Military Despatches Vol 36 June 2020

Overlord D-Day - Facts, figures and trivia

Bite the bullet Sayings that originated from the military

Oskar Dirlewanger The most evil man in the SS

Warsaw Uprising One of the greatest betrayals of World War II

For the military enthusiast CONTENTS June 2020 Page 10 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 techno-speak that few The Special Boat Service outside the military could hope to under- stand. Some of the terms Features 32 were humorous, some War, what is it good for were clever, while others 6 According to Edwin Starr, war were downright crude. Ten strongest African armies is good for absolutely nothing. Africa is no stranger to wars, Yet many items that we use daily so most countries want a strong were actually developed for war. Part of Hipe’s “On the military force. We look at the couch” series, this is an 10 strongest military forces in 36 interview with one of Africa. 26 A matter of survival author Herman Charles 16 Bite the bullet This month we look at making temporary shelters. Bosman’s most famous D-Day - Facts and figures Many sayings that were once characters, Oom Schalk A few facts, figures and trivia popular, and some we still use to 38 A taxi driver was shot Lourens. Hipe spent time in about D-Day, the Allied inva- this day, had their origins in the Ranks Hanover Park, an area sion to liberate Europe during military. So, pull your finger out This month we look at the ranks dead in an ongoing and find out more. war between rival taxi plagued with gang World War II. of the Royal Marines organisations. violence, to view first- 22 hand how Project That didn’t last long 30 Quiz Ceasefire is dealing with Some wars continue for years, MOTHs for life 29 the situation. decades, or even centuries. Yet It is not often that military vet- Patches and Badges some wars have been over al- erans are awarded life member- This month features patches Hipe TV brings you videos ranging from actuality to humour and every- most as quickly as they began. and badges from World War II. thing in between. Interviews, mini-documentaries and much more. ship of the Memorable Order We look at the ten shortest wars of Tin Hats. Here is the story of We show you 15 of them, you in history. tell us what they are. Check out Hipe TV and remember to like, comment, share and subscribe. two of them. 00 3 CONTENTS Page 64

Editor’s PUBLISHER Sitrep Hipe Media EDITOR Matt Tennyson

PHOTO EDITOR ext month will see the the feeling that many people think Regine Lord third birthday of Military that everything is back to normal. Despatches. Trust me, it is not. CONTRIBUTORS N Raymond Fletcher, Ryan Mur- June in military history In the three years that the mag- On 6 June it will be 76 years azine has been running, it has al- since the D-Day landings at Nor- phy, Matt O’Brien, Matt Tenny- ways been free of charge. And it mandy. It is frightening to realise son, Pieter Viljoen. Head-to-Head Forged in Battle Book Review will remain so. just how few of those brave men However, a situation has arisen that carried out those landings are Military Despatches is pub- 40 52 63 where I want to make an appeal to still with us. lished on-line every month. Journey without boundaries Strongest military forces Grenades our readers for help. On 6 June I for one will bow The articles used in Military The memoirs of the late Colonel This month we take a look at the These small but often deadly weap- As most of you know I host a my head in remembrance of those Despatches are copyrighted André (Diedies) Diedericks. radio show on Zone Radio 88.5 brave men, and I trust that many and may not be used without fighter jets of the ten strongest ons have been around since as ear- FM. It is something that I really of you will do the same. prior permission from the edi- military forces in the world. ly as 741 AD and they can still be enjoy doing. At least from 1 June we will be tor. found on the modern battlefield. Unfortunately the Covid-19 able to buy something to drink. The views stated in this mag- pandemic has hit the station hard. For those poor people that smoke, azine do not necessary reflect Infamous Figures Battlefield Front Cover well you’re just going to have to It is not cheap to run a radio sta- the views of Hipe!, the editor, tion and revenue for the station is wait a bit longer. How long? Only 56 the staff, or Hipe Media. 48 American troops land on generated via advertising. the Minister of Silly Hats seems to Oskar Direlwanger Warsaw Uprising Omaha Beach, Normandy on 6 The lockdown has meant that know. Hipe! Doctor of Political Science, One of the most tragic betrayals June 1944. Of course you can still buy cig- most of the advertising has dried SS-Oberführer, holder of the of World War II. up. So I am appealing to our read- arettes. That’s if you’re willing to P.O. Box 31216, Tokai, 7966 Knight’s Cross, and described ers to donate anything they can to pay between R150 and R300 for South Africa. keep the station on air. a box of 20 cigarettes. It all feels as the most evil man in the SS. Now you may well ask why this like madness to me. And what re- email Few could compete in cruelty Gaming with Oskar Dirlewanger. is important. Well six of the pre- ally gets me is that the country is [email protected] 60 senters at Zone Radio are military losing R35 million per day in tax- veterans and most of them have es. Can we really afford it? Back Issues Company of Heroes contributed articles at some time That’s about it for this month. To view any back issues of An excellent World War II real- to Military Despatches. All of us Please consider supporting Zone Military Despatches, go to time strategy game. love what we do and would hate Radio. www.militarydespatches.co.za Movie Review to see the station close down. Until next time. or click here. So if you can help, please e-mail me at [email protected] and I will 62 give you the details. The Longest Day So from 1 June we move into Epic film about the D-Day land- Stage Three of the lockdown. I get Matt ings in Normandy. 4 5 Top Ten Top Ten dom and the United States. Since bered between 144,000 and The air force has a total of 86 Ten strongest militaries in Africa Muammar Gaddafi rose to power 159,000 personnel. planes, including 24 fighters, 9 in 1969, Libya received military In addition, there is a presiden- transport aircraft, 20 trainers, and Africa is no stranger when it comes to wars. So it makes sense that nearly every country in Africa assistance from the Soviet Union. tial force called the Republican 33 helicopters including eight at- likes to have a strong military force. We look at the 10 strongest military forces in Africa. The Libyan military fought in Guard, but it and the Congolese tack helicopters. several wars, including the Liby- National Police (PNC) are not an–Egyptian War (1977) and the part of the Armed Forces. 6. Morocco t was Gaius Plinius Se- yan Civil War since 2014. 10. Tunisia Chadian–Libyan conflict (1978– The army has a total of 175 The Royal Moroccan Armed cundus, commonly known • Tunisia - ongoing ISIL in- The modern Tunisian army 1987). tanks, 100 armoured vehicles, Forces are the military forces of Ias Pliny the Elder, who is surgency since 2015. was formed in 1831 by Al- After the 2011 civil war and the 16 self-propelled artillery, 120 the Kingdom of Morocco. They credited with coining the Lat- • Algeria - ongoing insur- Husayn II ibn Mahmud. fall of Gaddafi, the armed forces towed artillery, and 57 rocket consist of the Army, the Navy, in phrase “ex Africa semper gency in the Maghreb since During the period of the consisted mostly of local mili- launchers. the Air Force, the Royal Gendar- aliquid novi”, meaning “out of 2002. French Protectorate (1881– tias that were frequently created The air force has a total of 53 merie, and the Royal Guard Africa there is always some- • Morocco - ongoing insur- 1956) Tunisians were recruit- or ceased to be active and made planes, including two fighters, 13 The Royal Moroccan Armed thing new”, although the orig- gency in the Maghreb since ed in significant numbers into temporary shifting alliances. transport aircraft, and 34 helicop- Forces are large, expensive and inal source was more likely the 2002. the French Army, serving as Libya has an army, air force ters including eight attack heli- well-trained with extensive ex- Greek philosopher Aristotle. • Burundi - ongoing Burundi- tirailleurs (infantry) and spahis and naval and a total of an esti- copters. perience in counter-insurgency, One of those new things that an unrest since 2015. (cavalry). mated 30,000 military personnel. The navy has a total of 20 as- desert warfare and combined air- Pliny may have been talking • Cameroon - ongoing Anglo- These units saw active service The army has a total of 250 sets that includes one patrol boat. land operations. Further experi- about is war. And let’s face it, phone Crisis since 2017. in Europe during both World tanks, 450 armoured vehicles, ence has come from participating Africa is no stranger to war. • Mali - ongoing Northern Wars, as well as in Indo-China 50 self-propelled artillery, 100 7. Ethiopia in peace-keeping operations. The continent has seen some Mali conflict since 2012. prior to 1954. The only exclu- towed artillery, and 55 rocket The Ethiopian National De- However, as Morocco has not of the most costly wars in the • Mauritania - ongoing insur- sively Tunisian military force launchers. fence Force (ENDF) is the mil- fought a conventional interstate 20th century as well as in the gency in the Maghreb since permitted under French rule The air force has a total of 114 itary of Ethiopia. Civil direction war since the Algerian-Moroc- first 20 years of this century. 2002. was the Beylical Guard. planes, including 17 fighters, four of the military is carried out can war of 1963, they have little I doubt whether there has • Nigeria - ongoing Boko Har- Tunisia has an army, air force transport aircraft, 62 trainers, and through the Ministry of Defence, experience in state-on-state war- been a country in Africa that am insurgency since 2009. and naval and a total of an es- 26 helicopters including seven which oversees the ground forc- fare. Morocco has about 510,000 has not experience war in the • DR Congo - ongoing Bat- timated 36,000 military person- attack helicopters. es, air force, as well as the De- military personnel. last 200 years. This includes wa-Luba clashes since 2013. nel. The navy has a total of five as- fence Industry Sector. The army has a total of 1,1143 wars between African nations, • DR Congo - ongoing Kam- The army has a total of 181 sets that includes one frigate. Being a landlocked country, tanks, 2,901 armoured vehicles, civil wars, and wars involving wina Nsapu rebellion since tanks, 878 armoured vehicles, Libya has an annual defence Ethiopia today has no navy. Ethi- 505 self-propelled artillery, 200 non-African nations that took 2016. 20 self-propelled artillery, and budget of three billion Dollars. opia reacquired a coastline on towed artillery, and 144 rocket place within Africa. • Chad - ongoing insurgency 165 towed artillery. the Red Sea in 1950 and created launchers. It encompasses colonial wars, in the Maghreb since 2002. The air force has a total of 8. DR Congo the Ethiopian Navy in 1955. Eri- The air force has a total of 214 wars of independence, seces- So it makes sense that near- 147 planes, including 12 fight- The Forces armées de la ré- trea’s independence in 1991 left planes, including 46 fighters, 31 sionist and separatist conflicts, ly every country in Africa likes ers, 14 transport aircraft, 29 publique démocratique du Con- Ethiopia landlocked again, but transport aircraft, 67 trainers, and major episodes of national vi- to have a strong military force. trainers, and 92 helicopters. go (Armed Forces of the Demo- the Ethiopian Navy continued to 64 helicopters. olence (riots, massacres, etc.), Not only to protect them from The navy has a total of 50 as- cratic Republic of the Congo) or operate from foreign ports until it The navy has a total of 121 as- and global conflicts in which external enemies but, more of- sets including 28 patrol boats FARDC is the state organisation finally was disbanded in 1996. sets that includes three frigates, Africa was a theatre of war. ten than not, internal enemies and six mine warfare vessels. responsible for defending the The Ethiopian National De- four corvettes, and 105 patrol In fact, as I write this article, as well. Tunisia has an annual defence Democratic Republic of the Con- fense Force has a strength of boats. there are no fewer than 13 con- According to statistics from budget of $550 million. go. about 162,000 personnel. Morocco has an annual defence flicts currently taking place in various renown sources, these The majority of FARDC mem- The army has a total of 400 budget of 10 billion Dollars. Africa. are the 10 strongest military 9. Libya bers are land forces, but it also tanks, 114 armoured vehicles, . • Egypt- ongoing insurgency forces in Africa in 2020. The original army under the has a small air force and an even 67 self-propelled artillery, 650 5. Angola since 2013. Libyan monarchy of King Idris I smaller navy. In 2010–11 the towed artillery, and 183 rocket The Forças Armadas Ango- • Libya - ongoing Second Lib- was trained by the United King- three services may have num- launchers. lanas (Angolan Armed Forces ) 6 7 Top Ten Top Ten or FAA are the military of An- Its origins lie in the elements of 3. South Africa the Egyptian Army, Egyptian gola. the Royal West African Fron- The South African National Navy, Egyptian Air Force and The FAA include the General tier Force that became Nigerian Defence Force comprises the Egyptian Air Defence Forces. Staff of the Armed Forces and when independence was grant- armed forces of South Africa. All branches, forces, armies, three components: the Army ed in 1960. In 1956 the Nigeria The commander of the SANDF regions, bodies, organs and de- (Exército), the Navy (Marinha Regiment of the Royal West Af- is appointed by the President of partments of the Armed Forces de Guerra) and the National Air rican Frontier Force (RWAFF) South Africa from one of the are under the command of the Force (Força Aérea Nacional). was renamed the Nigerian Mil- armed services. They are in turn Commander-in-Chief of the The FAA succeeded to the itary Forces, RWAFF, and in accountable to the Minister of Armed Forces, who is at the previous People’s Armed Forc- April 1958 the colonial govern- Defence and Military Veterans same time the Minister of De- es for the Liberation of Angola ment of Nigeria took over from of the Defence Department. fence. (FAPLA) following the abor- the British War Office control The military as it exists today The armament of the Egyp- tive Bicesse Accord with the of the Nigerian Military Forces. was created in 1994, following tian armed forces varies be- Armed Forces of the Liberation Since its creation the Nigeri- South Africa’s first multiracial tween eastern and western of Angola (FALA), armed wing an military has fought in a civil election in April of that year and sources through mutual mil- of the National Union for the war – the conflict with Biafra the adoption of a new constitution. SILENT SERVICE: Two SA Navy submarines escort the US itary cooperation with sever- Total Independence of Angola in 1967–70 – and sent peace- It replaced the South African Navy Los Angeles class nuclear submarine USS San Juan into al countries, led by the United Simon’s Town. (UNITA). keeping forces abroad both Defence Force and also integrated States, Russia, France, China, As part of the peace agree- with the United Nations and as uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) and ria. Algeria has a large military ably recognized to be one of Italy, Ukraine and Britain. ment, troops from both armies the backbone of the Econom- the Azanian People’s Liberation to counter foreign and domestic the most professional and well- Much of the equipment is were to be demilitarized and ic Community of West African Army (APLA) guerilla forces. threats. It is the direct succes- trained militaries in both Africa manufactured locally at Egyp- then integrated. Integration was States (ECOWAS) Cease-fire South Africa has an estimated sor of the Armée de Libération and the Arab world. tian factories. The Egyptian never completed as UNITA Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) 107,000 military personnel. Nationale (ALN), the armed Algeria has an estimated armed forces celebrate their and FALA went back to war in in Liberia and Sierra Leone. It The army has a total of 379 wing of the nationalist National 280,000 military personnel. anniversary on October 6 each 1992. has also seized power twice at tanks, 2,000 armoured vehicles, Liberation Front, which fought The army has a total of 880 year to commemorate the victo- Angola has an estimated home (1966 & 1983). 43 self-propelled artillery, 72 French colonial rule during the tanks, 7,361 armoured vehicles, ries of the October War. 107,000 military personnel. Nigeria has an army, air force towed artillery, and 50 rocket Algerian War of Independence 320 self-propelled artillery, 240 Egypt has an estimated The army has a total of 379 and navy with about 81,300 launchers. (1954-1962). towed artillery, and 316 rocket 920,000 military personnel. tanks, 595 armoured vehicles, military personnel. The air force has a total of 226 The People’s National Army launchers. The army has a total of 4,295 28 self-propelled artillery, 357 The army has a total of 195 planes, including 17 fighters, 23 include ground forces, the Al- The air force has a total of tanks, 11,700 armoured vehi- towed artillery, and 115 rocket tanks, 1,789 armoured vehicles, transport aircraft, 88 trainers, and gerian Air Force, the Navy, and 551 planes, including 103 fight- cles, 1,139 self-propelled artil- launchers. 25 self-propelled artillery, 339 91 helicopters including 12 at- the Algerian Air Defence Force. ers, 59 transport aircraft, 87 lery, 2,189 towed artillery, and The air force has a total of towed artillery, and 36 rocket tack helicopters. The antecedents of the army trainers, and 257 helicopters in- 1,084 rocket launchers. 295 planes, including 72 fight- launchers. The navy has a total of 30 assets were the conventional military cluding 45 attack helicopters. The air force has a total of ers, 30 transport aircraft, 47 The air force has a total of that includes four frigates, three units formed in Morocco and The navy has a total of 201 as- 1,054 planes, including 215 trainers, and 126 helicopters in- 129 planes, including eight submarines, 31 patrol boats, and Tunisia during the war of inde- sets that includes five frigates, fighters, 59 transport aircraft, cluding 15 attack helicopters. fighters, 21 transport aircraft, two mine warfare vessels. pendence from France. three corvettes, six submarines, 387 trainers, and 294 helicop- The navy has a total of 57 as- 47 trainers, and 44 helicopters South Africa has an annual de- Except for clashes with Mo- and 25 patrol boats. ters including 81 attack heli- sets that includes 37 patrol boats including 14 attack helicopters. fence budget of 4,27 billion Dol- rocco in 1963 and 1976, the Algeria has an annual defence copters. and two mine warfare vessels. The navy has a total of 75 lars. armed forces have not been in- budget of 13 billion Dollars. The navy has a total of 316 Angola has an annual defence assets that includes 100 patrol volved in hostilities against a assets that includes two aircraft budget of 2,15 billion Dollars. boats and two mine warfare 2. Algeria foreign power. 1. Egypt carriers, seven frigates, seven vessels. corvettes, eight submarines, 45 The Algerian People’s Na- Their combat capabilities in The Egyptian Armed Forces Angola has an annual defence patrol boats, and 31 mine war- 4. Nigeria tional Armed Forces is the defence of the country has thus are the state military organi- budget of seven billion Dollars. fare vessels. The Nigerian Armed Forc- military forces of the People’s remained untested, however sation responsible for the de- Egypt has an annual defence es are the armed forces of the Democratic Republic of Alge- the Algerian military is argu- fence of Egypt. They consist of Federal Republic of Nigeria. budget of 11,2 billion Dollars. 8 9 mand of the SBS was trans- cluding direction of air strikes, operational command of HQ Special Forces - Special Boat Service ferred from the Royal Marines artillery and naval gunfire, Directorate of Special Forces to the Royal Navy; whilst re- designation for precision guid- (DSF) and undergo an identical Part sixteen of a series that takes a look at Special Forces units around the world. This taining the green beret. ed munitions, use of integral selection process. They enjoy month we look at Britain’s Special Boat Service (SBS). On 18 November 2003, the weapons and demolitions; and significant interoperability in SBS were given their own Support and Influence (SI), in- training and on operations. nyone with even the re- changes - Special Boat Com- Most of the operations con- cap badge with the motto “By cluding overseas training tasks. All of the SBS’s four squad- motest interest in mili- pany was adopted in 1951 and ducted by the SBS are highly Strength and Guile”. The SBS also provide imme- rons, C, Z, M and X, are con- Atary matters will have re-designated as the Special classified, and are rarely com- This follows opening recruit- diate response Military Coun- figured for general operations, at least heard about the Special Boat Squadron in 1974 - until mented on by the British gov- ment from only the Royal Ma- ter Terrorism (CT) and Mari- and rotate through the Maritime Air Service (SAS). Yet the same on 28 July 1987 when the unit ernment or the Ministry of rines to all three services of the time Counter Terrorism (MCT) Counter Terrorism Role, also cannot be said about the Special was renamed as the Special Defence due to their sensitive British Armed Forces. The SBS teams. known as Black Role. Boat Service (SBS). Boat Service after assuming re- nature. has traditionally been manned The operational capabilities The SBS also operates on The Special Boat Service sponsibility for maritime coun- The Special Boat Service is mostly by Royal Marines Com- of the SBS and the SAS are land, with recent operations in (SBS) is the special forces unit ter-terrorism. the maritime special forces unit mandos. broadly similar. However, the the mountains of landlocked of the United Kingdom’s Royal of the United Kingdom Special The principal roles of the SBS (being the principal Roy- Afghanistan and in the deserts Navy. The SBS can trace its or- Forces and is described as the SBS are Special reconnaissance al Navy contribution to UKSF) of Iraq. Their main tasks in- igins back to the Second World sister unit of the British Army (SR), including information re- has the additional training and War when the Army Special 22 Special Air Service Regi- porting and target acquisition; equipment required to lead in Boat Section was formed in ment (22 SAS), with both un- Offensive Action (OA), in- the maritime, amphibious and 1940. der the operational control of riverine environments. After the Second World War, the Director Special Forces. Both units come under the the Royal Marines formed spe- In October 2001, full com- cial forces with several name

