Military Despatches Vol 22 April 2019 Armed Forces Week The SANDF demonstrates its capability Forged in battle The Roman Legion Tasty Rat packs from around the world

Dwight Eisenhower Five-star general, Supreme Commander, President of the United States, Ike did it all

Worst of the worst Top Ten notorious Nazis For the military enthusiast CONTENTS April 2019 Page 62 Click on any video below to view

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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 Forged in battle techno-speak that few The Roman Legion outside the military could hope to under- 38 stand. Some of the terms Features were humorous, some Rank Structure 6 This month we look at the Ar- were clever, while others gentinian Army. were downright crude. Top Ten notorious Nazis The worst of the worst. 44 A matter of survival Part of Hipe’s “On the 12 This month we’re looking at couch” series, this is an Special Forces - Australia deadfall traps. interview with one of Part Two of a series that takes 26 a look at Special Forces units author Herman Charles Change of Command Quiz Bosman’s most famous around the world. Sea Training Ship Knys- characters, Oom Schalk 18 na changes command 37 Lourens. A taxi driver was shot Hipe spent time in Perils of the German general 28 Jets Hanover Park, an area During World War II one of the Since first introduced in World dead in an ongoing Sandblasted and blown away war between rival taxi plagued with gang most dangerous jobs was being War II, jets have ruled the sky. violence, to view first- a German general. The Armed Forces invade Table We show you 15, you tell us organisations. View! Story and photographs what they are. hand how Project 22 by Regine Lord. Ceasefire is dealing with Drumming up support the situation. Sea at Armed Forces Day. 36 Hipe TV brings you videos ranging from actuality to humour and every- 24 thing in between. Interviews, mini-documentaries and much more. St Patrick’s Day bash Soldier’s Songs Military Despatches holds its Check out Hipe TV and remember to like, comment, share and subscribe. Songs about soldiers. first get together. 00 3 CONTENTS Page 78

Editor’s PUBLISHER Sitrep Hipe Media EDITOR Matt Tennyson

DEPUTY EDITOR o, March has come and ding. Don’t get used to it. I have John Verster gone and before we know a feeling that Eskom’s prob- it we’ll be in the middle lems and load shedding is not PHOTO EDITOR April in military history S Regine Lord of the year. going to vanish any time soon. I had a pretty good St. Pat- I’m just waiting for Stage Eight CONTRIBUTORS Head-to-Head Battlefield Book Review rick’s Day, or so I’ve been told load shedding. That’s when Raymond Fletcher, Regine by those that were there. My Eskom come around to your Lord, Ryan Murphy, Matt 48 70 77 liver really appreciates the fact house, blow out your candles, O’Brien, Matt Tennyson, Lt Cdr As the Crow Flies that St Paddy’s Day only comes and take the batteries from your Military Ration Packs Operation Carthage Glenn von Zeil. Colonel Delville Linford’s expe- around once a year. Then again, torch. We compare ration packs from In Spring 1945, as the Gestapo riences with 31 Battalion. I guess it doesn’t help that I The article on page 48 should Military Despatches is pub- around the world. ruthlessly clamped down on spend the remaining 364 days bring back memories for all lished on-line every month. growing resistance movements, of the year training for the big those that remember the de- The articles used in Military Mosquito squadrons of the RAF day. lights of feasting from a rat staged daring pin-point attacks Despatches are copyrighted Famous Figures Front Cover Once again I was impressed pack. I’ve been lucky enough and may not be used without on the headquarters of the Nazi with the photographs from our to sample ration packs from a prior permission from the edi- 56 secret police. Members of the hostage rescue very own photo editor, Regine number of different countries tor. Dwight D. Eisenhower team fast-rope onto the beach Lord. Reggie has an amazing during my travels. Some of during the SANDF Capability The views stated in this mag- West Point graduate, five-star eye for a photograph. them were incredible and better Gaming Revue in Cape Town. azine do not necessary reflect general, supreme commander, I had earmarked four pages than some of the food I’ve been the views of Hipe!, the editor, president of the United States for her article and was planning served in restaurants. Others, 74 the staff, or Hipe Media. of America. ‘Ike’ did it all. on using four photographs. I however, left a lot to be desired. Hearts of Iron IV ended up bumping the article to In fact they made our own rat Hipe! One of the best World War II eight pages and used nine pho- packs look, and taste, like a P.O. Box 31216, Tokai, 7966 strategy games on the market. tographs. I also used one of her five-star meal. . But not the easiest to play. photos for the front cover. I also found the article on Oh, by the way, this makes page 18 interesting. I had no email this issue of Military Despatch- idea that Hitler had so many of [email protected] Movie Review es the biggest one we’ve done his generals executed. No won- to date - 96 pages to be exact. der he remained a corporal. Back Issues 76 The previous largest issue was To view any back issues of Full Metal Jacket last month with 88 pages. Until next month. Military Despatches, go to A Stanley Kubrick classic well I’m busy typing this on Tues- www.militarydespatches.co.za worth watching, and one of the day 26 March and for three or click here. better Vietnam War movies. days we’ve had no load shed- Matt 4 5 Top Ten Top Ten dirt. The next row would then 7. Reinhard Heydrich in the wake of the German ar- climb into the trench and the mies and murdered over two Top Ten notorious Nazis process would be repeated. million people, including 1.3 After the end of World War million Jews, by mass shooting The National Socialist German Workers’ Party, better known as the Nazi Party, had some of the II, Jeckeln was convicted for and gassing. most despicable characters in history. Here are ten of the most notorious. his crimes by a Soviet military Heydrich was critically tribunal in Riga, Latvia and ex- wounded in Prague on 27 May n from 1933 to executed by hanging. 10. Ernst Kaltenbrunner ecuted in 1946. 1942. He was ambushed by 1945 National Socialism a team of Czech and Slovak seemed to bring out the 9. Friedrich Jeckeln I 8. Odilo Globočnik agents who had been trained by worst in people. The following the British Special Operations ten individuals were probably Executive. Heydrich died from the worst of the worst. his injuries a week later. Not every German was a Nazi. In fact the German military had 6. Hermann Göring some exceptional soldiers that would have done justice to any army, navy or air force. Many historians regard Re- The Nazis did, however, have inhard Heydrich as the darkest some of the most harsh, cruel, figure within the Nazi elite. Ad- prejudice and bloodthirsty indi- olf Hitler described him as “the viduals in history. man with the iron heart”. Drawing up a list of the top Heydrich was a main archi- ten notorious Nazis was not that Kaltenbrunner was an Austri- tect of . He was easy, mainly because the list an-born senior official of Nazi an SS-Obergruppenführer und was so long and there were so Germany during World War II. Jeckeln was a German SS General der Polizei (Senior many to choose from. An Obergruppenführer (gen- commander during the Nazi Group Leader and General of To start with, here are some eral) in the (SS), era. He served as a Higher SS Globočnik was a Nazi and Police) as well as chief of the individuals that were consid- between January 1943 and and Police Leader in the occu- later an SS leader. As an associ- Reich Main Security Office (in- ered for the list: May 1945 he held the offices pied during World ate of Adolf Eichmann, he had cluding the Gestapo, Kripo, and Reichsmarschall Hermann Herman Fegelein, Elisabeth of Chief of the Reich Main Se- War II. a leading role in Operation Re- SD). Göring was a veteran World Volkenrath, Josef Kramer, curity Office (Reichssicherheit- Jeckeln was the commander inhard, which saw the murder He was also Stellvertretend- War I fighter pilot ace, he was a Paul Blobel, Ilse Koch, Wal- shauptamt; RSHA). of one of the largest collection of over one million mostly Pol- er Reichsprotektor (Deputy/ recipient of the Pour le Mérite ter Rauff, Franz Stangl, Josef He was tall, with a face cov- of Einsatzgruppen death squads ish Jews during the Holocaust Acting Reich-Protector) of Bo- (“The Blue Max”). He was Schwammberger, Erich Prieb- ered in deep duelling scars. He and was personally responsible in Nazi extermination camps hemia and Moravia. Heydrich the last commander of Jagdg- ke, Gerhard Bohne, and Oskar had a fierce temper and was for ordering and organizing the Majdanek, Treblinka, Sobibór served as president of the Inter- eschwader 1 (Jasta 1), the fight- Dirlewanger. feared by many people. Includ- deaths of over 100,000 Jews, and Bełżec. national Criminal Police Com- er wing once led by Manfred They were guilty of mass ing . Romani, and other “undesira- Historian Michael Allen de- mission (ICPC; later known as von Richthofen. murder, torture, war crimes, He had no regard for the law bles”. scribed him as “the vilest indi- Interpol) and chaired the Janu- He became one of the most crimes against humanity, and a or for human life, persecuting He conceived the ‘Jeckeln vidual in the vilest organization ary 1942 Wannsee Conference, powerful figures in the Nazi whole lot more. anyone he thought was an un- System” of execution, also ever known”. which formalised plans for the Party, second only to Hitler. This then is our list of the Top desirable. known as ‘Sardine Packing’. He committed suicide in May Final Solution to the Jewish He oversaw the creation of Ten Notorious Nazis. See if you He was the highest-ranking A trench would be dug and 1945 after being captured by a Question - the deportation and the Gestapo, which he ceded to agree with it. member of the SS to face trial the first row of victims would British cavalry unit. genocide of all Jews in Ger- Heinrich Himmler in 1934. at the first Nuremberg trials. He have to climb into and lie face man-occupied Europe. After the Fall of France in was found guilty of war crimes, down. They would then be shot He was directly responsible 1940, he was bestowed the crimes against humanity, and and covered with a thin layer of for the Einsatzgruppen, the spe- specially created rank of Re- cial task forces which travelled ichsmarschall, which gave him 6 7 Top Ten Top Ten seniority over all officers in 5. Josef Mengele network of former SS mem- and one of the major organizers feeling that he had five million 3. Germany’s armed forces. bers. He initially lived in and of the Holocaust. people on his conscience would An early member of the Nazi around Buenos Aires, then fled He was tasked by SS-Ober- be for him a source of extraor- Party, Göring was among those to Paraguay in 1959 and Brazil gruppenführer (“Senior Group dinary satisfaction”. wounded in ’s in 1960, while being sought by Leader”) Reinhard Heydrich After Germany’s defeat in failed Beer Hall Putsch in 1923. , Israel, and Nazi with facilitating and manag- 1945, Eichmann was captured While receiving treatment for hunters such as Simon Wiesen- ing the logistics involved in by US forces, but escaped from his injuries, he developed an thal who wanted to bring him to the mass deportation of Jews a detention camp and moved addiction to morphine which trial. to ghettos and extermination around Germany to avoid persisted until the last year of He eluded capture in spite of camps in Nazi-occupied East- re-capture. his life. extradition requests by the West ern Europe during World War He ended up in a small vil- As the war progressed, German government and clan- II. lage in Lower Saxony, where Göring’s standing with Hitler destine operations by the Israeli After the outbreak of World he lived until 1950, when he and with the German public intelligence agency Mossad. War II in September 1939, moved to Argentina using false declined after the He drowned in 1979 after suf- Eichmann and his staff arranged papers. proved incapable of preventing fering a stroke while swimming for Jews to be concentrated in Information collected by the the Allied bombing of Germa- off the Brazilian coast, and was ghettos in major cities with the Mossad, Israel’s intelligence ny’s cities and resupplying sur- buried under a false name. expectation that they would be agency, confirmed his location rounded German forces in Stal- Nicknamed ‘Angel of Death’, His remains were disinterred transported either farther east in 1960. ingrad. Josef Mengele was a German and positively identified by fo- or overseas. A team of Mossad and Shin Paul Joseph Goebbels was Around that time, Göring in- Schutzstaffel (SS) officer and rensic examination in 1985. The Nazis began the invasion Bet agents captured Eichmann a German Nazi politician and creasingly withdrew from the physician in Auschwitz concen- of the Soviet Union in June and brought him to Israel to Reich Minister of Propaganda military and political scene to tration camp during World War 4. Adolf Eichmann 1941, and their Jewish policy stand trial on 15 criminal charg- of from 1933 to devote his attention to collect- II. changed from emigration to ex- es, including war crimes, crimes 1945. ing property and artwork, much He performed deadly human termination. against humanity, and crimes He was one of Adolf Hitler’s of which was stolen from Jew- experiments on prisoners and Eichmann and his staff be- against the Jewish people. close associates and most de- ish victims of the Holocaust. was a member of the team of came responsible for Jewish During the trial, he did not voted followers, and was known Informed on 22 April 1945 doctors who selected victims to deportations to extermination deny the Holocaust or his role for his skills in public speaking that Hitler intended to commit be killed in the gas chambers. camps, where the victims were in organising it, but claimed that and his deep, virulent anti-Sem- suicide, Göring sent a telegram Arrivals that were judged gassed. Germany invaded Hun- he was simply following orders itism, which was evident in his to Hitler requesting permission able to work were admitted into gary in March 1944, and Eich- in a totalitarian Führerprinzip publicly voiced views. He ad- to assume control of the Re- the camp, while those deemed mann oversaw the deportation system. vocated progressively harsher ich. Considering his request an unsuitable for labour were sent of much of the Jewish popula- He was found guilty on all of discrimination, including the act of , Hitler removed to the gas chambers to be killed. tion. the charges, and was executed extermination of the Jews in the Göring from all his positions, With Red Army troops sweep- Most of the victims were sent by hanging on 1 June 1962. Holocaust. expelled him from the party, ing through Poland, Mengele to Auschwitz concentration The trial was widely followed In 1943, Goebbels began to and ordered his arrest. was transferred 280 kilometres camp, where about 75 per cent in the media and was later the pressure Hitler to introduce After the war, Göring was from Auschwitz to the Gross- were murdered upon arrival. By subject of several books, includ- measures that would produce to- convicted of conspiracy, crimes Rosen concentration camp on the time that the transports were ing Hannah Arendt’s Eichmann tal war, including closing busi- against peace, war crimes and 17 January 1945, just ten days stopped in July 1944, 437,000 in Jerusalem, in which Arendt nesses not essential to the war crimes against humanity at the before the arrival of the Soviet of Hungary’s 725,000 Jews had coined the phrase “the banality effort, conscripting women into Nuremberg trials. He was sen- forces at Auschwitz. After the been killed. of evil” to describe Eichmann. the labour force, and enlisting tenced to death by hanging, but war, he fled to South America Otto Adolf Eichmann was Dieter Wisliceny testified men in previously exempt oc- committed suicide by ingesting where he evaded capture for the a German-Austrian Nazi at Nuremberg that Eichmann cupations into the . cyanide the night before the rest of his life. SS-Obersturmbannführer told him he would “leap laugh- Hitler finally appointed him as sentence was to be carried out. Mengele sailed to Argenti- (“Senior Assault Unit Leader”) ing into the grave because the Reich Plenipotentiary for Total na in July 1949, assisted by a War on 23 July 1944, whereby 8 9 Top Ten Top Ten

