [433]-434. of art) displayed at the South African National Museum of Military History fully (7)I_bldItem (2) above, p 258. complements the institution's central educative mission. The busts of Wilhelm (8)lbld Item (2) above, pp 724-725. II and Mussolini are endowed with a heightened awareness when their historical undercurrents are fully. ap- 1 * Dr S Monlck Is the Curator of Medals preciated. A similar consideration i') and Numismatics at the South African applicable to the Rhodesian Trooper. National Museum of MIlitary History. His Moreover, within this same context, work hos been most extensively published sensitivity to the mythological impli- In South Africa; In the form of monograph~ cations of the Greek goddess Nike and articles on a wide variety of subjects; creates a perspective with which to with special reference to medals and view the Memorial which it surmounts, regimental histories. and assists in an understanding of the 2 Weston, Neville. Kaleidoscope of modern fundamental failure of Lutyens's work art. London (et): George G Harrap, 1968, p (depite its undoubted grace) to serve 185. 3 Unless where otherwise Indicated, the as a focal point of the nation's his- Information In this section Is derived from torical awareness. the following source: Keene, J L. The Rand Regiments' Memo- To reiterate, the above article exem- rial. Museum Review, Vol 1, No 3, March plifies a photographic essay. The 1986, pp 77-78. photographs have not been included 4 Ibid footnote 3above. solely as documentary sources (ie to 5 Sir Julius Charles Wernher (1850-1912) serve as points of reference) but in the was a well known mining magnate of the endeavour to illustrate the sculptured Witwatersrand, who had contributed fi- works' embodiment and projection of nancially to the erection of the Rand Monuments Memorial. He was born In the themes elucidated within the text. Darmstadt, Germany, where his father was

33 Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 21, Nr 3, 1991. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za

attached to the Grand Ducal court, and entered a london bank as an apprentice. He served In the Prusslan cavalry during the Franco-Prusslan War of 1870-187l. Wernher subsequently worked In Paris, for Jules Porges, who, In 1871, sent the former as the latter's representative In Kimberley, where he was elected to the mining board and soon attained both wealth and pres- tige. Following the discovery of the gold deposits on the Witwatersrand he extended his operations to the Transvaal. In 1881 he became one of the four original 'life Governors' of De Beers Consolidated Mines. He settled In london, as Porges partner and, when the latter retired In 1899, continued operations under the name of Wernher, Belt & Co., the largest mining house In South Africa, If not In the world; a concern which controlled the Rand Mines Group and other huge In- terests. He spent the remainder of his life In England. A noted art collector, he died leaving the largest South African fortune on record, amounting to £11 million.

6 Keene, J l. The Rand Regiments Me- morial. Museum Review, Vol 1 No 3, March 1986, p 80.

1 Kurtz, Harold. The Second Reich. london: Macdonald, 1970, pp 119-120. (Macdonal library of the 20th Century).

8 The British Olympia at Wimbledon. Col- borne's United Service Magazine, 1860, Pt II, pp 512-521. Cited by: Beckett, Ian F W. Rifleman form: a study of the Rifle volunteer movement 1859-1908. Aldershot: The Ogilby Trusts, 1982, p 34.

9 The Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal and Colonial A uxiliary Forces Of- ficers' Decoration (VD) both enjoyed a long life In South Africa. They were superseded, In 1939, by the Efficiency Decoration (ED) and Efficiency Medal respectively; their respective successors being the John Chard Decoration (JCD) and John Chard Medal, both of these latter awards being Instituted In 1952 ..