10 11 clude intelligence gathering, tion in early 1941. pany. Recruitment counter-terrorism operations In April 1943, 1st SAS was In the Gulf War, there was In the past, the SBS was (surveillance or offensive ac- divided, with 250 men from the no amphibious role assigned staffed almost entirely by the tion), sabotage and the disrup- SAS joining the Small Scale to the SBS, an “area of opera- Royal Marines. Volunteers for tion of enemy infrastructure, Raiding Force to form the Spe- tions line” was drawn down the the SBS are now taken from all capture of specific individuals, cial Boat Squadron under the middle of Iraq, the SAS would branches of the British Armed close protection of senior poli- command of Major the Earl Jel- operate west of the line and the Forces, although volunteers ticians and military personnel, licoe. They moved to Haifa and SBS to the east. still predominantly come from plus reconnaissance and direct trained with the Greek Sacred As well as searching for mo- the Royal Marines Comman- action in foreign territory. Regiment for operations in the bile scud launchers, their area dos. Aegean. contained a mass of fibre-optic Candidates wishing to serve History So effective were they that, cable that provided Iraq with with the Special Boat Service The Special Boat Section by 1944, the 200–300 men of intelligence, the location of BY STRENGTH AND GUILE: The SBS are equally at home on must have completed at least land or water. was founded in July 1940 by the SBS were holding down six the main junction was 51 kilo- two years regular service and a Commando officer, Roger German divisions. metres from Baghdad; will only be accepted into the Courtney on the shores of Glen On 22 January 1991, 36 SBS workers in three flights by RAF noeists”. They are experts in SBS after completion of the se- Sannox, Isle of Arran. Courtney Postwar members were inserted by two C-130 Hercules from an airfield swimming, diving, parachut- lection process. became a commando recruit in In 1946, the SBS, whether of Chinook helicopters from No. 7 near Zella to Valletta. ing, navigation, demolition and Until recently, the SBS had its mid-1940 and was sent to the Commando or SAS parentage, Squadron RAF, into an area full On 8 March 2012, a small reconnaissance. own independent selection pro- Combined Training Centre in were disbanded. The function- of Iraqi ground and air forces Special Boat Service (SBS) Since the SBS joined the gramme to qualify as a Swim- Scotland. al title SBS was adopted by the as well as spies and nomads, team, attempted to rescue two UKSF Group in the 1980s, it mer Canoeist, but its selection He was unsuccessful in his Royal Marines. It became part avoiding them and destroying hostages, Chris McManus (Brit- has been restructured. Instead programme has now been in- initial attempts to convince of the school of Combined Op- a 36 metre section of the ca- ish) and Franco Lamolinara of one squadron being tasked tegrated into a joint UKSF se- Admiral of the Fleet Sir Roger erations under the command of ble with explosives, destroying (Italian), being held in Nigeria with a permanent role the unit lection alongside candidates for Keyes and later Admiral Theo- “Blondie” Hasler. what was left of the Iraqi com- by members of the Boko Har- adopted the same system of the Special Air Service. dore Hallett, commander of the The SBS went on to serve in munication grid. am terrorist organisation loyal squadron rotation as the SAS. All members of the United Combined Training Centre, that the Korean War deployed on The SBS carried out one of to al-Qaeda. The two hostages Each Squadron rotates Kingdom Armed Forces can his idea of a folding kayak bri- operations along the North Ko- its most high-profile operations were killed before or during the through counter terrorism du- be considered for special forc- gade would be effective. rean coast as well as operating when it liberated the British rescue attempt. All the hostage ties and conventional opera- es selection, but approximately He decided to infiltrate HMS behind enemy lines destroying Embassy in Kuwait, abseil- takers were reportedly killed. tions and tasking. 40% of all UK Special Forces Glengyle, a Landing Ship, In- lines of communication, instal- ing from helicopters hovering There are four active squad- are recruited from the Royal fantry anchored in the River lations and gathering intelli- above the embassy. Organisation rons and a reserve unit: Marines. Clyde. Courtney paddled to the gence. They were also responsible The Ministry of Defence does There are two selections a ship, climbed aboard undetect- In 1972, the SBS and SAS for carrying out diversionary not comment on special forces • C Squadron year, one in winter and the other ed, wrote his initials on the door came into prominence when raids along the Kuwaiti coast matters, therefore little verifi- • X Squadron in summer, and all the instruc- to the captain’s cabin, and stole members of a combined SBS which in effect diverted a num- able information exists in the • Z Squadron tors are full members of the a deck gun cover. and SAS team parachuted into ber of Iraqi troops to the SBS public domain. The SBS is un- • M Squadron Special Air Service Regiment. He presented the soaking the Atlantic Ocean after a bomb area of operations and away der the Operational Command • SBS Reserve or SBS(R) – Before being accepted onto cover to a group of high-rank- threat on board the cruise lin- from the main thrust of the coa- of Director Special Forces and provides individual reserv- a UKSF Selection course, a ing Royal Navy officers meet- er RMS Queen Elizabeth 2. lition build up. are based in Hamworthy bar- ists to augment the regular candidate must complete a ing at a nearby Inveraray hotel. A thorough search of the ship In September 2000 the SBS racks, Poole, Dorset. SBS, rather than forming two-week[citation needed] He was promoted to captain and found no evidence of any de- was involved in Operation Bar- In 1987, when renamed the independent teams. Recruits Special Forces Briefing Course. given command of twelve men, vice drawing the conclusion ras, a hostage rescue operation Special Boat Service, the SBS need to be serving members The course tests the candidates’ the first Special Boat Service / that it was a hoax. in Sierra Leone. They also saw was also reformed along SAS of UK reserve forces and a physical fitness and observes Special Boat Section. In 1987, they were renamed extensive action in both Af- lines, with 16-man troops in- high level of commitment their willingness to conduct It was initially named the Special Boat Service, and be- ghanistan and Iraq. stead of the traditional sections. is required. The SBS(R) is water-borne operations. Folboat Troop, after the type came part of the United King- On 27 February 2011, during About 200–250 men make based at various locations The UKSF course is broken of folding canoe employed in dom Special Forces Group the Libyan Civil War, the BBC up the SBS at any one time, throughout the United King- down into two main parts, Se- raiding operations and then re- alongside the Special Air Ser- reported that C Squadron assist- and once qualified, personnel dom, but training is carried lection and Continuation Train- named No. 1 Special Boat Sec- vice and 14 Intelligence Com- ed in the evacuation of 150 oil are known as “Swimmer Ca- out in the South of England. ing. 12 00 Selection entry (3 metres), treading wa- Aptitude Phase (hill phase) – ter for nine minutes followed Special Boat Service Weapons four weeks. This phase is con- immediately by a swim of 500 ducted in the Brecon Beacons, metres wearing Combat 95. The South Wales. test finishes with an underwater The Aptitude Phase is de- swim of 10 metres including a signed to select those individu- retrieval of a small weight. als who are suitable for special There is also a selection forces training. course for those wishing to join Colt Canada C7 The initial three weeks are the reserve. This involves a number of tests over a four day Heckler & Koch P11 devoted to gradual physical underwater pistol training and progressive exer- initial selection course. cises designed to develop phys- The tests include the Combat ical and navigational ability. Fitness Test, Swim Test, Gym Candidates will be expected Tests and two Advanced Com- to complete the Basic Combat bat Fitness Tests. Heckler & Koch HK33 Their training involves para- SBS BADGE: The badge of Fitness Test (Infantry) on the SIG-Sauer P226 first day of the course.- Exer chute exercises, helicopter the Special Boat Squadron. Their motto is “By strength cise HIGH WALK (Fan Dance) training and boat training. and guile”. The Special Boat will take place on Day Six and Continuation training Service wear the green com- takes the form of an escorted mando beret, but with their hill march over approximately Tactics, Techniques and Pro- own cap badge. 23 km. As with all assessment cedures (TTPs) – 9 weeks. Heckler & Koch MP5 marches, additional time may Those who pass the Aptitude be added for inclement weather Phase will undertake an inten- (2 weeks), SF parachute train- conditions. sive period of instruction and ing (4 weeks), counter terrorist Exercise HIGH WALK iden- assessment of Special Forces course (3 weeks), signals train- tifies those individuals that are Tactics, Techniques and Pro- ing (1 week), patrol training not adequately prepared to con- cedures (TTPs), including SF and squadron induction training tinue on the course. All other weapons and Standard Opera- (2 weeks), and 1 week officers Click on the photograph below to take a virtual tour of Warrior’s Gate training during this initial peri- tion Procedures. week for potential officers. At and find out more about the Memorable Order of Tin Hats. od is directed at preparing vol- The majority of this period the end of the resistance to in- unteers for “Test Week” which is spent in the jungle, an envi- terrogation phase the surviving is the fourth and final week of ronment that is suitable for SF candidates are transferred to an the Aptitude phase. training and ideal to achieve the operational squadron. “Test Week” consists of five purpose of this phase. Much of When accepted into an op- timed marches of between the training is aimed at discov- erational squadron, the candi- 23–28 km conducted on con- ering an individual’s qualities. dates must complete the SBS secutive days, followed by a Continuation training, which Swimmer Canoeist Course, final endurance march of 64 consists of SOP and Tactical SC3 Course. The course lasts km; candidates must complete training in temperate and jungle for several months and covers this within 20 hours. Bergen environments, lasts nine weeks. long distance Dives, Swims weights carried during “Test This is conducted in the UK and Kayaks in open sea, often Week” increase from 18 kg to and Brunei. in poor weather. Underwater 25 kg for the endurance march; Employment Training – 14 demolitions, Maritime counter in addition a rifle without a weeks terrorism, are also practised. On sling is carried on all marches. Employment Training con- completing SBS troopers will Volunteers are also required sists of surveillance and re- be put on one year probation. to pass the UKSF swimming connaissance training (2 test that consists of high water weeks), army combat survival 14 15 D-Day - facts, figures and trivia Supreme Headquarters of Allied Expeditionary Forces 6th June 1944 A few facts, figures and trivia about D-Day, the Allied invasion to liberate Europe dur- ing World War II. This is a reprint of an article that we did in Volume 5, but we decid- ed to feature it again in remembrance of D-Day. General Dwight D. Eisenhower Marshall of the RAF General Walter Bedell-Smith Supreme Commander of the Sir Arthur Tedder Chief of staff to the n Tuesday 6 June 1944 Air Crew in, saying his sight was too Allied Expeditionary Forces Deputy Supreme Commander Supreme Commander the largest seaborne in- • 31,000 (not including air- bad to read them. Ovasion force in history borne troops or their air- • Beach landings in Norman- landed on an 80 km stretch of crews) dy were chosen instead of Air Marshal General Sir Bernard Law Montgomery Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay Sir Trafford Leigh-Mallory Commander of the XXIst Army the Normandy coast in France. Land Forces the Pas-de-Calais because Commander of the Navy Forces Codenamed Operation Nep- Vehicles defences were lighter and Commander of the Air Forces Commander of the Land Forces tune, it was part of Operation • 20,000 (including over advancing troops would Overlord, the liberation of 1,000 tanks) have fewer rivers and canals German-occupied northwest- Men landed on the beaches to cross. Air Marshal General Lewis Brereton General Sir Miles General Omar ern Europe from Nazi control. • American sector - 57,500 • There were to be five land- Sir Arthur Coningham 9th US Air Force Dempsey Bradley It was also the launch of the (Utah - 23,250, Omaha - ing zones along a 80 km 2nd Tactical Air Force Tactical & Strategic Air Forces Commander British Commander Ameri- long-awaited second front. It 34,250) stretch of coast. The Amer- 2nd Army can 1st Army was simply termed D-Day. • British sector - 75,215 (Gold icans would attack at Utah - 24,970, Juno - 21,400, and Omaha, the British at Figures Sword - 28,845) Gold and Sword and Cana- General Gerard General J.T General Leonard General Joseph T. Gerow L. Collins On D-Day, General Dwight Troops parachuted or landed dian troops at Juno. Bucknall Crocker Commander Br 30 Commander Br 1st Commander Am 5th Commander Am 7th D. Eisenhower commanded a by glider • It was vital that D-Day take Corps - Gold Corps - Gold & Juno Corps - Omaha Corps - Utah force without parallel in history. • Americans - 15,500 place on the date of the Naval Forces • British - 7.990 highest half-tide at the most Ships • Total - 24.900 Westerly beach (Utah), 40 • 138 warships Total land forces deployed minutes after first light and Admiral Alan G. Kirk Admiral Sir Philip Vian • 221 destroyers, frigates, cor- • 156,205 following a night when the Tactical Naval Forces West Tactical Naval Forces East vettes moon rose between 01h00 • 187 mine sweepers Trivia and 02h00. Such occasion • 495 smaller vessels • Planning for Operation occur only three days each tune’ was the code name for ed someone was trying to Allied Forces would invade • 58 submarine chasers Overlord began in earnest month and in June 1944 they the landings, ‘Overlord’ was pass information to the en- France from the northern • 4,000 landing craft of all in 1943 with Dwight D Ei- were the 5th, 6th and 7th of the ensuing battle for Nor- emy, although a search of coast. To fortify and prepare types senhower made supreme that month. If the invasion mandy and a ‘Bigot’ was the writer’s home and office for this, he assigned Erwin • 441 auxiliary Naval craft commander. British general wasn’t launched on one of the code name for someone turned up nothing. Rommel to head construc- and small boats Bernard Montgomery, hero those three days it would who had high level security • Operation Overload was the tion of defenses. Rommel • 864 Merchant Navy ships of the Eighth Army in North have had to be postponed for clearance. name given to the whole was placed in charge of fin- • Over 300 other small craft Africa, was put in charge of another month. • In 1944 authorities became of the Normandy Invasion. ishing Hitler’s Atlantic Wall Servicemen the ground troops. • D-Day was originally set for concerned when a number of Each separate task was which consisted of 3,800 km • 112,824 British sailors • About 3,200 reconnaissance June 5 but had to be post- secret code names appeared named differently. Opera- of bunkers, landmines, and • 52,889 American sailors missions were launched in poned for 24 hours because as answers in the Daily Tel- tion Neptune was the am- various obstacles to make a • 4,998 other Allied service- the run-up to the invasion of bad weather. egraph’s crossword puz- phibious invasion, Opera- beach landing more difficult men to take photos of vital loca- • During D-Day preparations zle. In the month before the tion Pointblank the massive and hazardous for the Allies. • 25,000 Merchant navy tions. top-secret code names were D-Day attacks, no less than bombing campaign prior to • A phantom army of dummy • Total - 195,701 • In the summer of 1943 an used to hide the allies’ plans five code names, including the invasion, and Operation camps, planes and tanks was Air Forces early copy of the plans blew from the enemy. ‘Utah’, ‘Utah’, ‘Omaha’ and ‘Nep- Bodyguard to ensure infor- constructed in Kent and Es- Aircraft out of a window in Norfolk ‘Omaha’, ‘Gold’, and tune’ were spotted in the mation of the invasion never sex in order to deceive Ger- • 11,590 aircraft House, London. A man who ‘Sword’ were beaches on the puzzle answers. Alarm bells reached the Germans. mans into thinking the inva- • 3,500 gliders was passing by handed them Normandy coastline, ‘Nep- rang at MI5, which suspect- • Hitler anticipated that the sion would be at Calais. 16 17 • On 28 April 1944, eight using beacons. ships full of US servicemen • Defences on the beaches and equipment were mak- included concrete gun em- ing their way to the Devon placements, wooden stakes, coast in the UK to take part mines, anti-tank obstacles, in a rehearsal for the D-Day barbed wire and booby traps. landings. Unfortunately, a Around 50,000 German mistake in their paperwork troops opposed the landing meant the ships were using forces. different radio frequencies, • General Dwight Eisenhower so when a group of German D-1: At 23h00 on 5 June 24,000 British and American airborne once said “Andrew Higgins boats picked up on the heavy troops dropped behind German lines. Their objective was to is the man who won the war radio traffic, the slow-mov- for us”. But who is Andrew NOT THE REAL THING: A dummy tank is moved into place. An seize vital roads and brides ahead of the landings at Normandy. ing US landing ships and entire phantom army was created in order to deceive the Ger- Higgins? Higgins is the their lack of communication mans into thinking the invasion would be at Calais. “le dés est sur le tapis” (the • The first British casualty man who designed and built proved to be easy targets for dice is on the carpet) – an on D-Day was Lt “Den” LCVPs, the amphibious ve- the German torpedoes. In dent. He apparently confid- ment to the troops as he order to destroy trains and Brotheridge, shot in the hicles that enabled the Al- total some 800 people were ed his fears to his wife the gave the order for Operation railway lines. neck shortly after landing in lied forces to cross the chan- killed in the botched opera- evening before the landings Overlord open with “You • High command thought a France in a glider at 00h16. nel. Eisenhower is reported tion, a heavier loss than on telling her: “Do you realise are about to embark upon successful landing would His unit was tasked with to have said, “If Higgins had some of the D-Day beaches. that by the time you wake up the Great Crusade, toward cost 10,000 dead and 30,000 taking the crucial target of not designed and built those Worried about leaked intelli- in the morning 20,000 men which we have striven these wounded – 30,000 stretchers Pegasus Bridge, an objec- LCVPs, we never could gence and a drop in morale, may have been killed?” many months. The eyes of and 60,000 blankets were is- tive that was achieved. have landed over an open Allied commanders ordered • Over the years many peo- the world are upon you.” sued. • Many paratroopers that day beach. The whole strategy a blackout on all informa- ple have wondered what • US General Dwight D. Ei- • From 23h00 on 5 June some were dropped in the wrong of the war would have been tion about the attack and the ‘D’ in D-Day stands for; senhower wrote a letter that 24,000 airborne troops place including US Private different.” some families never found some have suggested Dis- was to be opened ‘in case were delivered behind the John Steele. His parachute • The flat-bottomed landing out how their relatives had embarkement-Day, Deci- of failure’. In it he wrote German lines to secure im- famously became snagged craft were originally de- died. sion-Day and even Death- “Our landings in the Cher- portant roads and bridges. on the church steeple at signed to rescue flood vic- • Terence Otway, whose unit Day. In reality the D just bourg-Havre area have Along with more than 2,000 Sainte-Mère- Eglise. He was tims on the Mississippi river was tasked with attack- stands for ‘Day’. D-Day and failed to gain a satisfactory aircraft, 867 gliders were trapped for two hours before in the US. ing the Merville battery on H-Hour represent the secret foothold and I have with- used. being taken prisoner. • US troops went ashore D-Day, wanted to be sure time and day an operation drawn the troops. My de- • To add to the illusion, ear- • At 03h00 1,900 Allied on the landing beaches at that his men wouldn’t leak is set to begin, so before cision to attack at this time ly on D-Day morning “Ru- bombers attacked German 06h31, followed an hour lat- this highly sensitive infor- and after WWII many other and place was based upon perts” – dummies dressed lines. A staggering three er by the British and Canadi- mation in advance, so to operations had a ‘D-Day’. the best information availa- in paratrooper uniforms million kilograms of bombs ans on their beaches. There test security he send thirty The day before D-Day was ble. The troops, the air and complete with boots and were dropped that day. A to- were 61,715 British troops, of the prettiest members of known as ‘D-1’ and the day the Navy did all that bravery helmets – were dropped in tal of 10,521 combat aircraft 21,400 Canadian soldiers the Women’s Auxiliary Air after as ‘D+1’, meaning that and devotion to duty could Normandy and the Pas-de- flew a total of 15,000 sorties and 73,000 Americans. Force, in civilian clothes, if the day of the operation do. If any blame or fault Calais. The dummies were on D-Day, with 113 lost. • The heaviest losses were down to the local pubs. The changed, all the dates in attaches to the attempt it is equipped with recordings of • A naval bombardment from on Omaha beach where US women were told to do all the plans did not have to be mine alone.” The letter is gunfire, while the real troops seven battleships, 18 cruis- forces suffered 2,000 casu- they could try and get the in- changed. mistakenly signed July 5 in- supplied additional sound ef- ers, and 43 destroyers began alties. formation. None of the men • New gadgets designed for stead of June 5; presumably fects to create the illusion of at 05h00 and went on until • Field Marshal Erwin Rom- fell into the trap. D-Day included a “swim- he was a little preoccupied a large scale airborne attack. 06h25. Midget submarines, mel was in charge of de- • Despite his well-document- ming tank” and a flame at the time. This operation, code-named called X-boats, lay sub- fending northern France ed capacity for inspirational throwing tank called “the • Coded messages were sent “Titanic,” was designed to merged in the sea off the from the expected Allied in- speeches, on the night before crocodile”. There were even to alert French Resistance to distract the German military coast of France, surfacing vasion. On 6 June he was at D-Day Winston Churchill collapsible motorbikes. begin a programme of sabo- while the main forces land- on the morning of D-Day to home in Germany celebrat- was feeling less than confi- • Eisenhower’s famous state- tage. Phrases used included ed further to the west. guide in the invading craft ing his wife’s 50th birthday 18 19 can’t be traced to a single until 21 July. Only two of moment. The Germans had the beaches (Juno and Gold) been unable to complete the were linked on the first day, Atlantic Wall and the de- and all five beachheads were ception tactics had paid off not connected until 12 June. with many of the German • British Prime Minister Win- forces diverted from the key ston Churchill landed on coasts. Even the French Re- the beach at Gray-sur-Mer sistance, having heard from (Juno) on 12 June, General their English sources of the de Gaulle on 14 June and invasion, had launched suc- King George VI on 16 June. cessful attacks that slowed On 6 June the Canadian 50th German reinforcements. Infantry Division had land- • The Allies failed to achieve ed at Juno and by the end of BEAM ME UP SCOTTY: any of their goals on the first the day had landed 21,400 James Doohan, who played day. Carentan, St. Lô, and men, 3,200 vehicles and the part of chief engineer Mont- Bayeux remained in German 1,100 tons of supplies. gomery Scott in Star Trek took hands, and Caen, a major part in the D-Day landings. objective, was not captured