Goebbels undertook largely un- ful men in Nazi Germany and Group Upper Rhine and the later Führer in 1934. tablish a New Order to counter Hitler and the Nazi regime successful measures to increase among those most directly re- Army Group Vistula; he failed During he vol- what he saw as the injustice of were also responsible for the the number of people available sponsible for the Holocaust. to achieve his assigned objec- untarily enlisted in the Bavari- the post-World War I interna- killing of an estimated 19.3 for armaments production and He developed the SS from tives and Hitler replaced him in an Army. He was present at the tional order dominated by Brit- million civilians and prisoners the Wehrmacht. a mere 290-man battalion into these posts. First Battle of Ypres, the Battle ain and France. of war. As the war drew to a close a million-strong paramilitary Realising the war was lost, of the Somme, the Battle of Ar- His first six years in pow- In addition, 28.7 million sol- and Nazi Germany faced de- group, and, following Hitler’s Himmler attempted to open ras, and the Battle of Passchen- er resulted in rapid economic diers and civilians died as a re- feat, and the orders, set up and controlled the peace talks with the western daele, and was wounded at the recovery from the Great De- sult of military action in the Eu- Goebbels children joined him Nazi concentration camps. Allies without Hitler’s knowl- Somme. He rose to the rank of pression, the abrogation of re- ropean theatre. in . They moved into the From 1943 onwards, he was edge, shortly before the end of Gefreiter (Corporal) and was strictions imposed on Germany The number of civilians killed underground , part both Chief of German Police the war. Hearing of this, Hit- decorated twice for bravery. after World War I, and the an- during World War II was un- of Hitler’s underground bun- and Minister of the Interior, ler dismissed him from all his He won the Iron Cross, Sec- nexation of territories inhabited precedented in warfare, and the ker complex, on 22 April 1945. overseeing all internal and ex- posts in April 1945 and ordered ond Class in 1914 and the Iron by millions of ethnic Germans, casualties constitute the deadli- Hitler committed suicide on 30 ternal police and security forc- his arrest. Cross, First Class in 1918. which gave him significant est conflict in history. April. In accordance with Hit- es, including the Gestapo (Se- Himmler attempted to go into During his dictatorship from popular support. In the final days of the war, ler’s will, Goebbels succeeded cret State Police). Himmler had hiding, but was detained and 1933 to 1945, he initiated World Under Hitler’s leadership and during the in him as Chancellor of Germany; a lifelong interest in occultism, then arrested by British forc- War II in Europe by invading racially motivated ideology, the 1945, he married his long-time he served one day in this post. interpreting Germanic neopa- es once his identity became Poland in September 1939. Nazi regime was responsible lover . Less than two The following day, Goebbels gan and Völkisch beliefs to pro- known. While in British custo- He was closely involved in for the genocide of at least 5.5 days later, on 30 April 1945, and his wife committed suicide, mote the racial policy of Nazi dy, he committed suicide on 23 military operations throughout million Jews and millions of the two committed suicide to after poisoning their six chil- Germany, and incorporating May 1945. the war and was central to the other victims whom he and his avoid capture by the Soviet dren with cyanide. esoteric symbolism and rituals perpetration of the Holocaust. followers deemed Untermen- Red Army; their corpses were into the SS. 1. Adolf Hitler Hitler aimed to eliminate schen (subhuman) or socially burned. 2. Heinrich Himmler On Hitler’s behalf, Himmler Jews from Germany and es- undesirable. formed the Einsatzgruppen and built extermination camps. As facilitator and overseer of the Click on the photograph below to take a virtual tour of Warrior’s Gate concentration camps, Himmler and find out more about the MOTH Order. directed the killing of some six million Jews, between 200,000 and 500,000 Romani people, and other victims; the total number of civilians killed by the regime is estimated at elev- en to fourteen million people. Most of them were Polish and Soviet citizens. Late in the war, Hitler briefly appointed him a military com- mander and later Commander Heinrich Luitpold Himmler of the Replacement (Home) was Reichsführer of the Army and General Plenipoten- This should come as no sur- Schutzstaffel (Protection tiary for the administration of prise, but the most notorious Squadron; SS), and a leading the entire Third Reich (Gener- Nazi of them all was none other member of the Nazi Party (NS- albevollmächtigter für die Ver- than Adolf Hitler. DAP) of Germany. Himmler waltung). Specifically, he was Hitler rose to power as Chan- was one of the most power- given command of the Army cellor of Germany in 1933 and 10 11 Cdo Coy) located in the his- by coalition special operation The regiment consists of a toric Fort Gellibrand at Wil- forces abroad, and has been headquarters, four commando Special Forces - Australia liamstown, Victoria involved in operations in East companies, a logistics support Part Two of a series that takes a look at Special Forces units around the world. This month • 301 Signal Squadron (301 Timor, Iraq and Afghanistan, company, an operational sup- we look at Australia. Sig Sqn) headquarters at where it was used in a direct ac- port company and a signals Randwick Barracks and el- tion war fighting role. squadron. It is believed to cur- he special forces of the 2nd Commando Regiment, pro- on operations, providing small ements of the squadron are It has also been involved in rently be organised as follows: Australian Defence vides the Commando capabili- detachments and individuals located with 1 Cdo Coy, 2 a number of domestic security • Regimental Headquarters TForce are units of Spe- ty to Special Operations Com- to peacekeeping missions in Cdo Coy, Canberra and the operations including the 2006 • A Company cial Operations Command and mand. the region and deployed opera- Special Operations Engi- Commonwealth Games and the • B Company associated units of the Royal Raised in 1955 it is the old- tionally in up to company sized neer Regiment. 2014 G20 Leaders Summit. • C Company Australian Navy and the Roy- est unit within Special Oper- combat elements to Afghani- Each commando compa- Following the renaming of • D Company al Australian Air Force that ations Command and in 2008 stan. ny has six platoons, including the unit, a new badge was cho- • 126 Signal Squadron conduct and/or support special deployed to Afghanistan to be- The Sherwood Green Com- a headquarters platoon, three sen to reflect the history and • Operations Support Compa- operations to advance and pro- come the first Australian Army mando beret is worn as the pri- commando platoons, a recon- traditions of the Independent ny tect the national security of the Reserve force element on com- mary form of head dress, for- naissance platoon and a train- Companies that served during • Logistics Support Company Commonwealth of Australia. bat operations since World War mally recognising Commando ing platoon together with a sig- the Second World War, by in- The special forces of Austral- II. qualification. The Army sought nals troop and integral combat cluding the distinctive “double Clearance Diving Branch ia have a lineage to a variety The primary role of 1st Com- permission from the Royal Ma- service support. diamond” unit colour patch The Clearance Diving Branch of units raised in the Second mando Regiment is to provide rines to wear the green beret Combat elements of the Reg- is the specialist diving unit World War such as the Inde- a scalable and deployable mis- which was provided on 27 July iment typically operate in pla- of the Royal Australian Navy pendent and Commando Com- 1955 by the Commandant Roy- toon to company sized force (RAN) whose versatile role panies, Z Special Unit, Navy al Marines. The first green beret elements. These will be force covers all spheres of military Beach Commandos, and the awarded in Australia was pre- tailored by requirement and diving, and includes explosive Coastwatchers. sented to Captain George Cardy may not fit any doctrinal size ordnance disposal and maritime Australian special forces of 1st Commando Company on or command and control. The counter-terrorism. have most recently been de- 14 July 1956. signal squadron has the largest The Branch has evolved from ployed to Iraq in Operation Members wear a Garter Blue full-time contingent in the Reg- traditional maritime diving, and Okra as the Special Operations lanyard on the left shoulder of iment. explosive ordnance disposal, to Task Group, as the Special Op- dress uniforms in common with Reserve support roles include include a special operations fo- erations Task Group in Afghan- the other combat units of SO- clerical, logistics, transport, cus. istan, in Afghanistan in support COMD. In 1992, distinctive medical, intelligence, linguis- 2nd Commando Regiment The RAN has used divers on of the Australian Secret Intelli- black and green commando tics and information systems. a regular basis since the 1920s, gence Service and regularly for parachute wings were adopted shape in the regimental badge, but it was not until World War counter-terrorism pre-deploy and are now worn by all para- 2nd Commando Regiment along with the traditional com- II that clearance diving oper- to locations of major domestic 1st Commando Regiment chute qualified commandos. The 2nd Commando Regi- mando knife. ations came to the fore, with events throughout Australia in The Regiment consists of a sion command headquarters to ment is a special forces unit of The unit’s motto is Foras RAN divers working alongside readiness to support law en- headquarters, two commando Special Operations Command the Australian Army, and is part Admonitio, which is Latin for Royal Navy divers to remove forcement. companies and a signals squad- (SOCOMD). of Special Operations Com- “Without Warning”. Qualified naval mines from British wa- ron with a strength about 450. It In addition, the Regiment is mand. commandos are awarded the ters, and from the waters of 1st Commando Regiment is organised as follows: manned, trained and equipped The regiment was established Sherwood green commando captured ports on the European The 1st Commando Regiment • Regimental Headquarters to provide commando force el- on 19 June 2009 when the 4th beret. Distinctive commando mainland. (1 Cdo Regt) is an Australian located at Randwick Bar- ements up to a company size, as Battalion, Royal Australian parachute wings are worn, de- The skills learned in the Eu- Army Reserve special forces racks in Randwick, New well as providing high quality, Regiment (Commando) was re- picting a parachute backed by a ropean theatre were brought unit part of Special Operations South Wales competent individual comman- named. It is based at Holswor- pair of black drooping wings on back to Australia, and used in Command with an integrated • 1 Commando Company (1 dos to round out, reinforce and thy, New South Wales. a green background. The Aus- the war against Japan. After structure of regular (full-time) Cdo Coy) located at HMAS rotate with other SOCOMD ca- The 2nd Commando Regi- tralian Army stiletto dagger is the war, RAN divers were used soldiers and reserve (part-time) Penguin in Balmoral, New pabilities. ment often trains and deploys also worn on ceremonial occa- during the clean-up of Australi- soldiers, which together with South Wales In recent years, the Regi- with the Special Air Service sions. A garter blue lanyard is an and Papua New Guinea wa- the full-time Australian Army • 2 Commando Company (2 ment has frequently deployed Regiment, is highly regarded worn. ters of defensive mines. 12 13 based at HMAS Waterhen in of fire to simulate a larger force Twenty-eight men were Tomi was boarded after a pur- New South Wales on contact and to support their wounded. During the period of suit of 6,100-kilometre by the • Clearance Diving Team withdrawal. its deployment 580 men served Southern Supporter. Four (AUSCDT4); assigned Based in Nui Dat, the SASR in the SASR in Vietnam. to the west of Australia and was responsible for providing Operation Slipper based at HMAS Stirling in intelligence to both the 1st Aus- South African Navy In October 2001, the Austral- Western Australia tralian Task Force (1 ATF) and On 12 April 2001, an SASR ian government announced that For overseas operational de- US forces, operating through- troop conducted a boarding of it was sending a special forc- ployments, the designation of out Phuoc Tuy Province as well the fishing vessel South Tomi es task group built around an Clearance Diving Team Three as Bien Hoa, Long Khanh and using two RHIBs launched SASR squadron to participate (AUSCDT3) is used for a spe- Binh Tuy provinces. from the South African Navy in the campaign against al-Qa- cifically formed team. During its time in Vietnam the vessel SAS Protea in interna- eda and the Taliban in Afghani- SASR proved highly success- tional waters 260 nautical miles stan designated Operation Slip- Special Air Service Regiment ful, with members of the regi- (480 km) south of Cape Agul- per. Clearance Diving Branch The Special Air Service Special Air Service Regiment ment known to the Viet Cong as has, South Africa. After staging through Kuwait, Regiment, officially abbrevi- Ma Rung or “phantoms of the On 29 March, the Togo reg- 1 Squadron arrived in Afghani- In late 1966, Clearance Div- ated SASR though commonly Vietnam jungle” due to their stealth. istered South Tomi fled the stan in December 2001 with the ing Team 3 (CDT 3) was es- known as the SAS, is a special During the Vietnam War, In a six-year period the Aus- AFMA fisheries patrol vessel other SASR squadrons rotating tablished specifically for de- forces unit of the Australian Australia sent troops to Viet- tralian and New Zealand SAS Southern Supporter after being in at approximately six-month- ployment to the Vietnam War Army. Formed in 1957, it was nam as part of the country’s in Vietnam conducted near- detected poaching Patagonian ly intervals. to assist the overworked Unit- modelled on the British SAS commitment to SEATO (South- ly 1,200 patrols and inflicted toothfish near Heard Island and The SASR’s main role in Af- ed States Navy Explosive Ord- sharing the motto, “Who Dares east Asia Treaty Organization). heavy casualties on the Viet McDonald Islands in the South- ghanistan was to conduct re- nance Disposal units, and to Wins”. Based in Nui Dat, the SASR Cong, including 492 killed, 106 ern Ocean. The South Tomi fled connaissance and surveillance give RAN personnel experi- The regiment is based at was responsible for providing possibly killed, 47 wounded, 10 towards Africa with the South of al-Qaeda and Taliban posi- ence in clearance diving work Campbell Barracks, in Swan- intelligence to both the 1st Aus- possibly wounded and 11 pris- African government agreeing tions, activities and capabili- in an operational environment. bourne, a suburb of Perth, tralian Task Force (1 ATF) and oners captured. to a request to provide a South ties. SASR force elements also Sending CDT 1 or CDT 2, in Western Australia, and is a di- US forces, operating through- Their own losses totalled one African Navy vessel for an in- full or in part, would have im- rect command unit of the Spe- out Phuoc Tuy Province as well killed in action, one died of tercept. pacted on the teams’ existing cial Operations Command. as Bien Hoa, Long Khanh and wounds, three accidental- The SASR troop was flown commitments, along with the It has taken part in operations Binh Tuy provinces. ly killed, one missing on a commercial flight to continuity of training and post- in Borneo, Vietnam, Somalia, From 1966 SASR squadrons and one death from South Africa. South ings. East Timor, Iraq and Afghan- rotated through Vietnam on illness. CDT 3 was formed from avail- istan, as well as many other year-long deployments, with able personnel; this was suffi- peacekeeping missions. The each of the three Sabre Squad- cient to keep a six-man team on SASR also provides a coun- rons completing two tours be- station in Vietnam from early ter-terrorist capability, and has fore the last squadron was with- 1967 until early 1971, with six- been involved in a number of drawn in 1971. month deployments. domestic security operations. Missions included medium CDT 3 was disbanded at the The SASR first saw action range reconnaissance patrols, end of the Vietnam War, but the in 1965 as part of the British observation of enemy troop designation is reactivated for Commonwealth force stationed movements, and long range of- overseas wartime deployments, in north Borneo during the In- fensive operations and ambush- including in 1991 for the Gulf donesian Confrontation. The ing in enemy dominated territo- War, and again in 2003 for the SASR troopers operated along- ry. Iraq War. side their British and New Zea- Operating in small groups The Clearance Diving Branch land counterparts in operations of four to six men they moved consists of: aimed at stopping Indonesian more slowly than convention- • Clearance Diving Team infiltration into Malaysia, tak- al infantry through jungle or One (AUSCDT1); assigned ing part in Operation Claret. bushland and were heavily to the east of Australia and armed, employing a high rate 14 15 conducted some offensive op- Squadron, with a platoon from observing key roads and facili- Africa Selection erations. the 4 RAR (Commando) and ties. The Troops fought a num- In March 2012, the Sydney Selection is open to all serv- After arriving at FOB Rhino, a troop from the IRR available ber of actions over the follow- Morning Herald reported that ing Australian Defence Force the SASR initially operated in to support the SASR. 1 Squad- ing month including a raid on a the fourth sabre squadron had personnel. Candidates must southern Afghanistan with US ron operated in Western Iraq as radio relay station, while later been reactivated in 2005 and complete the Special Force Marines from Task Force 58, part of Combined Joint Special they conducted highway inter- that for many years it had been Screen Test at the Special Forc- conducting long-range vehicle Operations Task Force-West diction tasks. carrying out special recovery Special Air Service es Training Centre, which tests mounted patrols over sever- (CJSOTF-West) where it was Towards the conclusion of planning, gathering intelligence Regiment Parachute Wings their physical fitness, and also al hundred kilometres around successful in securing its area the 42-day campaign the SAS in Africa, specifically Zimba- includes an interview. Kandahar and into the Helmand of operations. secured the huge but undefend- bwe, Nigeria and Kenya, to de- About 64 percent of appli- Valley near the Iranian-border. B and C Troops of the SAS ed Al Asad air base, approxi- velop plans in case Australian cants pass this test. Successful Squadron crossed the Iraqi bor- mately 200 kilometres west of civilians needed to be rescued proximately 90-strong, and is candidates then continue on Operation Falconer der from Jordan on the night of Baghdad, capturing more than from a hostile environment. divided into three troops (Water to the 21-day SAS Selection The SASR provided the ma- 19 March by vehicle, penetrat- 50 air force fighter jets and hel- Troop, Free-Fall Troop and Ve- Course which assesses both the jority of the ground-force ele- ing 30 kilometres before engag- icopters with a large number in- Organisation hicle Mounted Troop). individual’s strength and endur- ment of the Australian contri- ing in one of the first actions of operable, and repaired the run- The strength of the SASR A troop comprises four pa- ance (mental and physical), as bution to the 2003 invasion of the war. A Troop was inserted way that had been damaged by is over 700 personnel. Based trols with five or six operators well as overall fitness, ability to Iraq, known as Operation Fal- by U.S. Army MH-47E heli- air strikes. at Campbell Barracks, it is a in each patrol,[168] and is com- remain calm in combat, and to coner, moving in quickly and copters with their vehicles over 1 Squadron was withdrawn battalion-sized element and is manded by a captain with each work effectively in small teams. successfully, thus enhancing 600 kilometres from the staging from Iraq without replacement known to be made up of a reg- patrol commanded by a ser- The course consists of four Australia’s standing amongst base in Jordan. shortly after the end of the war, imental headquarters, four sa- geant. phases with the first two main- its allies. A Troop patrols were the and was subsequently awarded bre squadrons, an operational For surveillance operations ly of physical and navigational The Australian Special Forces closest coalition elements to a Unit Citation for Gallantry. support squadron, a specialist the SASR usually operates in exercises held at the Bindoon Task Group was built around 1 Baghdad for a number of days, support squadron, and a signals patrols; however, for CT oper- Training Centre. squadron. ations it usually employs larger The third and fourth phases In 2002 it was reported that force elements. are conducted in the Stirling two sabre squadrons (designat- Support personnel include Ranges with long pack marches ed as contingency squadrons) signallers, mechanics and tech- in phase three and small group EXPLOSIVE ENTRY: Members of the were assigned to maintain the nicians, medical staff, store- exercises in phase four with lit- SASR effect an explosive entry into a regiment’s war fighting capa- men, drivers, caterers and var- tle or no sleep and food. Around room during a hostage rescue exercise. bility and that the third sabre ious specialists. 10 to 30 percent of candidates squadron was designated as the It was reported in 2012 that pass selection. Tactical Assault Group, with six female soldiers were being These candidates then pro- squadrons rotating through the trained in the United States. As gress onto the 16 month rein- two roles. of 2003, 152 Signal Squadron forcement cycle,during which However, recently the exist- comprised four troops. they complete a range of cours- ence of a fourth sabre squadron Military dogs, designated es including weapons, basic has been acknowledged. The Special Operations Military patrolling, parachuting, com- regiment is currently believed Working Dog (SOMWD), have bat survival, signaller / medic, to be organised as follows: been members of the SASR heavy weapons, demolitions, • Regimental headquarters since 2005, seeing service in method of entry, and urban • 1 Sabre Squadron Afghanistan and have their own combat before posting to a sa- • 2 Sabre Squadron memorial. bre squadron if successful and • 3 Sabre Squadron While the SASR is a regu- awarded their Sandy beret. • 4 Sabre Squadron lar army unit, it also has a pool • Specialist Support Squadron of Army Reserve personnel. • Operational Support Squad- These soldiers are former regu- ron lar Army members of the SASR • 152 Signal Squadron or specialists. Each sabre squadron is ap- 16 17 unworthy for military duty by the People’s Court on 7 March The Perks and perils of 1945. Since the court failed to prove a direct association with the 20 July plotters, he had been being a German general charged and convicted for cow- During World War II 84 German generals were executed on the orders of Adolf Hitler. ardice before the enemy, and sentenced to a military execu- tion. ne of the ambitions of People’s Courts under jurist Ro- roes of World War II was Field On 12 March 1945, Fromm anyone serving in the land Freisler sentenced around Marshal Erwin Rommel. Nick- was executed at the Branden- military is probably to 7,000 German citizens to death. named “The Desert Fox”, he burg-Görden Prison by firing O squad. rise to the rank of general or ad- It was far worse if you were was respected by both friend miral. a member of the Wehrmacht. and foe alike. Yet if you were a member of Discipline was often harsh and During World War I he was Ludwig Beck the German Wehrmacht (De- even a minor offence could see awarded the Iron Cross First Generaloberst Ludwig Beck was Chief of the German Gen- fence Force) during World War you being sentenced to death. Class and the Pour le Mérite. In DESERT FOX: Field Marshal Erwin Rommel was ordered by II, the position did have its And rank was no protection. World War II he was awarded Hitler to commit suicide or face a public trial and execution. eral Staff during the early years drawbacks. During World War II, no few- the Knight’s Cross of the Iron of the Nazi regime in Germany While the rank did come with er than 84 senior German gener- Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords do so (which would be taken as Friedrich Fromm before World War II. He never perks for members of the Heer als and admirals were executed and Diamonds. an admission of guilt), he could Generaloberst (Colonel Gen- became a member of the Nazi (Army), Luftwaffe (Air Force), on the personal orders of Hitler. Rommel was popular with either face the People’s Court eral) Friedrich Fromm was Party. Kriegsmarine (Navy), or even both the troops and the German - which would have been tanta- Commander in Chief of the In 1943, Beck planned two the Schutzstaffel (SS), it also Wilhelm Canaris public. So it came as a shock to mount to a death sentence - or Ersatzheer (Reserve Army), in abortive attempts to kill Hitler came with certain perils. Take Wilhelm Canaris for in- Hitler to learn that Rommel had choose a quiet suicide. In the charge of training and person- by means of a bomb. In 1944, Get on the wrong side of the stance. Not only was he an ad- been involved in the 20 July former case, his family would nel replacement for combat di- he was one of the driving forc- Fuhrer, Adolf Hitler, and you’d miral, he was also chief of the Plot to assassinate Hitler. have suffered even before the visions of the German Army, a es of the 20 July plot with Carl find yourself executed quicker Abwehr, the German military By normal procedure Rom- all-but-certain conviction and position he occupied for most Goerdeler and Colonel Claus than you can say “ready, aim, intelligence service, from 1935 mel would have been brought execution, and his staff would of the war. von Stauffenberg. fire!” to 1944. to Roland Freisler’s People’s have been arrested and execut- While Fromm did not have The plot failed and Beck was And it was far easier than Initially a supporter of Ado- Court, a kangaroo court that al- ed as well. any direct involvement in the taken into custody the follow- you might imagine to get on the lf Hitler, by 1939 Canaris had ways decided in favour of the In the latter case, the govern- conspiracy, he was aware that ing morning by General Frie- wrong side of Hitler or any of turned against the Nazis as he prosecution. ment would claim that he died some of his subordinates - most drich Fromm. his acolytes. felt Germany would lose an- However, Hitler knew that a hero and bury him with full notably Claus von Stauffen- Beck offered to commit sui- The Geheime Staatspolizei other major war. During World having Rommel branded and military honours, and his family berg, his Chief of Staff - were cide (“accept the consequenc- (Secret State Police), more com- War II he was among the mil- executed as a traitor would se- would receive full pension pay- planning an assassination at- es”). His last words were “I am monly known as the Gestapo, itary officers involved in the verely damage morale on the ments. Burgdorf had brought a tempt against Hitler, followed thinking of earlier times.” Beck were always on the lookout for clandestine opposition to Nazi home front. He thus decided cyanide capsule. by a mutiny of the Army. He then shot himself. In severe anyone that had anything bad Germany leadership. He was to offer Rommel the chance to On 14 October 1944, at the agreed to remain quiet if he be- distress, Beck succeeded only to say about Hitler or the Nazi executed in Flossenbürg con- take his own life. age of 52, Rommel commit- came a top official of the new in severely wounding himself, Party. centration camp for high trea- Two generals from Hitler’s ted suicide. He was given a government after the mutiny. and a sergeant was brought in This was regarded as a ‘crime son. His execution took place headquarters, Wilhelm Burg- full state funeral and it was an- On the morning of 22 July to administer the coup de grâce against the state’. If there was on 9 April 1945, less than a dorf and Ernst Maisel, visited nounced that Rommel had suc- 1944, Fromm was arrested by by shooting Beck in the back of even the slightest suspicion month before Germany surren- Rommel at his home on 14 Oc- cumbed to his injuries from an Nazi officials and locked in jail the neck. that someone had committed dered and 21 days before Hitler tober 1944. earlier strafing of his staff car in to await trial. Fromm was dis- a crime against the state they committed suicide. Burgdorf informed him of the Normandy. charged from the German Army would be hauled up in front of charges and offered him three Yet not many were as fortu- on 14 September 1944. Generalfeldmarschall (Field the Volksgerichtshof (People’s Erwin Rommel options: he could choose to de- nate as Rommel and given the The civilian Fromm was sen- Marshal) Erwin von Witzleben Court). One of Germany’s great he- fend himself personally to Hit- option to commit suicide. tenced to death and considered was the commander of Armee Between 1943 and 1945, the ler in Berlin, or if he refused to 18 19 OB West. against releasing the footage, uary 1942. sued by Gestapo Chief Heinrich Von Witzleben was seen as a firstly because Freisler’s vitu- Afraid of what Hitler might Müller with additional orders key man in the 20 July Plot and perative, insulting verbiage in think, Kluge immediately re- to report his death as resulting would have taken over supreme the courtroom might draw sym- ported Hoepner, causing Hit- from a low-flying allied air at- command of the whole Wehr- pathy for the accused, and sec- ler’s fury. Hoepner was dis- tack. macht as the highest-ranking ondly because the regime want- missed from the Wehrmacht on German officer. ed to quell public discussion the same day. Carl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel Von Witzleben was arrested of the event. The material was Hitler directed that Hoepner General der Infanterie on 21 July and cast out of the classified asGeheime Reichssa- be deprived of his pension and Carl-Heinrich von Stülpnagel Wehrmacht by the so-called che (Secret German Affairs). denied the right to wear his uni- served as military command- Ehrenhof der Wehrmacht (“The Witzleben was put to death form and medals, contravening er of German-occupied France Regular Army’s Court of Hon- that same day at Plötzensee the law and Wehrmacht regula- and as commander of the 17th our”), a conclave of officers set Prison in Berlin. By Hitler’s tions. Army in the Soviet Union dur- up after the attempted assassi- direct orders, he was hanged Hoepner filed a lawsuit ing , nation to remove officers from with a thin hemp rope (which against the Reich to reclaim Stülpnagel was implicated in the Wehrmacht who had been people who were not from the his pension. Judges at the time war crimes, including authoris- JUDICIAL JOKE: The Volksgerichtshof (People’s Court) un- involved in the plot, mainly so prison staff called a piano wire) could not be dismissed, even ing reprisal operations against der Roland Freisler (pictured in the centre) sentenced more than that they were no longer sub- wound around a meat hook, and by Hitler, and Hoepner won his civilian population and closely 7,000 German citizens to death. The trials were nothing more ject to German military law the execution was filmed. case. cooperating with the Einsatz- than a farce, with the verdict (always guilty) decided long before and could be arraigned to a Hoepner was implicated in gruppen in their mass execu- the trial even began. Freisler was killed on 3 February 1945 dur- show-trial before the People’s Erich Hoepner the 20 July Plot and after the tions of Jews. ing an Allied bombing raid on Berlin. Court” Generaloberst Erich Hoep- coup failed he was arrested and When Stülpnagel was re- On 7 August 1944, Witzleben tortured by the Gestapo. He re- ner was an early proponent of The women were sent to Ra- ly at Wolf’s Lair and tortured called from Paris, he stopped at was in the first group of accused mechanisation and armoured fused an opportunity to commit Verdun and tried to kill himself conspirators to be brought be- suicide and demanded a trial, vensbrück concentration camp. for three weeks, but did not re- warfare, he was a Wehrmacht His sister was soon released but veal any names of his co-con- by shooting himself in the head fore the People’s Court. army corps commander at the though he would later come to with a pistol on the banks of the Ravaged by the conditions of regret it. Frau Hoepner and her daughter spirators. beginning of the war, leading were placed in the notorious He was charged before the Meuse River. He only succeed- his Gestapo arrest, he surpris- his troops during the invasion A summary trial was conduct- ed in blinding himself. ingly approached the bench giv- ed by the People’s Court and Strafblock for four weeks’ addi- People’s Court. On 10 August of Poland and the Battle of tional punishment. 1944, he was found guilty by Stülpnagel and his advis- ing the Nazi salute, for which France. Hoepner was verbally attacked er were both arrested by the he was rebuked by the presid- and sentenced to death. Hoepner’s son was first held Roland Freisler and sentenced Hoepner commanded the 4th at a specially created camp at to death. He was executed on 4 Gestapo, and Stülpnagel was ing judge Roland Freisler. Panzer Group on the Eastern Like other defendants, in- brought before the People’s Witzleben was sentenced to cluding Erwin von Witzleben, Küstrin and then sent to Buch- September 1944 at Plötzensee Front during Operation Bar- enwald concentration camp. Prison in Berlin. Court on 30 August 1944. He death on the same day. Witzle- barossa, the invasion of the So- Hoepner was humiliated during was found guilty of high trea- ben’s closing words in court, viet Union in 1941. the trial by being made to wear son and hanged the same day at addressed to Freisler, were: In January 1942, during the ill-fitting clothes, and not being Erich Fellgiebel Friedrich von Rabenau Plötzensee Prison in Berlin. “You may hand us over to Battle of Moscow, Hoepner allowed to have his false teeth. General Erich Fellgiebel was General der Artillerie Frie- the executioner, but in three requested permission from Although judge Roland Fre- head of the cipher bureau of the drich von Rabenau was a ca- These were just a few of the months’ time, the disgusted the new commander of Army isler berated Hoepner, even he Reichswehrministerium. reer-soldier, theologian, and op- senior officers executed on the and harried people will bring Group Centre, Günther von objected to him being made to He was a signals specialist ponent of National Socialism. orders of Adolf Hitler. you to book and drag you alive Kluge, to withdraw his over-ex- dress in such a way. and was instrumental in intro- He was arrested in the after- Many of their executions through the dirt in the streets!” tended forces. Hoepner was hanged by a thin ducing the Enigma machine. As math of the 20 July Plot. On were as a direct result of the 20 Most of the People’s Court Von Kluge said t hat he would hemp rope mounted from meat head of Hitler’s signal services, 15 April 1945, without having July Plot. trials, including scenes of Wit- discuss the matter with Hitler hooks on 8 August, at Plötzen- Fellgiebel knew every military been charged or tried, General As a matter of interest, from zleben’s show trial, was filmed and ordered Hoepner to get see Prison in Berlin. secret, including Wernher von von Rabenau, one of the last the time Hitler took power in for the German weekly news- ready. Assuming that Hitler’s Under the Nazi practice of Braun’s rocketry work at the inmates remaining in the Flos- 1933 to his death on 30 April reel Die Deutsche Wochen- permission was on the way and Sippenhaft (collective punish- Peenemünde Army Research senbürg concentration camp, 1945, there were no fewer than schau (The German Newsreel). not wanting to risk the matter ment) Hoepner’s wife, daugh- Centre. was shot on Himmler’s specific 28 assassination attempts on However, Propaganda Minis- any longer, Hoepner ordered ter, son (a major in the army), Part of the 20 July Plot, Fell- orders. Hitler’s life. ter Joseph Goebbels decided his troops to withdraw on 8 Jan- brother and sister were arrested. giebel was arrested immediate- The execution order was is- 20 21 sion drill squad around the har- The younger Sea Cadets ful- tour of a frigate on the Sunday. bour from berth to berth. filled the role as “uniformed Thank you to the SA Navy for Drumming up support Sea Cadet Leading Seaman ushers” to direct the public to always remembering the Sea Herwel commented that he the warships and to answer any Cadets and for making oppor- South African Sea Cadets drum up support for SA Navy warships. Story and photographs by “was proud to be part of Armed questions as best as they could. tunities available to them. , SA Naval Reserves. Lt Cdr Glenn von Zeil Forces Day Sea Cadet precision Sea Mila said that “this exer- drill squad and that he could cise assisted in the Sea Cadets ea Cadets from TS Wolte- maritime orientated skills. sures that Sea Cadets are able demonstrate the positive role building confidence whilst ‘fly- made represented the The land based Training not only skilled to “Do” but which the Sea Cadets had made ing their flag’ ”. South African Sea Ca- Ships located around the coun- also to know “Why” they do it S on his development.” Those Sea Cadets participat- dets Corps at the 2019 Armed try provide a safe space with and how to “Use” available re- ing in 2019 Armed Forces Day Forces Day recently held in the competent instructors at which sources. were rewarded with a special Cape Town. training can take place. Train- Officer Commanding TS The Sea Cadets performed a ing takes place on Friday nights Woltemade, Lt Cdr (SCC) Paul precision drill routine they de- or Saturdays with school vaca- Jacobs relayed that the “senior veloped especially for the oc- tion leadership camps sched- Sea Cadets had two weeks to casion which was performed in uled during the school holidays. develop and practice their pre- the Victoria and Alfred Water- The highlight of the year is the cision drill routine”. In order to front in order to highlight the annual camp hosted by the SA practice for the stage and quay SA Navy warship’s visit. Navy in Simon’s Town. the Sea Cadets used rope to en- The South African Navy and “Action Centred Learning” sure that their parade was con- Sea Cadets have had a close allied to a practical “Outcome fined to the required size. bond since the inception of Na- Based Competency Assess- The beat of the base and roll val Cadets in 1905. The name ment” is the approach which of the side drum attracted the changed to Sea Cadets, as it is the Instructors follow. This en- crowd who followed the preci- known internationally, in 1969 when the Navy League in- corporated school units. This close relationship has been maintained during the past 25 years since the advent of de- mocracy continuing to provide youth with opportunities, pro- fessional instructors and skills. There are currently 14 Training Ships (Units) located around the country. As the Sea Cadets provides youth aged 13 to 17 with mar- itime and nautical skills it is the logical place for them to start exploring a maritime ca- reer, whether in the SA Navy or merchant nay, fishing fleet, ship building or related industries. Their activities appeal to school going boys and girls from Grade 6 to Grade 12 who enjoy having “Serious Fun” whilst learning QUICK MARCH: TS Woltemade precision drill squad drum up leadership, self-discipline and support for SA Navy ship’s at 2019 Armed Forces Day.

22 23 into civilian life. British and a German soldier, First World War. The lyrics of Off the legendary 1973 al- both played by McCartney, who the song mention cavalry and bum Dark Side Of The Moon, meet up in No Man’s Land and Churchill (who served as the Us And Them examines the exchange photos of their loved First Lord of the Admiralty in themes of maturity, the pass- ones while other soldiers frater- the first year of the war, prior Soldier’s Songs ing of time and conflict. Roger nise and play football. When a to serving in the trenches him- Waters specifically questions shell blast forces the two armies self), but it breaks with the First whether human beings are ca- to retreat to their own trenches World War theme with refer- Songs about soldiers and the military. pable of being humane, and both men realise that they still ences to nuclear fallout and the asks whether two sides of a have each other’s pictures. line “I have had to fight, almost ome songs are unmis- The US Navy contacted Draft Morning recalls the ex- conflict are truly too far apart. Belleau Wood is a song by every night, down throughout takably about soldiers or group manager Henri Belolo to periences of a young American Waters’ father was killed during Garth Brooks. The battle de- these centuries”. Lewie de- about the military. The use the song in a recruiting ad- man on the day he was draft- World War II, and he has used scribed in the song’s lyrics is scribed the song’s soldier as be- S the theme of war as a vehicle to not the Battle of Belleau Wood; ing “a bit like the eternal soldier very title of the song will tell vertising campaign for televi- ed into the Vietnam war and you that. sion and radio. Belolo gave the throughout his service. examine human behaviour on it is instead a fictional account at the Arc de Triomphe”. Take the Ballad Of The rights for free on the condition Released by the roots rock many occasions. based on the Christmas truce Riding With Private Malone Green Berets for example. that the Navy help them shoot band Dispatch in 1998, The Released by Paul Hardcas- phenomenon of 1914. by David Ball is an upbeat song Written and sung by then Staff the music video. Less than a General tells of an old, battle tle in 1985, 19 is a song with a Released in 1974, Billy Don’t about soldiers, describing a sol- Sergeant Barry Sadler in 1966, month later, Village People ar- worn General who, after years strong anti-war message, focus- Be A Hero by Paper Lace, was dier still doing his duty to pro- the song went on to sell more rived at Naval Base San Diego of battlefield success, urges his ing on America’s involvement associated by some listeners tect long after his death. than nine million copies and where the Navy provided them men to look for more in life than in the Vietnam War and the ef- with the Vietnam War, though 8th of November is a song became a #1 hit. Obviously, the with access to film on the deck war. The song depicts a hard- fect it had on the soldiers who the war to which it actually re- written and recorded by Amer- song was about the US Army of the berthed frigate USS Rea- to-grasp aspect of the American served. fers is never identified in the ican country music duo Big & Green Berets. soner, in the end the Navy did Civil War, or any civil war for Creedence Clearwater Re- lyrics. It has been suggested that Rich and released in May 2006. The Colonel Bogey March is not use the video, choosing to that matter, which is the idea of vival released Fortunate Son the drum pattern, references to a The song, which begins with a British march that was com- remain with the traditional An- a faction of people of the same in 1969 and it soon became an marching band leading soldiers a spoken introduction by Kris posed in 1914 by Lieutenant chors Aweigh. nationality, separated by belief, anti-war movement anthem; an in blue, and “riding out” (caval- Kristofferson, tells the tale of F. J. Ricketts, a British Army Yet there are many songs that waging war on one another. expressive symbol of the coun- ry) refer to the American Civil Niles Harris, a soldier in the bandmaster who later became most people will not immedi- You wouldn’t normally asso- ter-culture’s opposition to U.S. War. However the drum beat 173rd Airborne Brigade of the the director of music for the ately associate as being a song ciate a group like heavy metal military involvement in the Vi- and cavalry “riding out” is not United States Army during Op- Royal Marines at Plymouth. about soldiers or the military. band Iron Maiden with a mil- etnam War and solidarity with specific to the American Civil eration Hump in South Vietnam English composer Malcolm It’s only when you really lis- itary song. Written by bass- the soldiers fighting it. War, and blue uniforms were on November 8, 1965. The intro Arnold added a counter-march, ten to the lyrics, or know the ist Steve Harris, The Trooper Brothers in Arms is a 1985 common in the 19th century. mentions that Harris was “the which he titled The River Kwai story behind the song that it be- is based on the Charge of the song by Dire Straits, appearing If anyone can sing about war guy that gave Big Kenny his top March, for the 1957 dramatic comes clear. Here are a few of Light Brigade at the battle of as the closing track on the al- it’s James Blunt. He was a cap- hat”, and that he was among the film The Bridge on the River them. Balaclava during the Crimean bum of the same name. It was tain in the Life Guards, a caval- wounded who were saved by Kwai, set during World War II. The Night They Drove Old War in 1854. A famous poem written in 1982, the year of the ry regiment of the British Army, Army medic Lawrence Joel, the The song went on to become a Dixie Down was a hit for The of the same name was written Falklands War. It was re-re- and served under NATO in the first living African American to hit. Band in 1969. The song is a by Lord Tennyson. The Troop- leased in 2007 as a special edi- Kosovo War in 1999. No Brav- receive the Medal of Honour In the Army Now is a song first-person narrative relating er appeared on Maiden’s 1983 tion to commemorate the 25th ery was released in 2007 and since the Spanish–American by the South African-born the economic and social dis- masterpiece Piece of Mind. anniversary of the conflict and describes the situation when War of 1898. Dutch duo Bolland & Bolland, tress experienced by the pro- Jason Isbell’s Tour of Duty raise funds for veterans of it Blunt has been in Kosovo as a released in 1982. The song tagonist, Virgil Caine, a poor is written through the eyes of with post-traumatic stress dis- soldier. Drop us an e-mail and let us spent six consecutive weeks on white Southerner, during the a man returning from military order. Stop the Cavalry is a song know of any other songs that the top of the Norwegian sin- last year of the American Civ- service to find a life filled with Pipes Of Peace was released written and performed by the would fit into this category. gles chart. It was also a hit in il War, when George Stoneman simple pleasures, yet not quite by Paul McCartney in 1983. A English musician Jona Lewie, Remember, you can actually South Africa. was raiding southwest Virginia. the same as it was before. It is video was shot for the song, de- released in 1980 and is now listen to the songs by clicking American disco group Vil- Written by David Cros- an honest, sometimes content picting the famous 1914 Christ- regarded as a Christmas song. on any underlined blue link in lage People had a hit with In by in 1968, shortly before his and forward thinking account mas truce between British and The song’s promotional vid- the article. The Navy. dismissal from The Byrds, of a man trying to transition German troops. It portrays a eo is set in the trenches of the 24 25 na, as the Inspecting Officer. He Senior Cadets. This is always a Cdr (SCC) Eriksen “related to presented the prizes, and spoke moment of pride for an outgoing each Sea Cadet as if they were Training ship Kysna highly of the reputation of the Officer Commanding. his own child, thereby becom- TS Knysna Sea Cadets within The new Officer Command- ing the father figure many did changes command the Cadet Corps. The Captain ing invited all to enjoy the cakes not have and by providing op- took the time to individually and eats, washed down with tea. portunities wanted them to be By Lt Cdr Glenn von Zeil, SA Naval Reserves. speak to many of the Sea Cadets It was wonderful to have a large the best they could be….even during the inspection of their di- number of former Sea Cadets the naughty ones”. His “smok- visions and complimented them present, who had come to wit- ies” – braaied viennas on a hot t Cdr (SCC) Steven Erik- including much larger boats ment via UNISA and is currently on the smart drill, as exemplified ness the event and give thanks dog roll would be missed and is sen, outgoing Officer pulled by six or 8 oars. The fleet the Office Manager at the local by their wonderful “advance in to a man who had made a large knowledge on maritime, nauti- LCommanding TS Knys- of sailing dinghies grew from 1 legal firm CJ Ballan. To compli- review order”. He then promot- difference to their lives. Almost cal, naval matters, customs and na is an institution in the town, to 7. All this thanks to the kind ment his Sea Cadet involvement ed Lt Cdr (SCC) Steve Eriksen 50 of TS Knysna’s Sea Cadets traditions irreplaceable. having commanded the Sea Ca- and generous citizens of Knys- he also attained a senior rank to the rank of full Commander had seen service in the SA Navy Lt (SCC) Lamini’s vision for det training ship for 18 years and na. Several years ago, the Geo in the St. James Brigade Band, in recognition of his years of during Cdr (SCC) Eriksen’s pe- TS Knysna is to expand the assisted hundreds of the areas Parkes Company, sponsored the Knysna’s own Brass Band, often dedication and loyal service. riod of command, with many at- theoretical and practical nauti- youth with nautical and mari- renovation and restoration of a called upon to perform for civ- Thereafter Cdr (SCC) Steve tending the parade, at their own cal and maritime knowledge of time training and direction in “three-in-one” Naval Whaler, ic events. He has mastered the Eriksen transferred the com- expense. Those unable to attend the Sea Cadets whilst creating life. one of only three still in exist- art of training young people to mand of Training Ship Knysna due to deployment at sea sent opportunities beyond the Unit. He handed command to Lt ence in South Africa. play brass, snare and woodwin to Lt (SCC) Charl Lamini, sym- their thanks and best wishes. As the ship’s company is at half (SCC) Charl Lamini on 24 No- Lt Cdr (SCC) Steve Eriksen instruments and plays brass in- bolized by the handing over of As befitting such an event many strength a recruitment drive will vember 2018 in a moving pa- was born on 22 September 1945, struments, from a bugle to Bflat the traditional nautical telescope shared their positive experiences shortly take place. rade and annual prize giving in Durban, the son Lt (SAN) tuba, himself of command from the outgoing on how Cdr (SCC) Eriksen and If you can assist Lt (SCC) witnessed by the Mayor Mark E Ronald Eriksen and SWAN Being an outstanding junior OC to the incoming OC. positively impacted their lives, Charl Lamini in reaching his Willemse, the Speaker of Coun- Joan Erkisen who both served officer, he was promoted to the Following naval tradition Cdr taught them skills and assisted goals or assist TS Knysna in any cil Georlene Wolmarans, retired in the SA Navy. He finished his rank of Lt in 2016 and has been (SCC) Eriksen was towed off the them iro their career choices. way please contact him at seaca- Admiral Theo Haniball, Mrs schooling at Michaelhouse from responsible for many innovative Unit drawn by his Officers and Lt (SCC) Lamini remarked that [email protected]. Margaret Parkes, Mr Jim Parkes, 1958 – 1964. There he was a developments in the training ac- the very Reverend Colin Paine, school and house prefect, the tivities of the Sea Cadets of TS parents, supporters and many ex Commodore of the St Michael’s Knysna. He was made the First HANDING OVER: Cdr (SCC) Steven Erik- Sea Cadets. The change of com- Yaught club, secretary of the Lieutenant of the Unit, reporting sen hands over the telescope of command mand was presided over by the motor club, Captain of the 3rd directly to Lt Cdr (SCC) Steve of Training Ship Knysna to Lt (SCC) Charl Captain of the Sea Cadet Corps team rugby, Senior School Ca- Eriksen, the Commanding Of- Lamini. Capt (SCC) Ian Loubser. Ma- det, Captain school fencing team ficer. He has proved to beex- jor funders were represented by and participated in debating and tremely effective and competent Steve Collins and Martin Green historical societies. Thereafter officer. Lt Cdr (SCC) Eriksen of the Knysna and District Pipe he studied accounting, economic suffered a failure of a replace- Band and Sea Cadets Corps history, engineering, computer ment hip and had to undergo Training Officer, Cdr (SCC) science, chemistry and business extensive surgery to repair the Wally Maritz. studies at Edinburgh University damage to his thigh in 2018 and Lt Cdr (SCC) Eriksen joined in Scotland. was confined to bed for a very the Unit as a Sub Lieutenant in A young man, Charl Lamini, long time. During this period Lt January 1997, and when Cdr joined the cadets in 2004 and (SCC) Lamini took control of (SCC) Andrew Conradie, the showed considerable aptitude and managed the Training Ship Officer Commanding, left for and enthusiasm. He rose stead- extremely effectively. Cape Town in 2003, he was ily in the ranks and in 2006 was On Saturday 24th November given command of the Training invited to join the Wardroom as the Senior Officer of the Sea Ship. During his period in com- Midshipman. In civilian life, af- Cadet Corps, Capt (SCC) Ian mand the fleet of pulling (row- ter matriculating, he studied ac- Loubser, attended the Annual ing) boats grew from 4 to 7, now counting and business manage- Prize Giving Parade of TS Knys- 26 27 Sandblasted and blown away