Key Allied role players - D-Day HITTING THE BEACHES: American troops come ashore from one of the landing craft. By the evening of the first day more than 150,000 troops had been landed on the five beaches. having been told the sea was successful beachhead from John Howard. He was in- too rough for a landing. which they could continue volved in the real landings • Nazi leader Adolf Hitler was the invasion of Normandy. as an officer in the 7th Par- asleep when word of the in- By the evening of the first achute Battalion. vasion arrived. No one dared day, along with more than • James Doohan, who would wake him and it’s said vital 150,000 men, 20,000 vehi- go on to find fame as Scotty time was lost in sending re- cles had been landed. in Star Trek, was a lieuten- inforcements. • The Allies ferried two pre- ant in the Royal Canadian • Spanish-born double agent fabricated harbours called Artillery on D-Day and lost Garbo plied the Germans Mulberries across the a finger during the fray. with misinformation that led Channel to help supply the • The stunning Omaha Beach Dwight D. Eisenhower Arthur Tedder Walter Bedell-Smith them to believe the Norman- beachhead with equipment. scene in the 1998 movie dy landings were just a ruse. The one at Arromanches in- Saving Private Ryan, star- • The newly developed drug volved 600,000 tons of con- ring Tom Hanks, cost $9,24 penicillin went with troops crete. million to film and used on D-Day and saved thou- • Total Allied casualties on 1,000 extras. sands of lives. D-Day were much lighter • Famous photographer Rob- • Condoms were issued to than feared – around 10,000 ert Capa captured some of soldiers – most were used with 4,572 killed including the most memorable imag- for covering the end of their 1,641 Brits. The Germans es of the action though only rifles to keep them dry. are estimated to have lost a handful of the frames he • Despite setbacks, includ- about 9,000. took survived. The others ing the failure to capture • Actor Richard Todd starred were accidently destroyed the city of Caen, D-Day in The Longest Day, a 1962 by a lab technician. saw the Allies establish a film about D-Day, as Major • The victory in Normandy Bertram Ramsay Traffod Leigh-Mallory Bernard Montgomery 20 21 Democratic Republic of Geor- the war was really over after the War of the Stray Dog That didn’t last long gia and the First Republic of Battle of Hastings. Officially known as ‘The Armenia, largely over the con- Duration Some wars continue for years, decades, or even centuries. Yet some wars have been over almost as Incident at Petrich’, it is also quickly as they began. We look at the ten shortest wars in history. trol of former districts of Tiflis 17 days. known as the ‘War of the Stray Governorate, in Borchaly (Lori) Dog’. and Akhalkalaki. he aim of every military example, began in 238 BC and war. It was only three centuries Serbo-Bulgarian War It was a Greek–Bulgarian cri- When the Ottomans signed commander must surely only ended 109 years later in later that historian Roy Duncan The Serbo-Bulgarian War or sis in 1925, in which there was the Armistice of Mudros in Oc- be to end a war as quick- 129 BC. accidentally stumbled upon a Serbian–Bulgarian War was a a short invasion of Bulgaria by T tober, they were subsequently war between the Kingdom of Greece near the border town ly as possible. They want to Although it was named ‘The historical footnote in Scilly re- required to withdraw from the defeat the enemy, and end both Hundred Years’ War’, this garding the war. Serbia and Principality of Bul- of Petrich, after the killing of a region. Armenia quickly took their will and ability to fight. conflict between England and He invited the Dutch ambas- garia that erupted on 14 No- Greek captain and a sentry by control of territory previous- And they aim to achieve this France lasted a bit longer than sador to Great Britain to vis- vember 1885 and lasted until 28 Bulgarian soldiers. The inci- ly controlled by the Ottomans, while suffering the minimum that. In fact it went on for 116 it Scilly and negotiate an ar- November 1885. dent ended after a decision of and skirmishes between Arme- amount of casualties on their years. mistice. The peace treaty was Despite Bulgaria being a vas- the League of Nations. nia and Georgia arose starting side. The Byzantine-Ottoman War signed on April 17, 1986, thus sal state of the Ottoman Em- There are two versions of on 18 October. Things, however, do not al- which began in 1265 contin- ending the ‘phony war’ between pire, the Turks did not intervene how the incident started. In the Open warfare began on 7 De- ways go according to plan. ued for 214 years before finally the Dutch and the Scilly Isles. in the war. Serbia took the initi- first version, the incident began cember, after diplomatic efforts Some wars can drag on for coming to an end. The Roman Persian Wars ative in starting the war but was on October 18, when a Greek failed to resolve the issue of the years, resulting in a huge loss Two wars actually went on for were a series of wars that took decisively defeated. Austria de- soldier ran after his dog, which disputed border, and contin- of life and financial cost. more than two centuries. The place over a period of 721 years manded Bulgaria stop its inva- had strayed across the border ued until 31 December, when a Take World War I for exam- Byzantine-Seljuq did not end between the Roman world and sion, and a truce resulted. from Greece at the pass Demir British-brokered ceasefire was ple. This lasted four years, three for 260 years and the Arauco two successive Iranian empires, Final peace was signed on Kapia on Belasitsa; thus, it is signed, leaving the disputed ter- months and two weeks. War dragged on for 282 years. namely the Parthians and the 3 March 1886 in Bucharest. sometimes referred to as the ritory under joint Georgian and World War II lasted even While the Dutch-Scilly War Sassanids. The old boundaries were not War of the Stray Dog. The bor- Armenian administration. longer. It began with the inva- lasted 335 years it was charac- The title for the longest war changed. As a result of the war, der was guarded by Bulgarian Duration sion of Poland on 1 September terized by a complete absence in history goes to the Iberian European powers acknowl- sentries, and one of them shot 24 days. 1939 and ended six years and of battles and bloodshed. Religious Wars. edged the act of Unification of the Greek soldier. one day later with the surrender The conflict began on March The Iberian Religious Wars, Bulgaria which happened on 18 In the second version, the of Japan. 30, 1651, as a by-product of the or the ‘Reconquista’, was a pe- Norman Conquest September 1885. Greco-Bulgarian frontier inci- The Vietnam War lasted for English Civil War. The Dutch, riod in the history of the Iberian The Norman conquest of Eng- Duration dent was caused when, on 18 nearly two decades, a total of 19 long-time allies of England, de- Peninsula (including modern land was the 11th-century inva- 14 days. October, Bulgarian soldiers years, five months, four weeks cided to take the side of the Par- Spain and Portugal) spanning sion and occupation of England crossed the Greek border, at- and one day. liamentarians. around 781 years, from 711 to by an army of Norman, Breton, Indo-Pakistani War tacked a Greek outpost at Bela- Our own Border War last- The Royalists, with whom 1492. The period marked by a Flemish, and French soldiers The Indo-Pakistani War of sitsa and killed a Greek captain ed even long than the Vietnam the Dutch had formerly had long series of battles between led by the Duke of Normandy, 1971 was a military confronta- and a sentry. War. It continued for 23 years, friendly relations, took this as the Christian kingdoms and the later styled William the Con- tion between India and Pakistan Duration six months, three weeks and a betrayal, and in their anger Muslim Moors for control over queror. that occurred during the libera- 11 days. two days. raided Dutch shipping vessels the Peninsula. When William landed in tion war in East Pakistan from Yet the duration of these wars as a punishment to their betray- Yet this article is about the ten southern England. Harold 3 December 1971 to the fall of Slovenian Independence War pale into insignificance when ing friends. However, by 1651 shortest wars in history. And marched south to oppose him, Dacca (Dhaka) on 16 Decem- The Slovenian War of Inde- compared to some of the wars the Royalists had been chased when we say short - we mean leaving a significant portion of ber 1971. The war began with pendence was a brief conflict throughout history. away from the entirety of Eng- short. Not one of them lasted his army in the north. Harold’s preemptive aerial strikes on 11 that followed Slovenia’s dec- There have been seven wars land except for a tiny group of more than a month. army confronted William’s in- Indian air stations, which led to laration of independence from that lasted more than a cen- islands, namely the ‘Isles of vaders on 14 October 1066 at the commencement of hostil- Yugoslavia on 25 June 1991. tury. This meant that people Scilly’. Georgian-Armenian War the Battle of Hastings; Wil- ities with Pakistan and Indian It was fought between the liam’s force defeated Harold, could fight in a war that their When the Royalists surren- The Georgian–Armenian entry into the war of independ- Slovenian Territorial Defence who was killed in the engage- great-grandchildren would still dered to the Parliamentarians, War was a short border dispute ence in East Pakistan on the side (Teritorialna obramba Repub- ment. William became king. be fighting. the Dutch had essentially for- fought in December 1918 be- of Bengali nationalist forces. like Slovenije) and the Yugoslav While William was not secure The Seleucid-Parthia War, for gotten that they had declared a tween the newly-independent Duration People’s Army (JNA). on his throne until after 1072, 13 days. It lasted from 27 June 1991 22 23 until 7 July 1991, when the ister training jets took off and against mock Egyptian airfields the Zanzibar Sultanate on 27 Brioni Accords were signed. pretended to be what they were in the Negev Desert, while Is- August 1896. It is the shortest It marked the beginning of the not. Flying routine flight paths raeli intelligence collected in- war in history. Yugoslav Wars. It is also known and using routine radio frequen- formation on Egyptian disposi- The immediate cause of as ‘The Ten-Day War’. cies, they looked to Arab radar tions and defences. the war was the death of the Duration operators like the normal morn- The timing of the attack was pro-British Sultan Hamad bin 10 days. ing Israeli combat air patrol. sheer genius. Military doctrine Thuwaini on 25 August 1896 At 7:15 a.m., another 183 air- dictates that the best time for and the subsequent succession Russo-Georgian War craft—almost the entire Israeli an attack is at first light. The Is- of Sultan Khalid bin Barghash. The Russo-Georgian War combat fleet—roared into the raeli air strike was planned for The British authorities pre- was a war between Georgia, air. They headed west over the 08h45 Egyptian time. ferred Hamud bin Muhammed, Russia and the Russian-backed Mediterranean before diving The relative lateness of the who was more favourable to self-proclaimed republics of low, which dropped them from hour was chosen for a number British interests, as sultan. South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Arab radar screens. of reasons. First of all the Egyp- The British sent an ultima- The war took place in Au- This was also nothing new: tians would be hit when they tum to Khalid demanding that gust 2008 following a period for two years, Egyptian, Syr- least expected it. TAKE A BREAK: Israeli troops take a break after capturing he order his forces to stand of worsening relations between ian and Jordanian radar had By that time the early morn- Jerusalem during the Six-Day War. down and leave the palace. In Russia and Georgia, both for- tracked Israeli aircraft - though ing mist in the Nile Delta had response, Khalid called up his merly constituent republics of never this many Israeli aircraft lifted. Most importantly, the minutes. Football War palace guard and barricaded the Soviet Union. The fighting - taking off every morning on Egyptian air patrols and radar On the first day they annihi- Many wars have been started himself inside the palace. took place in the strategically this same flight path, and then surveillance had been stood lated the Jordanian Air Force for the strangest reasons. Like a Around 2,800 Zanzibaris de- important Transcaucasia re- disappearing from their scopes down with the passing of the and inflicted such heavy loses football match for example. fended the palace; most were gion. The war ended in a vic- before they returned to base. time for a classic dawn attack. on the Syrian Air Force that it Known in Spanish as La guer- recruited from the civilian pop- tory for Russia, South Ossetian But that morning, instead of More over the change-over of took virtually no active part in ra del fútbol it was a brief war ulation, but they also included and Abkhaz going home, the Israeli arma- watches within the Egyptian air the war. fought between El Salvador and the sultan’s palace guard and It was regarded as the first da of French-made Mirage and command was taking place. The fact of the matter is that Honduras in 1969. several hundred of his servants European war of the 21st cen- Super Mystere jets turned south The initial Israeli air strike the Jordanian and Syrian Air It was triggered by rioting and slaves. tury. toward Egypt, flying under was against eight Egyptian air- Forces had been destroyed during a play-off in the 1970 The defenders had several Duration strict radio silence and just 18 fields in Sinai, on the Suez Ca- within the space of 25 minutes. World Cup (El Salvador won artillery pieces and machine Six days. metres above the waves. nal and around Cairo. Six hours or so after the first 3-2 after extra time). But there guns, which were set in front of The Israelis knew that if they As can be expected the Israe- IAF aircraft had soared into the had been tensions between the the palace sighted at the British Six-Day War had any chance of winning the li intelligence was spot on and morning sky, Israel had won two countries long before that. ships. A bombardment, opened Also known as the June War, war they would have to con- the target identification by the the Six-Day War. Not that the The war began on 14 July at 09:02, set the palace on fire the Six-Day War took place trol the skies. Yet the Arabs had pilots was outstanding. Dummy tank crews and paratroopers on 1969, when the Salvadoran mil- and disabled the defending ar- between Israel and the neigh- more than three times the num- installations and aircraft were the ground wouldn’t face some itary launched an attack against tillery. bouring states of Egypt, Jordan, ber of aircraft, including many ignored while the real targets hard fighting in the Sinai, the Honduras. The Organization of A small naval action took and Syria. It lasted from 5 to 10 Soviet-supplied MiG fighters. were destroyed. Golan and Jerusalem. American States (OAS) nego- place, with the British sinking June 1967. Israeli leaders also worried over Once the eight original air- But destroying the Arab air tiated a cease-fire on the night the Zanzibari royal yacht HHS While the fighting continued Egypt’s thirty Soviet-made Tu- fields had been dealt with the Is- forces didn’t just mean that Is- of 18 July (hence “100 Hour Glasgow and two smaller ves- for six days, the war was really 16 Badger bombers, each of raelis extended their operations raeli troops could operate with- War”), which took full effect on sels. Some shots were also fired over in just six hours. which could drop ten tons of to cover a further nine Egyptian out air attack; it also meant that 20 July. Salvadoran troops were ineffectually at the pro-British When Israeli intelligence in- bombs on Israeli cities. airfields. They then moved on Israeli aircraft could relentless- withdrawn in early August. Zanzibari troops as they ap- formed their government that The Israeli plan was simple to cover the Jordanian, Iraqi ly bomb and strafe Arab ground Duration proached the palace. The flag at an invasion by Egypt and Syr- - take out the Arab air forc- and Syrian fronts. troops, which turned the Egyp- Four days or 100 hours. the palace was shot down and ia was imminent, the Israelis es while they were still on the One of the main reasons for tian retreat from Sinai into a fire ceased. The war was over. decided to launch Operation ground. the Israeli success was their rout. A total of 418 Arab air- Anglo-Zanzibar War Duration Moked (Focus) a pre-emptive The plan had been worked out quick turn-around time. From craft were destroyed for the loss The Anglo-Zanzibar War was 38 minutes. strike. and practiced for several years. the time a plane landed it could of 27 Israeli aircraft. a military conflict fought be- At 07h10 on 5 June, sixteen IAF (Israeli Air Force) pilots be refuelled and rearmed and be Duration tween the United Kingdom and Israeli Air Force Fouga Mag- flew repeated practice missions ready to take-off again in seven Six days. 24 25 A better explanation (and be- land, battlefield bravery was “Well tell him he can take all Bite the bullet and chance your arm ing Irish, I like this one) dates rewarded in a similar way. his feathers, shove them up his back to Ireland as long ago as Knights who had shown great bum, and he can fly home,” the Many sayings that were once popular, and some we still use to this day, had their origins in the mili- 1492. During a feud between tary. So, pull your finger out and find out more. ByRyan Murphy. courage were also afforded husband replied. two distinguished families, the plumes to wear in their helmets. Kildares and the Ormonds, dur- The Black Prince, 16 year old Flash In The Pan is used to ack in 1962 when I was that expression. Where exact- Later I learnt that it was in- ing which Sir James Butler, the Prince Edward, the Prince of describe something or some- a youngster growing ly did he think my finger was deed an “army thing”. It was Earl of Ormond, and his family Wales of his day, showed such body making a great impres- Bup in Ireland we had a that it needed to be pulled out. one of just many expressions took sanctuary inside St Pat- courage at the Battle of Crecy sion at the outset but ultimately next door neighbour that I was And how was I chancing my that had its origins in the mili- rick’s Cathedral in Dublin. in 1346 (the first great battle of failing to deliver any real result. convinced was off his head. arm. Did he want to cut it off or tary. The Kildares laid siege out- the Hundred Years War) he was Of military origin the phrase He would often rant and rave something. Here are a few more expres- side until Gerald Fitzpatrick, awarded the crest of one of his emerged during the use of ear- without any reason, especially The last one also left me a sions that we can thank the mil- the Earl of Kildare, decided defeated enemies, John of Bo- ly flintlock muskets. Some- at the neighbourhood kids. bit perturbed. The only pegs I itary for. the feud had gone too far and hemia. That crest, of three os- times gunpowder would ignite Another thing about him is could think of were the ones my attempted a reconciliation. But trich feathers, remains the crest with a flash in the lock-pan but that he never walked anywhere mother used to hang the wash- To Beat A Hasty Retreat the Ormonds were suspicious of the Prince of Wales to this the main charge failed to light, - he marched. He would always ing on the line with. means to abandon something, of his offer of peaceful settle- day. meaning the shot in the barrel snap to attention and salute an- Many years later I did do a to leave quickly and avoid the ment and refused to leave the While on the subject of a did not discharge, so no harm yone who was dressed in any- spell in the army, and the old consequences of remaining in cathedral. feather in the cap, I recall a joke could come to man nor beast thing vaguely resembling a uni- gezzer had been right, it did do the same position. As a desperate measure my late father once told me and that time round. It was a ‘flash form. me good. This term dates back to the to prove his good intentions I feel I should share with you. in the pan’ and the expression My mom told me that he had And it was while I was serv- time when a marching army Fitzgerald ordered a hole to A fairly well-off man had a was in regular use by 1741. been in the Royal Inniskilling ing in the army that I heard one would take its orders from the be cut into the cathedral door son that he thought was nothing Fusiliers and had fought in the of those expressions again. drummer. and then thrust his outstretched more than a chancer. The boy’s Hanging Fire is often used to trenches of World War I. We had an old drill sergeant, Positioned next to the com- hand through, putting his arm at mother, however, doted on him. describe a pause before begin- My own father had fought and when I say old, I mean manding officer, the drummer the mercy of those inside as it On completing his schooling ning a task. in World War II and he didn’t old. Rumours were that he had boy would beat the orders to an could easily have been cut off. the young man went abroad to Sixteenth-century muskets carry on like the old nutter next fought in the Battle of Hastings army on a battlefield. Instead, Butler took his hand study, naturally at this father’s were always slow to fire their door. in 1066. At night time, or during a bat- and peace was restored. It is not expense. charge due to the delay between An incident that I still clear- One morning while we were tle when things were not going known if that is actually the or- Every week the boy would lighting the gunpowder in the ly remember was when some standing at attention on the pa- well, the drummer would be igin of the phrase, but it should write a letter home to his moth- touch-hole and detonation. mates and I were playing foot- rade ground my nose was itch- ordered to beat a ‘retreat’ and be. er, boasting at how well he was This was known at the time as ball in the street. I guess we ing like mad. Naturally I gave it on hearing the signal a fighting doing at university. ‘hang-fire’ and the expression may have been a bit noisy, be- a quick scratch. This, of course, army would immediately cease A Feather In Your Cap “I got an A in my English was soon used to describe any cause the neighbour came out- was a cardinal sin. battle and return to company means you have done some- exam,” he would write. “That’s person delaying or slow to take side and berated us. I will never The old drill sergeant came lines as quickly as they could. thing well and it has been duly another feather in my cap.” action. forget what he said to me. up to me and stuck his face in noted, although not rewarded “I was chosen as captain of “You young louts have no my face so that his nose was To Chance Your Arm is to by any tangible means other the cricket team. That’s another To take someone Down A discipline. No backbone. A touching my nose (which was take an uncalculated risk, where than by having a ‘feather placed feather in my cap.” Everything Peg Or Two means to reduce good spell in the army would still itching, by the way). the outcome is completely un- in your cap’. he did was yet another feather their status among their peers. do you good,” he shouted. I was “Did I give you permission known: a blind bet, if you like. Its origin seems easy to ex- in his cap. It is possible the origin of this seven years old at the time and to start dancing on my parade There are several suggestions plain. Any Indian brave fighting At the end of the year the boy phrase is found at sea, and the somehow I doubted whether ground,” he shouted in a voice for the origin of this saying, one for his tribe in America, who wrote to his mother, asking for peg used to fly a ship’s colours. the army would have found me that could have raised the dead. being that military men, whose killed an enemy, was rewarded money so that he could travel The lower the peg, the less im- a suitable candidate. “You need to pull your finger rank was displayed in the way of by having a feather placed in home for the holidays. pressive the achievement. “You need to pull your fin- out sonny boy, or I will have stripes on their sleeves, would his head-dress. The most pro- “Our young Billy needs some But there is also a reference ger out and stop chancing your you!” take battlefield risks, which lific braves would have a head- money to buy a ticket so that he dating as far back as the 10th arm. You need to be taken down Again with the “pull your fin- could equally lead to promotion band full of feathers. can come home for the vaca- century and King Edred’s anger a peg or two,” he continued. ger out”. Was this perhaps some or demotion, depending on the However, four hundred years tion,” the woman told her hus- at the amount that his army was I always wondered about sort of army thing? outcome. prior to this, in medieval Eng- band. drinking. 26 27 Aware that he needed his sol- diers sober for the great battles Quiz against the Vikings, Edred or- dered pegs to be put into the side of ale barrels and no man WWII Patches & Badges was allowed to drink below the hese are all badges or patches from World War II. They feature American British, German and level of the peg in a single sit- Russian badges or patches. You tell us what they are. Answers on page 84. ting. T But as soon as this rule was applied soldiers would drink from other people’s kegs and 1 2 3 take them down a ‘peg or two’.

Once The Balloon Has Gone Up you know there is trouble ahead. During the First World War, DO YOU ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE: Knights would chal- lenge each other to a duel by throwing down a gauntlet. If his observation balloons would be opponent picked it up, the fight was on. sent into the sky at the first sus- 4 5 6 picion of an enemy attack, in tiny, gun cartridges came in two challenge and battle would be- order to monitor distant enemy parts with the missile part being gin. troop movements. To most this inserted into the base and held Taking Up The Gauntlet has was a sign of impending action. in place by grease made of ei- since been a phrase used for ac- During the Second World ther cow or pork fat. To charge cepting a challenge. War, strong barrage balloons the bullets the two parts had connected to the ground with to be bitten apart and the base And finally, the phrase Pull thick steel cable were raised filled with gunpowder before Your Finger Out is associat- 7 8 9 around English cities. The idea they could be fired. ed these days with encouraging of these was to impede enemy This task was usually left to someone to get a move on, or aircraft, which might crash into low-ranking Hindu soldiers to hurry up and complete a task them in the darkness or clip whom cows are holy animals, more quickly. their wings on the steel cable. sacred and not to be desecrat- Like so many English phras- Often they also protected cit- ed. They also did not eat pork es it has a military or naval or- ies from German V1 rockets, for religious reasons. However igin. Loaded cannons would which would hit a balloon and they were forced, against their have gunpowder poured into a 10 11 12 explode before reaching its tar- wishes, to ‘bite the bullet’ in small ignition hole and held in get. Their success was immeas- times of battle. place with a wooden plug. But urable but to city folk it was the in times of battle, when speed sign of trouble brewing. To Throw Down The Gaunt- was of the essence, the powder let is to lay a challenge, origi- would be pushed in and then To Bite The Bullet is to car- nally of combat but latterly to held in place by a gun crew ry out a task against the doer’s any form of contest. member using his finger. wishes. It means getting on A gauntlet is a medieval ar- Impatient artillerymen, anx- 13 14 15 with something that just ‘has to moured glove, forming part ious to fire their cannons at the be done’. of a knight’s suit of armour. enemy, would shout at the crew This phrase has its origins in Traditionally a knight would member to ‘pull his finger out’ the British Empire as the Vic- challenge another to a duel by so that the gun could be fired. torians made friends around the throwing down his gauntlet. It has not been recorded how world at the point of a gun. If his opponent picked it up it many digits were lost on the At the time of the Indian Mu- meant he was accepting the battlefields. 28 29 week due to lack of member- ship . MOTHs for life That did not sit well with It is not often that military veterans are awarded life membership of the Memorable Order of Tin Ron and resolved to rectify Hats. It is even more rare for two members of the same Shellhole to be awarded this honour. Here is the problem which Ron did by the story of two of them. By Pieter Viljoen. bringing in new members with him , and today the Shellhole harles Alfred Evenden Hats. “Once we were over the tar- is still going strong. joined the Australian And, as we shall see, both get ready to drop our bombs, Ron was made Old Bill and CArmy at the outbreak have very interesting stories. we had to fly straight and level Midlands District Wee Bill. of World War I. for a minimum of 20 seconds Both posts Ron held until June As a member of the Austral- Abe de Kock for the navigators to aim their 2009 when they relocated to ian and New Zealand Army A.P. de Kock, better known bomb-sights. Quite a nerve George. Corps he took part in the dis- as Abe, was born on 19 May wrecking experience when the Sentinel’s Shellhole is the astrous Gallipoli campaign - a 1925. He matriculated in De- ack-ack shells burst under the one remaining blockhouse of campaign that would see more cember 1942 in Heilbron OFS aircraft lifting it quite a few the Anglo Boer war era left than 130,000 men die and over and joined the SAAF in Johan- feet into the air.” in the Natal Midlands. As it is 261,000 being wounded. nesburg on 23 January 1943. “On a mission over the mar- made of corrugated iron, it is In 1923 he moved from Aus- Abe started Senior flying shalling yards of Udine, in FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Wee Bill Jerry Hattingh, Moth Abe De freezing in winter and like a talia to South Africa and settled training flying twin engine North Eastern Italy on 28 De- Kock, Moth Ron Filmalter, and Old Bill of Outeniqua Shellhole sauna in summer! in Durban where he worked as Oxords at 24 Air School Dun- cember 1944 Goerings 26th Cobus Vos. During Ron’s time in Natal a cartoonist for The Natal Mer- notar. He received his wings panzer Anti-aircraft Division he was also chairman of the cury. and commission on 28 April which had pulled back from gan some years before when, that every piece of material, Durban Preservation of Mili- In 1928 he began a remarka- 1944. Russian front had our Maraud- through his interest in military including labour was donated taria Society as well as the Pie- ble organisation of ex-front line Abe joined 12 Squadron at er in trouble with 45 shrapnel history, he met Doug Clapham, by the companies concerned. termaritzburg Militaria Society soldiers, of all ranks, known as Pescara Air base on the Adriat- holes one of which was a large a Moth of many years, who was Ron served four years as Old and in Ladysmith Chairman of the Memorable Order of Tin ic Coast of Italy on 27 August hole in the fuel tank.” from Warrior’s Gate MOTH Bill at Siegetown Shellhole the Historical Society. Hats (MOTH). Their motto is and reported for operational Abe was operating from Jesi museum. from 2003-2007 and was also The meeting place there was “We will remember them.” duty. Airfield near the coastal port of Ron build cabinets and also District Old Bill for Northern the original Toll House (1864) Membership of the Order On September 5th Abe car- Ancona on the Adriatic coast refurbish the Sparrow Canon Natal from 2006-2007. next to the crossing over the was later extended to veterans ried out his first operation raid when the war ended. Abe was and Falcon Canon that were at Ron was also Provincal Old Klip River. of World War II, and eventual- as 2nd Pilot to Lt Harvey. 19 years old and carried out 43 the Warrior’s Gate Museum. Bill for Northern Natal/Zulu- Ron received a Heritage ly to veterans of our own Bor- They dropped 10 x 250 frag- bombing sorties. To Ron’s knowledge these land from 2007-2008. award for history preservation der War. mentation bombs on a German Abe returned home on the items are still at the museum. Ron was the only Moth to in 2006 by AMAFA (Old Mon- Members meet regularly at stronghold near Rimini. Fortu- Strath-Eden Mailship and ar- For Ron’s efforts he featured hold three gold hats at one time uments Council) Shellholes with colourful and nately light flack was encoun- rived in Durban on 25 January in a publication of the Home and during this time received meaningful names of war-time tered. 1946. Front Magazine. Ron was in- his Badge of Excellence from memories. On Abe’s 10th sortie he was Abe’s association with the troduced as a committee mem- Northern Natal/Zululand It is not often that members selected to fly as 2nd pilot to SAAF was indeed a most in- ber. In 2008 Ron resigned from are awarded life membership their Commanding Officer of teresting and adventurous one. After settling in Ladysmith Siegetown and Northern Natal/ of the Order. So it is even more 12 squadron (Kommandant) The high standard of the of- Ron joined Siegetown Shell- Zululand and joined Sentinel unique that two members of the Lt Colonel Burniaux, a Bel- ficers and men helped to shape hole in November 1995. Shellhole (Bergville) which same Shellhole were awarded gium pilot seconded from the his life for the future and in- As there was a huge amount falls under Midlands. this honour. Belgian Air force. Abe tells the deed inspired him to be an of- of military memorabilia, Ron On a previous visit to the Moth Abe de Kock and Moth story. ficer and a gentleman. undertook to build a museum. Shellhole with KZN Provin- Ron Filmalter are both mem- “With a full bomb load our The Shellhole converted cial Old Bill Jan Van Der Waal bers of the Outeniqua Shell- Marauders could only reach Ron Filmalter into a fully fledged museum he met with Moth Rusty Four- hole in George. They were 16,000 feet Maximum Ceiling, Although Ron only became a over a period of two years with ell (Adj/Paybill) who informed both made lifetime members even with Turbo charges at full MOTH in November 1995, his the help of a few other mem- Ron that the Shellhole was to of the Memorable Order of Tin boost. association with the order be- bers. It must be mentioned hand in its charter within a 30 31 capable of killing mosquitos. World War II. is still used to this day. War, what is it good for... The first aerosol can was pat- In 1942, while testing a va- ented in 1941 and nicknamed riety of compounds for use in According to Edwin Starr, war is good for absolutely nothing. While we may agree with that state- Silly Putty ment in principle, many items that we use daily were actually developed for war. “bug bomb” by soldiers. a plastic rifle sight, Dr. Harry As we have already seen, the The partnership between the Coover a company chemist, in- Japanese invasion of Malaysia USDA and the DoD has yielded advertently created cyanoacr- had cut off America’s supply of ar, huh, good god, thing then it has to be the devel- company - a four-wheel drive other life-saving innovations, ylate, a compound later market- rubber. what is it good for, opment of technology. vehicle with a top speed of just including the use of DDT in ed as Super Glue. In the USA many companies absolutely nothing. Fair enough, the majority of over 100 kph. W controlling typhus. The material was incredibly were trying to come up with a Many of you may recognise this technology is developed The auto-mobile’s namesake, In 1949, engineer and veter- durable but was dismissed for substitute material and even- this as the opening line of the for use by the military. Yet it General Purpose, was abbre- an Robert Abplanalp patented being too sticky. When a col- tually synthetic rubber was in- song War. is surprising just how much of viated to G.P. and eventually a cheaper plastic aerosol valve league was testing cyanoacr- vented. It was written in 1969 by this technology finds its way nicknamed jeep. meant for commercial mass ylate nine years later, Dr. Coo- While trying to find a sub- Norman Whitfield and Barrett into the commercial world. The jeep proved an invalua- production. ver had another encounter with stitute for rubber, a chemist at Strong for the Motown label. Many items we use on a dai- ble contribution to the U.S. mil- He started the Precision Valve the material. As the colleague General Electric came up with a Whitfield first produced the ly basis stems from technology itary effort, with then General Corporation to market the in- complained the compound ru- stretchy, bouncy material made song – an obvious anti-Viet- first developed for the military. Dwight D. Eisenhower stating vention and turned a profit al- ined his equipment, Coover re- of boric acid and silicone oil. nam War statement – with The Let’s take a look at some of that “America could not have most immediately. alized its commercial potential. While highly unique, the mate- Temptations as the original vo- them. won World War II without it.” The aerosol can has since Super Glue was first sold as rial had no military application. calists. The company manufactured been refined and is now less a commercial product in 1958. The material caught on, how- Motown decided to withhold Aviator sunglasses more than 600,000 jeeps during harmful to the environment. The product was eventually ever, after GE executives began the Temptations’ version from the war, and later sold the post- The characteristic shape and adopted by military surgeons showing it off at cocktail parties single release so as not to al- war surplus to the public rather dark lenses of aviator sunglass- Tea bags during the Vietnam War, who and one interested party, adman ienate their more conservative cheaply. es have become an iconic fash- It has been said that the Brit- would spray it over wounds to Peter Hodgson, bought the man- fans. Today, Fiat Chrysler Automo- ion item. ish Army wasn’t fuelled so stop bleeding instantly. ufacturing rights and changed The song biles sells Jeeps. While the mil- Their original purpose was to much by petrol and diesel, but the name to Silly Putty. was then itary use of jeeps has dwindled protect test pilots from the dan- rather that it was fuelled by Synthetic rubber The product, packaged in recorded since World War II, U.S. sales gerously bright sunlight of the tea. Show me a British soldier In the early 20th century, rub- small plastic eggs as a toy, be- by Edwin of the Jeep Wrangler - which upper atmosphere. that doesn’t enjoy a ‘brew up’. ber was harvested from trees in gan selling in 1950 and imme- Starr and bears many of the design char- In the 1930s, optics manufac- In 1908, a U.S. tea importer South America, but soon south- diately caught on. released acteristics of the original - was turer Bausch & Lomb devel- named Thomas Sullivan acci- ern Asia became the dominant In 1968, astronauts on the in 1970. over 240,000 in 2018. oped aviator goggles under the dentally invented the modern producer of the world’s rubber. Apollo 8 mission used Silly It went on direction of the U.S. Army Air teabag by sending samples of The global supply of natu- Putty to help keep their instru- to become Aerosol bug spray Corps. his loose leaf to customers in ral rubber was sufficient until ments in place. Since 1950, the a Number Bausch & Lomb re-branded The next time you spray a fly small silk pouches. World War II, when the Axis company has sold more than One hit. the sunglasses in 1937 as Ray- or ‘roach, spare a thought as to This revolutionary concept powers cut off nearly all of the 350 million Silly Putty eggs. Yet it Ban - as they banish the sun’s where the technology to do this meant that you could now place rubber supply from Asia. appears rays - and sold them to the ci- came from. one of these bags in a cup, pour Rubber is an incredibly valu- Frozen juice concentrate that Whit- vilian population. By World In World War II, soldiers in boiling water, add milk and able substance for the military. In 1943, the USDA and the field and War II, aviators were a standard stationed in the South Pacific sugar to your taste, and you had In addition to tires, the U.S. Florida Citrus Commission set Strong may accessory for U.S. soldiers. needed an easy way to kill mos- a cup of tea. military needed rubber for air- to work on the development of have been quitos, which could potentially It really took off with the sol- planes, tanks, vehicles, and bat- a frozen juice concentrate that wrong (that Jeep carry malaria. diers in the trenches of World tleships. could be sent to U.S. soldiers sentence In a partnership with the De- In World War II, the U.S. War I as they could now brew In desperate need of the sub- overseas. sounds as partment of Defence, two scien- Army had a need for a light re- individual cups of tea. stance, the U.S. government At the time of their collabora- if it could tists with the U.S. Department connaissance vehicle and asked turned to companies like Fires- tion, orange juice that had been be used in of Agriculture, Lyle Goodhue automakers to develop proto- Super Glue tone, Goodyear, and Standard frozen and thawed would turn a song). If and William Sullivan, took on types and submit proposals. Eastman Kodak was one of Oil to create a replacement. an unappetizing brown colour. war is good the task of developing a way to The government chose the many companies that contrib- They quickly whipped up a The thawed juice also devel- for any- deliver insecticide as a fine mist design of American Bantam car uted to the war effort during synthetic rubber recipe, which oped a bitter taste, prompting 32 33 soldiers to nickname the bev- were somewhere in Siberia. Company noticed that a candy Edmund Mcilhenny in New erage “battery acid” (does that And here we thought we were bar in his pocket had melted. Orleans some delicious Cap- sound familiar?). somewhere in South West Afri- This led to the realization that sicum hot peppers from Mex- Eventually, USDA scientists ca. These days it’s a lot easier to microwave equipment could be ico in the 1850s during the discovered that adding a dash plot your position. re-purposed to heat and cook US-Mexico war. of fresh orange juice to the con- In the 1960s, the US Depart- foods. Later that year, Raythe- Mcilhenny loved the peppers centrate before freezing it pre- ment of Defence developed on Company filed the first pat- so much he planted them on his served its flavour. the original Global Positioning ent for a microwave oven. plantation at Aery Island just The process was patented System (GPS). The idea was to The first commercial mi- off the Louisiana Gulf Coast. in 1945 but made available to use satellites to determine a us- crowave was manufactured in Eventually, the family creat- any public or private entity that er’s position on Earth by meas- 1954 and was about the size of ed Tabasco Sauce. It has since wished to use it. uring his or her distance from a refrigerator. become so popular that it was Minute Maid began selling three peripheral satellites in a even used in American C-Ra- frozen juice products commer- process known as trilateration. Tinned Food tios during World War I. cially in 1946. Orange juice is While the system became ful- The idea of tinned food is now one of the most commonly FROM THE TRENCHES: Sanitary pads resulted from the ma- ly operational in March 1994, much older than you might im- The Internet consumed fruit products in the terial used for bandages in World War I. it captured the public’s interest agine. The idea for this dates You wouldn’t be reading this United States. long before then. back to Napoleon and the need magazine right now without the Sanitary Pads da, Maryland, where he devel- President Ronald Reagan first for food for his army. military sinking years of work Duct Tape One of the nasty side effects oped an auto-injector called the ensured civil applications of In 1810, the French govern- and billions of dollars into AR- During World War II the US of war is that a lot of people ComboPen. GPS in 1983, after an incident ment offered a cash reward for PANET - the forerunner for the Military needed something that end up getting wounded. This This invention was first de- where a Korean airliner strayed a cheap way to preserve large internet. could seal ammunition cases often results in a desperate signed to deliver a treatment off course and was shot down amounts of food. The Advanced Research Pro- so that water couldn’t get in. shortage of medical supplies. to soldiers who had come into by the Soviet Union demon- One inventor found that food jects Agency Network began The military asked Johnson Bullet and shrapnel wounds contact with a nerve agent. strated the need for better navi- which had been cooked in a jar during the Cold War as a way & Johnson Co. to develop the use up a vast amount of band- The ComboPen would quick- gational technology. stayed unspoiled until the seal for the U.S. military to develop idea. They came up with a du- ages. ly deliver the antidote into the The public received a com- was broken. This was a good, if an information sharing system rable adhesive tape which they After the invention of cellu- bloodstream of the affected per- prehensive preview of the tech- cumbersome solution for pro- without the need for a com- initially called duck tape due cotton, which is a pulp by-prod- son. nology during the Gulf War, viding food to the troops. After mand centre. to its waterproof nature. uct of processed sugar cane, the Kaplan later tweaked this when soldiers used GPS to nav- 15 years of attempts, Nicolas The military was concerned Soldiers during World War II absorbent yet disposable ma- device to deliver epinephrine, igate across deserts and target Appert perfected the canning any central location would be a quickly realized that it worked terials were used to bandage which can help people who go enemies with an accuracy that process and this concept was Soviet target. well for fixing army gear too. soldiers’ wounds during World into anaphylactic shock due to was previously impossible. transferred to metal cans. By the late 1960s, colleges Civilians began to utilize War I. an allergic reaction. Today, GPS technology is Since World War I and many were able to access the very the product heavily during the At the time British and Amer- Though his name was on the used in consumer products such wars after that, soldiers sur- limited trial run of ARPANET. postwar housing boom, when it ican nurses began using these patent, Kaplan received lit- as cars and phones, as well as vived on tinned foods while At the time, the network users was used to seal central air and bandages as sanitary pads. tle credit for his breakthrough applications like earthquake re- fighting. could only log onto a remote heating systems. They worked so well that during his lifetime. He died search and geocaching. Tinned foods eventually computer, print remotely, and Duck tape was used in Kimberly-Clark began market- in 2009 but was inducted into made their way to the commer- transfer files. Decades of in- ductwork so much that it was ing Kotex disposable sanitary the National Inventors Hall of Microwave Oven cial market and are now staples novation honed the ARPANET renamed and recoloured to pads in 1920. Fame in 2016. Microwave technology was in supermarkets. into the World Wide Web cre- match the silver metallic colour originally used as a radar to ated by British scientist Tim of HVAC systems. EpiPen GPS help locate enemies aircraft Tabasco sauce Berners-Lee. Known for its versatile uses, A must for anyone with se- Remember back in the days during World War II. A necessity in modern food duct tape has recently taken on vere allergies, the EpiPen was when we were in the military The ability of microwaves for millions, this instant taste So to answer Whitfield and another life as material used in initially conceived of as a mil- and wanted to plot our position. to cook food was discovered enhancer was actually founded Strong’s question, “War, what a variety of personal products, itary device. We would use a map and a by accident. While conduct- during the United States-Mexi- is it good for”, apparently quite including wallets, bags, and Inventor Sheldon Kaplan compass, take bearings, and ing research on microwave ra- can war in the 1850s. a lot of stuff as indicated by this phone cases. worked at military contractor eventually work out that ac- dar technology, an engineer at The story begins with a sol- article. Survival Technology in Bethes- cording to our calculations we defence contractor Raytheon dier who gave his banker friend 34 35 lying directly on, A matter of survival - Shelters ground level will help to keep the Over the next few months we will be running a series of articles looking at survival, something that has always been important for those in the military. This month we look at temporary shelters. shelter dry. Hasty shelters will usually have ast month we looked at have to be well concealed to Weave in other twigs to make spaces where air setting up camp and took avoid detection. the cover more dense. Make a can enter. Do not La brief look at shelters. If your survival situation is as similar shelter by lashing a bro- try to seal them all This month we’re going to take a result of a plane crash or vehi- ken-off bough to the base of as ventilation is a more in-depth look at shelters. cle break down, then you have another branch where it forks essential. As we stated in the very first two choices. You can either stay from the trunk (a). article we did on survival, there where you are and hope to be Stone barriers are two basic survival situations rescued. Or you can start walk- Root Shelter A shelter is more - one where you want to be ing in the direction of civiliza- The spreading roots and comfortable if found, and one where you defi- tion. trapped earth at the base of a you can sit rather deflect the downhill flow of nitely don’t want to be found. If you are going to stay where fallen tree make a good wind Fallen trunks than just lie in, so increase the water around it, especially if If you’re stuck in the wild be- you are you will need to set up and storm barrier, if they are at A log or fallen trunk makes height by building a low wall it is a hollow on a slope. Oth- cause of a plane crash or your a camp with shelters. This we the right angle to the wind. a useful windbreak on its own, of stones around your chosen erwise you could wake up in a vehicle broke down in the mid- will deal with in the next arti- Filling in the sides between if it is as the right angle to the hollow or excavation. pool. dle of nowhere, then you want cle. the extended roots will usual- wind. With a small trunk, scoop Caulk between the stones Make a roof to keep the rain to be found and rescued. If, however, you are going to ly make the shelter much more out a hollow in the ground on with turf and foliage mixed off and the warmth in. A few If, however, you’re a soldier attempt to walk back to civili- effective, and provide a good the leeward side. with mud, and deflect the flow strong branches placed across stuck behind enemy lines then zation you will still need tem- support for building a more A log also makes an excel- of rain water around the shel- the hollow can support a light the last thing you want is to be porary shelter at night. elaborate shelter from other lent support for a lean-to roof ter. discovered by the enemy. Often materials. light log laid over them, against of boughs. which shorter boughs and sticks the enemy has no sense of hu- Bough Shelters Next month we will look at can be stack to give pitch to the mour about you being in their Make use of branches that Use a natural hollow Drainage and ventilation building more permanent shel- roof and so allow water to run territory. sweep down to the ground or Even a shallow depression in A run-off channel gouged ters for a base camp. off. Consolidate with turf or If you’re a soldier trying to boughs that have partly bro- the ground will provide some from the earth around any shel- twigs and leaves. make his way back to friendly ken from the tree to give basic protection from wind and can ter in which you are below, or territory then you will normally protection from the wind - but reduce the effort in construct- move at night and lie up during make sure that they are not so ing a shelter. the day. broken that they could come However, take measures to In this case your shelter will down on your head.