The Armed Forces invade Table View! Story and photographs by Regine Lord.

ut in Table Bay, the A C-130 Hercules transport with the rescue team onboard, THE CHIEF: President Cyril black fin of the Type aircraft from 28 Squadron flew headed back out to sea; a group Ramaphosa (as Command- 209 submarine SAS past at an altitude of 500 feet; of soldiers, carrying assault ri- er in Chief of the SANDF), O General Solly Zacharia Shoke Manthatisi (S101) broke the unfortunately, due to the strong fles, fast-roped down from a (Chief of the SANDF). surface. Closer to shore, a pair winds and safety concerns, it hovering Oryx to secure the of special forces operatives was could not drop the 5 Special beach. Two Rooivalk, darting dropped off by a Zodiac inflat- Forces divers and their boat who about like angry wasps, provid- able to swim through the surf, would ordinarily have formed ed dramatic fire cover amidst and secure Table View beach. part of the combat search and loud bangs and colourful explo- Their mission: to confirm the rescue. Two BAE Hawks and sions, as the ground elements presence of the two diplomats, two JAS39 Gripen fighter jets approached the building with who had been taken hostage came screaming past from the mortars and small arms fire to and were being held in a small north, swooping high up into the conduct ‘mopping-up’ opera- building (an ablutions block) blue sky above Table Mountain tions. on the beach. Once confirmed, – the Hawks doing the recon As a result of an own-force they were to mark a possible while being protected by the casualty, a combat medical landing zone for an Oryx heli- Gripens. As the Oryx carrying team from 7 Medical Battalion copter to bring in an eight-man the assault team came in low Group was activated. After dis- assault team. across the choppy sea, it turned mounting from an Agusta A109 FLYING THE FLAG: SAAF Meanwhile, the submarine to hover mere metres above the helicopter, the ops medics Flypast – Oryx, Super Lynx was being pursued by a mine- beach, before dropping down quickly assisted the injured per- and Agusta A109. hunter – the SAS Umzimkulu in a whirl of sand and smoke son with advanced life support M1142, representing the for- from coloured flares, to allow and secured him to a stretcher, eign vessel responsible for the the troops to dismount, rifles at which was then airlifted into hostage situation. The SAS the ready. Above, a couple of the Oryx, bringing to a dramat- Spioenkop (F147) valour class Rooivalk combat support heli- ic ending the combat and rescue frigate, carrying the Super Lynx copters from 16 Squadron, fly- mission. helicopter that is used for recon- ing back and forth, provided air As the intense downwash naissance and targeting, was en support. from the low-hovering helicop- route to intercept, board and The assault team entered the ter roared around us, it sand- take control of the minehunt- little house to identify and ex- blasted my back with fine sea er, approaching from Robben tract the hostages, and neutral- sand. I hunkered down on the Island. The Super Lynx was ise the enemy forces. A Zodiac small elevated platform behind launched to act as the airborne Hurricane raced in through the the security fence, and felt the command post. Also in the mix pounding surf to exfiltrate the wind pushing me determinedly were the SAS Amatola (F145) team. The airborne command towards the edge. Desperate- STRIKE FORCE: SAAB Grip- frigate, the SAS Makhanda post, having identified possible ly, I leaned back into the wind ens of the South African Air (P1569) strikecraft, and the interference from the hostile and forced my centre of gravi- Force. SAS Protea (all in white); clos- forces, scrambled the Hawks ty down, down, down. One of er inshore, several smaller pa- and Gripens; as they came the reporters, a slender young trol vessels with black-clad di- screeching past, ‘bombs’ ex- lady, thumped down hard on vers on board were bobbing up ploded on the beach and flares the wooden boards, and held on and down in the choppy swell, were released high up in the for dear life. I gripped my two just beyond the breakers. air. The Zodiac Hurricane, now heavy cameras tightly against 28 29 my chest, gasping for air. I As I wiped them down, I could lives lost was second only to could hardly open my eyes, as feel the grains grinding into the the casualties suffered by the the wind roared past. If I hadn’t lens barrel, and into the little South African Brigade at Del- clamped my bright red earmuffs wheels. Oh dear, a deep-clean ville Wood during the Battle of on so tightly, my floppy hat was necessary. the Somme in 1916. and my spectacles would have Oh, but what an unforgetta- In 2013, Armed Forces Day LOCAL IS LEKKER: An Oryx and a white-painted Rooivalk joined the half a dozen random ble, thrilling capability demon- was held at the Lucas Moripe (either after or before UN items – hats, jackets, bags – that stration this had been! A fitting Stadium in Atteridgeville, west deployment in Africa). The were now dancing down Ma- climax to National Armed Forc- of Pretoria (Gauteng); in 2014, Rooivalk was designed and rine Drive. Oh… and there went es Week 2019! at Air Force Base Bloemspruit developed in South Africa. my orange backpack, bouncing In mid-February 2019, about near Bloemfontein (Free State); over the barrier and head-over- 8,500 soldiers, sailors, aviators, and in 2015, at Trim Park in tailing across the open space. medical personnel and support Potchefstroom (North West After an eternity, the down- staff from the SA National De- Province). In 2016, a week- wash eased slightly. Fellow fence Force (SANDF), as well long programme of military photographer Justin de Reuck as long convoys of military ve- events took place all over Nel- leapt from the platform and hicles, descended on the West- son Mandela Bay/Port Eliz- raced to rescue his belongings; ern Cape from all around the abeth (Eastern Cape). Week- he kindly threw my backpack country to participate in the long programmes were held in over to me, before glancing up annual Armed Forces Week. e-Thekwini/Durban (KwaZulu and, incredibly, pointing his In addition, this year’s event Natal) in 2017 and Kimberley massive telephoto Canon lens marked 25 years of democracy (Northern Cape) in 2018. From straight into the swirling wind and thus 25 years since the cre- 15 to 22 February 2019, it was THE RESCUE IS to snap a couple of photos of ation of the SANDF. the City of Cape Town’s turn. LAUNCHED: The combat the Oryx rising up into the air. Armed Forces Day was de- From an organisational rescue team get ready to One of the cameramen was clared in 2012 by the then-Pres- and logistical standpoint, it extract the hostages. The SAS struggling to manhandle his ident of the Republic of South is certainly a stress test of the Manthatisi can be seen in the heavy film camera and tripod Africa, Jacob Zuma, as the day SANDF’s logistic capabilities background. back into position next to the on which the country would and its state of readiness – par- platform. honour the men and women of ticularly given the relentless And then, thankfully, the hel- the military, by showing their cuts in the Defence budget. At icopter thump-thump-thumped appreciation and gratitude to the media launch on the SAS off into the distance and silence them for upholding the Con- Amatola on 28 January 2019, fell. Everywhere around me, I stitution, defending the terri- Rear Admiral Guy Jamieson, could see other photographers torial integrity of the country Deputy Chief Navy, had ex- and film crews looking - wor and protecting its people. The plained that this event “forc- riedly at their gear, and gath- 21st of February had been cho- es us, in the National Defence ering up their scattered be- sen in memory of the date on Force, to test our ability to de- longings. I too was anxiously which the SS Mendi troopship ploy and move forces around assessing whether the sand had sank in the English Channel in the country.” It also requires gotten into my cameras. It had 1917, after a pre-dawn collision the four arms of service to work certainly gotten in everywhere in dense mist with the SS Dar- well together in planning and AIR STRIKE: Airstrike on the else. My clothes and even my ro. Over 600 Black soldiers of execution, and to create linkag- beach by the Hawks and Grip- boots were full of fine sea sand, the 5th Battalion South African es with the local municipalities, ens. and I could feel rivers of it run- Native Labour Corps, as well provincial authorities and rele- ning down inside my shirt; my as crew members, officers and vant stakeholders through close eyes, ears and hair were sticky NCOs drowned, making the coordination and cooperation. with the damp beach sand, and sinking of the SS Mendi one of Such networks are additionally my teeth felt crunchy. Alas, my the worst maritime disasters in of benefit whenever there are cameras had not been spared. British waters. The number of local or national emergencies. 30 31 The success of this year’s event by the SA Navy Divers, and the ivalk and Super Lynx – and the is no doubt testimony to the SA Air Force flight simulators. CASA 212 Aviocar, Super King professionalism and hard work Several sports clinics were held Air and PC-12 transport aircraft. of the many individuals, depart- at local primary schools. And don’t forget the breath-tak- ments and organisations, often On the weekend, various SA ing aerobatic displays of the behind the scenes. Navy vessels were open to the Silver Falcons! The SA Army The wide-ranging pro- public at the V&A Waterfront: proudly displayed their long- OPS MEDIC: Combat medical gramme covered the entire City two frigates (SAS Amatola and range artillery guns, tanks, ar- team from 7 Medical Battal- of Cape Town. All the events, SAS Spioenkop), the Type 209 moured cars and ground-based ion Group dismount from an many of which were live- submarine S101 SAS Mantha- air defence capabilities, in addi- Agusta A109 streamed on YouTube, attracted tisi, two off-shore patrol ves- tion to bridge building and wa- large crowds eager to meet the sels (SAS Galeshewe and SAS ter purification capabilities, ad- soldiers, ask questions, marvel Makhanda) and two support vanced battlefield surveillance at the hardware and advanced vessels (the fleet replenishment and intelligence capabilities. weaponry, climb all over the ship SAS Drakensberg and the The SA Military Health Service powerful vehicles, try out the hydrographic survey ship SAS provided medical support and interactive displays, and ap- Protea). The neatly attired Sea displayed an air-droppable sur- plaud the exciting demonstra- Cadets of Training Ship Wolte- gical post, communicable dis- tions. So, although there are al- made in Zandvliet performed a ease isolation unit and mobile ways people who dislike these special precision drill routine. hospitals of various sizes. displays of military might and These youngsters, who are 13 to Early on Thursday morning, feel they are a waste of resourc- 17 years old, train every week- 21 February 2019, President es, a cause of traffic congestion end, learning maritime and Cyril Ramaphosa laid a wreath and ‘a bloody nuisance’ – actu- nautical skills as well as lead- at the SS Mendi memorial, lo- ally attending these events does ership and self-discipline. With cated on the University of Cape MAN DOWN: Ops medics highlight that thousands of peo- their excellent teamwork and Town’s lower campus, near attending to the wounded ple enthusiastically support and self-confidence, they never fail where the old Rosebank Show soldier. enjoy them. to impress. In addition, there Grounds used to be. Here the Demonstrations, career ex- was an SANDF 5/10 km fun run soldiers of the SS Mendi had hibitions and static displays of along the Sea Point promenade been billeted before marching state-of-the-art military hard- on the Saturday morning, an down to the harbour to embark ware were held at the Mandela interfaith service at the recent- on their perilous sea journey to Park Stadium in Khayelitsha. A ly renovated City Hall on the England, and thence to France. varied arena program includ- Sunday morning, and a beauti- The culmination of Armed ed paratrooper demonstrations, ful gala concert in the City Hall Forces Week was a military pa- gun runs, sword drills and preci- on the Monday evening. One of rade and capability demonstra- sion drills, martial arts demon- the highlights of Armed Forc- tion on Table View’s beachfront strations, a simulation of a hos- es Week was a stunning night on Thursday midday – with tage release operation, a rapid shoot demonstration at Sunrise spectacular views of iconic bridge-building demonstration Beach, Muizenberg, on Tues- Table Mountain! Security was by the Army engineers, and day night. It featured the Ol- tight – everywhere you looked mock attacks. Visitors explored ifant battle tank, various Ratel were weapon-wielding soldiers ALL DONE: Withdrawal of long-range artillery guns, tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, the in camo, police with gun hol- the flagmen at the end of the armoured cars and ground- Rooikat armoured car, numer- sters and bullet-proof vests, mil- Parade. based air defence capabilities, ous artillery pieces and multi- itary police with high-visibility in addition to bridge building ple rocket launchers. vests, law enforcement officials and water purification capabil- The SA Air Force showcased and traffic cops. On the roofs of ities, advanced battlefield sur- their Gripen and Hawk Mk120 the adjacent apartment blocks veillance and intelligence capa- fighter jets, several helicopters stood snipers with binoculars bilities, interactive exhibitions – the Agusta A109, Oryx, Roo- and high-powered rifles. 32 33 The success of this year’s by the SA Navy Divers, and the ivalk and Super Lynx – and the I could hardly believe my in 2017 (the centenary year event is no doubt testimony to SA Air Force flight simulators. CASA 212 Aviocar, Super King luck. Thanks to the gracious of the tragedy). Now, the bell the professionalism and hard Several sports clinics were held Air and PC-12 transport aircraft. assistance of Major Malope was officially handed over by work of the many individuals, at local primary schools. And don’t forget the breath-tak- and her assistant from SANDF President Cyril Ramaphosa to departments and organisations, On the weekend, various SA ing aerobatic displays of the Media Liaison, I had received General Solly Zacharia Shoke, often behind the scenes. Navy vessels were open to the Silver Falcons! The SA Army my media accreditation on the and then by General Shoke to The wide-ranging pro- public at the V&A Waterfront: proudly displayed their long- morning of the parade. This Rear Admiral Mosuwa Samu- gramme covered the entire City two frigates (SAS Amatola and range artillery guns, tanks, ar- permitted me to join the offi- el Hlongwane (Chief of the SA of Cape Town. All the events, SAS Spioenkop), the Type 209 moured cars and ground-based cial photographers, reporters Navy) for safekeeping. many of which were live- submarine S101 SAS Mantha- air defence capabilities, in addi- and television crews, in a cor- After President Ramaphosa streamed on YouTube, attracted tisi, two off-shore patrol ves- tion to bridge building and wa- doned-off area right in front had delivered his speech, the large crowds eager to meet the sels (SAS Galeshewe and SAS ter purification capabilities, ad- of the presidential podium various Reserve and Regular soldiers, ask questions, marvel Makhanda) and two support vanced battlefield surveillance and overlooking the enormous Force regiments of the SANDF at the hardware and advanced vessels (the fleet replenishment and intelligence capabilities. grandstand seating local and marched past in formation with weaponry, climb all over the ship SAS Drakensberg and the The SA Military Health Service overseas military personnel. their colours proudly flying. Website Links powerful vehicles, try out the hydrographic survey ship SAS provided medical support and Awesome! They were accompanied by the interactive displays, and ap- Protea). The neatly attired Sea displayed an air-droppable sur- The parade began with about SA Army Band Western Cape, For more on Armed Forces plaud the exciting demonstra- Cadets of Training Ship Wolte- gical post, communicable dis- a hundred flagmen from the the SA Air Force Band, the SA Week, check out the follow- tions. So, although there are al- made in Zandvliet performed a ease isolation unit and mobile Army, Air Force, Navy and Navy Band, and the SAMHS ing videos. Just click on the ways people who dislike these special precision drill routine. hospitals of various sizes. SAMHS as well as the National Band with its pipes and drums. underlined title to watch the displays of military might and These youngsters, who are 13 to Early on Thursday morning, Ceremonial Guard in their neat An impressively long mecha- video. feel they are a waste of resourc- 17 years old, train every week- 21 February 2019, President dark green tunics and black nised column – armoured ve- es, a cause of traffic congestion end, learning maritime and Cyril Ramaphosa laid a wreath pants, carrying their Lee En- hicles, tanks, personnel carri- Media Launch and ‘a bloody nuisance’ – actu- nautical skills as well as lead- at the SS Mendi memorial, lo- field .303 rifles taking post all ers, artillery pieces, as well as ally attending these events does ership and self-discipline. With cated on the University of Cape along the barricades. countless support vehicles – Mandela Park Display highlight that thousands of peo- their excellent teamwork and Town’s lower campus, near President Cyril Ramapho- drove slowly past the crowds of ple enthusiastically support and self-confidence, they never fail where the old Rosebank Show sa (as Commander in Chief of cheering spectators. The parade Gala Concert enjoy them. to impress. In addition, there Grounds used to be. Here the the SANDF), General Solly concluded with the withdrawal Demonstrations, career ex- was an SANDF 5/10 km fun run soldiers of the SS Mendi had Zacharia Shoke (Chief of the of the functionaries, the Nation- Night Shoot hibitions and static displays of along the Sea Point promenade been billeted before marching SANDF), and Defence and al Ceremonial Guard, the flag- state-of-the-art military hard- on the Saturday morning, an down to the harbour to embark Military Veterans Minister men and the military bands. Wreath Laying at the SS ware were held at the Mandela interfaith service at the recent- on their perilous sea journey to Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula as- And thereafter, we were all Mendi Park Stadium in Khayelitsha. A ly renovated City Hall on the England, and thence to France. cended the podium, and the SA treated to a spectacular capabil- varied arena program includ- Sunday morning, and a beauti- The culmination of Armed National Anthem was played. ity demonstration on the beach- President’s Speech ed paratrooper demonstrations, ful gala concert in the City Hall Forces Week was a military pa- The SA Air Force did a fly-past, front, complete with scream- gun runs, sword drills and preci- on the Monday evening. One of rade and capability demonstra- followed by a flawless 21-gun ing fly-pasts by fighter jets, Presidential Address sion drills, martial arts demon- the highlights of Armed Forc- tion on Table View’s beachfront salute by Cape Field Artillery’s whirling sandstorms caused strations, a simulation of a hos- es Week was a stunning night on Thursday midday – with saluting troop, who fired their by low-hovering helicopters, Armed Forces Day Parade, tage release operation, a rapid shoot demonstration at Sunrise spectacular views of iconic ceremonial GV1 25-pounder fast-roping soldiers, and plenty SA Defence News bridge-building demonstration Beach, Muizenberg, on Tues- Table Mountain! Security was guns. of pyrotechnics and gunfire! by the Army engineers, and day night. It featured the Ol- tight – everywhere you looked This was followed by the Armed Forces Day Capabil- mock attacks. Visitors explored ifant battle tank, various Ratel were weapon-wielding soldiers ceremonial handing over of ity Demonstration, SA De- long-range artillery guns, tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, the in camo, police with gun hol- the heavy bronze bell of the fence News armoured cars and ground- Rooikat armoured car, numer- sters and bullet-proof vests, mil- SS Mendi, which had been re- based air defence capabilities, ous artillery pieces and multi- itary police with high-visibility turned to South Africa by Brit- in addition to bridge building ple rocket launchers. vests, law enforcement officials ish Prime Minister Theresa and water purification capabil- The SA Air Force showcased and traffic cops. On the roofs of May in August 2018. The bell, ities, advanced battlefield sur- their Gripen and Hawk Mk120 the adjacent apartment blocks which had been stolen from the veillance and intelligence capa- fighter jets, several helicopters stood snipers with binoculars shipwreck in the early 1980s, bilities, interactive exhibitions – the Agusta A109, Oryx, Roo- and high-powered rifles. had been anonymously returned 34 35 Saint Patrick’s Day bash Quiz Military Despatches held its first get-together and cele- Jets brated St Patrick’s Day. ince first introduced over the skies of Europe in World War II, jets have ruled the sky since then. We show you 15 of them, you tell us what they are. You’ll find the answers to the quiz or some time we’ve been Son page 93. talking about holding Fa monthly get together for our readers. And we finally 1 2 3 started. On Friday 15 March we held a St. Patrick’s Day party at Pip Ack Moth Shellhole in Cape Town. Only 15 people turned up, but it turned out to be a fun evening. There was good Irish music, 4 5 6 good craic (term for news, gossip, fun, entertainment, and GOOD CRAIC: Some of those enjoyable conversation), and that attended the St. Patrick’s naturally good Irish liquid re- Day party. freshment. One of the activities was a round of ‘Bite the Bullet’. There IRISH INGREDIENTS: The were 20 chocolates, in the shape ingredients for any Irish party. 7 8 9 of bullets, and everyone had to From left to right: Paddy Whis- take one. 16 of them were nor- key, some revolting green stuff mal milk chocolate, but four of (for punishment drinks), Bush- them contained hot chilli. You mills Whiskey, The Dubliner could see from the faces who whiskey liqueur. Then just add Irish music. selected the chilli chocolates. Thanks for all those that at- tended and we hope to see more people at our next event. 10 11 12 Also a big thanks to Paul from Pip Ack for being our barman for the night. And a huge thank you to Pip Ack Moth Shellhole for allowing us the use of the Shellhole. Look out for the next event 14 15 which you will find advertised 13 in this issue of Military Des- patches.

36 37 Rank Structure Non-Commissioned Officers Argentinian Army Voluntario Primero Private First Class This month in our series on rank structures of various armed forces around the world, we look at the Argentinian Army. NATO Code: OR 2

he Argentine Army brated in Argentina as the Army (Ejército Argentino, EA) Day), four days after the Span- Tis the land armed force ish colonial administration in branch of the Armed Forces of Buenos Aires was overthrown. the Argentine Republic and the The new national army was senior military service of the formed out of several pre-exist- Cabo country. ent colonial militia units and lo- Under the Argentine Consti- cally manned regiments; most Lance Corporal tution, the President of Argen- notably the Infantry Regiment tina is the Commander-in-Chief “Patricios”, which to this date NATO Code: OR 3 of the Armed Forces, exercising is still an active unit. his or her command authori- ty through the Minister of De- As of late 2018, the active el- fence. ement of the Argentine Army The Army’s official founda- numbered some 51,309 mili- tion date is 29 May 1810 (cele- tary personnel. Cabo Primero Soldado de Segunda en Comisión Corporal This rank is equal to a private, the lowest rank. NATO Code: OR 4 NATO Code: OR 1

Voluntario Segundo Sargento This rank roughly translates as, Second Volunteer. Sergeant NATO Code: OR 1 NATO Code: OR 5

38 39 Sargento Primero Commissioned Officers Staff Sergeant Subteniente

NATO Code: OR 6 Sub-lieutenant

NATO Code: OF 1

Sargento Ayudante

Master Sergeant Teniente NATO Code: OR 7 Lieutenant

NATO Code: OF 1

Suboficial Principal Teniente Primero Warrant Officer First Lieutenant NATO Code: OR 8 NATO Code: OF 1

Suboficial Mayor Capitán Chief Warrant Officer Captain NATO Code: OR 9 NATO Code: OF 2

40 41 Mayor General de Brigada

Major Brigadier General

NATO Code: OR 3 NATO Code: OR 7

Teniente Coronel General de División Lieutenant-Colonel Divisional General NATO Code: OR 4 NATO Code: OR 8

Coronel Teniente General

Colonel Army General. This would be equivalent to the Chief of the Army.

NATO Code: OR 5 NATO Code: OR 9

Coronel Mayor Current Commanders

Colonel Commandant Commander-in-chief President Mauricio Macri NATO Code: OR 6 Chief of General Staff Lieutenant general Diego Luis Suñer

Deputy Chief of General Staff Brigadier-General Santiago Julio Ferreyra

42 43 Balance Log A matter of survival - Trapping II A forked stick, its ends sharp- Over the next few months we will be running a series of articles looking at survival, something ened to dislodge easier and that has always been important for those in the military. This month we look at constructing one fork suitably baited, sup- deadfall traps. ports one end of a cross-bar, the other end of which rests on ast month we looked at Toggle trip-release deadfall trap a fixed support, held there by the weight of the heavy logs or snare traps, which are This uses the same kind of mechanism as the toggle-release rock which rests on the bar. ideal for trapping small- snare - though this time the release bar keeping the toggle in posi- L When the bait is taken the er game. This month we look tion presses one end of the toggle upwards. whole trap collapses and, hope- at going after something a big A line from the toggle passes over a tree limb to support a bun- fully, the prey is crushed or larger. dle of logs or other heavy weights above the trail. From the re- trapped. These traps all work on the lease bar a trip line (usually a vine) runs above the ground beneath principle that when the bait is the suspended weight to a firm securing point. taken a weight falls on the prey. Warning! The large version of these traps work just as well on humans as they do on ani- mals. Toggle & Bait release dead- The toggle release and dead- fall trap fall traps have trip wires and are A rock or group of logs lashed easily set off accidentally. Even together is supported by a prop in a survival situation ensure which is balanced over a fixed that everyone knows exactly forker stick. The other end of where they are. the prop is clear of the ground In survival practice keep peo- and held down by a short line ple away from them, and neer attached to a toggle which is leave such a trap set up at the wrapped around the upright end of an exercise. stick. You cannot set a large dead- The toggle is kept in place by fall trap on your own. Keep the a bait stick wedged between it mechanism to the side of the and the head fall weight. Dis- trail, well away from the drop- lodging the bait stick activates ping weight, or setting it will be the trap. far too risky. Balance is critical - you are unlikely to get it right the first Square-face release trap time. BUGGER! Similar to the balance log Remember, the object of the trap but using a notched upright exercise is to trap an animal in as the support, the lower face of order to provide you with food. the notch squared off. You don’t want to end up Fit cross-bar against the crushing one of your party. This squared-off lower face of the will not be beneficial to their bar supporting the weight. survival. Even worse is to fall victim to your own trap. Otherwise you could end up providing food for the very animal you were after.

44 45 Deadfall trap The weight of a log or oth- er weight suspended over the game trail pulls the line car- rying it against a retaining bar held by shorts pegs secured in a tree trunk. The line continues as a trip- wire beneath the weight. Make sure that the line is long enough and tripwire anchor weak enough to allow weight to reach the ground. Set the pegs slightly down- ward, but keep them short so Figure 4 deadfall trap that the bar disengages easily. While this trap looks compli- cated, once learned it is easy to remember. And it’s also very effective. It can be made to any size. A horizontal bait bar is balanced at right-angles to an upright with a locking bar, which sup- ports a weight, positioned over Bush War Books has probably one of the finest the bait, pivoted on the sharp- collections of military titles available. Especially ened tip of the upright. Bait bar notched on top to en- on the . gage locking arm, square cut on side to fit upright. Locking arm sharpened at lower end to re- lease quickly, notched a centre Click here to visit their website. to pivot on upright.