a

36 37 Rank Structure Officers Royal Marines Over the next few months we will be running a series of articles looking at the rank structure of various armed forces. This month we look at the Royal Marines

he Corps of Royal Ma- for rapid deployment world- rines (RM) is an am- wide and capable of dealing Cadet Officer 2nd Lieutenant Lieutenant Tphibious light infantry with a wide range of threats. and also one of the five fighting The Royal Marines are or- arms of the Royal Navy. ganised into a light infantry bri- The marines can trace their gade (3 Commando Brigade) origins back to the formation and a number of separate units, of the English Army’s “Duke including 47 Commando (Raid- of York and Albany’s mari- ing Group) Royal Marines, and time regiment of Foot” at the a company strength commit- Captain Major Lieutenant Colonel grounds of the Honourable Ar- ment to the Special Forces Sup- tillery Company on 28 October port Group. 1664. The majority of the members As a highly specialised and of the Special Boat Squadron adaptable light infantry force, are selected from the Royal the Royal Marines are trained Marines.

Colonel Brigadier Major General Non-Commissioned and Warrant Officers

Lieutenant General General Captain General Royal Marines

Lance Corporal Corporal Sergeant

Colour Sergeant Warrant Officer 2nd Class Warrant Officer 1st Class

38 39 head to head head to head

Military Strength 9. Turkey In the ninth of a series of articles, we examine the fighter jets used by the ten stron- Total military personnel – 891,300 gest current military forces. F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft, often The fighter’s main tactical Many fighters have second- The General Dynamics F-16 referred to simply as purpose is to establish air supe- ary capabilities such as ground Fighting Falcon is a single-en- Aa fighter, is a military riority over the battlefield. The attack and some types, such as gine supersonic multirole fight- fixed-wing aircraft designed success or failure of a combat- fighter-bombers, are designed er aircraft originally developed primarily for air-to-air combat ant’s efforts to gain air superi- from the outset for dual roles. by General Dynamics for the against other aircraft. ority hinges on several factors Other fighter designs are highly United States Air Force (USAF) The key performance features including the skill of its pilots, specialized while still filling the 46 years ago. of a fighter include not only its the tactical soundness of its main air superiority role, these The Turkish F-16s were pro- firepower but also its high speed doctrine for deploying its fight- include the interceptor, heavy duced in Turkey. Later All were and manoeuvrability relative to ers, and the numbers and per- fighter, and night fighter. upgraded to Block 50/52+ with the target aircraft. formance of those fighters. CCIP by Turkish Aerospace Industries. Currently, all being fitted with indigenous ASEA • Height: 4.9 metres Whitney F100-PW-229 af- 10. Germany radars and EW suite called • Crew: One terburning turbofan Total military personnel – 210,305 SPEWS-II. • Armament: 1 × 20 mm • Operational range: 546 km (0.787 in) M61A1 Vulcan • Service ceiling: 18,000 me- • Manufacturer: General Dy- 6-barrel rotary cannon; var- tres namics; Lockheed Martin ious air-to-air and air-to-sur- • Rate of climb: 370 m/s Eurofighter Typhoon • Gross weight: 12,020 kg face missles; various bombs • Max Speed: Mach 2.05 The Eurofighter Typhoon is • Length: 15.06 metres • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & a twin-engine, canard–delta wing, multi-role fighter. The Typhoon was designed originally as an air superiority 8. United Kingdom fighter and is manufactured by Total military personnel – 157,500 a consortium of Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo that con- F-35B Lightning II ducts the majority of the project While the Eurofighter Ty- through a joint holding compa- phoon FGR4 is the RAF’s pri- ny, Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug mary multi role air defence and GmbH. NATO Eurofighter and ground attack fighter aircraft, it Tornado Management Agency • Crew: One or two engines was announced in 2015 that a manages the project and is the • Armament: 1 × 27 mm • Operational range: 2,900 km total of 138 Lockheed Martin prime customer. Mauser BK-27 revolver • Service ceiling: 19,812 me- F-35B Lightning IIs would be cannon with 150 rounds; tres ordered. • Manufacturer: Eurofighter various air-to-air and air-to- • Rate of climb: 318 m/s The Lockheed Martin F-35 Jagdflugzeug GmbH surface missiles; various la- • Max Speed: 2,495 km/h Lightning II is a single-seat, sin- • Gross weight: 16,000 kg ser-guided bombs gle-engine, all-weather stealth • Length: 15.96 metres • Powerplant: 2 × Eurojet multirole combat aircraft. It is • Height: 5.28 metres EJ200 afterburning turbofan intended to perform both air 40 41 head to head head to head superiority and strike missions • Length: 15.7 metres Whitney F135-PW-100 af- while also providing electronic • Height: 4.4 metres terburning turbofan warfare and intelligence, sur- • Crew: One • Operational range: 2,800 km 6. Japan veillance, and reconnaissance • Armament: 1 × 25 mm • Service ceiling: 15,000 me- Total military personnel – 310,457 capabilities. GAU-22/A 4-barrel rotary tres cannon; various air-to-air • Rate of climb: Not known F-35A • Manufacturer: L o c k h e e d and air-to-surface missiles; • Max Speed: Mach 1.6 The Japan Air Self-Defence Martin Aeronautics various laser-guided bombs Force was interested in obtain- • Gross weight: 22,471 kg • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & ing the twin-engine Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor to replace the F-4 and F-15, but when this 7. Republic of Korea was not possible it settled on Total military personnel – 3,699,000 the F-35. Mitsubishi is currently in- volved in assembling the Northrop F-5E Tiger II F-35A. The Northrop F-5 is a su- personic light fighter aircraft. • Manufacturer: L o c k h e e d Though primarily designed Martin Aeronautics cannon; various air-to-air • Operational range: 2,800 km for a day air superiority role, • Gross weight: 22,471 kg and air-to-surface missiles; • Service ceiling: 15,000 me- the aircraft is also a capable • Length: 15.7 metres various laser-guided bombs tres ground-attack platform. • Height: 4.4 metres • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & • Rate of climb: Not known The F-5A entered service • Crew: One Whitney F135-PW-100 af- • Max Speed: Mach 1.6 in the early 1960s. During the • Armament: 1 × 25 mm terburning turbofan Cold War, over 800 were pro- GAU-22/A 4-barrel rotary duced through 1972 for U.S. allies.