In the next issue we will be taking a look at spear traps. These are excellent for hunting Warning! larger prey - but they are very dangerous to humans and can be lethal. Be careful when setting any As an exercise you can try of these traps. They are just building some of these deadfall as dangerous to humans as traps on a smaller basis. This is a good method of testing them they are to the prey you are and getting the construction trying to trap. right. “War does not determine who is right - only who is left”

46 00 head to head head to head

began to suck on it. Needless Military Ration Packs to say he spent the next half an It has been said that you are what you eat. With this in mind, this month we take a hour spitting and puking. look at military ration packs around the world. In the old rat packs, a small, flat tin opener was also includ- nyone that served in the Many would also discard items chet, water was added, and it ed. One of the main problems old South African De- from their rat pack and the first was shaken vigorously. Natu- with rat packs is that they would Afence Force and spent to go was usually the much-hat- rally these sachets would some often have passed their expiry time on the border will surely ed ‘Dog Biscuits’. times burst, leaving the poor date. Not that this ever seemed remember the rat packs. All food items were pre- troop covered in cool drink or to bother the SADF because Rat Pack was short for Ration cooked and they could be eaten milkshake. they were issued anyway. Pack and these were given to cold, but it must be said that they Other food items would in- Troops didn’t seem to com- troops in the bush. A rat pack tasted far better when heated. clude instant porridge that was plain too much because it was was supposed to feed a troop for Also included were tea, coffee, mixed with water, chewing a case of ‘eat what you’re given a period of 24 hours. They were and sugar. A tube of condensed gum, raisins, fruit bars, ener- or go hungry’. similar to the American Army milk was also to be found in the gy bars, glucose sweets, and a Below is a list of the various C-Rats (Combat Rations). pack. Coffee or tea was mixed small tube of processed cheese. items, including flavour and If a troop, for instance, was with sugar and mixed with wa- A box of matches and a strip of quantity, that were found in rat going to spend four days out ter in your fire bucket, brought fuel tablets, known as Esbits, packs. FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD: The contents of a typical SADF on patrol, he would be issued to the boil, and condensed milk would complete the pack. Rat Pack. with four rat packs. They came was added. The Esbits were round tablets • Meat - Corned Beef Hash, Mint, Rum & Raisin - 2 bars commercially available items. in cardboard boxes and were A popular item in the rat that, when lit, would burn for a Curried Fish, Steak & On- • Chewing Gum -3 pieces Each ration contains: canned numbered from one to five, the pack was the cool drink and considerable time. They were ions, Vienna sausages & • Sugar - 4 sachets meat, small can of meat spread, number on the box reflecting a milkshake powder. These were used to heat your food. I heard Baked Beans - 2 small tins. • Salt - 2 sachets crackers, instant soup, cereal particular combination of con- mixed with water in plastic of at least one case where some • Vegetables - Diced Carrots, • Matches - 1 box bar with fruit, a chocolate bar tents. sachets that were nicknamed’ dumb idiot thought that the Es- Mixed Vegetables, Peas - 1 • ‘Esbit Fuel Strips - 1 strip with nuts or caramels, instant Up until the mid-1980s there condoms’ by the troops. The bits were a type of sweet and he small tin. coffee, orange juice powder, were three tins per rat pack, powder was poured into the sa- popped one into his mouth and • Milkshake - Chocolate, Naturally the SADF were not sugar, salt, a heating kit with however this was changed to Strawberry, Lime, Vanilla - the only military organisation disposable stove and alco- two larger tins thereafter. This 1 sachet that used ration packs. Almost hol-based fuel tablets, dispos- was because the vegetables • Coffee - 2 sachets every nation that has a military able butane lighter, resealable were incorporated with the • Tea - 1 sachet force uses them. plastic bag, cooked rice and a meat. • Cool drink powder - Cola, Let’s take a look at what you pack of paper tissues. As soon as the rat packs had Lime, Naartjie, Orange - 2 could expect to find in the ration • Menu #1 contains: corned been distributed the trading sachets packs of some other countries. beef, meat pate, crisp water would begin. Troops would • Porridge - Banana flavour - crackers, and instant soup have their individual preferenc- 1 sachet Argentina with fideo pasta. es as to which rat pack they en- • ‘Dog’ biscuits - 1 packet The Ración de Combate (In- • Menu #2 contains: roasted joyed most. It was not uncom- • Processed Cheese - 1 tube dividual) was introduced in beef in gravy, meat pate, mon to hear comments such as, • Condensed Milk - 1 tube 2003, consisting of a gray plas- whole wheat crackers, and “Who wants to trade a number • ‘Super C’ Glucose Sweets - tic-foil laminate pouch contain- quick-cooking polenta in three for a number five?” Orange, Naartjie, Pineapple ing a mix of canned and de- cheese sauce. Troops would often add items - 1 roll hydrated foods, plus minimal to their rat packs and these • Fruit Bars - Various flavours supplements, for one soldier United States included things such as cur- EATING IRONS: Not only were your dixies and fire bucket - 2 bars for one day. All products in the American ration packs con- ry powder, other spices, and a used to eat and drink from, they would also be used as pots for • Raisins - 1 packet RC are domestically produced, sisted of MREs (Meals, Ready- packet or two of instant soup. cooking. • Energy bar - Choc Nut, 48 49 head to head head to head to-Eat). menus; each includes two Each sealed plastic bag con- meals out of a selection of 19 tains one entire precooked meals, with several heavy-duty meal, with a number of supple- foil trays containing items such ments and accessories. as lentils with sausages, Yugo- The original 12 menus have slav Sausage, Goulash, beef been expanded to 24 and now patties in tomato sauce, Italian contain a variety of ethnic and pasta, or Tofu stir-fry. There are special request items as well. also three smaller foil “cans” of Kosher/Halal and Vegetarian bread spreads such as cheese menus are also provided. spread, liver-sausage, dried- Each meal bag contains an meat sausage, or cheese spread 226 gram main course (pack- with green peppers. aged in a four-layer plastic and The meal box also includes: foil laminate retort pouch), 8 thinly sliced rye bread (170 g), hard-tack crackers, some form hard crackers (1100 kcal), a foil The First Strike Ration (FSR) of spread (cheese, peanut but- PERFORMANCE ENHANCER: can of fruit salad, instant cream substantially reduces weight and load and is intended to en- ter, or jam), a fruit-based bever- The Einmannpackung provides two substan- hance a consumer’s physical performance, mental acuity, and GERMAN GRUB: of wheat, instant fruit juice tial meals to each soldier. The food is not only substantial, it age powder, some form of des- mobility. powder, instant coffee, instant sert (cake, candy, cookies, or tastes damn good as well. tea, powdered cream, a choco- fruit), and an accessory packet late bar, sugar, salt, gum, jam, containing coffee or tea, cream- cereal bars (First Strike Bars), con-cheddar pocket sandwich, that are shared by the pair in a in sauce, fish terrine, duck water purifying tablets, two er, sugar, salt, matches, a plas- a dairy-based calcium-enriched pepperoni pocket sandwich, fire and manoeuvre team, or in mousse, etc. plastic bags, matches, paper tic spoon, and toilet paper. A dessert bar, two packets of beef filled French Toast pocket sand- individual mess kits. Each meal box also contains towels and a user guide. chemical heater is packed with jerky (similar to biltong) in wich, jalapeño cheese spread & a package of instant soup, hard every meal. BBQ or Teriyaki flavour, forti- wheat snack bread, apple cider France crackers, cheese spread, choco- Ireland The First Strike Ration (FSR) fied apple sauce, nut and fruit mix. The French 24-hour com- late, caramels or boiled sweets, Ireland fields a 24-hour ration is a compact, eat-on-the-move mix, caffeinated gum, and an bat ration, the RCIR (ration de instant café-au-lait, sugar, co- pack somewhat similar to that ration to be used for no more accessory pack containing a Finland combat individuelle réchauffa- coa powder, matches, a dispos- used by the British. It is packed than three days during initial beverage mix, salt, matches, tis- When (during peacetime) ble) comes in 14 menus packed able folding ration heater and in a large ziplock plastic bag periods of highly intense, high- sues, plastic spoon, and cleans- conscript soldiers are not pro- in a small cardboard box. fuel tablets, and water purifying and contains two pre-cooked ly mobile combat assaults. ing moist towelettes. The FSR vided with meals cooked either Inside are two pre-cooked, tablets. main meals and items to be eat- A single FSR (24 hours comes in three menus: in garrisons or attached field ready-to-eat meal main courses en throughout the day. food) is about 50% of the size Menu #1 contains: Ital- kitchens, they are provided with packed in thin metal cans some- Germany Included are: instant soup, ra- and weight of three MREs. ian pocket sandwich, chicken rations (colloquially known as what like oversized sardine tins, Germany uses the Einmann- men noodles, an oatmeal block, Each FSR provides 2,900 kcal chunks pouch, tortillas & hot sissi rations) packed in a clear and an hors d’oeuvre in a more packung (EPA) to provide two a high-energy protein bar, both (12,000 kJ) (15% protein, 53% sauce, Cinnamon & brown sug- plastic bag. conventional can or tin. substantial meals to each sol- brown and fruit biscuits, sweets, carbohydrates, 34% fat), versus ar toaster pastry, peanut butter Several different menus exist, Current main courses include dier. Practice is to provide one and a selection of beverage mix- the 3,800 kcal (16,000 kJ) in and crackers, lemon tea mix. however all include foil packed items such as beef salad, tuna hot cooked meal for the other es. Breakfast (bacon and beans three MREs, and has a two-year Menu #2 contains: Honey crispbread, coffee and tea, sug- and potatoes, salmon with rice meal whenever possible. or sausage and beans) is pack- shelf life when stored at 28 °C. BBQ beef pocket sandwich, ar, chocolate, small tins of beef and vegetables, shepherd’s pie, A heater or oven is not in- aged in a retort pouch while An FSR is packed in a sin- Albacore tuna pouch, tortillas & or pork, chewing gum, dry por- rabbit casserole, chili con carne, cluded since an Esbit cooker is dinner (Beef Casserole, Irish gle trilaminate bag and con- mayonnaise, lemon poppy-seed ridge, energy drink powder etc. paella, veau marengo (veal), part of each soldier’s personal Stew, Chicken Curry, or a vege- tains filled pocket sandwiches, pound cake, cheese spread and Soups and porridges that are navarin d’agneau (lamb), poul- equipment. Enough food items tarian main course) comes in ei- a pouch of tuna or chicken, two crackers, instant coffee, non- meant to be mixed with water try and spring vegetables, etc. are contained within the EPA to ther a flat tin or microwaveable packets of ERGO high-ener- dairy creamer and sugar. and cooked are usually prepared Hors d’oeuvres include: salm- sustain the soldier for 24 hours. plastic tray. Desserts consist of gy drink mix, two high-energy Menu #3 contains: Ba- in Trangia-type portable stoves on terrine, chicken liver, tuna Currently there are three a retort-pouched dessert (choc- 50 51 head to head head to head olate pudding, syrup pudding, al Russian outdoors men fare, a main meal packed in a retort hot cocoa mix, beef/vegetable fruit dumplings), a Kendal mint is largely formed out of the pouch, a number of snack items, stock powder, lemon/orange cake, and a roll of fruit lozeng- commercially available canned drink powders and a flameless powder or Lucozade electro- es. food, and usually includes one ration heater (FRH). However lyte powder, matches, packet of Beverages include tea bags, portion of stewed beef or pork, it does not contain any hot bev- tissues, chewing-gum, a small instant coffee, hot cocoa, and two meat-with-vegetables dish- erage items. bottle of Tabasco sauce, and a powdered isotonic drink mix. es, like various porridges, stews There are 10 menu choices water purifying tablets. They Also included are a pack of or canned fish, and one or two including one vegetarian. sometimes also contain chick- tissues, a small scouring pad, spreads, such as liver pate, 14 hour operational ration pack en and herb pâté. Also available matches, water purification tab- sausage stuffing or processed The 24 hour Operational Ra- are Kosher/Halal, Vegetarian, lets, salt and pepper packets, cheese. tion Pack, General Purpose and Hindu/Sikh specific menus. sugar, dry cream powder, moist Desserts may include fruit is packed inside a small card- Regardless of their contents, towelettes, and individual pack- jams, chocolate and/or walnut board box, and each ration has these ration packs are referred ets of foot powder. spreads, chocolate bars, sweet- enough retort-pouched and to as Rat-Packs or Compo ened condensed milk, etc., but canned foods to feed one sol- (short for Composite Rations) Italy baked goods are usually avoid- dier for 24 hours. by the soldiers who eat them. In Italy uses the Razione Viv- RUSSIAN RATIONS: An IRP-P Russian Navy combat ration, ed out of concerns about their Seven menus (plus vegetarian addition to containing the 24- eri Speciali da Combattimen- with main courses, meat spreads, crackers and drinks. shelf life. and religious variants) provide hour ration, the outside of the to, consisting of a heavy duty Other variants may add two precooked meals (Break- cardboard box has a range card brownish-green plastic bag and sugar. Accessories are: a packaging and inventory re- canned speck and/or dried fish fast and Main Meal) plus a mid- printed on its side for use by the with three thin white cardboard folding stove, fuel tablets, wa- quirements, so every producer or exchange the hexamine tab- day snack. soldier to record key features cartons inside (one for break- ter purification tablets, tooth- issues their own version. lets for the flameless heater. Example (Menu A) Break- and their range from their posi- fast, one for lunch and one for pick, matches, and three small Most commonly it is pack- fast: Hamburger and beans, In- tion. Other variations designed dinner), each containing meal disposable toothbrushes with aged into a sturdy plastic blis- United Kingdom stant Porridge. All ration packs for specific environments exist. items plus accessories. pre-applied tooth powder. ter box (nicknamed “The Frog” The British have a number of also contain Oatmeal Block, The rations are now being is- There are seven menus, called in the field for its olive-green different types of ration packs. Fruit Biscuits, Biscuits Brown sued with a new folding cook- “modules”, identified by colors: Russian Federation colour), or plastic-sealed card- These include the 12 hour op- (a more compact alternative er and fire-lighting fuel called yellow, red, grey, green, white, Since the turn of the Millenni- board box that contains five to erational ration pack, 24 hour to bread), a sachet of instant FireDragon made in Wales by pink and blue. um Russia issues the Individual six entrées in laminated foil operational ration pack, 24 soup and jam or yeast extract BCB International Ltd.\ Typically, breakfast consists Food Rations (Individual’nyi cans or retort pouches, four hour multi climate ration box, (a Marmite like spread) for a 24 hour jungle ration of: a chocolate bar, fruit can- Ratsion Pitaniya (IRP), a new to six pack of crackers or pre- 24 hour jungle ration, cold cli- lunchtime snack, and choco- The 24 Hour Jungle ration is dy, crackers or sweet bread, in- self-contained ration, contain- served bread, two to three des- mate ration, 10 man operational late (in the form of a specially based on the standard 24 Hour stant coffee, sugar, and a tube ing the whole daily food intake sert items in form of a spread or ration pack, and emergency fly- made Yorkie bar which is flatter ration with additional supple- of sweetened condensed milk. for an individual soldier in the fruit bar, four beverage concen- ing rations. than civilian bars, or, more re- ments and a Flameless Ration A lunch will have: two pull- field. trate pouches, some seasonings 12 hour operational ration pack cently, a simple unbranded bar Heater (FRH). The Jungle ra- ring cans with precooked foods However, in its most frequent (salt, pepper, sugar, ketchup), The 12 hour operational ra- of milk chocolate), though this tion is designed for use by the (Tortellini al Ragù, Pasta e Fa- form it isn’t dietary complete, and various sundry items like tion pack (ORP) is designed has been phased out with the special forces and other spe- gioli, Wurstel, Tacchino in Ge- and is intended only as a stop- sanitizing wipes/paper towels, for patrolling for durations of introduction of the more recent cialist units. latina, Insalata di Riso, etc.), gap measure to be issued until spoons, can opener, four hex- 4–12 hours and for is suitable multi-climate ration packs, and The 24 Hour Jungle Ration a small can of fruit cocktail, a the normal supply lines (with amine fuel tablets, folding heat- for remote guard posts, drivers boiled sweets (hard candy) for provides a minimum of 4500 multivitamin tablet, energy and their field kitchens) are estab- er, matches and water purifier and as a supplement to normal snacking whilst on patrol, or in kcals (18,840 kJ) a day. fiber tablets, instant coffee, sug- lished and the hot food delivery tablets. rations for where daily calorie free time. ar, and a plastic spoon wrapped started, to be issued for no more The types of entrées vary expenditure is likely to exceed Main Meal: Instant soup, Cold Climate Raion with a napkin. than six days straight. Russian with the producer and the is- 6000 kcal (25,120 kJ)(for in- Chicken with Mushroom and The Cold Climate Ration Dinner will consist of two Ministry of defence doesn’t sued menu (of which there are stance, troops undergoing ardu- Pasta, Treacle Pudding. Each (CCR) is a specialist and light- more meal cans plus crackers, strictly prescribe the contents usually 7 to 12), but the com- ous duties.) pack also contains instant cof- weight, high calorie 24 hour ra- an energy bar, instant coffee, of the ration, only some basic mon set is based on a tradition- The 12 hour ORP contains fee, tea bags, creamer, sugar, tion designed for use by troops 52 53 head to head head to head above the snow line or in the ration packs - Combat Ration weighs around 10 kg. dal fry, jeera rice, Dal makhani, rice (white rice, sekihan (rice high Arctic. It comprises main- One Man, Combat Ration Five Patrol Ration One Man is a vegetable pulav and mixed veg- with red beans), mixed rice ly dehydrated main meals with Man and Patrol Ration One complete 24-hour ration pack etable curry, alongside pickled with vegetables, or rice with a range of snacks designed to Man. that contains freeze dried main hot seasoning, in small plastic mushrooms), a main meal can be eaten on the go. Combat Ration One Man is meals, meaning that the total pouches. (chicken and vegetables, beef There are eight menu choic- a complete 24-hour ration pack weight of each pack is reduced, The One Man Combo Pack with vegetables, fish and veg- es available. The cold climate that provides two substantial however a correspondingly consists of early morning tea, etables, or hamburger patties), ration provides a minimum of meals per day and a wide vari- higher quantity of water must breakfast, mid morning tea, pickled vegetables (Takuan(yel- 5500 kcals (23,030 kJ) a day. ety of drinks and snacks for the be carried in order to reconsti- lunch, evening tea, and dinner. low radish) or red cabbage) and remainder of the day. tute the main meal. Otherwise, The menus feature both dehy- sometimes a supplemental can Israel Most items, such as Beef Kai it is similar to the Combat Ra- drated and ready-to-eat prod- (tuna in soy or beef in soy). The Israeli “battle ration” Si Ming, Dutch-style Beef with tion One Man. It is packed in ucts, and include a folding stove In the latest type I combat ra- (Manat Krav) is designed to be Vegetables, Beef with Spa- tough clear polyethylene bags and hexamine fuel tablets. The tions, cans have been replaced shared by four soldiers. It con- ghetti, Baked Beans, Sausages and is available in five menu ration weighs 880 grams and by retort pouches. tains: 1 can of rice filled vine with Vegetables, or Chicken choices. provides 4,100 kcal (17,000 leaves, 8 small cans of tuna, with pasta and vegetables, are kJ). The Mini Combo Pack is People’s Republic of China canned olives, a can of sweet packed in 250 gram sized plas- India a simplified version of the One The Chinese People’s Libera- corn, a can of pickled cucum- tic-foil retort pouches. Included LUNCH TIME: A female IDF Indian Armed Forces have Man Combo Pack, weighing tion Army has recently[when?] bers, 1 can of halva spread and with every meal pack is a pouch soldier of the Nachshol Re- a host of Meals Ready To Eat 400 g and providing 1,520 kcal introduced a new set of rations 1 chocolate spread, a can of pea- of instant rice or instant mashed connaissance Company, eat- (MRE) including the One Man (6,400 kJ). consisting of pre-packaged sin- nuts, fruit flavoured drink pow- potatoes, a fruit and grain bar, ing from a battle ration. Combo Pack Ration, Mini The survival ration consists gle-person meals sealed in hard der, and bread or matzoh crack- two envelopes of instant drink Combo Pack, Survival Ration, of a soft bar and chikki. The plastic retort pouches. ers. There is also an “ambush powder, some biscuits, an “An- Combat Ration Five Man a ration for marine commandos daily survival ration per man The Chinese military rations pack” of candy and high-energy zac Biscuit,” a chocolate bar, contains a similar array of com- and Main Battle Tank (MBT) consists of: Soft bar 100 g x 2, are of two types: Instant Meal protein bars. M&M’s, coffee, tea, sugar, ponents as the Combat Ration Rations. The shelf-life of the Chikki (sugar base) 50 g x 3, Individual (three-item menu) In 2008, Israel introduced a crackers, cheese spread, jam, One Man. However, it is pro- ration is 12 months. India has Chikki (Jaggery base) 50 g x and Self-Heating Individual new field ration to supplement sweetened condensed milk, vided in a tough fibreboard adopted retort processing tech- 3. This provides around 2,400 (twelve-item menu). A typical the traditional Manat Krav. Un- hard sweets, and Vegemite. carton rather than in individual nology for combat rations. kcal (10,000 kJ), which is 1,520 Chinese breakfast ration con- like previous rations, the new It is packed in a tough clear unitised polyethylene bags. It is The MREs use pre-cooked kcal (6,400 kJ) more than the tains roughly 1,000 kcal (4,200 Battle Ration consists of indi- polyethylene bag and weighs a group feeding solution, and it thermostabilized entrées in normal survival ration used by kJ) and includes a compressed vidual, self-heating, ready-to- around 1.5 – 1.7 kg. In practical is impractical to use on an in- a plastic-foil laminate retort most nations. food packet, an energy bar, eat meals packed inside plas- use, these packs are “stripped” dividual basis for main meals. pouch. The ration does not re- an egg roll with pork, pickled tic-aluminium trays. by removing and trading with There are a multiple of group- quire cooking and the contents Japan mustard tuber, and a powdered They are designed to be car- other soldiers, those compo- sized retort pouches – 500 gram may be eaten cold, though The Japan Self-Defense Forc- beverage pack. ried and used by infantry troops nents that are unlikely to be as opposed to 250 gram, sev- warming is preferred. An en- es utilize two types of combat Each Self-Heating package for up to 24 hours, until regular consumed by the person carry- eral of which are required to tire day’s worth of food, plus rations, Type I combat ration comes with an insulated flame- supply lines can be established. ing the pack. be heated in order to provide a accessory items, is packed in- and Type II combat ration. less heater that is activated by Ten menus are available, in- This also reduces the weight complete meal. Examples in- side a heavy-duty olive green The older Type I ration con- water. cluding chicken, turkey and ke- of the packs, allowing more clude Beef & Blackbean Sauce, plastic bag with pasted on la- sists almost entirely of canned bab; each meal pack is supple- to be carried. There are eight Chicken Satay. Common ele- bel. The menu consists of sev- foods weighing a total of 780 mented with dry salami, dried menu choices, one of which is ments include rice and vegeta- eral different Vegetarian and g per meal; a normal three-day fruit, tuna, halva, sweet roll, vegetarian. None of them are al- bles such as corn, potatoes and Non-Vegetarian products that ration has up to 36 cans weigh- and preserved dinner rolls. lergen free since Defence Force carrots. The accessories such as cater to Indian tastes, such as ing more than 7 kilograms. members are typically selected, snacks are consumable and can sooji halwa, chapaties, tea mix, Eight menus are available, Australia among many other attributes, be carried individually. There chicken biryani, chicken curry, based around a 400 g can of rice Australia currently supplies for their no known allergy sta- are five menu choices, and mutton biryani, Mutton curry, and 2-3 smaller supplemental three different types of military tus. each Combat Ration Five Man Vegetable biryani, rajma curry, cans. Typical contents include: 54 55 Famous figures in military history Famous figures in military history

Georgia until 1918. Though Eisenhower and his hower was even threatened with Dwight D. Eisenhower In 1916, while stationed at tank crews never saw combat, court-martial for continued pub- West Point graduate, five-star general, supreme commander, president of the United States Fort Sam Houston, Eisenhower he displayed excellent organiza- lication of these proposed meth- of America. Dwight D. Eisenhower did it all. was football coach for St. Louis tional skills, as well as an ability ods of tank deployment, and he College, now St. Mary’s Univer- to accurately assess junior of- relented. wight David “Ike” Ei- all he would go on to become about hunting and fishing, cook- sity. Eisenhower was an honor- ficers’ strengths and make opti- From 1920, Eisenhower senhower was one of the 34th President of the United ing, and card playing from an ary member of the Sigma Beta mal placements of personnel. served under a succession of Dthose that did it all. States of America. illiterate named Bob Davis who Chi fraternity at St. Mary’s Uni- Once again his spirits were talented generals - Fox Con- He was a West Point graduate, camped on the Smoky Hill Riv- versity. raised when the unit under his ner, John J. Pershing, Douglas served during World War I and Early life er. While Eisenhower was sta- command received orders over- MacArthur and George Mar- became a five-star general in Born David Dwight Eisen- While Eisenhower’s moth- tioned in Texas, he met Mamie seas to France. This time his shall. He first became executive World War II. hower on 14 October 1890 in er was against war, it was her Doud of Boone, Iowa. They wishes were thwarted when the officer to General Conner in the During World War II he was Denison, Texas to David and collection of history books that were immediately taken with armistice was signed a week be- Panama Canal Zone, where, appointed Supreme Command- Ida Eisenhower. He was raised first sparked Eisenhower’s early each other. fore his departure date. joined by Mamie, he served un- er of the Allied Expeditionary in Kansas in a large family of and lasting interest in military He proposed to her on Val- Completely missing out on the til 1924. Forces in Europe. He would mostly Pennsylvania Dutch an- history. He persisted in reading entine’s Day in 1916. A Novem- war front left him depressed and Under Conner’s tutelage, he also become the Mil- cestry. He was the third of the books in her collection and ber wedding date in Denver was bitter for a time, despite receiv- studied military history and the- itary Governor of seven boys. became a voracious reader on moved up to 1 July due to the ing the Distinguished Service ory (including Carl von Clause- the U.S. Occu- His mother original- the subject. Other favourite sub- pending U.S. entry into World Medal for his work at home. witz’s On War), and later cited pation Zone in ly named him David jects early in his education were War I. Conner’s enormous influence on Germany, Chief Dwight but reversed arithmetic and spelling. In late 1917, while he was in Between the wars his military thinking, saying in of Staff of the the two names after After finishing high school charge of training at Ft. Ogletho- After the war, Eisenhower 1962 that “Fox Conner was the US Army, the his birth to avoid the in 1909 he applied to the Naval rpe in Georgia, his wife Mamie reverted to his regular rank of ablest man I ever knew.” first Supreme confusion of having Academy at Annapolis, but he had their first son. captain and a few days later was Conner’s comment on Eisen- Commander two Davids in the was beyond the age limit. He promoted to major, a rank he hower was, “[He] is one of the of NATO, and family. then accepted an appointment to World War I held for 16 years. most capable, efficient and loyal the President Dwight devel- West Point in 1911. When the U.S. entered World He assumed duties again at officers I have ever met.” of Columbia oped a keen and He graduated in the middle of War I, he immediately requested Camp Meade, Maryland, com- On Conner’s recommenda- University. enduring interest in the class of 1915, which became an overseas assignment but was manding a battalion of tanks, tion, in 1925–26 he attended the To top it exploring the out- known as “the class the stars fell again denied and then assigned where he remained until 1922. Command and General Staff doors. He learned on”, because 59 members even- to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. His schooling continued, fo- College at Fort Leavenworth, tually became generals. In February 1918, he was cused on the nature of the next Kansas, where he graduated first He finished West Point with a transferred to Camp Meade in war and the role of the tank in it. in a class of 245 officers. He then less than stellar discipline rating Maryland with the 65th Engi- His new expertise in tank war- served as a battalion commander and was a regular violator of the neers. His unit was later ordered fare was strengthened by a close at Fort Benning, Georgia, until more detailed regulations. Ei- to France, but to his chagrin he collaboration with George S. 1927. senhower’s best subject by far received orders for the new tank Patton, Sereno E. Brett, and oth- During the late 1920s and was English. corps, where he was promoted er senior tank leaders. early 1930s, Eisenhower’s ca- After graduation in 1915, to brevet lieutenant colonel in Their leading-edge ideas of reer in the post-war army stalled Second Lieutenant Eisen- the National Army. speed-oriented offensive tank somewhat, as military priorities hower requested an assign- He commanded a unit that warfare were strongly discour- diminished; many of his friends ment in the Philippines, trained tank crews at Camp Colt aged by superiors, who consid- resigned for high-paying busi- which was denied. He - his first command - at the site ered the new approach too rad- ness jobs. served initially in logistics of “Pickett’s Charge” on the ical and preferred to continue After a one-year assignment and then the infantry at var- Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Civil using tanks in a strictly support- in France, Eisenhower served ious camps in Texas and War battleground. ive role for the infantry. Eisen- as executive officer to Gener-

56 57 Famous figures in military history Famous figures in military history al George V. Mosely, Assistant Although his administrative On 23 June 1942, he returned officers on matters vital to the Secretary of War, from 1929 to abilities had been noticed, on to London as Commanding Gen- success of the Normandy inva- February 1933. the eve of the American entry eral, European Theatre of Op- sion. Eisenhower graduated from into World War II he had never erations (ETOUSA), and took The D-Day Normandy land- the Army Industrial College held an active command above a over command of ETOUSA ings on 6 June 6 1944, were cost- (Washington, DC) in 1933 and battalion and was far from being from Chaney. He was promoted ly but successful. Two months later served on the faculty. He considered by many as a poten- to lieutenant general on 7 July. later (15 August), the invasion of then was posted as chief military tial commander of major opera- In November 1942, Eisen- Southern France took place, and aide to General Douglas MacAr- tions. hower was also appointed Su- control of forces in the southern thur, Army Chief of Staff. In preme Commander Allied Ex- invasion passed from the AFHQ 1932. World War II peditionary Force of the North to the SHAEF. In 1935, he accompanied After the Japanese attack on African Theatre of Operations Many thought that victory in MacArthur to the Philippines, Pearl Harbor, Eisenhower was (NATOUSA) through the new Europe would come by sum- where he served as assistant mil- assigned to the General Staff in operational Headquarters Allied mer’s end, but the Germans did itary adviser to the Philippine Washington, where he served (Expeditionary) Force Head- not capitulate for almost a year. government in developing their until June 1942 with responsi- quarters (A(E)FHQ). He was ever mindful of the in- army. bility for creating the major war The word “expeditionary” evitable loss of life and suffering YOU CAN DO IT: Eisenhower addresses US paratroopers that would be experienced on an Eisenhower was promoted to plans to defeat Japan and Ger- was dropped soon after his ap- mere hours before D-Day. the rank of permanent lieutenant many. pointment for security reasons. individual level by the troops un- colonel in 1936. He also learned He was appointed Deputy [not in citation given] The cam- mand of ETOUSA to become following month, he resumed der his command and their fami- to fly, making a solo flight over Chief in charge of Pacific De- paign in North Africa was desig- commander of NATOUSA. command of ETOUSA and the lies. This prompted him to make the Philippines in 1937, and ob- fenses under the Chief of War nated Operation Torch and was After the capitulation of Axis following month was officially a point of visiting every division tained his private pilot’s license Plans Division (WPD), Gener- planned underground within the forces in North Africa, Eisen- designated as the Supreme Al- involved in the invasion. in 1939 at Fort Lewis. al Leonard T. Gerow, and then Rock of Gibraltar. Eisenhower hower oversaw the invasion of lied Commander of the Allied Eisenhower’s sense of respon- Eisenhower returned to the succeeded Gerow as Chief of was the first non-British person Sicily. Once Mussolini, the Ital- Expeditionary Force (SHAEF), sibility was underscored by his United States in December 1939 the War Plans Division. Next, he to command Gibraltar in 200 ian leader, had fallen in Italy, the serving in a dual role until the draft of a statement to be issued and was assigned as command- was appointed Assistant Chief of years. Allies switched their attention end of hostilities in Europe in if the invasion failed. It has been ing officer (CO) of the 1st Bat- Staff in charge of the new Oper- Operation Torch, the An- to the mainland with Operation May 1945. called one of the great speeches talion, 15th Infantry Regiment ations Division (which replaced glo-American invasion of Avalanche. He was charged in these po- of history: at Fort Lewis, Washington, later WPD) under Chief of Staff Gen- French Morocco and Algeria, But while Eisenhower argued sitions with planning and carry- “Our landings in the Cher- becoming the regimental execu- eral George C. Marshall, who served as a valuable training with President Roosevelt and ing out the Allied assault on the bourg-Havre area have failed to tive officer. spotted talent and promoted ac- ground for Eisenhower’s com- British Prime Minister Church- coast of Normandy in June 1944 gain a satisfactory foothold and In March 1941 he was pro- cordingly. bat command skills. ill, who both insisted on uncon- under the code name Operation I have withdrawn the troops. moted to colonel and assigned At the end of May 1942, Ei- In February 1943, his author- ditional terms of surrender in Overlord, the liberation of West- My decision to attack at this as chief of staff of the newly senhower accompanied Lt. Gen. ity was extended as commander exchange for helping the Ital- ern Europe and the invasion of time and place was based on the activated IX Corps under Major Henry H. Arnold, commanding of AFHQ across the Mediterra- ians, the Germans pursued an Germany. best information available. The General Kenyon Joyce. In June general of the Army Air Forc- nean basin to include the British aggressive build-up of forces in Eisenhower, as well as the troops, the air and the Navy did 1941, he was appointed chief of es, to London to assess the ef- Eighth Army, commanded by the country. The Germans made officers and troops under him, all that bravery and devotion to staff to General Walter Krueger, fectiveness of the theatre com- General Sir Bernard Montgom- the already tough battle more had learned valuable lessons in duty could do. If any blame or Commander of the Third Army, mander in England, Maj. Gen. ery. difficult by adding 19 divisions their previous operations, and fault attaches to the attempt, it is at Fort Sam Houston in San An- James E. Chaney. The Eighth Army had ad- and initially outnumbering the their skills had all strengthened mine alone.” tonio, Texas. After successfully He returned to Washington on vanced across the Western De- Allied forces 2 to 1. in preparation for the next most Once the coastal assault had participating in the Louisiana 3 June with a pessimistic assess- sert from the east and was ready In December 1943, President difficult campaign against the succeeded, Eisenhower insist- Manoeuvres, he was promoted ment, stating he had an “uneasy for the start of the Tunisia Cam- Roosevelt decided that Eisen- Germans - a beach landing as- ed on retaining personal control to brigadier general on 3 Octo- feeling” about Chaney and his paign. Eisenhower gained his hower would be Supreme Al- sault. His first struggles, howev- over the land battle strategy, and ber 1941. staff. fourth star and gave up com- lied Commander in Europe. The er, were with Allied leaders and was immersed in the command

58 59 Famous figures in military history Famous figures in military history and supply of multiple assaults Eisenhower to move into Czech- bilization of millions of soldiers, er’s memoir, Crusade in Europe, in a landslide, with an electoral cept a negotiated peace and through France on Germany. oslovakia for political reasons. a job that was delayed by lack of was published. Critics regarded margin of 442 to 89, marking convince the Chinese that In recognition of his senior Washington refused to support shipping. it as one of the finest U.S. mili- the first Republican return to the failure to reach an agreement position in the Allied command, Churchill’s plan to use Eisen- Eisenhower was convinced in tary memoirs, and it was a major White House in 20 years would lead to dire conse- on 20 December 1944, he was hower’s army for political ma- 1946 that the Soviet Union did financial success as well. On 4 November 1952 Eisen- quences. promoted to General of the noeuvres against Moscow. The not want war and that friendly Within months of beginning hower was elected the United • He Kept America at Peace. Army, equivalent to the rank of actual division of Germany fol- relations could be maintained; his tenure as the president of States’ 34th president. Eisen- Eisenhower was confronted Field Marshal in most European lowed the lines that Roosevelt, he strongly supported the new the university, Eisenhower was hower was the last president with major Cold War crises armies. In this and the previous Churchill and Stalin had previ- United Nations and favoured requested to advise U.S. Secre- born in the 19th century, and every year he was in office: high commands he held, Eisen- ously agreed upon. The Soviet its involvement in the control tary of Defence James Forrestal at age 62, was the oldest pres- Korea, Vietnam, Formosa, hower showed his great talents Red Army captured Berlin in a of atomic bombs. However, by on the unification of the armed ident-elect since James Bu- Suez, Hungary, Berlin, and for leadership and diplomacy. very large-scale bloody battle, mid-1947, as East–West ten- services. About six months after chanan in 1856. the U-2. While more than Although he had never seen and the Germans finally surren- sions over economic recovery his appointment, he became the He was the third general to once America seemed on action himself, he won the re- dered on 7 May 1945. in Germany and the Greek Civ- informal Chairman of the Joint serve as president (after Zacha- the brink of war and those spect of front-line commanders. In 1945, Eisenhower antici- il War escalated, Eisenhower Chiefs of Staff in Washington. ry Taylor and Ulysses S. Grant), around him clamoured to He interacted adeptly with allies pated that someday an attempt agreed with a containment poli- Eisenhower was unknowing- and the last to have never held drop the Bomb, Eisenhower such as Winston Churchill, Field would be made to recharacter- cy to stop Soviet expansion. ly building resentment and a political office prior to being always kept a level head. He Marshal Bernard Montgomery ise Nazi crimes as propagan- In June 1943, a visiting politi- reputation among the Columbia president until Donald Trump dealt calmly and rationally and General Charles de Gaulle. da (Holocaust denial) and took cian had suggested to Eisenhow- University faculty and staff as entered office in January 2017. with each situation, always He had serious disagreements steps against it by demanding er that he might become Presi- an absentee president who was The United States presidential finding a solution that avoid- with Churchill and Montgomery extensive still and movie photo- dent of the United States after using the university for his own election of 1956 was held on 6 ed war without diminishing over questions of strategy, but graphic documentation of Nazi the war. In 1945 Truman told interests. As a career military November 1956. Eisenhower, America’s prestige. these rarely upset his relation- death camps. Eisenhower during the man, he naturally had little in the popular incumbent, success- ships with them. He dealt with Conference that if desired, the common with the academics. fully ran for re-election. The end Soviet Marshal Zhukov, his After the war president would help the gen- The trustees of Columbia Uni- Eisenhower was assured of The 22nd Amendment to the Russian counterpart, and they Following the German uncon- eral win the 1948 election, and versity refused to accept Eisen- an enduring achievement when U.S. Constitution was ratified became good friends. ditional surrender, Eisenhower in 1947 he offered to run as Ei- hower’s resignation in December he championed and signed the in 1951, and it set term limits to In December 1944, the Ger- was appointed military gover- senhower’s running mate on the 1950, when he took an extended bill that authorized the Interstate the presidency of two terms. Ei- mans launched a surprise coun- nor of the American occupa- Democratic ticket if MacArthur leave from the university to be- Highway System in 1956. senhower became the first U.S. ter offensive, the Battle of the tion zone, located primarily in won the Republican nomination. come the Supreme Command- Eisenhower achieved much president constitutionally pre- Bulge, which the Allies turned Southern Germany. As the election approached, er of the North Atlantic Treaty during his eight years as presi- vented from running for re-elec- back in early 1945 after Eisen- In response to the devasta- other prominent citizens and Organization (NATO), and he dent. Some of his major accom- tion to a third term. hower repositioned his armies tion in Germany, including food politicians from both parties was given operational command plishments were: On the morning of March 28, and improved weather allowed shortages and an influx of ref- urged Eisenhower to run for of NATO forces in Europe. Ei- • Sponsoring and Signing the 1969, Eisenhower died in Wash- the Air Force to engage. ugees, he arranged distribution president. In January 1948, after senhower retired from active Civil Rights Bill of 1957. ington, D.C., of congestive heart German defences continued of American food and medical learning of plans in New Hamp- service as an army general on • Sponsoring and Signing the failure at Walter Reed Army to deteriorate on both the east- equipment. shire to elect delegates support- May 31, 1952, and he resumed Federal Aid Highway Act of Medical Center; he was 78 years ern front with the Soviets and His actions reflected the new ing him for the forthcoming Re- his presidency of Columbia. He 1956. old. the western front with the Allies. American attitudes of the Ger- publican National Convention, held this position until 20 Janu- • He created NASA as a civil- Eisenhower is buried along- The British wanted to capture man people as Nazi victims Eisenhower stated through the ary 1953. ian space agency in October side his son Doud, who died Berlin, but Eisenhower decided not villains, while aggressively Army that he was “not available 1958. at age three in 1921. His wife it would be a military mistake purging the ex-Nazis. for and could not accept nomi- US President • He Balanced the Budget, Not Mamie was buried next to him for him to attack Berlin, and In November 1945, Eisen- nation to high political office. Eisenhower ran in the 1952 Just Once, But Three Times. after her death a decade later in said orders to that effect would hower returned to Washington In 1948, Eisenhower became presidential election as a Repub- • He Ended the Korean War. 1979. have to be explicit. The British as Chief of Staff of the Army. President of Columbia Univer- lican. He defeated Democratic He alone had the prestige to backed down, but then wanted His main role was rapid demo- sity. During that year Eisenhow- candidate Adlai Stevenson II persuade Americans to ac-

60 61 Forged in ed upon the city itself. They march to be completed in five of legions varied greatly over continued sacking and pillaging hours, while carrying a full time but legions were typically battle Rome for the next six months pack of weapons, shield, food composed of around five thou- until finally they were paid off rations, cooking supplies, and sand soldiers. During much of to leave. a short spade, along with their the republican era, a legion was The Romans got a wake-up own personal kit. divided into three lines of ten The Roman Legion call which would change their Besides these extraneous ex- maniples. destiny forever. They then spent ercises, soldiers would also fa- In the late republic and much For nearly one thousand years, the world quaked at their footsteps, and the very sound of their the following centuries perfect- miliarize themselves with the of the imperial period (from name would evoke fear. They were the elite troops of Rome’s formidable army. ing their Legions by systemati- highly organized battle tactics about 100 BC), a legion was di- cally training and organizing a and formations, which in the vided into ten cohorts, each of hey would carve out an single government was under hurriedly called into action, professional military machine, early days of the Republic, at six (or five) centuries. Legions empire that stretched Roman rule. The Roman Le- fighting skirmishes with neigh- the like of which nobody had least, were based on those of also included a small ala, or from the Highlands of gions were such a mighty force bouring settlements when need- ever seen before. the Greeks. cavalry, unit. T There were endless drills, and No other army in the world at By the third century AD, the Scotland to the scorching de- in the world, even their own ed. serts of the Arabian Peninsula. Emperors were afraid of them. And only the men who owned marches to the point of exhaus- the time would receive such de- legion was a much smaller unit They would kill and enslave property were called into bat- tion. Roman soldiers were at- manding training, which gave of about 1,000 to 1,500 men, millions, pillage and raze cities Early years tle, as they were the only ones tending weapons training every the Roman Legions a tremen- and there were more of them. to the ground, and transform the Around 700 BC Rome was trusted to defend Rome, or fight morning and practiced mêlée dous advantage in waging war. In the fourth century AD, East mighty Mediterranean Sea into nothing more than a small gath- on its behalf. combat with wooden swords, In the early Roman Kingdom Roman border guard legions the Empire’s own private lake. ering of hovels atop the Palan- All of this would change spears and shields, twice as “legion” may have meant the (limitanei) may have become The only time in human histo- tine Hill. in 390 BC however, when an heavy as their real counterparts, entire Roman army but sources even smaller. In terms of organ- ry when the whole of the Med- Its army was comprised of army of Gauls utterly defeated to build up strength. on this period are few and un- isation and function, the repub- iterranean would be under one local farmers who would be the Romans, and then descend- Part of their daily training reliable. lican era legion may have been also involved a 30 kilometre The subsequent organization influenced by the ancient Greek

62 63 and Macedonian phalanx. were nearly 50 upon his suc- The recruitment of non-cit- try were split into 10 cohorts cant advantages in stability diers, considered to be less cession but this was reduced to izens was rare but appears to each of four maniples of 120 and agility in a time before reliable than legionaries of Organisation and strength about 25–35 permanent stand- have occurred in times of great legionaries), to 5,200 men plus stirrups. several years’ service. The Because legions were not ing legions and this remained need; For example, Caesar ap- 120 auxiliaries in the imperial • Velites (light infantry): The Hastati were placed at the permanent units until the Mar- the figure for most of the em- pears to have recruited the Le- period (split into 10 cohorts, velites were mainly poor- front for several reasons. ian reforms (c. 107 BC), and pire’s history. gio V Alaudae mostly from nine of 480 men each, plus the er citizens who could not One reason is the city of were instead created, used, and A legion consisted of sev- non-citizen Gauls. first cohort holding 800 men). afford to equip themselves Rome could ill-afford to disbanded again, several hun- eral cohorts of heavy infantry The size of a typical legion In the middle of the Republic, properly. Their primary lose experienced soldiers, dred legions were named and known as legionaries. It was varied throughout the history legions were composed of the function was to act as skir- so they put the greenest sol- numbered throughout Roman almost always accompanied of ancient Rome, with com- following units: mishers – javelin-throwers, diers at the front. If they sur- history. by one or more attached units plements of 4,200 legionaries • Equites (cavalry): The who would engage the en- vived, the Hastati/tus would To date, about 50 have been of auxiliaries, who were not and 300 equites (drawn from cavalry was originally the emy early in order either to gain invaluable experience. identified. The republican le- Roman citizens and provided the wealthier classes – in early most prestigious unit, where harass them or to cover the Another reason is if the new- gions were composed of lev- cavalry, ranged troops and skir- Rome all troops provided their wealthy young Roman men movement of troops behind est soldiers succumbed to ied men that paid for their own mishers to complement the le- own equipment) in the republi- displayed their skill and them. After throwing their battle nerves and broke and equipment and thus the struc- gion’s heavy infantry. can period of Rome (the infan- prowess, laying the founda- javelins, they would retreat tried to run, then there were ture of the Roman army at this tion for an eventual political through the gaps between experienced soldiers behind time reflected the society, and career. Cavalry equipment the maniples, screened from them to stiffen their resolve. at any time there would be four Pilum. Each legion- was purchased by each of the attack of the enemy by • The principes: These were consular legions (with com- naire carried one ot the cavalrymen and consist- the heavy infantry lines. the more experienced sol- mand divided between the two two of these steel- ed of a round shield, helmet, With the shortage of caval- diers, often better equipped tipped javelins. ruling consuls) and in time of body armour, sword and one ry in the army of the early than the Hastati, and having war extra legions could be lev- Galea. The helmet or more lances. The caval- to mid Republican army, more experience on the bat- ied. provided full-face cov- ry was outnumbered in the the velites were also used as tlefield, they would take up Toward the end of the 2nd erage. legion. In a total of circa scouts. They did not have a the second line in the bat- century BC, Rome started to 3,000 men, (plus the velites precise formal organization tle in the event the Hastati Lorica segmentata. experience manpower shortag- Segmented steel that normally enlarged the or formation. failed or fled. They were the es brought about by property plates. number to about 4,200), the • Heavy infantry: This was second wave in an early Re- and financial qualifications to legion only had around 300 the principal unit of the le- publican Legion before the join the army. This prompted Gladius. 60 cm steel horsemen, divided into 10 gion. The heavy infantry was military reforms of Marius. stabbing sword. consul Gaius Marius to remove units (turmae) of 30 men. composed of citizen legion- • The triarii were the veteran property qualifications and de- These men were command- aries that could afford the soldiers, to be used in battle cree that all citizens, regardless Pugio. Multi-purpose ed by decurions. In addi- equipment composed of an only in extreme situations; dagger. of their wealth or social class, tion to heavy cavalry, there iron helmet, shield, armour they rested one knee down were made eligible for service would be the light cavalry and pilum, a heavy javelin when not engaged in com- in the Roman army with equip- Scutum. Large rectan- levied from poor citizens whose range was about 30 bat. The triarii served pri- ment and rewards for fulfilling gular shield. and wealthy young citizens meters. After 387 BC, the marily as reserves or barrier years of service provided by the not old enough to be in the preferred weapon for the troops designed to backstop state. hastati or the equites. In bat- hastati and principes was the the hastati and principes, The Roman army became tle, they were used to disrupt gladius, a short sword. Their and were equipped with Caligae. Hobnailed a volunteer, professional and soles provided traction and outflank enemy infantry hobnailed sandals (caligae) long hastae (spears) rather standing army which extended in any ground. formations and to fight off were also an effective weap- than the pilum and gladi- service beyond Roman citizens enemy cavalry. In the latter on against a fallen enemy. us (the hastati and princi- but also to non-citizens that type of engagement, they Prior to the Marian reforms pes stopped using spears in could sign on as auxillia (aux- would often (though not al- (see below), the heavy infantry 387 BC). Thus armed, they iliaries) and were rewarded Ro- ways) dismount some or all was subdivided, according to fought in a phalanx forma- man citizenship upon comple- of the horsemen to fight a experience, into three separate tion. The sight of an advanc- tion of service and all the rights stationary battle on foot, an lines of troops: ing armored formation of and privileges that entailed. unusual tactic for the time, • The hastati consisted of triarii legionaries frequently In the time of Augustus, there but one that offered signifi- raw or inexperienced sol- discouraged exultant ene- 64 65 mies in pursuit of retreating General. as primus pilus and finished stead of a “front spear” and cases could be direct ap- hastati and principes troops. • Legatus legionis, Legion his 25 years with the legions. a “back spear” century.) The pointments from the emper- Ad triarios redisse – To fall Legate: The overall legion He was used as a senior of- primus pilus had a chance of or or other higher-ranking back upon the triarii was a commander. The post was ficer in charge of training a later becoming a Praefectus officials. The cohorts were Roman idiom – meaning to usually filled by a sena- legion, though he could also Castrorum. When the pri- ranked from the first to the use one’s last resort. tor, appointed by the em- command a cohort of auxil- mus pilus retired, he would tenth and the century within Each of these three lines was peror, who held command iaires. most likely gain entry into each cohort ranked from one subdivided into (usually 10) for three or four years, al- • Tribuni angusticlavii, Nar- the equestrian class. He was to six, with only five centu- chief tactical units called ma- though he could serve for row Band Tribunes: Each paid 60 times the base wage. ries in the first cohort (for niples. A maniple consisted of a much longer period. In a legion had five lower rank- • Pilus prior: The “front file” a total of 59 centurions and two centuries and was com- Roman province with only ing tribunes, who were nor- centurions were the com- the primus pilus). The centu- manded by the senior of the two one legion, the legatus was mally from the equestrian manders of the 10 1st centu- ry that each centurion com- centurions. At this time, each also the provincial gover- class and had at least some ries within the legion, mak- manded was a direct reflec- century of hastati and principes nor. In such circumstances, years of prior military ex- ing them senior centurions tion of his rank: command consisted of 60 men; a centu- the Legatus was dual-hatted perience. They often served of their respective cohorts. of the 1st century of the first ry of triarii was 30 men. These as both Legion Legate and the role of administrative of- While the legion was in bat- cohort was the highest, and 3,000 men (twenty maniples of Imperial Legate. The Le- ficers. This tribunate was of- tle formation, the Pilus Prior the 6th century of the 10th 120 men, and ten maniples of gion Legate also served as ten a first, but optional, step was given command of their cohort was the lowest. Paid 60 men), together with about commander of the auxiliary in a young man’s political Aquilifer entire cohort. The Primus ten times the basic wage. 1,200 velites and 300 caval- units attached to the legion career. Pilus was also a Pilus Prior, Lower ranks ry gave the mid Republican though they were not for- Centurions and the most senior of all the • Optio: One for each cen- (“manipular”) legion a nominal mally a part of the legion’s The rank of centurion was • The forward principes (for- centurions within the legion. turion (59–60), they were strength of about 4,500 men. command structure. an officer grade that included ward principal line) These positions were usual- appointed by the centurion • Tribunus laticlavius, many ranks, meaning centuri- • The rear principes (rear ly held by experienced vet- from within the ranks to act Legionary ranks Broad Band Tribune: ons had very good prospects for principal line) eran soldiers who had been as his second in command Aside from the rank and file Named for the broad striped promotion. • The forward triarii (forward moved up within the ranks. and were paid twice the ba- legionary (who received the tunic worn by men of sena- The most senior centurion in third line) This rank is subordinate to sic wage. Equivalent to a base wage of 10 assēs a day or torial rank, this tribune was a legion was known as the pri- • The rear triarii (rear third the Primus Pilus. modern First Sergeant or 225 denarii a year), the follow- appointed by the emperor mus pilus (first file or spear), line) • Primi ordines: The “ranks Lieutenant. ing list describes the system of or the Senate. Though gen- who directly commanded the The centuries took their titles of the first [cohort]” were • Tesserarius: (Guard com- officers which developed with- erally young, he was more first century of the first cohort from the old use of the legion the five centurions of the mander) One for each cen- in the legions from the Marian experienced than the tribuni and commanded the whole first drawn up in three lines of battle first cohort, and included the tury. They acted as seconds reforms (104 BC) until the mil- angusticlavii, he served as cohort when in battle. using three classes of soldier. primus pilus. They, exclud- to the Optios and were paid itary reforms of Diocletian (c. second in command of the Within the second to tenth (Each century would then hold ing the primus pilus, were one and a half times the 290). legion, behind the legate. cohorts, the commander of a cross-section of this theoret- paid 30 times the base wage. basic wage. Keeper of the Senior officers Because of his age and inex- each cohort’s first century was ical line, although these cen- This rank is senior to all oth- watchword, administrative • Legatus Augusti pro prae- perience he was not the ac- known as a pilus prior and was tury titles were now essential- er centurions, save the prim- assistant to HQ Staff, third tore, Imperial Legate: The tual second in command in in command of his entire cohort ly nominal.) Each of the three us pilus and pilus prior. in command of a century. commander of two or more battle, but if the legate died when in battle. The seniority of lines is then sub-divided within • Other centurions: Each le- Equivalent to a modern Staff legions. The Imperial Leg- he would take command of the pilus prior centurions was the century into a more forward gion had 59 or 60 centuri- Sergeant. ate also served as the gover- the legion. followed by the five other cen- and a more rear century. ons, one to command each • Decurion: Commanded a nor of the province in which • Praefectus castrorum, tury commanders of the first co- • Primus pilus, literally century of the 10 cohorts. cavalry unit (turma) of 10 to the legions he commanded Camp Prefect: The Camp hort, who were known as primi First File: The Primus Pi- They were the backbone of 30 eques legionis. were stationed. Of Senatori- Prefect was third in com- ordines. lus was the commanding the professional army and • Decanus: Commanded a al rank, the Imperial Legate mand of the legion. Gener- The six centuries of a normal centurion of the first centu- were the career soldiers contubernium or ten man was appointed by the Em- ally he was a long serving cohort, were, in order of prece- ry, first cohort and the sen- who ran the day-to-day life tent party, eight soldiers and peror and usually held com- veteran from a lower so- dence: ior-most centurion of the of the soldiers and issued two non-combatants, equiv- mand for three or four years. cial status than the tribunii • The forward hastati (for- entire legion. (Unlike other commands in the field. They alent to a Sergeant or Corpo- In the present time, an Impe- whom he outranked, and ward spears) cohorts, the first cohort had were generally moved up ral. A group of four soldiers rial Legate would be called a who previously had served • The rear hastati (rear spears) only one javelin century, in- from the ranks, but in some would be referred to as a 66 67 Quaternion. loyalty to him. He was paid Major punishments impact, preventing the enemy lic. Marc Antony, Scipio Afri- Special duty posts twice the basic wage. • Fustuarium – a sentence for from throwing it back. Then the canus, Lucius Cornelius Sulla, • Aquilifer: A single position • Immunes: Immunes were or dereliction of soldiers would stand shoulder and Caesar himself all had such within the legion. The aqui- legionary soldiers who pos- duty. The legionary would to shoulder, swords out, and bodyguards. But the Praetori- lifer was the legion’s stand- sessed specialized skills, be stoned or beaten to death begin their advance as a mov- an Guard itself didn’t officially ard– or Aquila (eagle)– bear- qualifying them for better by cudgels, in front of the ing wall of death and destruc- appear until Augustus became er and was an enormously pay and excusing them from assembled troops, by his fel- tion. With the shield extending Rome’s first emperor in 27 BC. important and prestigious labour and guard work. low soldiers or those whose from their chins almost down to They acted as bodyguards to the position. Losing the aquila Engineers, artillerymen, lives had been put in dan- their ankles, there wasn’t much Emperor, emergency fire-fight- was considered the greatest musicians, clerks, quarter- ger. Soldiers under sentence a group of disorganized tribes- ers, the secret police, crowd dishonour a legion could masters, drill and weapons of fustuarium who escaped men could do. control, and even fought in the endure. This post therefore instructors, carpenters, hunt- were not pursued but lived In case of volley fire, or when arena to show off their prowess had to be filled with steady ers, medical staff and mili- under sentence of banish- advancing towards an enemy to the masses. veteran soldiers, with an ex- tary police were all immune ment from Rome. fortress, the Romans would But as Rome’s power grew, so cellent understanding of the soldiers. These men were • Decimation - According to quickly deploy their famous did its corruption and intrigue. tactics of the legion. He was still fully trained legion- Cornicen 17th century belief the Ro- Tortoise (Testudo) formation. And the Praetorian Guard was paid twice the basic wage. aries, however, and were mans practiced this punish- The soldiers in front and on often times right in the middle • Signifer: Each century had called upon to serve in the ment in which a sentence the sides would interlock their of all of it. Even though their a signifer (thus, there were battle lines when needed. was carried out against an shields, while those in the cen- task was to ensure the interests 59 in a legion) and within • Evocatus: A veteran of entire unit that had muti- tre raised them over their heads. of the Emperor, if those inter- each cohort the 1st century’s the Roman army who had • Reduction of rations or to be nied, deserted, or shown This way they would minimize ests didn’t coincide with their signifer would be the senior. earned his military diploma forced to eat barley instead dereliction of duty. One out the damage done by any pro- own, they would just replace He was standard-bearer for for military service, but had of the usual grain ration of every ten men, chosen jectile weapon thrown against him. Disgruntled Praetorians the centurial signum, a spear chosen to re-enlist. They re- • Pecuniaria mulcta – Reduc- by lots, would be beaten to them. Another good offensive famously engineered the assas- shaft decorated with medal- ceived double pay and were tion in pay, fines or deduc- death, usually by the other tactic was the Wedge. Here the sination of Caligula in 41 AD. lions and topped with an excluded from regular du- tions from the pay allowance nine with their bare hands, Legionnaires formed up a trian- Emperors Commodus in 192 open hand to signify loyalty, ties, such as manual labour. • Flogging in front of the cen- who would be forced to gle, and with their swords out, AD, Pertinax in 193 AD, Cara- which was a rallying point • Duplicarius: A special pay tury, cohort or legion live outside the camp and in they would charge at the ene- calla in 217 AD, Elagabalus in for the soldiers. In addition grade that could also be • Whipping with the flagrum some instances obliged to my, in an effort to break up their 222 AD, and Pupienus and Bal- to carrying the signum, the awarded regardless of rank, (flagellum, flagella), or renew the military oath, the lines and divide them up. binus in 238 AD were all killed signifer also assumed re- received double the basic “short whip” – a much more sacramentum. Even if the Gauls, the many by the Praetorians. sponsibility for the finan- pay. brutal punishment than sim- Germanic tribes, or the Dacians In 193 AD, after killing Per- cial administration of the ple flogging. The “short Tactics were able warriors in their own tinax, they even put the crown unit and functioned as the Discipline whip” was used by slave Most of the barbarians the right, none of these peoples up for auction. One man, Did- legionaries’ banker. He was The military discipline of the volunteers, volones, who Romans were in conflict with were prepared to face such a ius Julianus won by promising paid twice the basic wage. legions was harsh. Regulations constituted the majority of fought in loose arrangements well-coordinated, highly mil- them each a bribe of 5-years- • Cornicen (Horn blower): were strictly enforced, and a the army in the later years of and each warrior sought indi- itarized and devastating force pay. But when he couldn’t de- Worked hand in hand with broad array of punishments the Roman Empire. vidual glory. But every one of bent solely on domination. liver, he too was murdered 66 the signifer drawing the at- could be inflicted upon a le- • Gradus deiectio – Reduc- the 4,800 soldiers in a Roman days later. In 306 AD, the Prae- tention of the men to the gionary who broke them. tion in rank Legion had a precise role to Praetorian Guard torians tried to play the role of centurial signum and issu- Many legionaries became • Missio ignominiosa – Dis- play in a master strategy. The most powerful of all the kingmaker one last time by sup- ing the audible commands devotees in the cult of the mi- honourable discharge A typical assault would be- Roman Legions was the Praeto- porting Maxentius as the west- of the officers. He was paid nor goddess Disciplina, whose • Loss of time in service ad- gin at long range, using cat- rian Guard which was stationed ern emperor in Rome. They twice the basic wage. virtues of frugality, severity vantages apults to shower the enemies in Rome itself. And often times, were defeated by Constantine • Imaginifer: A special po- and loyalty were central to their • Militiae mutatio – Relega- with boulders and iron bolts. the Praetorians had the power at the Battle of Milvian Bridge sition from the time of Au- code of conduct and way of life. tion to inferior service or Next the Legionnaires would of life and death over the Em- in 312, and he then disbanded gustus onwards. Carried the Minor punishments duties. launch their javelins. Made of a perors themselves. the Guard. standard bearing the image • Castigatio – being hit by the • Munerum indictio – Addi- wooden handle and a long iron They came into being as The Roman Legion was an of the Emperor as a con- centurion with his staff or tional duties head, the Pilum, as it was called elite soldiers protecting gener- army that was forged in battle. stant reminder of the troops’ animadversio fustium • by the Romans, would bend on als during the Roman Repub- 68 69 As the liberating Allies pushed through Europe in the tration camps. It was time for Spring of 1945, the Gestapo ruthlessly clamped down the Allies to become involved on growing resistance movements. Mosquito squadrons and help the Danish resistance. battlefield of the RAF staged daring pin-point attacks on the head- Allied Command knew that the Gestapo headquarters quarters of the Nazi secret police. in Aarhus, and n the early hours of 21 March 1945 three speed, 1,460 hp (1,090 kW) Odense were centres for inter- Mosquito squadrons, escorted by Mus- Merlin 21s or 1,635 hp (1,219 rogation, and that they stored tangs, swept over the sea at a little above kW) Merlin 25s, it had a top a dangerous accumulation of O I information concerning the re- wave height. speed of almost 600 km/h. Their target was Shellhus (Shell House), used sistance movement. p as the Gestapo headquarters in the city centre Avoiding enemy defences On 31 October 1944, 25 of Copenhagen, . It was used for the The attacking force would Mosquitos of 21, 464 and 487 e storage of dossiers and the torture of Danish have to cross the North Sea and Squadrons hit Gestapo head- citizens during interrogations. The Danish Re- hit the Jutland coast exactly at WOODEN WONDER: A Mosquito FB Mark VI, similar to the quarters at Aarhus. In just elev- ones that carried out Operation Carthage. The FB stood for sistance had long asked the British to conduct a the gap in the German anti-air- en minutes they destroyed the r ‘Fighter Bomber’. raid against the site. craft defences. two Gestapo buildings, kill- A miscalculation would alert roads and high-tension cables man barracks at Jaegersbord. ing Schwizgiegel, the Gestapo a The attacking force the enemy anti-aircraft network flashed below them, then hous- The SS were swift to retaliate, chief in Jutland, and more than The first wave was led by Wing Commander and fighter squadrons and the es on the outskirts of Copenha- executing eight saboteurs on 23 200 of his subordinates. They t Bob ‘Pinpoint’ Bateson with Squadron Leader surprise element would be lost. gen. June and proclaiming a state of also destroyed the vital records E.B. Sismore as his navigator.. The wave in- As they reached the coast A bridge appeared before emergency in Copenhagen. of the Danish resistance. i cluded Air Vice-Marshal and four Bateson waggled his Mosqui- him, and he saw some tall light In answer, 10,000 workers In November Air Vice-Mar- Mosquitos of 21 Squadron, among them Wing to’s wings, then throttled up to standards sticking up and he from Denmark’s largest ship- shal Embry suggested the raid o Commander Peter Kleboe. 440 km/h. This was the signal eased the Mosquito over them. yard went on strike, They were on Shell House, Copenhagen. The second wave comprised six Mosquitos of for the planes to fan out into Sismore had the bomb bay joined by tens of thousands of Svend Truelsen, head of Dan- 464 (Royal Australian Air Force) Squadron, led loose formation as they streaked doors open now and was strain- other factory workers. ish intelligence in London, sup- n by Wing Commander Bob Iredale. across the north of Funten and ing forward, trying to see On 30 June, Hitler’s special ported the idea. The third wave consisted of six Mosqui- the Great Belt at tree-top height. through the murky windshield. plenipotentiary in Denmark, Dr At the briefing he explained tos from 487 (Royal New Zealand Air Force) As the crossed Lake Tis- He suddenly pointed to draw Werner Best, cut off all supplies to the crews the necessity of Squadron under the command of Wing Com- so Bateson waggled his wings the pilot’s attention to the small of electricity, gas and water and the raid, despite the presence of mander F.H. Denton. again. At this signal the sec- bunch of lakes and beyond executed eight more saboteurs. prisoners in the building. The All the Mosquitos carried ‘still’ cameras and ond and third echelons banked them the camouflaged building This led to Copenhagen de- prisoners were expected to be C unarmed Mosquito Mark IV’s of Film Photo- round in a wide circle, leaving on Kampmannsgade - the Dan- claring a general strike. Open executed and were undergoing graphic Unit flew with the first and third waves. Bateson’s flight to bore on to ish headquarters of the Gestapo rebellion broke out, during torture before finally being shot Chosen for the job was the Mosquito FB the target alone with some of and the target of Operation which 700 people were killed by the SS. a Mark VI build by de Havilland. It was con- the Mustangs. Carthage. and injured. Gestapo Headquarters was a structed largely of wood. Its crew of two was The two waves made a wide The strikes and sabotage in shallow U-shaped building that r housed side by side in the compact, glass-can- ciruit of the lake. Then the sec- Build up to the raid Jutland had the effect of hold- faced south on Kampmanns- opied cockpit. ond echelon levelled out and On 6 June 1944 - D-Day - fif- ing up several German divi- gade, with two short wings run- t Often used in high-level bombing, it was in headed for the target, leaving ty Danish saboteurs destroyed sions that were being moved ning northwards along Nyrops- low-level strafing or bombing attacks that the the third wave to complete an- the Globus factory, which made from Norway and Denmark to gade and Veder Farismagsgade. h ‘wooden wonder’ was most deadly. Able to other circuit. This separated the aircraft parts and components the Western Front to help stem Built in 1934 as the headquar- carry a bomb load of two 1,000 lb bombs to a three echelons by approximate- for the V-2 rockets. the invasion. ters in Denmark of the Shell Oil range of 1,600 kilometres, it was ideal for this ly one minute. Over the next two months Dr Best’s answer was an SS Company, it had been comman- a mission. By now Bateson was leading many such raids were carried raid on every police station in deered by the Gestapo in 1943 It was armed with four 20 mm Hispano Mk.II his flight toward the target. The out, including the devastating Denmark. Nearly 10,000 po- and now served as the Baltic g cannon and four .303 (7.7 mm) Browning ma- six Mosquitos were strung out action against the Rekylriffle licemen were arrested and nerve centre of the various Nazi chine guns. Powered by two, single-stage two- nine metres apart. Fields and Syndiket works and the Ger- 2,000 were deported to concen- departments concerned with e sabotage, resistance, 70 71 and counter-intelligence. Be- on surrounding roof tops. He was just able to miss the light One Mustang crash-landed sides the prisoners who were released his bombs and pulled standard. He banked sharply be- on the west coast of Jutland brought daily from the Vestre back on the controls. His Mos- fore levelling to drop his bombs and the pilot was taken prison- Faengsel for interrogation and quito swept up and cleared the through the roof on the Nyrops- er. Two 464 Squadron Mosqui- torture, the building housed a long facade. gade side of Shell House. tos were shot down on the way dangerous accumulation of in- Embry came in next, released As he skimmed over the roof home, and one of 487 Squad- formation concerning the Dan- his bombs, and climbed over tops behind Shell House he ron’s Mosquitos crashed on ish resistance movement. the building before flattening looked for the leaders. He spot- Hven and the crew were killed. The destruction of this infor- over the streets to avoid the ted Bateson’s Mosquito, but The raid had cost the RAF six mation and the release of the heavy anti-aircraft fire. there was no sign of Embry. He planes and nine lives. But there prisoners was the purpose of Carlisle was right on his tail. presumed that the “old man had had been other, more tragic, Operation Carthage. The first three loads of bombs bought it”. losses. had hit the target. Then tragedy At that moment Embry was A red brick Catholic school, Triumph - and tragedy stuck. directly under him. As Hen- the Jeanne D’Arc School, adja- When the prisoners in Shell Kleboe, who was not in for- deron flattened lower to avoid cent to the garages in Frederiks- House heard the sound of air- mation and trailing 800 metres the anti-aircraft fire he forced berg, was destroyed by wrong- craft coming in low across the behind, flashed across Dybbols- Embry down to the chimneys. ly directed bombs. Of the 482 city they concluded that they bro station to fins a light stand- It was a close thing for a few AFTERMATH: A photograph taken after the raid shows some children, 86 were killed, as well were the usual German fighters ard in his path, rising 40 metres seconds, then they split, head- of the extensive damage caused to Shell House. as 17 adults - many of them playing games - sweeping low above the shunting yards. He ing for the coast. nuns. over the building to frighten saw it too late, tried to life over The second wave - the Aus- Iredale banked away from the ping his bombs on the corner of But the nerve centre of the the prisoners. Then they heard it, and just nicked it with his tralian squadron led by Wing line of attack and made a wide the building. Gestapo in Denmark had been the rattle of machine gun fire. A tail-plane, which tore apart. Commander Bob Iredale - lev- circuit to try and get his bear- The rest of 464 Squadron did destroyed, and a vast collection few seconds later a huge explo- He instantly jettisoned his elled out from Lake Tisso and ings. This time he was able to not fare that well. Two Mosqui- of files and information con- sion rocked the building. bombs onto Sonder Boulevard, sped toward the target. spot St Jorgen’s Lake, and he tos dropped their bombs on the cerning the Danish resistance Bateson, in the lead Mos- killing eight people. Horrified As they approached the could swept in on Shell House, drop- Frederiksberg fire by mistake. had been incinerated. quito, bore in on the target, Danes on the streets and look- see a pall of smoke over the city. The New Zealanders, led by A total of 18 prisoners es- keeping his nose pointed at the ing out of windows saw the A yellow tongue of flame from Wing Commander F.H. Den- caped in the confusion and there pavement of Kampmannsgade. Mosquito rise sharply, turn on the Alleenberg garages, where ton, flew into a barrage of fire. were casualties among the Ger- As the building began to fill its side, and crash onto a garage Kleboe’s plane had crashed, They were misled by the Fred- mans and their collaborators. his windscreen, machine gun in Frederiksberg Alle with a added to the confusion. Neither eriksberg fire and dropped their And there was a bonus. bullets and tracer tore at him great ball of flame. Iredale nor his navigator could bombs on the garage and near- From the ruins, resistance from sandbag emplacements Henderson, close behind him, identify the target. by buildings. Another pilot saw workers salvaged two filing the error but was too late to cor- cabinets containing a complete rect it. He dropped his bombs in list of Danes in the pay of the the sea as he turned for home. Germans. It was a list which Then it was the Mustangs was held for use after the liber- turn. They came in over the ation. city, machine-gunning the an- On 17 April the Gestapo ti-aircraft positions. One of the headquarters in Odense was at- fighters was hit and it crashed tacked and destroyed by RAF in flames in a public park. Mosquitos. In just four minutes the raid With the complete destruc- was over. tion of records at Aarhus, Co- penhagen and Odense the pow- Aftermath er of the Gestapo in Denmark In addition to Kleboe’s Mos- had been smashed. quito and the crashed Mustang, Liberation came eighteen A photograph taken by the Danish resistance shows the Gestapo headquar- TRAGEDY: A statue to com- UP IN FLAMES: four other aircraft failed to days after the 17 April raid on ters in Copenhagen in flames. memorate those that died at Jeanne D’Arc School. make it home. Odense. 72 73 Gaming