• Manufacturer: N o r t h r o p 5. France M39A2 Revolver cannon; • Operational range: 220 km Total military personnel – 426,265 Corporation various air-to-air and air-to- • Service ceiling: 15,800 me- • Gross weight: 7,142 kg surface missiles; various la- tres • Length: 14.68 metres ser-guided bombs • Rate of climb: 175 m/s Dassault Rafale • Height: 4.077 metres • Powerplant: 2 × General • Max Speed: Mach 1.63 The Dassault Rafale is a • Crew: One Electric J85-GE-21 after- French twin-engine, canard • Armament: 2 × 20 mm burning turbojet engines delta wing, multirole fighter aircraft designed and built by Dassault Aviation. Dogfight Equipped with a wide range of The term dogfight has been used for centuries to describe a melee; a fierce battle between two weapons, the Rafale is intended or more opponents. The term gained popularity during World War II, although its origin in air to perform air supremacy, inter- combat can be traced to the latter years of World War I. diction, aerial reconnaissance, The first written reference to the modern day usage of the word comes from Fly Papers, by A. ground support, in-depth strike, E. Illingworth, in 1919, “The battle develops into a ‘dog-fight’, small groups of machines engag- anti-ship strike and nuclear de- ing each other in a fight to the death.” terrence missions. The Rafale is referred to as an “omnirole” aircraft by Dassault. 42 43 head to head head to head • Manufacturer: D a s s a u l t GIAT 30/M791 autocannon; • Service ceiling: 15,235 me- Aviation various air-to-air and air-to- tres • Gross weight: 15,000 kg surface missiles; various la- • Rate of climb: 304.8 m/s 3. China • Length: 15.27 metres ser-guided bombs • Max Speed: Mach 1.8 Total military personnel – 2,545,000 • Height: 5.34 metres • Powerplant: 2 × Snecma • Crew: One or two M88-2 turbofans • Armament: 1 × 30 mm • Operational range: 1,850 km Chengdu J-20 The Chengdu J-20, (also known as Mighty Dragon, is a single-seat, twinjet, all-weather, stealth, fifth-generation fighter 4. India aircraft developed by China’s Total military personnel – 2,598,921 Chengdu Aerospace Corpora- tion for the People’s Liberation HAL Tejas Army Air Force (PLAAF). The J-20 is designed as an While the Indian Air Force air superiority fighter with pre- has ordered 36 Dassault Ra- cision strike capability; it de- fale aircraft, in 2015 they intro- scends from the J-XX program duced the HAL Tejas. of the 1990s. The HAL Tejas is an Indian • Armament: Various air-to- • Operational range: 6,000 km single-engine, delta wing, mul- air and air-to-surface mis- • Service ceiling: 20,000 me- • Manufacturer: C h e n g d u tirole light fighter designed by siles; various laser-guided tres Aerospace Corporation the Aeronautical Development bombs • Rate of climb: Not known • Gross weight: 32,092 kg Agency (ADA) and Hindustan • Powerplant: 2 × Shenyang • Max Speed: Mach 2+ • Length: 20.4 metres Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for WS-15 afterburning turbo- • Height: Not known the Indian Air Force and Indian fan • Crew: One Navy.

• Manufacturer: Hindustan twin-barrelled GSh-23 can- • Operational range: 1,850 km Aeronautics Limited non; various air-to-air and • Service ceiling: 15,240 me- 2. Russia • Gross weight: 9,800 kg air-to-surface missiles; vari- tres Total military personnel – 3,586,128 • Length: 13.2 metres ous laser-guided bombs • Rate of climb: Not known • Height: 4.4 metres • Powerplant: 1 × General • Max Speed: Mach 1.8 • Crew: One or two Electric F404-GE-IN20 tur- Sukhoi Su-57 • Armament: 1 x 23mm bofan The Sukhoi Su-57 (known by NATO as Felon) is a stealth, single-seat, twin-engine mul- ti-role fifth-generation jet fight- er being developed since 2002 The most successful jet ace for air superiority and attack Giora Epistein was a supersonic jet pilot in the Israeli Air Force. He is known to be the ace of operations. aces for supersonic jet pilots having shot down 17 enemy aircraft’s. This is the most victories for The Su-57 is planned to be any pilot in the modern fighter jet era. the first aircraft in Russian mil- He was named “Hawkeye” due to his acute eyesight which helped him accurately shoot at itary service to use stealth tech- enemy planes. nology • Manufacturer: K o m s o - 44 45 head to head molsk-on-Amur Aircraft Gryazev-Shipunov GSh- • Operational range: 3,500 km Plant 30-1 autocannon; various • Service ceiling: 20,000 me- • Gross weight: 25,000 kg air-to-air and air-to-surface tres • Length: 20.1 metres missiles; various laser-guid- • Rate of climb: Not known • Height: 4.74 metres ed bombs • Max Speed: Mach 2 • Crew: One • Powerplant: 2 × izdeliye 30 • Armament: 1 × 30 mm turbofans

1. United States Total military personnel – 4,397,128

F-35 Lightning II The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is an American family of single-seat, sin- gle-engine, all-weather stealth multi-role combat aircraft. It Bush War Books has probably one of the finest is intended to perform both air superiority and strike missions collections of military titles available. Especially while also providing electronic on the South African Border War. warfare and intelligence, sur- veillance, and reconnaissance capabilities. The aircraft has three main variants: the conventional take- off and landing F-35A (CTOL), • Length: 15.7 metres Whitney F135-PW-100 af- the short take-off and verti- • Height: 4.4 metres terburning turbofan cal-landing F-35B (STOVL), • Crew: One • Operational range: 2,800 km Click here to visit their website. and the carrier-based F-35C • Armament: 1 × 25 mm • Service ceiling: 15,000 me- (CV/CATOBAR). GAU-22/A 4-barrel rotary tres cannon; various air-to-air • Rate of climb: Not known • Manufacturer: L o c k h e e d and air-to-surface missiles; • Max Speed: Mach 1.6 Martin Aeronautics various laser-guided bombs • Gross weight: 22,471 kg • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt &

In the next issue Next month we will begin to take a look at the naval forces of the ten strongest military forces. “War does not determine who is right - only who is left”

46 00 Infamous figures in military history Infamous figures in military history ists in Upper Silesia. ry owned by a Jewish family in comrade Gottlob Berger, who He participated in the sup- Erfurt where he renounced ac- was also a long-time person- Erwin Rommel pression of the German Rev- tive service in the SA but finan- al friend of the SS chief Hein- Doctor of Political Science, SS-Oberführer, holder of the Knight’s Cross, and described as the olution of 1918–19 with the cially donated to the SA, pos- rich Himmler and had become most evil man in the SS. Few could compete in cruelty with Oskar Dirlewanger. Freikorps in multiple German sibly obtaining the money by the head of the SS Head Office cities in 1920 and 1921. embezzling from his company. (SS-Hauptamt, SS-HA). ver the past three years man in the SS. and was awarded both the Iron Later, he commanded an Dirlewanger held various Dirlewanger next went to we’ve featured numer- Cross 2nd Class and 1st Class. armed formation of students jobs, which included working Spain, where he enlisted in the Oous famous figures in Word War I He finished the war with the which was set up by him un- at a bank and a knit-wear fac- Spanish Foreign Legion during military history. We’ve also Little is known about the ear- rank of Lieutenant in charge of der the Württemberg “Highway tory. the Spanish Civil War. featured a few infamous figures ly years of Oskar Paul Dirle- a company on the Eastern Front Watch”. In 1933 after the Nazi seizure Through Berger he trans- and Oskar Dirlewanger would wanger. in southern Russia and Roma- On Easter Sunday 1921, of power, Dirlewanger was re- ferred to the German Condor definitely fall into the later cat- We do known that he was nia. Dirlewanger commanded an warded the office of director Legion where he served from egory. born on 26 September 1895 in At the cessation of hostili- armoured train that moved to- of the Heilbronn employment 1936 to 1939 and was wounded Under the leadership of Hein- Würzburg. In 1913 he enlist- ties the German units in Dirl- wards Sangerhausen, which agency, a strategic post for lo- three times. rich Himmler (who we featured ed in the Prussian Army and ewanger’s area were ordered had been occupied by the Com- cal-level Nazi leaders. Following further interven- in the July 2018 edition) the served as a machine gunner to be interned in Romania, but munist Party of Germany mili- Dirlewanger kept on having tion on his behalf by his patron Schutzstaffel, or SS, in the the “König Dirlewanger refused and led tia group of Max Hoelz in one run-ins with the law. He was Berger, he successfully peti- we known for Karl” Grenadier 600 men from his and other of their raids intended to inspire repeatedly convicted for ille- tioned to have his case recon- their brutality. Regiment 123. units back to Germany. worker uprisings. gal arms possession and em- sidered in light of his service in Yet even He served According to German biog- An attack by Dirlewanger bezzlement. In 1934, he was Spain. among this on the West- rapher Knut Stang, the war was failed, and the enemy militia- convicted and sentenced to Dirlewanger was reinstat- organisation ern Front of a contributing factor that deter- men succeeded in cutting off two years imprisonment for the ed into the NSDAP, albeit responsible World War mined Dirlewanger’s later life his force. After the latter was rape of a 14-year-old girl from with a higher party number for some of I, where he and his “terror warfare” meth- reinforced by pro-government the League of German Girls (#1,098,716). His doctorate the worse took part in ods, as “his amoral personali- troops during the night, the (BDM), as well as the illegal was also restored by the Uni- war crimes the German ty, with his alcoholism and his Communists withdrew from the use of a government vehicle and versity of Frankfurt. and crimes invasion of sadistic sexual orientation, was town. damaging said vehicle while against hu- Belgium and additionally shattered by the During this operation, Dir- under the influence of alcohol. World War II manity in later fought in front experiences of the First lewanger was grazed on the Dirlewanger also lost his job, At the beginning of World history, Dir- France. World War and its frenzied vi- head by a gunshot. After the his doctorate and all military War II, Dirlewanger volun- lewanger was Dirlewanger olence and barbarism.” Nazi Party gained power, Dir- honours, and was expelled from teered for the Waffen-SS and known as the was wounded lewanger was celebrated as the the party. received the rank of Oberstur- most evil no less than Between the wars town’s “liberator from the Red Soon after his release from mführer. six times After the end of World War I terrorists” and received its hon- the prison in Ludwigsburg, Dir- He eventually became the Dirlewanger had several run-ins orary citizenship in 1935. lewanger was arrested again commander of the so-called with the law. In fact one police Between his militant forays on similar charges for criminal Dirlewanger Brigade (at first report described him as “a men- Dirlewanger still found time recidivism. He was sent to the designated as a battalion, later tally unstable, violent fanatic to study. In 1922 he obtained Welzheim concentration camp, expanded to a regiment and a and alcoholic, who had the hab- a doctorate in political science which was standard practice brigade, and eventually a divi- it of erupting into violence un- from Goethe University Frank- for deviant sexual offenders in sion), composed originally of a der the influence of drugs.” furt. Germany at the time. small group of former poachers He joined various Freikorps The following year, he joined Dirlewanger was released and along with soldiers of a more right-wing paramilitary mili- the Nazi Party and its SA mili- reinstated in the general reserve conventional background. tias and fought against German tia, and later also the SS. From of the SS following personal in- It was believed that the excel- communists in Ruhr and Saxo- 1928–1931 he was an execu- tervention of his wartime com- lent tracking and shooting skills ny, and against Polish national- tive director of a textile facto- panion and local NSDAP cadre of the poachers could be put to

48 49 constructive use in the fight tion. He repeatedly pillaged the SS-Oberführer, on 15 August against partisans. ghetto in Lublin, extorting ran- 1944. Later, Dirlewanger’s soldiers soms.” In October, he was awarded were mostly recruited among Atrocities committed by Dir- the Knight’s Cross of the Iron the ever-increasing groups of lewanger included injecting Cross, recommended for it by German convicted criminals strychnine into young Jewish his superior officer in -War (civilian and military) and con- female prisoners, previous- saw, SS-Gruppenführer Heinz centration camp inmates, even- ly undressed and whipped, to Reinefarth (after the war, Reine- tually including mental asylum watch them convulse to death farth lied about his role in War- patients, homosexuals, interned in front of him and his friends saw, even denying Dirlewanger Romani people, and (at the end for entertainment. had been under his command). of the war) even political pris- According to historian Raul Dirlewanger then led his men oners sentenced for their an- Hilberg, this camp was where in joining the efforts to put ti-Nazi beliefs and activities. “one of the first instances that down the Slovak National Up- Although other Strafbatail- reference was made to the BLACK HUNTERS: 36th rising in October 1944, eventu- lons (Penal Battalions) were ‘soap-making rumour”. Waffen Grenadier Division ally being posted on front lines raised as the war proceeded and According to the rumour, Dir- BUTCHERS OF WARSAW: Members of the Dirlewanger Bri- of Hungary and eastern Germa- of the SS, also known as the gade pose for a photograph while carrying out house-to-house the need for further manpow- lewanger “cut up Jewish wom- ny to fight against the advanc- Dirlewanger Brigade or Black searches in Warsaw. They committed atrocities on such a scale er grew, these penal military en and boiled them with horse Hunters. that even the brutal SS were shocked. ing Red Army. units were for those convicted meat to make soap.” In February 1945, the unit of military offences, whereas Dirlewanger’s leadership was into a “storm brigade” and used Germans were shot and set on his superior officer in -War was expanded again and re-des- the recruits sent to Dirlewanger characterized by continued al- in the suppression of the War- fire with flamethrowers. saw, SS-Gruppenführer Heinz ignated as an SS Grenadier di- Brigade were convicted of ma- cohol abuse, looting, sadistic saw Uprising. SS-Obergruppenführer Erich Reinefarth (after the war, Reine- vision. That same month, Dir- jor crimes such as premeditated atrocities, rape, and murder - Dirlewanger led his “butch- von dem Bach-Zelewski, over- farth lied about his role in War- lewanger was shot in the chest murder, rape, arson and burgla- and his mentor Berger tolerated ers, rapists and looters” into all commander of the forces saw, even denying Dirlewanger while fighting against the Soviet ry. this behaviour, as did Himmler, action against the Warsaw Up- pacifying Warsaw – and Dir- had been under his command). forces near Guben in Branden- Dirlewanger provided them who so urgently needed men rising. In Warsaw, Dirlewanger lewanger’s former superior Dirlewanger then led his men burg and sent to the rear. with an opportunity to commit such as the Sonderkommando participated in the Wola massa- officer in Belarus – described in joining the efforts to put It was his twelfth and final in- atrocities on such a scale that it Dirlewanger in his fight against cre, together with police units Dirlewanger as having “a typ- down the Slovak National Up- jury in the war. On 22 April, he even raised complaints within what Himmler referred to as rounding up and shooting some ical mercenary nature”. rising in October 1944, eventu- went into hiding. the brutal SS. ‘sub-humanity’. 40,000 civilians, most of them After the war, Heinz Guderi- ally being posted on front lines The unit was assigned to se- In February 1942, the unit in just two days. an claimed that as the chief-of- of Hungary and eastern Germa- Death curity duties first in General was assigned to “anti-bandit” In the same Wola district, Dir- staff of the Army High Com- ny to fight against the advanc- Dirlewanger was arrested on Government (occupied Poland), operations (Bandenbekämp- lewanger burned three hospitals mand, he advised Hitler to ing Red Army. 1 June 1945 near the town of where Dirlewanger served as an fung) in Belarus. Dirlewanger’s with patients inside, while the have Dirlewanger’s unit with- In February 1945, the unit Altshausen in Upper Swabia by SS-TV commandant of a labour preferred method was to herd nurses were “whipped, gang- drawn from the city, and that was expanded again and re-des- the French occupation zone au- camp at Stary Dzików. the local population inside a raped and finally hanged naked, even Himmler’s liaison officer ignated as an SS Grenadier di- thorities while he was wearing The camp was the subject of barn, set the barn on fire, and together with the doctors” to Fegelein agreed. However, Hit- vision. That same month, Dir- civilian clothes, using a false an abuse investigation by the then shoot with machine guns the accompaniment of the pop- ler continued to praise Dirle- lewanger was shot in the chest name and hiding in a remote SS judge Georg Konrad Mor- anyone who tried to escape. ular song “In München steht ein wanger’s unit. while fighting against the Soviet hunting lodge. He was recog- gen, who accused Dirlewanger Rounded-up civilians would Hofbräuhaus”. In recognition of his work forces near Guben in Branden- nised by a former Jewish con- of wanton acts of murder, cor- be also routinely used as human Later, they drank, raped and to crush the uprising and in- burg and sent to the rear. It was centration camp inmate, and ruption and Rassenschande or shields and marched over mine- murdered their way through the timidate the population of the his twelfth and final injury in brought to a detention centre. race defilement (Morgen con- fields. Old Town, slaughtering civil- city, Dirlewanger received his the war. On 22 April, he went He reportedly died around sequently himself was reduced In mid-1944, during the ians and fighters alike without final promotion, to the rank of into hiding. 5–7 June 1945 in a prison camp in rank and sent to the Eastern Operation Bagration, Dirle- distinction of age or sex. SS-Oberführer, on 15 August In recognition of his work at Altshausen, probably as a re- Front). wanger’s unit suffered heavy In the Old Town – where about 1944. to crush the uprising and in- sult of ill-treatment from fellow According to Morgen, “Dir- losses during fighting against 30,000 civilians were killed – In October, he was awarded timidate the population of the prisoners. lewanger was a nuisance and Red Army regulars. It was then several thousand wounded in the Knight’s Cross of the Iron city, Dirlewanger received his a terror to the entire popula- hastily rebuilt and reformed field hospitals overrun by the Cross, recommended for it by final promotion, to the rank of 50 51 Forged in grenade, coupled with their per- observer of the conflict, a reas- the grenade could throw lethal ceived danger to the user and sessment was quickly made and fragments farther than this; af- battle their lack of utility meant that the Board of Ordnance was in- ter throwing, the user had to they were regarded as increas- structed to develop a practical take cover immediately. ingly obsolete pieces of mili- hand grenade. Approximately 75,000,000 Grenades tary equipment. grenades were manufactured In 1902, the British War Of- Fragmentation grenade during World War I, used in These small but often deadly weapons have been around since as early as 741 AD and they can still fice announced that hand gre- William Mills, a hand gre- the war and remaining in use be found on the modern battlefield. They have been forged in battle. nades were obsolete and had no nade designer from Sunderland, through to the Second World place in modern warfare. patented, developed and manu- War. At first, the grenade was he use of grenades as a The first cast iron bombshells together with its size and Within two years, follow- factured the “Mills bomb” at fitted with a seven-second fuse, weapon has been around and grenades did not appear in shape. ing the success of the Mills Munition Factory in but during combat in the Battle Tfor a long time. In fact Europe until 1467. Improvised grenades improvised Birmingham, England in 1915, of France in 1940, this delay rudimentary incendiary gre- The word “grenade” originat- were increasingly used grenades in designating it the No.5. It was proved too long, giving defend- nades appeared in the Eastern ed during the events surround- from the mid-19th century, the trench described as the first “safe gre- ers time to escape the explosion Roman (Byzantine) Empire as ing the Glorious Revolution in being especially useful in warfare nade”. or to throw the grenade back, so far back as 741 AD. 1688, where cricket ball-sized trench warfare. In the Amer- conditions of The Mills had a grooved cast the delay was reduced to four The previous century, the iron spheres packed with gun- ican Civil War, both sides the Russo-Japanese War, iron “pineapple” with a central seconds. Byzantines had invented Greek powder and fitted with slow- used hand grenades equipped and reports from Gen- striker held by a close hand le- Fire, a very basic type of flame- burning wicks were first used with a plunger that detonated eral Sir Aylmer Hal- ver and secured with a pin. A Stick grenade thrower. against the Jacobites in the bat- the device on impact. Impro- dane, a British competent thrower could man- Stick grenades have a long They then discovered that tles of Killiecrankie and Glen vised hand grenades were also age 15 metres with rea- handle attached to the grenade Greek Fire could be put into Shiel. used to great effect by the Rus- sonable accu- proper, providing leverage stone and ceramic jugs and The word “grenade” is like- sian defenders of Port Arthur racy, but for longer throwing dis- thrown at the enemy. The use ly derived from Old French during the Russo-Japanese War. tance, at the cost of addi- of Greek fire spread to Muslim pomegranate and influenced by The problem with early gre- tional weight. armies in the Near East, Spanish granada, as the nades was that they were often The term “stick gre- from where it reached fragmenting bomb as dangerous for the user as they nade” commonly re- China by the 10th is reminiscent were for the intended target. fers to the German century. of the many- The lack of an effective hand Stielhandgranate seeded fruit, introduced in 1915