“What we gonna do tonight Brain?” “Same thing we do every night Pinky,” says Matt ‘Brain’ O Brien. “Take over the world.”

earts of Iron IV is a comes increasingly mobilized, doctrines, among other things, grand strategy war- more factories will be freed up which often means that a more Hgame that primarily re- for other purposes. technologically advanced na- volves around World War II. Mobilization is represent- tion will have an edge in com- The player may play as any ed as a “policy” that the play- bat. If a division (or a group of nation in the world in the 1936 er may adjust with the proper divisions) successfully over- or 1939 start dates in single- amount of political power, an whelms an enemy province, player or multiplayer, although abstract “resource” that is also they may occupy it. the game is not designed to go used to appoint new ministers Occupying key provinces beyond 1948. A nation’s mili- and change other facets of the within a state allows the oc- tary is divided between naval nation’s government. In addi- cupying power to access the er factions, like the Comintern, forced subjugation by a foreign their ideology, a certain level of forces, aerial forces, and ground tion to mobilization, there are enemy’s factories and natural the Chinese United Front, and power. world tension may be necessary forces. other policies, including the resources in that state. Resist- the Co-Prosperity Sphere). While Hearts of Iron 4 does to perform certain actions, like For the ground forces, the nation’s stance on conscription ance to occupation within a Faction members may as- feature some scripted events, justifying war against another player may train, customize, and commerce. state can hamper the occupying sist each other in wars, making the game features a “national country. and command divisions consist- Land in Hearts of Iron IV is power’s control over it. Late in faction members very valuable focus” system that makes fixed A complex game to learn, but ing of various types of infantry, divided into tiny regions known the game, nations may devel- assets. A number of more clan- events less necessary than in one of the best strategy games tanks, and other units. These di- as provinces. The major seas op nuclear bombs if they have destine diplomatic actions are previous instalments in the se- out there. visions require equipment and and oceans (for warships) and the proper technology, which also available. For example, the ries. Each country in the game manpower to properly fight. the sky (for war planes) are can be used to devastate enemy player may justify war against has a “focus tree” with various The navy and air force also re- similarly divided into different provinces and states. other nations, spread their ide- “national focuses” that grant quire men and equipment, in- regions. These provinces each Hearts of Iron IV also at- ology abroad, or stage a coup. certain effects or trigger events. cluding the actual warships and have a type of terrain assigned tempts to recreate the complex Countries in the game may be For example, in order for the warplanes that are used in com- to them that determines how diplomatic relationships of the democratic, fascist, communist, Anschluss to occur, Germany bat. Equipment is produced by well different types of units will day. Nations may undertake a or non-aligned. Each of the four must first complete the focus military factories, while ships perform in combat there. Divi- variety of diplomatic actions; ideologies have advantages and that is related to it. Other fo- are built by dockyards. sions are placed in provinces they may sign non-aggression disadvantages; for example, cuses can grant special bonus- These military factories and and can attack enemy units in pacts, guarantee the independ- fascist nations can go to war es, like faster research times for dockyards are, in turn, con- adjacent provinces. ence of other nations, and of- with other countries easily, but certain technologies or extra structed by civilian factories, How well divisions perform fer or request military access, other nations are not as willing factories. which also construct a varie- in combat depends on various amongst other things. Anoth- to trade with them as they are Hearts of Iron IV also intro- ty of other buildings, produce factors, such as the quality of er key feature of diplomacy is with democratic countries. duces the concept of “world consumer goods for the civilian their equipment, the weather, the ability to create a faction or If a different ideology be- tension,” an abstract representa- population, and oversee com- the type of terrain, the skill and invite other nations to an exist- comes too popular in a coun- tion of how close the world is to merce with other nations. traits of the general command- ing one. Factions represent the try, a referendum may be held war on a scale from 0 to 100. Most nations are initially ing the divisions, and the mo- main alliances of the era, like that will peacefully convert the Aggressive actions by any na- Publisher - Paradox Interactive forced to devote a significant rale of both sides. the Axis and Allies (for game nation to the more popular ide- tion can increase world tension, Genre - Strategy number of their civilian fac- Technologies can be re- play purposes, real-world fac- ology. Otherwise, ideologies while peaceful actions can de- Score - 8.5/10 may come to power violently crease it. Depending on the tories to producing consumer searched to improve equip- tions like the Axis and Allies Price - R409 (on Steam) goods, but as the nation be- ment and learn new military are split into numerous small- through coups, civil wars, or circumstances of a nation, like 74 75 Book Review Movie Full Metal Jacket Review Released: 1987 Running time: 116 minutes Directed by: Stanley Kubrick As the Crow Flies

ntil now, Colonel Del- the Bushman people them- ville Linford has had selves: the nature of their soci- eleased in 1987 and pertise in marksmanship. This R. Lee Ermey is brilliant in very little to say about ety, tribal traditions, bush-craft, based on the book The impresses Hartman, but worries the role of Gunnery Sergeant U his role as commander of Com- customs that have become in- Short-Timers by Gustav Joker, who notices Pyle talk- Hartman. As a real-life former R bat Group Alpha, or of that grained with time, historical Hasford, Full Metal Jacket was ing to his rifle and believes that Marine Drill Instructor, he was played by his Bushmen sol- fears, life in the wild, tracking directed and produced by Stan- he may be suffering a mental hired as a technical advisor, diers. In this volume he allows ‒ as well as much else about a ley Kubrick. breakdown. but ended up getting the role of us a peek under the covers, not historical culture that goes back The first half of the storyline The recruits graduate and Hartman. Hartman’s language only how this tiny combat force millennia. Together with many follows a platoon of U.S. Ma- receive their Military Occupa- would make a sailor blush. operated, but also many ‘be- of Colonel Linford’s empathet- rines through their training, tional Specialty assignments. Much of his dialogue in the hind the screens’ machinations ic observations of these often- primarily focusing on two pri- Joker is assigned to Military film is ad-libbed, something which explain how the unit was intriguing ‘little’ people, all go vates, Private J. T. “Joker” Journalism, while most of the that Kubrick rarely allowed in formed. towards making for a rather fas- Davis (Matthew Modine) and others – including Joker’s best any of his movies. Following the independ- cinating read. Private Leonard “Gomer Pyle” friend ‘Cowboy’ (Arliss How- R. Lee Emery won a Golden ence of Angola from Portugal, A hallmark volume with an Lawrence (Vincent D’Onof- ard) and Pyle – are assigned to Glove for Best Supporting Ac- a significant segment of that introduction by General Con- rio), who both struggle to get Infantry. tor. Full Metal Jacket was nom- country’s Bushman communi- stand Viljoen, Colonel Linford through boot camp for different The second part of the movie inated for eleven awards world- As The Crow Flies: My Bush- ty crossed the border into what offers us – for the first time ‒ reasons. is set in January 1968 and sees wide between 1987 and 1989 man Experience with 31 Battal- was then still South West Africa his own ‘warts and all’ report, Joker doesn’t know when to Joker, now a sergeant, as a war including an Academy Award ion - Delville Linford with Al J. – today – and sought not only of the legendary 31 keep his mouth closed and his correspondent in South Viet- for Best Adapted Screenplay. Venter refuge with the South Africans. Battalion but also of his career comments often get him into nam for Stars and Stripes. A film well worth watching. Softcover, 336 pages He goes on to tell us a lot about in the . trouble. The Marine base is attacked Cost: R300 Gomer Pyle, on the oth- at the start of the Tet Offen- er hand, is over-weight and sive, as the North Vietnamese slow-minded. This makes him Army unsuccessfully attempts a target for their drill instructor, to overrun the base. Gunnery Sergeant Hartman (R. The following day Joker, Lee Ermey). along with combat photogra- Pyle is initially inept at basic pher Private First Class Rafter- training, but slowly improves man, is sent to Phu Bai. They after Hartman pairs him with meet the Lusthog Squad, where Joker. However, when Hartman Joker is reunited with Cowboy. discovers a contraband dough- Joker accompanies the squad nut in Pyle’s foot locker, he during the Battle of Huế, where adopts a collective punishment platoon commander “Touch- policy, punishing the rest of down” is killed by the enemy. the platoon for Pyle’s mistakes. While patrolling Huế, Crazy One night, the recruits haze Earl, the squad leader, is killed Pyle with a blanket party; Joker by a booby trap, leaving Cow- reluctantly participates. boy in command. The squad The Battle of Savate Dingo Firestorm The Flechas Following this incident, Pyle comes under attack by a sniper, R300 R300 R220 reinvents himself as a model leading to the gripping climax Click on the poster to watch a recruit and shows particular ex- of the film. trailer of the film. All books are available from Bush War Books 76 77 This month in military history ... April This month in military history ... April