52 53 and developed throughout as the US Mk 40 concussion normal, unstimulated state. The be released when the grenade is ary grenades is practically the Another type is the throwing World War I. A friction igniter grenade, are specifically de- loud blast causes temporary loss ignited. same as that of a smoke gre- practice grenade which is com- was used; this method was un- signed for use against enemy of hearing, and also disturbs the There are two main types, nade. The filler is 600 to 800 pletely inert and often cast in common in other countries but divers and frogmen. Underwa- fluid in the ear, causing loss of one producing coloured smoke grams of thermate, which is an one piece. It is used to give sol- widely used for German gre- ter explosions kill or otherwise balance. for signalling, and the other for improved version of World War diers a feel for the weight and nades. incapacitate the target by creat- These grenades are designed screening smoke. In coloured II-era thermite. The chemical shape of real grenades and for A pull cord ran down the hol- ing a lethal shockwave under- to temporarily neutralize the smoke grenades, the filler con- reaction that produces the heat practicing precision throwing. low handle from the detona- water. combat effectiveness of ene- sists of 250 to 350 grams of is called a thermite reaction. In tor within the explosive head, mies by disorienting their sens- coloured smoke mixture (most- this reaction, powdered alumin- Various fuses can be used, de- terminating in a porcelain ball Anti-tank grenade es. ly potassium chlorate, lactose ium metal and iron oxide react pending on the purpose of the held in place by a detachable A range of hand-thrown gre- and a dye). to produce a stream of molten grenade. base closing cap. To use the nades has been designed for Sting grenade Screening smoke grenades iron and aluminium oxide. This grenade, the base cap was un- use against armoured vehicles. Sting grenades, also known as usually contain HC (hexachlo- reaction produces a tremen- Impact fuse screwed, permitting the ball An early, fairly weak example stingball or sting ball grenades, roethane/zinc) smoke mixture dous amount of heat, burning Examples of grenades fitted and cord to fall out. Pulling the was the British Sticky bomb of are stun grenades based on the or TA (terephthalic acid) smoke at 2,200 °C. This makes incen- with impact fuses are the Ger- cord dragged a roughened steel 1940. Designs such as the Ger- design of the fragmentation mixture. HC smoke contains diary grenades useful for de- man M1913 and M1915 Disk- rod through the igniter, causing man Panzerwurfmine (L) and grenade. Instead of using a met- hydrochloric acid and is harm- stroying weapons caches, artil- ushandgranate, and any British it to spark and start the five-sec- the Soviet RPG-43, RPG-40, al casing to produce shrapnel, ful to breathe. These grenades lery, and vehicles. The thermite grenade fitted with the Allways ond fuse burning. This simple RPG-6 and RKG-3 series of they are made from hard rubber can become hot enough to scald burns without an external oxy- fuse such as the No 69 grenade, design (popularly known as the grenades used a HEAT warhead and are filled with around 100 or burn unprotected skin. gen source, allowing it to burn No 77 grenade and No 82 gre- “potato masher”) continued to on one end and some method to rubber balls. On detonation, the underwater. Thermite incendi- nade (Gammon bomb). evolve throughout the First and stabilize flight and increase the rubber balls, and shrapnel from Riot grenade ary grenades are not intended to Second World Wars, with the likelihood of the 90 degree hit the rubber casing explode out- Tear gas grenades are similar be thrown and generally have Timed fuse Model 24 grenade becoming necessary for the shaped charge ward in all directions as a form to smoke grenades in shape and a shorter delay fuse than other In a timed fuse grenade, the one of the most easily recog- to be effective. of less-lethal shrapnel. These operation. In tear gas grenades grenades (e.g. two seconds). fuse is ignited on the release of nized of all German small arms. Due to improvements in projectiles may ricochet. It is the filler is generally 80 to 120 White phosphorus can be the safety lever, and detonation Other stick grenades were modern tank armour, anti-tank intended that people struck by grams of CS gas (2-chloroben- used as an incendiary agent. It occurs following a timed delay. made, including the Russian hand grenades are generally the projectiles will receive a se- zalmalononitrile) combined burns at a temperature of 2,800 Timed fuse grenades are gen- RGD-33 and Model 1914 gre- considered obsolete. Howev- ries of fast, painful stings, with- with a pyrotechnic composition °C. White phosphorus was used erally preferred to hand-thrown nades, the German Model 43 er, they can still be used with out serious injury. Some types which burns to generate an aer- in the No 76 Special Incendiary percussion grenades because grenade and the British No 1 modest success against lightly have an additional payload of osol of CS-laden smoke. This Grenade by the British Home their fusing mechanisms are Grenade and Sticky bomb. armoured vehicles. CS gas. causes extreme irritation to the Guard during World War II. safer and more robust than those Sting grenades do not relia- eyes and, if inhaled, to the nose Thermite and white phospho- used in percussion grenades. Concussion grenade Stun grenade bly incapacitate people, so they and throat. rus cause some of the worst and Fuses are frequently fixed, The concussion or blast gre- A stun grenade, also known can be dangerous to use against They were used in the Waco most painful burn injuries be- though the Russian UZRGM nade is an anti-personnel de- as a flash grenade or a flash- armed subjects. They can cause Siege. Occasionally CR gas cause they burn so quickly and fuses are interchangeable and vice that is designed to damage bang, is a non-lethal weapon. serious physical injury, espe- (dibenzoxazepine) is used in- at such a high temperature. In allow the delay to be varied, or its target with explosive power The first devices like this were cially the rubber shrapnel from stead of CS. addition, white phosphorus is replaced by a zero-delay pull alone. created in the 1960s at the order the casing. very poisonous: a dose of 50– fuse. This is potentially danger- These grenades are usual- of the British Special Air Ser- Incendiary grenade 100 milligrams is lethal to the ous due to the risk of confusion. ly classed as offensive weap- vice as an incapacitate. Smoke grenade Incendiary grenades (or ther- average human. ons because the small effec- It is designed to produce a Smoke grenades are used as mite grenades) produce intense Pull fuse tive casualty radius is much blinding flash of light and loud ground-to-ground or ground-to- heat by means of a chemical re- Practice grenade A pull fuse is a zero-delay less than the distance it can be noise without causing perma- air signalling devices, target or action. Seventh-century “Greek Practice grenades are similar fuse used in booby traps: the thrown. The concussion effect, nent injury. The flash produced landing zone marking devices, fire” first used by the Byzantine in handling and function to oth- grenade detonates immediately rather than any expelled frag- momentarily activates all light and to create a smoke-screen Empire, which could be lit and er hand grenades, except that when the striker retaining pin ments, is the effective killer. sensitive cells in the eye, mak- for concealment. The body is a thrown in breakable pottery, they only produce a loud pop- is removed. The pin is typically They have also been used as ing vision impossible for ap- sheet-steel cylinder with emis- could be considered the earliest ping noise and a puff of smoke attached to a tripwire. anti-personnel depth charges proximately five seconds, un- sion holes in the top and bot- form of incendiary grenade. on detonation. The grenade around watercraft; some, such til the eye restores itself to its tom. These allow the smoke to The body of modern incendi- body can be reused. 54 55 With the Germans retreating from Poland ahead of the to do was cross the river, and Soviet advance, the Polish underground resistance, led Warsaw was theirs for the tak- by the Home Army, launched an operation to liberate ing. battlefield Warsaw. What followed was one of the most tragic be- Yet when they reached the Vistula, they halted on the or- trayals of the war. ders of none other than Soviet leader Joseph Stalin. They sat very year, at precisely 17h00 on 1 Au- from Warsaw are known, held and watched while the Germans gust sirens will begin to wail in Warsaw, concerts, had poetry reading, regained control of the city. Poland. People will stop and stand with and generally celebrated their E But what was the reason for their head bowed solemnly. Cars will stop and newly earned freedom. Unbe- this inaction? It was simple. people will get out and stand next to the vehi- known to them it was to be the Stalin hated the Poles almost as W cle. At various places flares are set off. city’s last taste of freedom for much as he hated the Germans. After a minute people will resume whatev- forty-four years. Stalin considered the Poles his er they were doing and get on with their lives. a arch-enemy. And it all stemmed This is how Warsaw remembers one of the cen- Betrayal back to the Soviet-Polish War tral events in its history - the Uprising of 1944. General Komorowski knew r between 1919 and 1921. It was from the outset that the Home a war in which the Bolsheviks Background Army had no chance of ever RESISTANCE: Female members of the Polish resistance. Many were humiliated and the Poles s By the Summer of 1944 the tides of war were holding Warsaw against the are dressed in captured German uniforms and most use cap- tured German weapons. were able to claim all disputed turning against the Germans. The Americans Germans, and it had never been territories from the Russians, and the British had landed in Normandy, and part of the plan. a soon to bring her liberation. ... No stone can remain standing. including Lwow (now Lviv, in the Red Army was rapidly advancing from the All they needed to do was The Polish Army now entering Every building must be razed to the Ukraine) and Wilno (now East. And the Russian were approaching War- displace the German troops sta- Polish territory, trained in the its foundation,” Himmler told Vilnius, in Lithuania). w saw, the capital of Poland. tioned in the city and hold the Soviet Union, is now joined an SS officers conference on 17 It was during the same war that The Poles had been waiting for their oppor- town for several days before the to the People’s Army to form October 1944. Stalin was almost court-martial tunity since the Nazi’s first occupied Warsaw. Russians arrived. the Corps of the Polish Armed The Germans brought in led for his inadequacies a mili- On 1 August 1944 General ‘Bor’ Komorowski For some time the Polish Forces, the armed arm of our heavy reinforcements and the tary commander. finally ordered the Armia Krajowa (AK), the service of Radio Moscow had nation in its struggle for in- full force of their firepower: Now that the Germans were Home Army, to rise up and claim Warsaw back been appealing for Warsaw to dependence. Its ranks will be tanks, rocket launchers, and doing such a good job of de- from the Nazis. rise up. joined tomorrow by the sons of air raids were just some of the stroying his bitter enemies, Sta- U The Nazis had held the city for four years. On 25 July, the Union of Pol- Warsaw. They will all together, hazards the ill-equipped Poles lin certainly didn’t want to stop Now it was time to take it back. ish Patriots, in a broadcast from with the Allied Army pursue the had to contend with. The city them. Moreover, with the last At 17h00 on 1 August between 25,000 and Moscow, stated: “The Polish p enemy westwards, wipe out the became a giant war zone and of Poland’s home-based sol- 50,000 soldiers and civilian volunteers (includ- Army of Polish Patriots ... calls Hitlerite vermin from Polish land civilians were not spared. diers and leaders destroyed, he ing women and children) took up arms and on the thousands of brothers r and strike a mortal blow at the What was supposed to have would be free to work his will began an assault on key strategical positions thirsting to fight, to smash the beast of Prussian Imperialism.” been a coup lasting two or three over the ruined country. throughout the city. foe before he can recover from While the Germans may have days turned into a bloody and Moreover, kindly ‘Uncle Joe’ i Only about 10% of them were armed at the his defeat ... Every Polish home- initially been taken by surprise, bitter struggle that lasted for 63 deliberately obstructed the rest start, but they quickly helped themselves to stead must become a strong- they soon reacted. When Ger- days. of the Allies from dispatching captured German weapons. hold in the struggle against the s man Reichsführer of the SS But wait! Where was the Red aid to the insurgents - refusing The timing of the operation seemed perfect. invaders ... Not a moment is to Heinrich Himmler heard about Army? Why had they not come even to allow the Americans The Germans were retreating and the Red Army be lost.” the uprising he decreed that the to the rescue of the doomed and the Brits to use precious air i was approaching the outskirts of Warsaw. On 29 July 1944 Radio Sta- whole city and its population Poles? They were sitting on the bases that were now under So- The Germans were taken by surprise and in tion Kosciuszko located in should be destroyed as an ex- sidelines, watching the events viet control. n the first few days the Home Army won sever- Moscow emitted a few times its ample to the rest of Europe. unfold. al bloody skirmishes. The red and white of the “Appeal to Warsaw” and called “The city must completely The Wola Massacre Polish national flag flew over the Old Town. to “Fight The Germans!”: “No g disappear from the surface of the Betrayal The Uprising reached its peak The mood was triumphant in those areas lib- doubt Warsaw already hears earth and serve only as a trans- The Red Army had reached on 4 August when the Home erated by the Home Army. Varsovians, as those the guns of the battle which is port station for the Wehrmacht. the Vistula River. All they had Army soldiers managed to es- 56 57 tablish front lines in the west- the sewers, from where they sent to German POW camps stroyed block by block, and ernmost boroughs of Wola and continued to orchestrate and or managing to go into hiding. when the Russians finally Ochota. co-ordinate attacks. A staggering 250,000 civilians crossed the Vistula to liberate It was at this stage, however, The Home Army lacked sup- were killed during the Upris- the city, they inherited only ru- that German reinforcements be- plies of any kind. They were ing. Meanwhile the German ins. gan to arrive. On the same day almost out of ammunition and suffered 10,000 fatalities with Later, in the years directly SS General Erich von dem Bach food was almost non existent. nearly as many again wounded. following the War, as the Poles was appointed commander of all Every animal in the city had tried to rebuild their shattered the forces employed against the been eaten - even the vermin. The aftermath country under Communist lead- Uprising. Moreover, the Germans were For 63 days the people of ership, it was forbidden to talk As the Germans advanced, in control of the water and pow- Warsaw had struggled and suf- of the brave soldiers of the Up- special SS, police and Weh- er supplies. fered. Yet that was only the be- rising. rmacht groups went from house As the battle for the city raged ginning of their suffering. The movement was de- to house, shooting the inhabitants on, with Varsovians dying at a The Germans were the first to nounced as illegal and every ef- regardless of age or gender and rate of 2,000 a day, it became punish Warsaw and its people fort was made to slander those burning their bodies. Estimates SEARCH AND DESTROY: A pair of German STuG III self-pro- only a matter of time before the for daring to defend its free- involved. Keen to behead Pol- of civilians killed in Wola and pelled guns operating in the suburbs of Warsaw. rebels were forced to capitulate. dom. Hitler ordered the city to ish society of its heroes and in- Ochota range from 20,000 to as They finally did so on October be all but wiped off the face of telligentsia Stalin sent many of high as 100,000. low the Western Allies to use sending planes in defiance of 2nd, 63 days after the Uprising the earth and special units were the surviving members of the The main perpetrators were its airports for the airdrops for Stalin, to “see what happens”. began. brought in to systematically AK to Siberia for lengthy spells Oskar Dirlewanger and Bron- several weeks, so the planes American wanted Russia to In the two month struggle detonate any building of the of hard labour, whilst he exe- islav Kaminski, whose forces had to use bases in the United declare war on Japan. Unwill- 18,000 Home Army soldiers remotest importance to Polish cuted those whom he perceived committed the cruelest atrocities. Kingdom and Italy which re- ing to upset Stalin before the died and 12,000 were wound- culture. as particularly dangerous. The actions against the civil- duced their carrying weight and Yalta Conference on 26 August, ed with the survivors either The city was effectively de- ian population were designed to number of sorties. The Allies’ Roosevelt was not willing to crush the Poles’ will to fight and specific request for the use of upset Stalin in any way. And put the uprising to an end with- landing strips made on 20 Au- Stalin knew it. out having to commit to heavy gust was denied by Stalin on 22 Finally on 18 September city fighting. All it did was stiff- August. the Soviets allowed a USAAF Journal of the South African Legion Tydskrif van die Suid-Afrikaanse Legioen en the Pole’s will to fight. Stalin referred to the Pol- flight of 107 B-17 Flying For- Until mid-September, the ish resistance as “a handful of tresses of the Eighth Air Force’s Germans shot all captured re- criminals” and stated that the 3rd Division to re-fuel and re- The SA Legion is a national organisation, part of a world- sistance fighters on the spot, Uprising was inspired by “en- load at Soviet airfields used in wide family that addresses the needs of ex-service per- but from the end of September, emies of the Soviet Union”. Operation Frantic, but it was some of the captured Polish sol- Thus, by denying land- too little too late. sonnel and their dependents by way of housing, pensions, diers were treated as POWs. ing rights to Allied aircraft on The planes dropped 100 tons employment and general welfare. It is apolitical, non-sec- Soviet-controlled territory the of supplies but only 20 were re- tarian, non-racial, non-sexist and non-partisan. Airdrops Soviets vastly limited effec- covered by the resistance due to From 4 August the Western tiveness of Allied assistance to the wide area over which they The Springbok is the official journal of the South African Allies began supporting the the Uprising, and even fired at were spread. The vast majority Legion. Read the February issue of Springbok by clicking Uprising with airdrops of mu- Allied airplanes which carried of supplies fell into German- on the cover to the left. nitions and other supplies. supplies from Italy and strayed held areas. The flights were carried out into Soviet-controlled airspace. Editor’s Note by the 1568th Polish Special American support was also The inevitable end The SA Legion is an organisation that all South African military veterans should consider becom- Duties Flight of the Polish Air limited. After Stalin’s objec- There was no way that the ing a member of. Force, No. 148 and No. 178 tions to supporting the uprising, Home Army could compete The SA Legion is dedicated to: RAF Squadrons, and No. 31 British Prime Minister Win- with the reinforced German • Fostering the spirit of self-sacrifice, comradeship and co-operation that inspired members of the and No. 34 Squadrons of the ston Churchill telegraphed U.S. troops. armed forces to work together in the common interest of their country. South African Air Force. President Franklin D. Roosevelt The Polish insurgents were • Perpetuating the memory of those who fell and were left behind to lie in foreign fields. The Soviet Union did not al- on 25 August and proposed forced into hiding, often into Find out more about the SA Legion by visiting their website by clicking here. 52 53 Gaming

Hitting the beaches with his sun tan lotion and water wings,Matt O’ Brien realises that Normandy on 6th June 1944 was not the ideal place for a holiday.