Some of the significant military events that happened in April. Highlighted in blue are the names • 1941 - German Afrika Ko- pa. He was 26. • 1984 - Four South Afri- of those members of the South African Defence Force (SADF) that lost their lives during the month rps, commanded by General • 1981 - Lance Corporal Ean cans and a British national of April. Erwin Rommel, take Ageda- Andrew Chapman Pettit charged with illegally ex- bia and Zuetania, Libya. from H Company, 1 Para- porting military equipment 1 April • 1967 - JARIC, voted best Constable Uutafehe Rjipo- • 1941 - Nazi occupiers dis- chute Battalion was acciden- to South Africa. • 1865 - During the Ameri- support unit of the SA Air sa (27). Special Constable band the Dutch Boy Scouts. tally killed after he and his • 1987 - A US State Depart- can Civil War, Confederate Force 2003, is established Daniel Sakaria (28). Special • 1943 - Allied air raid on Tu- section were extracted from ment report says Israel, troops of General George as a section of the Central Constable Zaako Uaapulate- nis causes considerable dam- a contact with SWAPO/ France and Italy have contin- Pickett were defeated and Phototechnical Establish- na (25). age just before Axis troops PLAN insurgents. Their Buf- ued to maintain and upgrade cut off at Five Forks, Vir- ment (CPE), initially based • 1994 - Soldiers roll into Na- start their final withdrawal fel Troop carrier overturned a major weapons systems for ginia. This sealed the fate of at AFB Swartkop. tal to quell unrest threatening from Tunisia. while travelling at high South Africa since the 1977 Confederate General Robert • 1977 - An unsuccessful mil- the national election. • 1952 - The United States speed and he was thrown out UN arms embargo was im- E. Lee’s armies at Petersburg itary coup is staged in Chad. • 1997 - The strike crafts SAS posthumously awards SA and crushed by the vehicle posed. and Richmond and hastened • 1985 - Rifleman Daniel Kobie Coetzee, P.W. Botha Cheetah Squadron pilot, when it rolled onto him. He • 1987 - Rifleman Domingos the end of the war. Aupini from 201 Battalion and Frederic Creswell are Lieutenant R.M. du Plooy, was 19. Cassela from 32 Battalion • 1893 - USN establishes SWATF was killed when renamed SAS Job Maseko, with the Silver Star for “gal- • 1982 - The beginning of was Killed in Action in a the rate of Chief Petty Of- struck by a bullet resulting SAS Shaka and SAS Adam lantry in action”. Du Plooy the Falkland Islands War as contact with enemy forces ficer. from an accidental discharge Kok on the occasion of the was killed the previous year troops from Argentina in- near Evale in Southern An- • 1913 - South African Police of a fellow soldier’s rifle. He Navy’s 75th anniversary. in the Korean War. vaded and occupied the Brit- gola during Operation Kake- (SAP) is founded. was 22. • 2002 - The South African • 1957 - The Union Jack is ish colony located near the been. He was 27. • 1922 - The South African • 1985 - Rifleman D. Haupindi Navy (SAN) is 80 years old. lowered and British occupa- tip of South America. The • 1987 - Rifleman N. Ngombe Naval Service is founded. from 202 Battalion SWATF • 2003 - USMC Task Force tion of Simon’s Town comes British retaliated and defeat- from 102 Battalion SWATF With the ships the Protea, was Killed in Action during a Tarawa secures An Nasiri- to an end after 143 years. ed the Argentineans on June was Killed in Action dur- Sonneblom and Immortelle contact with SWAPO/PLAN yah in Iraq after a hot week- South Africa takes formal 15, 1982, after ten weeks of ing a contact with SWAPO/ it formed the nucleus of a insurgents. He was 21. long fight. possession of the historic combat, with about 1,000 PLAN insurgents in South- South African navy. • 1986 - Special Constable An- base. lives lost. ern Angola. He was 23. • 1933 - Heinrich Himmler drek Mwandinovanhu from 2 April • 1978 - Rifleman Carvalho • 1983 - Gunner Lodewyk • 1988 - 2nd Lieutenant Jaco- becomes Police Commander the South West Africa Police • 1879 - Relief of British gar- Esals from 32 Battalion was Jozef Engelbrecht from 4 bus Hendrick Diedericks of Germany. Counter-Insurgency Wing: rison besieged by Zulus at Killed in Action in Southern Artillery Regiment attached from 101 Battalion SWATF • 1943 - Japanese aircraft Ops K Division (Koevoet) Eshowe. Angola during a contact with to 61 Mechanised Battalion was Killed in Action in a attack the Russell Islands. was Killed in Action during • 1879 - The battle of Gingind- enemy forces near Omalapa- Group was Killed in Ac- landmine explosion during a • 1945 - Okinawa: 60,000 U.S. a contact with SWAPO in- lovu during the Anglo-Zulu tion in a landmine explosion contact with SWAPO/PLAN soldiers and Marines land, surgents in Northern Owam- War takes place. The British during operations against insurgents. He was 24. on Easter Sunday. boland. He was 27. defeat Cetshwayo and the SWAPO/PLAN insurgents • 1988 - Two members from • 1945 - US First & Ninth Ar- • 1989 - South Africa reports kraal is destroyed. in the Tsumeb area. He was the South West Africa Police mies meet to form the Ruhr major clashes with guerrillas • 1904 - Herero tribesmen Erwin 19. Counter-Insurgency Wing: pocket. in Namibia on eve of cease- near Okaharui, German West Rommel • 1984 - Gunner Alfred Lok- Ops K Division (Koevoet) • 1954 - The US Army forms fire. Africa (now Namibia) defeat ington Tomes from 17 Field were Killed in Action dur- its first helicopter battalion at • 1989 - Five members from German forces under Major Regiment was critically ing a contact with SWAPO/ Fort Bragg. the South West Africa Police Von Glasenapp. wounded during a contact PLAN insurgents in Northern • 1955 - The Greek national- Counter-Insurgency Wing: • 1916 - German Zeppelins with the enemy forces in Owamboland. They were: ist EOKA movement makes Ops-K Division (Koevoet) bomb a distillery in Rosyth, Southern Angola on 29 Mar Special Sergeant Kandjunga several bomb attacks against were Killed in Action. The causing a flood of fine whis- 1984. He was evacuated to 1 Tenaseu (27). Special Ser- British facilities in Cyprus. casualties were: Special key. Military Hospital in Pretoria geant Usebiu Ndemwimba • 1960 - France detonates Constable George Daw- • 1917 - US President Wilson where he succumbed to his (29). her second atom bomb, in id (24). Special Constable asks Congress to declare war wounds on 2 April 1984. He • 1989 - Rifleman Marius van the Sahara. Mathais Lukas (29). Special against Germany. was 27. der Merwe from 32 Battalion 78 79 This month in military history ... April This month in military history ... April was Reported Missing while (400 men, no artillery) and • 1978 - Rifleman Steven a contact with PLAN insur- Namaqualand starts as Gen. • 1980 - ANC insurgents on patrol near Buffalo. He British encamped behind Dennis Oscar Pearson from gents in Northern Owam- Smuts demands the surren- launch a rifle, rocket and gre- went for a swim amongst the stone breastworks on the 5 SAI Died of Wounds re- boland. He was 26. der of the town but is curt- nade attack on Booysens Po- reeds and it is thought that he heights of Mostertshoek. De ceived when his patrol was • 1986 - Lance Corporal Jan ly rejected by Col. W.A.D. lice Station, Johannesburg. was taken by a crocodile. He Wet sends a note to the Brit- ambushed by SWAPO/ Hendrik Labuschagne from Shelton, commander of the Pamphlets are scattered de- remains unaccounted for and ish demanding their surren- PLAN insurgents. the Technical Service Corps British forces. manding the release of Wal- has no known grave. He was der and claims to have three • 1981 - Rifleman Hendrik was killed when struck by a • 1940 - Katyn Forest: The So- ter Sisulu from Robben Is- 21. Krupp guns and reinforce- Kasper Jordaan from SWA bullet resulting from an acci- viets begin mass executions land. • 1989 - Ten members of the ments on the way. SPES Unit SWATF was dental discharge of a fellow of Polish military officers, • 1986 - Second Lieutenant South West Africa Police • 1900 - General P.A. Cronje Killed in Action while at- soldier’s rifle. He was 23. police officials, and intellec- Izak Johan Lourens from Counter-Insurgency Wing: and his wife, with Colonel tached to 53 Battalion out on • 1989 - Constable Daniel Jo- tuals, about. 20,000 die over 911 Battalion SWATF died Ops-K Division (Koevoet) Adorf Schiel and about 1,000 a patrol north of Etale. When hannes Jacobus Fourie from several weeks. in the Opuwa Hospital after Units were killed during Republican prisoners of war, returning to base, the patrol Ops-K Division (Koevoet) • 1941 - Rommel takes Beng- contracting Meningitis & a number of contacts with sails from Cape Town for St crossed Oom Willie se pad was killed in action. He was hazi. Malaria. He was 19. SWAPO/PLAN insurgents Helena. and one of the horses deto- 25. • 1943 - The US 4th Marine • 1986 - Corporal Alfonso Al- in Northern Owamboland. • 1941 - The British forces nated an Anti-Tank mine, Division is established at berto from 32 Battalion died The casualties were: Spe- evacuate Benghazi, major killing him instantly. He was 4 April San Diego. from causes unknown. He cial Warrant Officer Leonard seaport of north-eastern Lib- 20. • 1884 - Japanese Admiral • 1945 - Heavy fighting begins was 27. Benjamin (34) Sergeant Sar- ya, in the face of the German • 1982 - Rifleman Lourens Isoroku Yamamoto was born in southern Okinawa. • 1987 - Corporal Fernandez el Hercules van Tonder (25). advance. Date given as 7 Maritz Bieldt from Infantry in Nagaoko, Honshu. • 1945 - Hungary liberated Andre from 32 Battalion Special Sergeant Daniel April 1941 in another source. School was killed when his • 1900 - The battles of Red- from Nazi occupation. was Killed in Action during Teteiko (25). Constable Jo- • 1942 - Bataan: Japanese Buffel Troop Carrier over- dersburg, where the Boers • 1949 - Twelve nations signed a contact with enemy forces hannes Jacobus Badenhorst launch a major offensive. turned approximately 20 km under Gen. De Wet defeat the treaty creating NATO, near Evale in Southern An- (24). Constable Leon Thorne • 1944 - British bombers at- outside Oshakati. He was 21. the Royal Irish Rifles, and the North Atlantic Treaty gola during Operation Kake- (21). Special Constable tack the German battleship • 1982 - Captain Michael Nor- Mostertshoek, take place. Organization. The nations been. He was 26. Nambahu Abiatal (27). Spe- ‘Tirpitz’ in Norwegian wa- man Amos Giani from Army British surrender at Mostert’s united for common military • 1988 - SADF Gaborone raid cial Constable Joseph An- ters. Intelligence, attached to 72 Hoek. Boer forces capture defense against the threat of kills four. dreas (29). Special Consta- • 1945 - USSR renounces Apr Motorised Brigade, was nearly 500 Lee-Metford ri- expansion by Soviet Russia • 1989 - Corporal Hermann ble Thomas Johannes (26). ‘41 non-aggression pact with killed in a military vehicle fles. into Western Europe. Carstens from 1 Reconnais- Special Constable Filippus Japan. accident at Muldersdrift. He • 1902 - Second Anglo-Boer • 1961 - UN troops defending sance Regiment was Killed Joseph (24). Special Consta- • 1974 - Ordinary Seaman was 30. War. The siege of Okiep in an airfield in Katanga prov- in Action during fierce fight- ble Muyunga Kakonyi (28). Leonard Arthur Farmer from • 1982 - Security Council de- ince, Congo (now Demo- ing with a numerically supe- Special Constable Fernendo SAS Saldanha was acci- mands Argentina withdraw cratic Republic of Congo), rior force of heavily armed Tyipoya (25). Special Con- dentally killed during basic from the Falkland Islands. are attacked by ‘mobs’. SWAPO/PLAN insurgents stable Aktofel Silvanus (26). training while doing pole PT. • 1985 - Rifleman Heilia Mi- • 1978 - Barend Hendrik Janse near Eenhana. He was 20. He had to hold the pole be- kael from 101 Battalion van Rensburg (Ben) (80), • 1989 - Three members from 3 April hind his head and do press- SWATF was accidentally founder of the War Museum 101 Battalion Romeo Mike, • 1865 - The Confederate ups. The pole slipped and killed in Southern Angola in Bloemfontein, dies. SWATF were Killed in Ac- capital of Richmond surren- fell on his head, severely in- when a Armoured • 1978 - Two members of SWA tion during fierce fighting in dered to Union forces after juring him. He died a short Vehicle drove over him while SPES accidentally drowned Northern Owamboland as the withdrawal of General while later. He was 18. he was sleeping. He was 19. in the Olifants River near 101 Battalion Romeo Mike Robert E. Lee’s troops. • 1977 - Rifleman Carel Hen- • 1985 - Special Constable Doornkop. They were: Rifle- and Koevoet elements con- • 1900 - The battle of Mostert- drik Kotze from the South Johannes Tjiposa from the man Wayne Darrell Norman tinued to intercept and en- shoek, near Reddersburg, Coast Commando was acci- South West Africa Police Meyers (18). Rifleman Mari- gage large groups of very takes place. The beginning dentally killed during train- Counter-Insurgency Wing: us van Zyl (20). heavily armed SWAPO/ of a two-day battle between ing manoeuvres at Umtent- Ops-K Division (Koevoet) Isoroku Yamamoto PLAN insurgents cross- General De Wet’s forces weni. He was 32. was Killed in Action during ing into Owamboland from 80 81 This month in military history ... April This month in military history ... April

Southern Angola. The casu- • 1948 - As riots rage around mar Qaddafi of Libya. Nine out the British Isles, in prepa- Military Vehicle Accident in a crocodile approximately alties in this contact were: Cairo, the Egyptian army days later, President Ronald ration for D-Day. Mamelodi during Operation 1km below the Epupa Falls Rifleman E. Anunyela. (26). kills twenty-five civilians. Reagan ordered a retaliatory • 1977 - Rifleman S. Henrique Xenon. He was 23. where he and others in his Rifleman J. Mandume (24). • 1964 - Douglas MacArthur air strike against Libya. from 32 Battalion was Killed • 1996 - Thousands of Libe- section were swimming. He Rifleman N. Kapentse (23). dies at the age of 84. • 1988 - Special Constable in Action during a contact rians flee their homes amid has no known grave and re- • 1989 - Lieutenant Christiaan • 1979 - Special Constable Uakandjangu Tjiumbu from with enemy forces in South- fierce fighting between gov- mains unaccounted for. He Phillipus Els from 1 Special Wilino Shamoketa from the the South West Africa Police ern Angola. He was 29. ernment troops and members was 20. Service Battalion Died in South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: • 1981 - Rifleman Petrus Jaco- of an ethnic faction. • 1989 - Soviet submarine ‘K- Hospital at Ruacana from Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (Koevoet) bus Venter from SWA SPES 278 Komsomolets’ sinks af- Wounds sustained during a Ops-K Division (Koevoet) was Killed in Action dur- Unit SWATF was Killed in 7 April ter a fire in the Norwegian contact with SWAPO/PLAN was Killed in Action dur- ing a contact with SWAPO/ Action during a contact with • 1917 - US Navy takes over Sea, 42 die. insurgents near Ongandjera ing a contact with SWAPO/ PLAN insurgents in North- SWAPO/PLAN insurgents all wireless stations for the • 1994 - Rampaging troops on 03 April 1989. He was 20. PLAN insurgents in North- ern Owamboland. He was near the Cut Line. He was duration of World War I. kill Rwanda’s acting premier ern Owamboland. He was 26. 23. • 1945 - The Japanese bat- and eleven Belgian UN sol- 5 April 28. • 1996 - Heavy fighting in • 1982 - Rifleman Hymje tleship Yamato is sunk by diers and civil war erupts in • 1900 - Combat-General • 1979 - Captain Martin Mogadishu, the capital of Landsman from 8 SAI was American carrier-based Rwanda, a day after a mys- Georges-Henri Anne Ma- Charles Silberbauer from 85 Somalia, leaves seventeen killed in a Military Vehicle bombers and torpedo bomb- terious plane crash claimed rie Victor Compte de Vil- Combat Flying School was dead. Accident in Eastern Kavan- ers with the loss of most of the lives of the presidents of lebois-Mareuil, a former killed during a training exer- goland. He was 19. her crew. Rwanda and Burundi. commander in the French cise at the Roodewal Bomb- 6 April • 1983 - Corporal I.S. Kamu- • 1966 - US recovers lost • 1997 - Government soldiers Foreign Legion, makes a ing Range near Pietersburg • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer noko from 202 Battalion H-bomb from sea off Palo- in Lubumbashi, Zaire’s sec- valiant last stand against when his Dassault Mirage War: General Lord Methuen SWATF was Killed in Ac- mares, Spain. ond largest city lay down the British at Boshof and is IIID2Z struck the ground buries Combat-General De tion during a contact with • 1984 - Rifleman Daniel their arms and join the cause killed. He tried to attack the while trying to recover after Villebois-Mareuil with full SWAPO/PLAN insurgents Stephanus Venter from 1 Par- of rebels advancing on the nearby railway with a force carrying out a practice rocket military honours. 1500 men in Northern Owamboland. achute Battalion was Killed city. of 75 foreign volunteers attack. He was 28. of the Loyal North Lanca- He was 23. in Action in a landmine ex- (mostly French and Dutch) • 1983 - Private Patrick Cor- shires form the Guard of • 1984 - The elite republican plosion during anti-insurgent 8 April and eleven burghers but was nelius Engel from 16 Main- Honour. guard mounts an unsuccess- operations just north of the • 1940 - Royal Navy destroy- trapped by General Lord tenance Unit was killed • 1916 - German parliament ful coup against President Cut-line. He was 22. er HMS Glowworm is sunk Methuen and a force of over when his Withings recov- approves unrestricted sub- Paul Biya of Cameroon. • 1985 - Special Sergeant after a gallant fight with the 750, assisted by four field- ery vehicle collided into the marine warfare • 1987 - Private Russell Joseph Sakaria Naholo from the German heavy cruiser Admi- guns. De Villebois-Mareuil’s rear of a stationary vehicle at • 1917 - Following a vote by Brissett from 1 Medical Bat- South West Africa Police ral Hipper. men attempt to escape whilst Oshivello. He was 19. Congress approving a dec- talion Group was killed in a Counter-Insurgency Wing: • 1945 - Okinawa: Marines he makes his stand but are • 1984 - Rifleman Joseph Sin- laration of war, the U.S. en- Ops-K Division (Koevoet) probe Japanese lines on the captured. dimba from 202 Battalion tered World War I in Europe. was Killed in Action dur- Motobu Peninsula. • 1916 - Battle of El Hanna: SWATF was Killed in Ac- • 1939 - Great Britain & Po- ing a contact with SWAPO/ • 1950 - Unarmed US Navy Unsuccessful British attempt tion during a contact with land sign military pact. PLAN insurgents in North- patrol plane is shot down to break the Turkish siege of SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. • 1941 - The SA Brigade en- ern Owamboland. He was over the Baltic Sea by Soviet Kut. He was 23. ters Addis Ababa during 32. aircraft. • 1939 - Germany: “Aryan” • 1986 - A bomb exploded at World War II. • 1985 - Rifleman Willem • 1958 - Corporal Francois youth ordered to join the Hit- a popular discotheque fre- • 1941 - Germans bomb Bel- Jacobus Du Randt from 3 Willem Bornman from 4th lerjugend. quented by American mili- grad, 17,000 reportedly die. SAI Oscar Company (Mor- Field Regiment died from • 1942 - Eighty-six South Af- tary personnel in West Ber- • 1943 - The British and US tars) was Reported Miss- injuries received in a col- ricans survive a Japanese at- lin, killing two U.S. soldiers armies link up in Africa. ing after being attacked by lision between a car and a tack on the HMS Cornwall and a Turkish woman. Amer- • 1944 - The Supreme Allied train at the Meyer Street lev- near the coast of Ceylon ican intelligence analysts at- Commander cancels all fur- Paul Biya el crossing at Potchefstroom. (now Sri Lanka). tributed the attack to Muam- ther military leaves through- He was 22. 82 83 This month in military history ... April This month in military history ... April

• 1980 - Lieutenant Christo rendered to General Ulysses Krugel from 4 Squadron was accidentally killed when he March began as American do Squadron SWATF was Stephan Grundling from 2 S. Grant in the village of Ap- killed when his AT-6 Har- was crushed between two and Filipino prisoners were Killed in Action during Op- Field Engineer Regiment pomattox Court House. The vard crashed near Leslie dur- vehicles at Walvis Bay. He forced on a six-day march eration Yahoo while flying was killed in a military vehi- surrender occurred in the ing a routine training flight. was 27. from an airfield on Bataan in support of Koevoet an- cle accident at Impala Base. home of Wilmer McLean. He was 22. • 1997 - Rebels in Zaire con- to a camp near Cabanatuan. ti-insurgent operations in the He was 20. Terms of the surrender, writ- • 1976 - Corporal Michael quer Lubumbashi, second Some 76,000 Allied POWs Elundu area. He was 52. • 1980 - Rifleman Lesley An- ten by General Grant, al- Barnett from 2nd Battalion, largest city in the country. including 12,000 Americans • 1982 - Special Constable drew Scholtz from 3 SAI lowed Confederates to keep Regiment Bloemspruit was • 1999 - Members of his own were forced to walk 60 miles Shitelgipo Hamukwaya from was Killed in Action during a their horses and return home. killed when the bus he was Presidential Guard gun down under a blazing sun without the South West Africa Police contact with SWAPO/PLAN Officers were allowed to driving was involved in a Niger’s president, Ibrahim food or water to the POW Counter-Insurgency Wing: insurgents in Kavangoland. keep their swords and side head-on collision with a ci- Bare Mainassara. camp, resulting in over 5,000 Ops K Division (Koevoet) He was 20. arms. vilian vehicle approximately • 2003 - CorporalEdward American deaths. was Killed in Action dur- • 1981 - Omar Bradley, the • 1917 - After a massive mine 100km from Grootfontein. Chin, US Marine Corps, • 1945 - The Nazi concentra- ing a contact with SWAPO/ “Soldier’s General,” last US explosion, Canadian troops He was transporting school plants the US and Free Iraq tion camp at Buchenwald PLAN Insurgents in North- 5-star officer, dies at the age storm Vimy Ridge, initiating children from Grootfontein flags on the statue of Sadam was liberated by U.S. troops. ern Owamboland. He was of 88. the Battle of Arras. back to Rundu at the time of Hussein in Firdos Square, • 1972 - The Convention on 27. • 1986 - Two members from • 1940 - Germany invades the accident. He was 22. Baghdad, which is then the Prohibition of the De- • 1983 - Rifleman John Kern- 101 Battalion were Killed in Denmark, which promptly • 1977 - Rifleman Graham pulled down. velopment, Production and eels Samson from the South Action during a Contact with surrenders. Werner Hempstead from 8 Stockpiling of Bacteriolog- African died SWAPO/PLAN insurgents • 1940 - Germany invades SAI was killed in a non-op- 10 April ical (Biological) and Toxic from a gunshot wound acci- in Southern Angola. They Norway. erational military vehicle • 1918 - Near Toul, in eastern Weapons and their Destruc- dentally sustained. He was were: Corporal Noag Kavari • 1944 - Japan offers to medi- accident in Northern Owam- France, the 104th Infantry tion, to which SA is a party, 19. (23). Rifleman Joao Domin- ate peace between Germany boland. He was 20. begins four days determined is signed in Moscow, Lon- • 1985 - Rifleman Douw Ger- gos (26). and Russia. • 1978 - Candidate Officer defense against a German don and Washington. brand Du Plessis from 4 Re- • 1988 - Staff Sergeant Marius • 1945 - RAF sinks Pocket Fred Johan Forster from 1 assault, to become the first • 1975 - Sergeant Nicolaas connaissance Regiment ac- Horn from 5 SAI was killed Battleship Admiral Scheer’in Reconnaissance Regiment American regiment to be Johannes Steyn from the cidentally drowned during a while returning in a convoy port. was accidentally shot and awarded the Croix de guerre. Technical Service Corps, training exercise. He was 19. from Eshowe. He was 27. • 1945 - Wilhelm Canaris, killed at Katima Mulilo • 1940 - First Battle of Narvik: attached to the Rundu Mili- • 1986 - Petty Officer Des- • 1988 - Lance Corporal Car- German admiral and chief while participating in a “live Royal Navy destroyers de- tary Base was killed instant- mond John Pekeur from los Thomas Moon from the of the Abwehr, the German fire” shooting exercise. He feat German destroyers, two ly while travelling between SAS Wingfield was killed South African. Cape Corps military intelligence service, was 20. of which are lost. Rundu and Katima Mulilo near Schmidtsdrift when the was Killed in Action dur- was executed in Flossenbürg • 1981 - Private Jacob Jo- • 1942 - During World War II in when, approximately 20km rear tyre of his Landrover ing a contact with SWAPO/ concentration camp for high hannes Kotze from 61 Mech- the Pacific, the Bataan Death from Rundu, the rear tyre on burst causing the vehicle to PLAN insurgents in South- treason on the orders of Ad- hanised Battalion Group his vehicle burst, causing the overturn. He was 29. ern Angola. He was 21. olf Hitler. was killed when his Buffel vehicle to leave the road and • 1991 - Though the govern- • 1997 - Zaire’s President • 1965 - Lance Corporal Jo- Troop Carrier overturned at overturn. He was 27. ment refused to comply with Mobutu Sese Seko declares hannes Burger from the Tsumeb. He was 19. • 1978 - Rifleman S.M. Chico- the ANC ultimatum issued a nationwide state of emer- South African Corps of Mil- • 1984 - Trooper Jacobus Fran- to from 32 Battalion was on 5 April, defence minister gency in response to rebel itary Police was killed at Fo- cois Engels from 202 Battal- Killed in Action during a Magnus Malan offers to re- advances. chville when his motorcycle ion SWATF was Killed in contact with enemy forces in sign if it is in the interests of was involved in a collision Action during a contact with Southern Angola. He was 27. SA or the SADF. He also an- 9 April with a vehicle while he was SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. • 1982 - Major Helmuth Ad- nounces the firing of Civilian • 1868 - After over 500,000 doing military convoy duty. He was 19. olf Kessler from 1 South Co-operation Bureau (CCB) American deaths, the Civ- He was 33. • 1987 - Corporal Charles West Africa Air Comman- head, Joe Verster and twen- il War effectively ended as • 1969 - Candidate Officer Pierre Du Plessis from ty-seven other members of General Robert E. Lee sur- Marthinus Jacobus Hendrik Walvis Bay Command was Omar Bradley the CCB.

84 85 This month in military history ... April This month in military history ... April • 1993 - Chris Hani, the leader was Killed after suffering a 12 April thur Wienand from 10 An- War of the Axe. killed. Felix Malloum takes of the South African Com- gunshot wound accidentally • 1861 - The American Civil ti-Aircraft Regiment was • 1868 - British forces under over at the head of a sev- munist Party and chief of inflicted while attached to War began as Confederate killed when his Unimog ve- Robert Napier capture Mag- en-member junta. staff of uMkhonto we Sizwe, Alpha Company, 5 SAI. He troops under the command hicle overturned in Kavan- dala in Ethiopia. • 1976 - Corporal Anton Leon the armed wing of the Afri- was 18. of General Pierre Beaure- goland. He was 18. • 1906 - Battle of Oviumbo: Broodryk from 1 Parachute can National Congress, is • 1982 - Sapper Brian Robert gard opened fire at 04:30 on • 1979 - Corporal Willem Jo- The Herero defeat the Ger- Battalion Died of Wounds gunned down as he steps out Gibbs from 2 Field Engi- Fort Sumter in Charleston, hannes de Beer from 3 SAI, mans. received in a landmine ex- of his car in the driveway of neer Regiment attached to South Carolina. attached to 2 Special Service • 1940 - Second Battle of Nar- plosion in Southern Angola his Boksburg home. the Army Battle School was • 1902 - Second Anglo-Bo- Battalion was accidentally vik: Royal Navy battleship while on patrol near the Cut- killed instantly at Olifant- er War: Peace negotiations killed in Zeerust after being Warspite and accompanying line. He was 20. 11 April shoek after receiving mul- commence in Pretoria be- knocked down by a civil- destroyers sink eight Ger- • 1976 - Captain Granville • 1838 - Zulu warriors ambush tiple shrapnel wounds in an tween delegations of the ian bus while on a weekend man destroyers. Duvenhage from Benoni Petrus Lafras (Piet) Uys and accidental rifle grenade ex- Boer Republics and General pass. He was 19. • 1941 - Heavy German attack Commando suffered a fatal his men at Italeni. Uys, his plosion. He was 19. Lord Kitchener and Alfred • 1979 - Prime Minister P.W. on Tobruk. heart attack while on duty at son Dirkie and seven of his • 1982 - Special Consta- Milner. An initial request by Botha announces that three • 1942 - Burma: the British Leydsdorp and died shortly followers are killed in battle. ble Pedro Sakaria from the the Boers to retain their inde- members of the staff of the Burma Corps breaks. afterwards. He was 26. • 1898 - US President McK- SWA Police Counter-Insur- pendence is met with incre- United States Embassy in • 1943 - Katyn: Nazis find • 1976 - Rifleman Eugene inley asks for Declaration of gency Wing: Ops K Divi- dulity. South Africa have been giv- graves of 13,000 Polish of- Medhurst from 5 SAI was War against Spain. sion (Koevoet) was Killed • 1945 - Okinawa: 150 kami- en a week to leave the coun- ficers killed by Soviets. Killed in Action during a • 1902 - Second Anglo-Bo- in Action during a contact kaze attack the Allied fleet, try. They have photographed • 1945 - Soviets capture Vien- contact with enemy forces in er War: General Kemp, in with SWAPO Insurgents in sinking one destroyer. sensitive military installa- na. Southern Angola. He was 19. charge of the Lemmer, Du Northern Owamboland. He • 1966 - First B-52 raids on tions by a secret camera in- • 1950 - The Arab League • 1979 - Corporal Rian Rix Toit, Liebenberg, Celliers, was 28. North Vietnam. stalled in a diplomatic air- signs a mutual defence treaty from 11 Commando Reg- and Potgieter comman- • 1986 - Special Consta- • 1972 - Private Willem Ockert craft. in Cairo. iment was Killed in Ac- dos (approximately 2,600 ble Matias Vilho from the van den Heever from North • 1986 - Rifleman Kefas • 1960 - France becomes tion during a contact with burghers), suffers a defeat at SWA Police Counter-Insur- West Command Headquar- Kalenga Dala from 32 Bat- fourth nuclear power, with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents Roodewal, Transvaal, after gency Wing: Ops K Divi- ters was killed in a military talion died from Meningitis an atomic bomb test in the near Okatope Base south of attacking a British force of sion (Koevoet) was Killed vehicle accident at Kroon- in the hospital at Buffalo. He Sahara. Ondangwa. This was his last 11,000 men. Cmdt Potgieter in Action during a contact stad. He was 19. was 24. • 1974 - Two members of 11 patrol before going home and fifty burghers are killed. with SWAPO Insurgents in • 1972 - Sergeant Martin Squadron SAAF were Killed from the Border. He was 18. • 1942 - Burma: Japanese be- Northern Owamboland. He Christoffel Klue from the 13 April when their Cessna 185D • 1979 - An attempt is made gin a major offensive against was 26. Army Service Corps, at- • 1846 - Xhosa tribesmen at- crashed shortly after take- by Rhodesian forces to kill the British. • 1990 - Angolan Government tached 4 Artillery Regiment tack British forces at Burn’s off from Mpalela Island in guerrilla leader Joshua Nko- • 1956 - France sends 200,000 agrees to begin peace talks Headquarters was killed af- Hill in the Amatola, in the Eastern Caprivi during a ra- mo. reservists to Algeria. with rebel group Unita in ter being knocked down by a tion re-supply flight for the • 1982 - Rifleman Eugene • 1961 - Trial of Adolf Eich- Portugal. civilian vehicle while stand- South African Police. The James Ashford from 8 SAI man begins in Israel. • 1991 - Major Robert Michael ing by the roadside when casualties were: 2nd Lieu- was accidentally shot dead • 1979 - Signaller Gerhardus Turner from 85 Combat Fly- their convoy stopped for a tenant (Pilot) Jacobus Hen- during live firing exercises at Johannes Jacobus Senekal ing School was killed after rest break while travelling drik Louw Bonthuys (23). Riemvasmaak. He was 18. from Grootfontein Head- his Atlas MB326KM Impala between Bloemfontein and Private Johan Hugo Human • 1983 - A Defence Amend- quarters Signal Unit, at- Mk II suffered engine failure Potchefstroom. He was 46. (19). ment Bill provides for an tached to 52 Battalion was while on final approach to • 1975 - Atlas Corporation • 1975 - A military coup in alternative form of national critically wounded while sit- land at AFB Pietersburg. He completes deliveries to the Chad overthrows President service for conscientious ob- ting on his bed at the Unit. ejected from the aircraft too South African Air Force Ngarta Tombaloaye, who is jectors, who oppose military He was 19. late and directly into trees (SAAF) of a first series of service on religious grounds. • 1980 - Rifleman John Ed- that killed him instantly. He Impala MK-2 jet fighters. PW Botha The offer is not extended to ward McEwan from 5 SAI was 34. • 1978 - Gunner William Ar- objectors motivated by polit- 86 87 This month in military history ... April This month in military history ... April

ical values. help fight Germans. tration camp. V. Tobias (21). Rifleman L. yssinia. • 1838 - Zulu warriors near • 1987 - Private Frederick • 1943 - The German Fifth • 1952 - First test flight of a Sindere (20). Rifleman F. • 1944 - US begins planning the Tugela River overwhelm Wayne Childsmith from the Panzer Army under General prototype B-52. Shikusho (20). Rifleman J. “Operation Olympic” - the Robert Biggar, leader of a Provost School was killed Gustav von Vaerst begins to • 1982 - Rifleman Brian Rich- Muyevu (19). invasion of Japan. force of about seventeen while standing in a “Ride evacuate from Tunis. Rom- ard Buttland from the South • 1985 - South Africa’s For- • 1945 - US troops enter Englishmen, twenty Khoi Safe “ zone on his way back mel departed on 9 March. African Cape Corps, at- eign Minister announces that Nuremberg. with guns and about fif- from Weekend pass after • 1945 - Tokyo fire bomb tached to the Army Catering South African troop with- • 1947 - Rudolf Höss, 45, teen hundred Africans from completion of Basic Train- raids: B-29s damage Imperi- Corps died in hospital after drawal from Angola is to be German SS commandant of around Port Natal. Thirteen ing when he was run over by al Palace. contracting malaria in the completed within a week. Auschwitz, is hanged in Po- of the English and most of an South African Police ve- • 1953 - Viet Minh offensive Operational Area. He was • 1986 - US attempts an air land. their African followers are hicle driven by an underage in Laos. 25. strike at Colonel Muammar • 1971 - Major Jan Wilhelm killed. scholar (the Senior Police • 1983 - Rifleman Barend • 1982 - Eight SADF and Kadhaffi’s home in Libya Arnhem Loubser from 1 • 1916 - General Jan Chris- Superintendant’s son) who Christoffel Dippenaar from SWATF members attached in the biggest US air strike Maintenance Unit was acci- tiaan Smuts, in charge of was not authorised to drive the Infantry School was to 61 Mechanised Battalion since the Vietnam War. Lib- dentally killed in a train ac- British, South African and the vehicle. He was 18. killed in a private vehicle ac- Group were Killed in Ac- ya claims forty people have cident at Kimberley. He was Indian troops in Kenya, fi- • 1988 - Captain H Pienaar cident on the Clocolan - La- tion when their Ratel was been killed. The US says the 42. nally has the Germans on the from the South African In- dybrand road. He was 21. ambushed and knocked out raids are in response to an • 1981 - Two members from run. Colonel Paul von Let- fantry Corps, attached to • 1986 - U.S. warplanes, on by RPG-7 anti-tank rockets explosion at a Berlin disco- Infantry School were killed tow-Vorbeck’s troops (3,000 Group 70 Headquarters at orders from President Ron- near Tsintsabis by a group theque in which two Ameri- in a private vehicle accident Europeans and 11,000 Aska- Katima Mulilo was killed ald Reagan, bombed the of heavily armed SWAPO/ cans were killed on 5 April. on the National Highway ri) had heavily outnumbered instantly after suffering fatal Libyan cities of Tripoli and PLAN insurgents during • 1990 - Rifleman Stoney van near Richmond while on the British East African Ri- head injuries while driving Benghazi in retaliation for Ops Yahoo. The casualties Wyk from the Cape Regi- weekend pass. The casualties fles. to Windhoek to attend an In- the April 5th terrorist bomb- were: 2nd Lieutenant Dan- ment was Killed in Action were: Corporal Cornelius Jo- • 1941 - Yugoslavia surrenders formation/Intelligence Con- ing of a discotheque in West iele Rudolf van der Westhu- after being shot dead by per- hannes Potgieter (19). Rifle- to the Germans. ference. He was 25. Berlin in which two Ameri- izen (49). Corporal Maartin sons unknown while on foot man Jacobus Albertus Cilli- • 1942 - Germans begin to de- can soldiers were killed. Jacobus van Jaarsveld (20). patrol during anti-riot opera- ers (18). stroy the Sobibor Concentra- 14 April • 1994 - Dissident soldiers Lance Corporal Johannes tions in a township in Mpu- • 1982 - Rifleman Jan Dan- tion Camp. • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer shoot dead Lesotho’s deputy Jacobus van den Berg (20). mulanga. He was 24. iels Gerhardus Du Toit from • 1945 - Mussolini flees from War: The first Boer prisoners prime minister and seize four Rifleman Leonard Patrick 1 SAI, attached to 61 Mech Salo, heading for Milan. of war arrive at St Helena, on cabinet ministers in a mutiny Hough (20). Rifleman Mar- 16 April Battalion was Killed in Ac- • 1961 - A U.S.-backed at- board of the Milwaukee. over a planned government ius Petersen (19). Rifleman • 1916 - The French Army tion during Ops Yahoo when tempt to overthrow Premier • 1902 - Second Anglo-Boer probe into the army. Johan Hendrik Potgieter forms the Escadrille Amer- he detonated a landmine dur- Fidel Castro of Cuba failed War: Cmdt Jan H. Theron, (30). Rifleman Barend Jaco- icaine. ing a contact with SWAPO/ disastrously in what became Danie Theron’s successor 15 April bus Wolfaardt (19). Rifleman • 1938 - Britain recognizes PLAN insurgents. He was known as the Bay of Pigs fi- as commander of Theron’s • 1936 - Italian forces occu- Jan Kouswab (40). the Italian annexation of Ab- 18. asco. Scouts, dies of gastric fe- py the Abyssinian town of • 1983 - Nine recruits from • 1998 - The military com- • 1975 - Khmer Rouge cap- ver in the Calvinia district, Dessye, having advanced 202 Battalion SWATF were mander of the Palestine Lib- ture Phnom Penh, initiating Namaqualand. 201 kilometres in five days. murdered by SWAPO/PLAN eration Organisation (PLO), a reign of terror. • 1914 - The first air attack on • 1942 - George VI awards the Special Forces Typhoon Khalil al-Wazir, is assassi- • 1980 - Sergeant Carel Petrus a warship: Mexican revolu- George Cross to the people Unit members in a Kraal in nated in Tunisia. Israeli gun- Greyling HC from 1 Re- tionary pilot Gustavo Adolfo of Malta. Northern Owamboland. The men are blamed. connaissance Regiment was Salinas Camiña bombs the • 1943 - US code breakers casualties were: Rifleman T. killed in a military vehicle Federalista gunboat ‘Guerre- discover Admiral Yamamo- Sikwaya (18). Rifleman A. 17 April accident in the Eastern Ca- ro’, at Topolobampo, Mexi- to will visit the Solomon Is- Mushambe (19). Rifleman V. privi. He was 33. co, causing slight damage. lands. Muyota (19). Rifleman T.K. • 1981 - Corporal Clive Fisher • 1940 - British and French • 1945 - British Army liber- Mukwambi (20). Rifleman Ronald Reagan from the Infantry School was troops land in Norway to ates Bergen-Belsen concen- M. Matamu (19). Rifleman killed in a private vehicle ac- 88 89 This month in military history ... April This month in military history ... April

cident on the National road but the raid boosted Allied chusetts, about 70 armed mi- Easter holidaymakers from Ops K Division (Koevoet) Sergeant Leon Blaauw (21). near Mossel Bay. He was 21. morale following years of litiamen stood face to face South Africa and blowing up was Killed in Action dur- Trooper Denis Aden Naude • 1982 - Rifleman Derek -Jur unchecked Japanese military on Lexington Green with a a Rhodesian Railways train ing a contact with SWAPO/ (22). SAP Constable Coen- gens Deysel from 5 SAI was advances. British advance guard unit. and part of the track on the PLAN insurgents in North- raad Hermanus Dreyer (21). accidentally killed at the Joz- • 1983 - Two members from An unordered ‘shot heard Rutenga link to Beit Bridge. ern Owamboland. He was • 1979 - Lieutenant Com- ini Training Base when he the SWA Police Counter-In- around the world’ began • 1980 - Rifleman Jacobus 37. mander Dennis Mallalieu was struck by a bullet result- surgency Wing: Ops K Divi- the American Revolution. Petrus Koekemoer from 7 • 1988 - Corporal Edward from the Simonstown Naval ing from the accidental dis- sion (Koevoet) were Killed A volley of British rifle fire SAI was killed after suffering Clive Yeo from the South Base died after suffering a charge of a fellow soldier’s in action during a contact was followed by a charge multiple shrapnel wounds African Engineer Corps was fatal heart attack while at the rifle. He was 20. with SWAPO/PLAN insur- with bayonets leaving eight in a mortar bomb explosion attached to 101 Battalion Base. He was 57. • 1983 - General Mark W gents in Northern Owam- Americans dead and ten during a live firing exercise SWATF. He was Killed in • 1980 - Rifleman Simon Clark, dies at the age of 87. boland. They were: Special wounded. in Northern Owamboland. Action while disarming an Stumbo from 5 Reconnais- • 1984 - Rifleman Johann Sergeant Jacob Saulo (34). • 1906 - Bambatha Rebellion: He was 19. enemy anti-tank mine that sance Regiment was Killed Christiaan Rheeder from the Special Constable Thimo- Over 7,000 British troops are • 1981 - Rifleman Karel Jo- was booby-trapped with an in Action during a contact Infantry School was killed theus Maritina (25). called out to quell Zulu ag- han Cronje from 5 SAI was anti-lifting device. He was with enemy forces in South- in a private vehicle accident • 1988 - Lance Corporal Piet- gression in Natal. based at Okalongo and had 20. ern Angola. He was 18. on the Beaufort West - Rich- er Gerhardus Viljoen Du Toit • 1915 - World War I: West been feeling ill for approx- • 1990 - Truce ends the Nica- • 1981 - Leading Seaman Pe- mond road. He was 19. from the South African Med- Africa. Combined An- imately two weeks. He was raguan Civil War. ter James Henderson from • 1984 - Two members from ical Corps, attached to 201 glo-French forces take Man- evacuated to 1 Military Hos- SAS Inkonkoni accidentally 7 SAI were killed at Nehone Battalion SWATF was killed dera, Cameroon. pital after being diagnosed 20 April drowned in Durban during a in Southern Angola after in action. He was 19. • 1919 - Britain sends more with cerebral malaria. He • 1889 - Adolf Hitler was born naval training exercise. He suffering multiple shrapnel • 1988 - Major Lucas Freder- troops to Egypt to help quell succumbed not long after ad- in Braunau am Inn, Austria was 22. wounds in an accidental ri- ick Lotter, the 53 Battalion nationalistic unrest. mission. He was 19. on this day. • 1982 - Rifleman Gerhardus fle grenade explosion. The SWATF Intelligence Of- • 1941 - US Marines begin • 1984 - Rifleman Frank Cor- • 1934 - Heinrich Himmler Petrus Cornelius Hattingh casualties were: Corporal ficer, was Killed in Action in construction of an airfield on rie from the South African becomes head of the Prus- from 1 SAI, attached to 61 Phillipus Botha (20). Rifle- Southern Angola just north Wake Island. Cape Corps was killed after sian secret police. Mechanised Battalion Group man Cecil Rhodes Dippe- of Alpha Tower early / mid- • 1943 - Jews in the being struck by a bullet re- • 1941 - German bombers raid was killed at Tsumeb when a naar (19). evening while following en- Ghetto staged an armed re- sulting from the accidental Athens. Ratel Infantry Fighting Vehi- • 1994 - Lance Corporal W.Z. emy spoor. He was 29. volt against Nazi SS troops discharge of a fellow sol- • 1945 - Okinawa: U.S. forces cle accidentally drove over Matwa from 61 Mechanised • 1988 - Rifleman Alberto attempting to forcibly deport dier’s rifle. He was 21. capture Motobu Heights, in him. He was 20. Battalion Group was acci- Nunes Dinu from 32 Bat- them to death camps. • 1985 - Special Warrant Of- the north. • 1982 - Sergeant Frederick dentally killed during opera- talion was Killed in Action • 1960 - The South West Af- ficer Alfons Kumulo from • 1947 - Peleliu: 27 Japanese Albertus Francois Claasen tions connected with Opera- during a contact with enemy rican People’s Organisation the South West Africa Police troops surrender, 18 months from the South West Africa tion Jumbo. He was 22. forces in Southern Angola. (SWAPO) is founded in Counter-Insurgency Wing: after World War II ended. Police Counter-Insurgen- He was 29. Windhoek with Sam Nujo- • 1976 - Two members from cy Wing: Ops K Division 18 April • 1989 - Lance Corporal Ber- ma as leader. Regiment President Steyn (Koevoet) Died of Wounds • 1934 - The U.S. Army ends nardus Lambertus Saayman • 1961 - Portuguese forces are and one member of the received on 10 April 1982 use of sabers as a combat from 110 Air Commando reinforced for continuing South African Police were during Operation Yahoo. He weapon for the cavalry. Squadron SAAF was killed conflict against the Movi- killed when their Eland Ar- was 25. • 1942 - The first air raid on while participating in a 2-day mento Popular de Libertação moured Car was involved • 1987 - Rifleman Wilson Ad- mainland Japan during World Commando Camp when his de Angola (MPLA, Popular in a head-on collision with a ams from the South African War II occurred as General Cessna 182 flew into high Liberation Movement of An- South African Police vehicle Cape Corps was accidentally James Doolittle led a squad- ground in the Montague gola) based near Luanda. at Ruacana. They were: Staff shot dead by a fellow soldier ron of B-25 bombers taking Mountains east of Robert- • 1976 - Guerrillas launch two while he was standing guard off from the carrier Hornet to son. He was 39. separate raids in the far south at the Van Der Stel Shooting bomb Tokyo and three other 19 April of Rhodesia near the Trans- Adolf Hitler Range. He was 17. cities. Damage was minimal, • 1775 - At dawn in Massa- vaal border, killing three 90 91 This month in military history ... April This month in military history ... April

21 April from Rundu. He was 19. hausen Concentration Senegalese troops are to be Kankara from 202 Battalion sabotage. • 1836 - The Battle of San Ja- • 1978 - Private Barry Craig Camp, near Oranienburg in sent to help put down the SWATF was Killed in Ac- • 1916 - The Irish “Easter Re- cinto between Texans led by Rieder from SWA SPES Brandenburg, which held tribesmen revolt in Moroc- tion during a contact with bellion” begins. Sam Houston and Mexican Unit SWATF was accidental- many political leaders from co. However, Germany has SWAPO/PLAN insurgents • 1942 - Japanese troops ad- forces led by Santa Anna ly killed at Oshivello during Captive Nations and special protested that France will in Northern Owamboland. vance on all fronts in Burma. took place near present day a night practice ambush. He military prisoners. be breaking the terms of the He was 22. • 1954 - Security forces round Houston. The Texans deci- was 20. • 1961 - French army rebels 1906 Algerias accords on • 1987 - Rifleman Kobus up more than 10,000 men in sively defeated the Mexican • 1983 - Glen Joseph Fleischer seize Algiers. Moroccan independence. Christopher Du Preez from the biggest anti-Mau Mau forces thereby achieving in- from 3 SAI was found dead • 1976 - Three members from • 1918 - The Zeebrugge Raid: the South African Cape operation since the state of dependence. at Potchefstroom with a gun- the Regiment Christiaan At heavy cost the Royal Corps was killed in a Mili- emergency was declared in • 1918 - During World War I, shot wound to the head, ap- Beyers were Killed in Ac- Navy & Royal Marines earn tary Vehicle Accident on the Kenya eighteen months ago. the Red Baron (Manfred von parently self-inflicted as no tion when their patrol was eight Victoria Crosses block- Ben Rossouw Highway at • 1969 - US B-52s drop 3,000 Richtofen) was shot down foul play was suspected. He ambushed by a numerically ing the harbour exit Kuilsriver. He was 18. tons of bombs on VC posi- and killed during the Bat- was 18. superior force of SWAPO/ • 1925 - Rebel leader Abdel • 1988 - Three members of tions inside Cambodia. tle of the Somme. He was • 1987 - Two members of the PLAN insurgents while they Krim’s troops enter French 102 Battalion SWATF were • 1975 - Under an amendment credited with 80 kills in less SADF were killed when were escorting a work team, Morocco. Killed in Action in Southern to the Defence Act the defi- than two years, flying a red their military vehicle was busy on the Ruacana to • 1945 - Allies in Italy reach Angola, South West of Techi- nition of superior officer is Fokker triplane. British pi- involved in a head-on colli- Ovamboland pipeline, back the Po River. pa when their Romeo Mike changed with the effect that lots recovered his body and sion with a civilian vehicle at to Etale Base. The casualties • 1979 - Rifleman Alfredo Ma- Teams were ambushed by a White and Black members buried him with full military Rundu. The casualties were: were: Lieutenant Douglas nuel Tchizondo from 32 Bat- superior force of SWAPO/ of the Defence Force will honours. Lance Corporal Clifton Da- Gerald Hinds (20). Rifleman talion was Killed in Action PLAN and FAPLA troops. have equal status. • 1941 - Greece surrenders to vid Kilroe (21). Rifleman Johannes Roelof Fouche during a contact with enemy The casualties were: Lance • 1980 - “Desert One”: US op- Nazi Germany. Hans Harold Scheepers (25). (26). Rifleman Jozua Fran- forces in Southern Angola. Corporal I. Handura (23). eration to save 52 hostages • 1945 - Red Army reaches the • 1992 - Three members of cois Naude (21). He was 26. Rifleman K. Kapulke (19). in Iran, fails, eight die. outskirts of Berlin. the South African Medical • 1983 - Corporal Jan de Klerk • 1980 - Soviet sub catches Rifleman U. Mbinge (20). • 1982 - One member from 5 • 1956 - A military pact be- Corps Training Centre were Botha from 5 SAI was Killed fire off Japan, nine die. • 1988 - Sapper Carl Sachse SAI and one member from tween Egypt, Saudi Arabia killed in a Military Vehicle in Action during a contact • 1982 - Rifleman Noe Vasco from 13 Field Engineer Reg- 101 Battalion SWATF were and Yemen is finalised. Accident on the Potchef- with SWAPO/PLAN insur- from 32 Battalion was killed iment was killed when he killed when the Buffel Troop • 1966 - Two members of 17 stroom to Westonaria Road. gents near the Cut-Line. He when he was accidentally accidentally detonated an carrier in which they were Squadron and three passen- They were: Lance Corporal was 20. run over by a military vehi- anti-personnel mine while traveling overturned near gers were drowned when Efstratios Kladis (18). Pri- • 1988 - Lance Corporal Ste- cle at Buffalo Base. He was in the process of laying out a Eenhana in Northern Owam- their Alouette III, Serial No. vate Bradley John Gordon ven Charles Trollip from the 32. minefield. He was 26. boland. The Casualties were: 65 suffered engine failure (19). Private Roelof Freder- 2nd Battalion Regiment De • 1984 - Rifleman Johannes Rifleman Glen Bjorn Du and crashed into the sea off ick Malan (19). La Rey drowned after falling 24 April Plooy (21). Rifleman Ronald Terrace Bay, South West Af- into a crocodile infested riv- • 1900 - Second Anglo-Bo- Andreas (26). rica. They Air Force casual- 22 April er near Skukuza in the Kru- er War: A dynamite factory, ties were: Lieutenant Tobias • 1915 - Second Battle of ger National Park while on which forms part of the Beg- 25 April Johannes Winterbach (22). Ypres: Germany introduces patrol. He was 26. bie Engineering Workshop, • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer Air Corporal Henry George poison gas. • 1990 - Nigeria’s ruling gen- Johannesburg, is destroyed War: Relief of Jammersberg Morton (21). • 1941 - World War II: Tripoli erals crushed a six-hour re- in an explosion. The destruc- Drift: The relief columns • 1967 - Military coup in comes under bombardment bellion by junior officers. tion is blamed on British under Generals Hart and Greece. by British warships. Barbazon arrive at Wepener. • 1977 - Corporal Heinrich • 1944 - Hitler & Mussolini 23 April General De Wet returns to Rudolph Bigalke from 3 SAI confer at Berchtesgarten. • 1873 - Ashanti War breaks his primary goal of disrupt- was killed when his military • 1945 - Soviet and Polish out in Africa. ing British supply lines. vehicle overturned 20km troops liberate the Sachsen- • 1911 - French, Algerian, and Manfred von Richtofen • 1902 - Second Anglo-Bo-

92 93 This month in military history ... April This month in military history ... April

er War: General Jan Chris- He was 19. Pass, three columns of Rom- Action in Northern Owam- contracted malaria while on first engagement of the bush tiaan Smuts surrenders to the • 1980 - Lieutenant Peter Hen- mel’s Deutsches Afrika Ko- boland when he accidentally operations in South Eastern war. British under a flag of truce. ry Hollis from 8 Squadron rps have crossed the border detonated a booby-trap in an Angola and was admitted to • 1967 - Muhammad Ali re- Deneys Reitz who agrees to was Reported Missing in from Libya to Egypt. enemy weapons cache that the Rundu Sickbay where he fuses induction into the US act as Smuts’ orderly joins Action over Southern Ango- • 1943 - North Africa: Access his patrol had located. He unfortunately died. He was Army. him. However, on discov- la while flying an Impala Mk to the Tunisian plain is open was 20. 21. • 1971 - Samuel Lee Gravely, ering that orderlies are not II. His body was later recov- to the Allies following the • 1994 - Rifleman Shadrack • 1987 - Special Constable Jr., is promoted to rear admi- treated as officers, Reitz is ered. He was 25. capture of Longstop Hill. Vusi Mnisi from 121 Battal- Stefanus Willem Kanghende ral; the first black admiral in instantly promoted to chief- • 1980 - Sapper Adeo Marais • 1944 - Allied troops begin ion was shot dead by persons from the South West Africa the US Navy. of-staff. from the School of Engi- concentrating at assembly unknown while on foot pa- Police Counter-Insurgen- • 1975 - Signaler Josef Jaco- • 1915 - Gallipoli Campaign: neers was killed instantly in areas in Britain for D-Day. trol during anti-crime opera- cy Wing: Ops-K Division bus Mare’ from 2 Signal 78,000 British & ANZAC an accidental explosion at • 1961 - French Army rebels tions at Loskop in KZN. He (Koevoet) was Killed in Ac- Regiment was killed in a troops undertake an amphib- the Units ammunition store. once again try to take power was 33. tion during a contact with military vehicle accident. He ious landing He was 17. in Algeria. SWAPO/PLAN Insurgents was 18. • 1941 - General Erwin Rom- • 1981 - Corporal Barend Fred- • 1966 - Lieutenant Herman 27 April in Northern Owamboland. • 1982 - Corporal Marcus An- mel’s Deutsches Afrika Ko- erick Burger from the South Alan Day from 1 Squadron • 1940 - Himmler orders es- He was 28. thony Harris-Dewey from rps forces the British out of African Catering Corps was was killed when his Cana- tablishment of the Auschwitz 701 Battalion SWATF was Halfaya Pass, just south- killed in a military vehicle dair CL13B Sabre crashed Concentration Camp. 28 April Killed in Action during a east of Sollum, and back to Accident at Elandsfontein. near Pilansberg during a rou- • 1941 - German troops occu- • 1919 - The League of Nations contact with SWAPO/PLAN the Buq Buq–Sofafi line in He was 20. tine training flight. He was py Athens. is established, with General insurgents. He was 20. Egypt. 24. • 1945 - Italian partisans Jan Smuts and Prime Min- • 1984 - Rifleman Phillip Fou- • 1945 - The Red Army com- 26 April • 1975 - Corporal John Cor- capture Mussolini and Clara ister Louis Botha as the two rie van Vuuren from 4 SAI pletely surrounds Berlin. • 1679 - The Castle of Good nelius Hanekom from 5 Petacci, near Lake Como. representatives of the Un- was accidentally killed out- • 1945 - US & Soviet forces Hope, oldest and most his- Military Works Unit was • 1984 - Corporal Reginald ion of South Africa. Smuts side Amsterdam when Ra- meet at Torgau on the toric building in SA, is com- accidentally drowned while Patrick Briggs from 1 SWA played an important role in tel 22C drove into the rear River. pleted. swimming at Rundu. He was SPES Unit, SWATF was the drafting of the Covenant of Ratel 22B in conditions • 1961 - Fourth nuclear bomb • 1936 - Italian troops assem- 27. critically injured when his of the League. of extremely poor visibility test by France in the Sahara. ble for an attack on Addis • 1982 - Lance Corporal Gert Buffel Troop Carrier was in- • 1945 - Twenty-three years during a sandstorm. He was • 1977 - The Chief of Staff Ababa, Ethiopia. Gotlieb Gouche from 1 Para- volved in a collision with ci- of Fascist rule in Italy ended 19. (Operations) says that the • 1937 - During the Spanish chute Battalion was acciden- vilian vehicle on the Ondan- abruptly as Italian partisans • 1998 - Nigeria’s former dep- development of South Af- Civil War, the ancient town tally killed when his Buffel gwa-Oshivello road causing shot former Dictator Benito uty leader, General Oladipyo rica’s defence has made the of Guernica was attacked Troop Carrier overturned at the Buffel to overturn. He Mussolini. Other leaders of Diya, and five others are country completely self-suf- by German warplanes. Af- Kombat near Grootfontein. was 20. the Fascist Party and friends sentenced to death by firing ficient from an arms point of ter destroying the town in a He was 20. • 1984 - Rifleman Glen Scott of Mussolini were also killed squad for plotting to over- view. three hour bombing raid, the • 1982 - Rifleman Dawid Maitland Clark from 5 SAI along with his mistress, Clara throw military leader Gener- • 1978 - Private Alan David planes machine-gunned flee- Lukas from SWA SPES Unit, Petacci. Their bodies were al Sani Abacha. Dixon from 16 Maintenance ing civilians. SWATF was killed when his then hung upside down and Unit at Grootfontein was • 1941 - East Africa: The Ab- Buffel Troop carrier over- pelted with stones by jeering 29 April killed just outside the town yssinian fortress of Dessie, turned in Owamboland. He crowds in Milan. • 1781 - French fleet under of Rundu when his Magi- roughly half-way between was 22. • 1956 - The French leave Vi- Admiral Suffren prevents rus Deutz truck, loaded with Addis Ababa and Amba Ala- • 1982 - The Falklands War: etnam. Britain from seizing Cape of supplies for the 32 Battalion gi, is captured by General Argentine forces on South • 1966 - Seven guerrillas are Good Hope. element stationed at Nkuren- Alan Cunningham’s South Georgia surrender to the killed in Rhodesia (now • 1916 - The Irish “Easter Re- kuru, overturned when the African divisions. British. Zimbabwe) at Sinoya in the bellion” ends. vehicles front tyre suffered • 1941 - North Africa: Follow- • 1983 - Rifleman Thomas An- • 1918 - Germany’s main of- a blow-out, causing him to ing the fall of the Halfaya drew Ross from 1 SWA Spes Muhammad Ali fensive on the Western Front lose control of the vehicle. Unit, SWATF was Killed in 94 95 This month in military history ... April quiz

in World War I ends. him. He was 20. • 1945 - The Red Banner is • 1945 - German representa- • 1984 - Rifleman Antonio raised over the Reichstag Jets tives in Italy surrender dur- Paulus from 101 Battalion Building in Berlin. 1. Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 ing World War II. SWATF was Killed in Ac- • 1945 - Adolf Hitler (56) 2. Impala MkII • 1945 - The SA 6th Division tion during a contact with commits suicide in his bun- 3. Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk crosses Brenta River and is SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. ker. 4. McDonnell Douglas F-15 11 then redirected to Milan in He was 26. • 1979 - Private Martinus Jo- Eagle Italy in World War II. • 1987 - Lance Corporal Paul hannes Schroeder from the 5. Messerschmitt Me 262A • 1945 - US troops liberate the Douglas Elliot Hayes from Technical Service Corps was 6. Grumman F-14 Tomcat Nazi concentration camp at the South African Medical critically injured in a private 7. Gloster Meteor Dachau. Services College, was killed vehicle accident between 8. Lockheed Martin/Boeing • 1946 - Tokyo: 28 former Jap- in a private motor vehicle ac- Vrede and Standerton on 09 F-22 Raptor anese leaders indicted as war cident. He was 20. March 1979. He succumbed 9. Saab JAS 39 Gripen criminals. to his injuries in 1 Mil Hos- 10. General Dynamics F-16 • 1970 - US & South Vietnam- 30 April pital on 30 April 1979. He Fighting Falcon ese troops invade Cambodia. • 1881 - France invades Tuni- was 19. 11. Dassault Mirage III • 1975 - Last US personnel sia from Algeria on a pretext, • 1980 - Terrorists seize the 12. McDonnell Douglas F-4 pull out of Vietnam. and later establishes a pro- Iranian Embassy in London. Phantom II • 1978 - Two members from tectorate. • 1982 - Rifleman Eddie 13. Sukhoi Su-57 5 Reconnaissance Regiment • 1828 - King Shaka is mur- James Barnard from 4 SAI 14. Fairchild Republic A-10 were accidentally killed at dered by his brothers. was critically wounded by a Thunderbolt Fort Rev, the Special Forces • 1901 - Second Anglo-Boer fellow soldier while on duty 15. English Electric Canberra Dassault Mirage III base at Air Force Base On- War: The ZAR’s fourth and in Northern Owamboland. dangwa, when an explosive last Creusot ‘Long Tom’ is He was 19. Useful links device they were preparing dynamited before falling • 1983 - Sergeant B. Mukosho Every month we will be featuring a few useful links to military websites, newsletters and on- for an external operation, into British hands, only 200 from 202 Battalion SWATF line magazines. Stuff that we think our readers will appreciate. detonated prematurely. The metres from the charging en- was Killed in Action during a Here are two of our favourites. The first one is Nongqai, the unofficial police newsletter for casualties were: Warrant Of- emy. contact with SWAPO/PLAN veterans of the former South African Police Force and for those interested in Police History. The ficer Class 1 Johannes Lam- • 1902 - Second Anglo-Bo- insurgents. He was 27. second is Jimmy’s Own, the official newsletter of the South African Signals Association. Click bertus Conradie HC VRM er War: An official report • 1987 - Three members from on the magazine covers to go to the respective websites. (34). Corporal Cecil James states that British columns 5 Maintenance Unit were Eayrs (23). have completely or partially killed in a military vehicle • 1980 - Rifleman S.D. Ernes- destroyed 158 farms and an accident at Ondangwa. The to from 5 Recce Regiment unknown number of Black casualties were: Private Booi was Killed in Action during villages. Julies (21). Private Nicolaas a contact with enemy forces • 1936 - The Ethiopian capital, Koopman (18). Private Esau while on operations in South- Addis Ababa, is lost to the Oosthuizen (19). ern Angola. He was 25. Italians. • 1991 - A military coup is ex- • 1980 - Rifleman Albertus Jo- • 1942 - British troops evacu- ecuted in Lesotho. hannes Oosthuizen from 1 ate Mandalay in Burma. • 1996 - In Liberia, shells and SAI was killed in a military • 1943 - Bergen-Belsen Con- gunfire rip through central vehicle accident in Bloem- centration Camp for Jews es- Monrovia and a diplomatic fontein. He was 19. tablished. enclave. US Marines shoot • 1983 - Rifleman Tjaart • 1945 - Red Army liberates and kill three Liberians firing Jacobs from 6 SAI was acci- the Ravensbruck concentra- toward the US Embassy. dentally killed when a bun- tion camp. ker wall collapsed on top of 96 97 E-mail [email protected]

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