n the very first edition of Cherbourg, Operation Cobra, The Germans can build a va- Military Despatches, back Operation Lüttich, and the Fal- riety of structures. The Weh- Iin July 2017, the very first aise Pocket. rmacht quarters, Krieg barracks game I reviewed was Company The game play is simple. You and Sturm armory lets players of Heroes 2. take control of a point on the create infantry. The Wehrmacht This month, however, I’m go- map where your headquarters is Quarters and Krieg Barracks can ing back to a classic - the origi- situated and you will start with a build light vehicles and other in- nal Company of Heroes. squad of engineers. fantry, while the Sturm Armory The game won numerous You need to collect three dif- and the Panzer Command de- awards for Game of the Year, ferent types of resources: man- ploys German tanks at the play- Best Strategy Game, Best Use of power, munitions, and fuel. er’s disposal. you the choice of using: use of the troops and vehicles to build up your forces. You can Sound. It was released in 2066, Manpower is necessary to pro- Units and vehicles can be up- • Royal Canadian Artillery. that you have available and use mortars to cover the bridge so it’s not a new game by any duce all units. Munitions allows graded, making them even more • Royal Commandos. careful plan upgrades to them. to stop the enemy from attempt- stretch of the imagination. The players to upgrade individual useful. • Royal Engineers You also need to use them to the ing to repair it. When you are good news is that it will run on squads or vehicles and use spe- At the start of a skirmish game It also comes with two new best advantage. ready, you can repair the bridge most old computers. cial abilities. Fuel allows players you can choose a company type campaigns. The British cam- As on any battlefield, terrain is and go on the offensive. The game is part of a pack- to purchase tanks and other ve- (US Army) or a doctrine type paign is based on the Libera- important, and you need to make Company of Heroes is a good age and comes with the original hicles, build base buildings and (Wehrmacht). tion of Caen and features six good use of it. The use of cover game and one that I can recom- game as well as two add-ons - acquire global upgrades. The choices for the US Army missions. These are D-Day+1, is also vital. mend. Opposing Fronts and Tales of Capturing new control points are: Operation Epsom, Operation It’s no use sending a squad of Valour. will give you more resources. • Infantry Company. Windsor, Operation Jupiter, Op- infantry up a road that is covered The original game comes with Resource points must always be • Airborne Company. eration Charnwood, and Opera- by an Mg-42 machine gun. You two playable factions - the US connected as any unconnected • Armor Company tion Goodwood. will need to try and outflank the Army and the German Wehr- captured points can not produce The German choices are: The Panzer Elite have three position. Or if your troops have macht. There are three different resources. • Defensive Doctrine. doctrines. They are: smoke grenades available, use games modes. Your engineers can build cer- • Blitzkrieg Doctrine. • Scorched Earth. them to create a smoke screen First of all you can play against tain buildings and structures. • Terror Doctrine. • Luftwaffe Tactics. before advancing on the posi- other players online or you can The Americans can build a bar- In skirmish mode you can • Tank Destroyer Tactics. tion. play skirmish mode. racks and weapons support cen- play either Victory Point Con- The Panzer Elite campaign Besides just erecting build- In skirmish mode you pick a ter to deploy infantry, a motor trol or Annihilation. In the first is centred around Operation ings, your engineers can also side, pick one of the available pool and tank depot for tanks, mode you need to control a cer- Market Garden and their mis- build defensive structures such maps, and then battle against the vehicles and anti-tank guns. The tain number of victory points to sions are Wolfheze, Oosterbeek, as sandbags, barbed wire and AI (computer). triage center can heal nearby win the game. Hell’s Highway, and Cleaning tank traps. They can also lay There is also a campaign mode units that have been wounded In annihilation mode you have up. down mines or even demolish were you will take the US Army from enemy fire. A supply yard to take out every opposition Company of Heroes is a pret- structures such as bridges. through a series of six missions, is also required to be built before unit, vehicle and building. ty decent game. And it’s also a Engineers can also repair ve- Publisher - THQ good game for those that have hicles and structures. If there is each with a number of objec- building a motor pool or tank Opposing Fronts adds two Genre - RTS tives that must be achieved. depot which enables upgrades new playable factions to the never played an RTS (Real Time only a single bridge across a riv- The six missions are D-Day, to reduce costs of infantry and game. - the British Army and the Strategy) game. er, your engineers can blow the Score - 8/10 Battle of Carentan, Battle of tanks. Panzer Elite. The British give You will need to make good bridge. This will give you time Price - R219 (on Steam) 60 61 Book Review Movie The Longest Day Review Released: 1962 Running time: 178 minutes Journey Without Boundaries Director: Ken Annakin, Andrew Marton, Bernhard Wicki his is the extraordinary 7 January 1974 and within a few eleased in 1962 and shot es defending northern France. Ranger Assault Group’s assault tale of an extraordinary weeks he volunteered for Special entirely in black and The film pays particular at- on the Pointe du Hoc, the attack Tman. An honestly told Forces selection, a course that he white, The Longest Day tention to the decision by Gen- on Ouistreham by Free French story of his military career, of a would successfully complete. R man who was twice decorated for Andre would eventually serve is a war epic based on Cornelius eral Eisenhower, Supreme Com- Forces and the strafing of the Ryan’s book of the same name. mander of SHAEF, to go after beaches by two lone Luftwaffe valour, who pioneered and devel- in the Special Forces for two dec- It was produced by Darryl F. reviewing the initial bad-weath- pilots. oped the concept of “small team ades and would also pioneer the Zanuck and is about the D-Day er reports as well as reports about The film concludes with a reconnaissance” within the South concept of small team operations. landings in Normandy on 6 June the divisions within the German montage showing various Allied African Special Forces. He rose to the rank of Colonel 1944. High Command as to where an units consolidating their beach- He was a consummate war- within the SADF and was also The film features a large en- invasion might happen or what heads before they advance in- rior and gentleman and has told decorated twice for valour. semble cast including John the response to it should be. land to reach Germany by cross- his story with humility and a dis- Suffering from terminal can- Wayne, Kenneth More, Richard Numerous scenes document ing France. arming sense that what he did cer, Diedies passed away on 7 Todd, Robert Mitchum, Rich- the early hours of 6 June when A colourised version of this was simply the job he was given, May 2005. ard Burton, Steve Forrest, Sean Allied airborne troops were sent film was released on VHS in when even the most cursory read- During his service he was Connery, Henry Fonda, Red in to take key locations inland 1994, the 50th anniversary of ing will show that it was anything awarded with the Honoris Crux Buttons, Peter Lawford, Eddie from the beaches. The French the invasion. but simple or easy. Silver (HCS); Honoris Crux Unitas Medal; Good Service Sil- Albert, Jeffrey Hunter, Stuart resistance is also shown reacting The movie won two Academy André (Diedies) Diedericks (HC); Southern Cross Med- ver (20 years) & Good Service Whitman, Tom Tryon, Rod Stei- to the news that an invasion has Awards and was nominated for was born in Pretoria on 7 Decem- al (SM); Military Merit Medal Bronze (10 years). ger, Leo Genn, Gert Fröbe, Irina started. three others. ber 1955, the youngest of four (MMM); Pro Patria Medal with Demick, Bourvil, Curt Jürgens, The Longest Day chronicles Not as visually graphic as children. He reported for compul- Cunene clasp; Southern Africa Softcover, 212 pages George Segal, Robert Wagner, most of the important events something like Saving Private sory National Military Service on Medal; General Service Medal; Cost: R325 Paul Anka and Arletty. Many surrounding D-Day, from the Ryan, but still well worth watch- of these actors played roles that British glider missions to secure ing. were essentially cameo appear- Pegasus Bridge, the counterat- ances. tacks launched by American In addition, several cast mem- paratroopers scattered around bers – including Fonda, Genn, Sainte-Mère-Église, the infil- More, Steiger and Todd – saw tration and sabotage work con- action as servicemen during the ducted by the French resistance war; Todd was among the first and SOE agents to the response British officers to land in - Nor by the Wehrmacht to the inva- mandy in Operation Overlord, sion and the uncertainty of Ger- and he participated in the assault man commanders as to whether on Pegasus Bridge. it was a feint in preparation for The movie is filmed in the crossings at the Pas de Calais style of a docudrama. Beginning (see Operation Fortitude), where in the days leading up to D-Day, the senior German staff had al- it concentrates on events on both ways assumed it would be. sides of the channel, such as the Set-piece scenes include the Point of the Dagger First In, Last Out Really inside BOSS Allies waiting for the break in parachute drop into Sainte-Mère- R275 R400 R280 the poor weather and anticipat- Église, the advance inshore from Click on the box cover to ing the reaction of the Axis forc- the Normandy beaches, the U.S. watch a trailer of the film. All books are available from Bush War Books 62 63 This month in military history ... June This month in military history ... June Atlas MB326KM Impala to an end. OET) was Killed in Action This month in military history Mk II was shot down by an- • 1908 - Sir Redvers Henry during a contact with PLAN Some of the significant military events that happened in June. Highlighted in blue are the names ti-aircraft fire near Cuvelai in Buller, British general dur- insurgents in Northern of those members of the South African Defence Force (SADF) that lost their lives during the month Southern Angola while car- ing Second Anglo-Boer War, Owamboland. He was 25. of June. rying out close-air support dies. • 1986 - Rifleman T. Kefas operations. He was 35. • 1940 - Heavy German bomb- from 101 Battalion SWATF 1 June gin covering much of Brit- Tsumeb. He was 19. • 1982 - Private Robert Wil- ing of the Dunkirk beach- was Killed in Action during ain with smoke screens, as • 1980 - Umkhonto weSizwe liam Benjamin Ostram from head. a contact with PLAN insur- • 1879 - Eugene Louis Jean the Air Force Command Post • 1944 - WWII: North Afri- gents near the Cut-Line. He Joseph Napoleon, the 22 troops crowd assembly areas strikes at the Sasol Complex, for D-Day. causing damage estimated at in Windhoek was critical- ca. North Africa is used as was 24. year old Prince Imperial of ly injured on 29 May 1982 a base of operations for Op- • 1986 - Staff Sergeant L. Mu- France, is killed in the An- • 1948 - Cease-fire ends Israeli R66 million. War for Independence. • 1980 - Two members from when he fell off the back of eration Frantic – 130 Fly- torwa from 202 Battalion glo-Zulu War when he and a moving vehicle in Wind- ing Fortresses fly to Russia, SWATF was Killed in Action a British reconnaissance • 1964 - Military coup installs 102 Battalion SWATF were a junta in Greece. killed when their Buffel hoek. He succumbed to his bombing targets in Romania during a contact with PLAN party are attacked by about injuries in the Windhoek and Hungary as they go. insurgents near the Angolan forty Zulus in the vicinity of • 1976 - Lance Corporal No- Troop Carrier overturned in lind Trevor Small from 4 the Operational Area. They State Hospital on 1 June • 1978 - US offers to airlift Border. He was 28. Itelezi Mountain and Ityo- 1982. He was 21. French paratroopers out of • 1989 - Sapper Francois tyozi River in Zululand. The SAI was killed just north of were: Rifleman B. Herunga Grootfontein after he appar- ((22). Rifeman J. Matundu • 1988 - Two members from the escalating violence in Crowley from the School of prince’s horse, “Fate”, bolts 101 Battalion SWATF were southern Zaire. Engineers was accidentally and the prince, in attempting ently suffered a seizure and (20). blacked out while behind • 1981 - Festivities to mark Killed in Action during a • 1979 - Rifleman Abraham killed when a telephone pole to mount his fleeing horse, is contact with enemy forces Johannes Willemse from the fell on top of him. He was stabbed to death. the wheel of the military the twentieth anniversary of Landrover he was driving. the South African Republic in Southern Angola. They Infantry School was killed in 23. • 1915 - First Zeppelin air raid were: Rifleman G K Sem- a private motor vehicle acci- • 1995 - USAF Capt Scott over England. The vehicle left the road and reach a climax with a mas- collided with a water tower sive military display in Dur- ba (24). Rifleman J Savinga dent at Wellington while on a O’Grady’s F-16C shot down • 1916 - Battle of Jutland: (26). 7-day pass. He was 20. over Bosnia. Fleets return to port. which collapsed on top of ban, attended by P.W. Botha, the vehicle. He was 19. the Prime Minister. • 1981 - 2nd Lieutenant Christ- • 2004 - DR Congo rebel lead- • 1917 - The French Army 2 June offel Petrus Taylor from 1 er General. Laurent Nkunda “Mutinies” begin: Troops go • 1977 - Private Johannes Jur- • 1981 - Rifleman Gavin John • 1879 - A 1000-strong search Parachute Battalion died in 1 takes the town of Bukavu on strike. Order is restored in gens Lensley from 16 Main- Harvey from “B” Company, party finds the body of the Military Hospital after being after a week of fighting with about four weeks, with min- tenance Unit was killed af- 1 Parachute Battalion was Prince Imperial of France, critically injured on 29 May army troops. imal violence, and the Ger- ter being struck by a bullet severely wounded during Louis Napoleon, who was 1981. He was 20. mans never learn of them during a shooting incident at follow-up operations against killed when Zulu warriors • 1982 - Special Constable 3 June • 1939 - The South African Grootfontein. He was 18. SWAPO/PLAN insurgents attacked a small British re- Petrus Venasio from the • 1935 - Two Italian outposts Police takes over the tasks • 1978 - 2nd Lieutenant Philip on 22 May 1981. He was connaissance party in the South West Africa Police are attacked by Haile Se- of the German South-West Michael Dietlof Mare’ from evacuated to the Hospital in vicinity of Italezi Mountain Counter –Insurgency Wing: lassie’s troops in Ethiopia. African police. 423 mem- 6 Squadron was killed while Grootfontein where he was and Ityotozi River in Zulu- Ops-K Division (KOEV- Thirty Ethiopian soldiers are bers of the disbanded police on a routine training flight stabilised before being evac- land the previous day. force are incorporated into out of Air Force Base Port uated by air to 1 Military • 1902 - Second Anglo-Bo- the force. Elizabeth. He was 22. Hospital in Pretoria the fol- er War: British Prime Min- • 1943 - WWII: According to • 1980 - Rifleman Petrus Jo- lowing day. He unfortunate- ister Arthur Balfour reads an entry in the squadron’s hannes Bonnet from 61 ly succumbed to his wounds the terms of surrender to diary, 28 Squadron of the Mechanised Battalion died in 1 Military Hospital on 1 the House of Commons in SA Air Force is formed as of severe chest and lung inju- June 1981. He was 21. London after the signing of a transport squadron at the ries sustained when the Buf- • 1982 - Major Eugene Kotze the Treaty of Vereeniging in SAAF Base Depot Almaza, fel Troop Carrier in which SD, Station Pilot at Air Pretoria on 31 May which Cairo. he was traveling, overturned Force Base Ondangwa was PW Botha brought the Second South • 1944 - Allied forces be- outside the 61 Mech Base in Killed in Action when his African (Anglo-Boer) War 64 65 This month in military history ... June This month in military history ... June killed. amid Allied concerns the • 1979 - Flight-Lieutenant Jer- ZAR. in Durban. He was 27. seize control of Somalia’s • 1940 - World War II: The Germans might stage a Stal- ry Rawlings seizes power • 1916 - Lord Kitchener • 1986 - Seven members from capital, unifying the city for withdrawal of Allied Forces ingrad-style defense that in his first military coup in drowns when the SS Hamp- 250 Air Defence Artillery the first time in 16 years and from Dunkirk ends. would devastate the historic Ghana. shire sinks after being hit by Group, South African Air posing a direct challenge to • 1940 - Major German air ‘Eternal’ city. • 1980 - Three members from a German mine near the Ork- Force were killed in a private the UN-backed government. raid on Paris. • 1963 - British Minister of 32 Battalion were Killed ney Islands. motor vehicle accident in • 1944 - Last Italian air raid War John Profumo resigns in Action, south of Mutu- • 1942 - Midway Campaign: the early hours of the morn- 6 June on Gibraltar, by Mussolini’s over an affair with Christine anjamba (approximately Yamamoto orders the Com- ing while traveling between • 1918 - The US Marines se- “Republican Air Force”. Keeler. 80km inside Angola) during bined Fleet to retire. Pretoria and Hammanskraal. cure Belleau Wood. • 1959 - First US Air Force • 1969 - Joseph-Désiré Mobu- the first phase of Operation • 1942 - USA declares war on They were returning to the • 1944 - D-Day: The Allied Academy graduation. tu’s troops kill over 100 stu- Sceptic. The casualties were: Bulgaria, Hungary, and Ro- Unit from a weekend sports Forces land on the beaches • 1978 - Security Police chief, dents during a demonstration 2nd Lieutenant Pieter van mania. pass. The accident occurred of Normandy in the largest Brigadier C.F. Zietsman, in the Congolese capital Kin- der Walt (19). Staff Sergeant • 1944 - First B-29 raid over 25km from Hammanskraal. sea and air operation in the announces that about 4,000 shasa. Simao Domingos Braz (27). Tokyo; one plane is lost due The casualties were: Cor- military history of the world. South African exiles are un- • 1969 - The Minister of De- Rifleman Joshua Joao (24). to engine failure. poral Michael Christopher • 1968 - Sir Miles Dempsey, dergoing guerrilla training fence, P.W. Botha, accompa- • 1982 - Revised figures for • 1952 - The monument at Marx (19). Airman Deon Commander of the Canadian in Mozambique, Angola, nied by General Hiemstra, the Defence Budget indi- Delville Wood, unveiled on Phillipus Beukes (19). Air- First Army on D-Day, dies at Tanzania and Libya; of these Lieutenant-General J.P. Ver- cate the funds available to 10 October 1926 to honour man Grant Sinclaire Strange the age of 69. about three quarters have ster, Chief of the Air Force the South African Defence the thousands of SA soldiers Braithwaite (18). Airman • 1975 - Britain, France, and been recruited by the ANC. and Lieutenant-General W.P. Force have been increased to who were killed there dur- Matthys Gideon Britz (19). the United States use their • 1984 - Rifleman Gabriel Louw, Chief of the Army, R3,068 million. ing the Battle of the Somme, Airman Dawid Lindeque UN Security Council veto to Kampanza from 203 Battal- visits France (4-10 June). He • 1982 - Israel attacks targets World War I, is rededicated (19). Airman Frans Cor- stop a proposed arms embar- ion SWATF was Killed in denies that the visit involves in south Lebanon. to include World War II. nelius Moolman (19). Air- go against South Africa. Action in a Landmine Ex- the purchase of arms. • 1989 - The Chinese govern- • 1967 - The Six Day War be- man Marthinus Louis Nel • 1977 - Corporal Salmon plosion in Northern Owam- • 1973 - Over four thousand ment ordered its troops to tween Israel and its neigh- (19). Petrus Claasen from the boland. He was 22. French troops are to be with- open fire on unarmed pro- bouring countries Egypt, • 1987 - Two members from Technical Service Corps • 1985 - Rifleman Thomas drawn from Madagascar at testers in Tiananmen Square Jordan and Syria breaks out Infantry School were killed Training Centre died in 1 Daniel from 101 Battalion the request of Gabriel Ra- in Beijing. with Israel launching air in a private motor vehicle Military Hospital after being SWATF was accidentally manantsoa, the head of the • 1992 - Colonel David Fred- strikes on Egypt, destroying accident 8km from Vrede- shot dead in a shooting in- recently imposed military erik Strauss from Air Force most of that country’s air fort while on weekend pass. cident in Northern Owam- government. Headquarters died in 1 Mil- force on the ground. Syria, They were: Rifleman Fran- boland. He was 25. • 1974 - First Woman US itary Hospital from compli- Jordan and Iraq enter the cois Nel (18). Rifleman Pie- Army Aviator: Sally Mur- cations resulting from Brain conflict. ter van der Linde (18). 4 June phy. Cancer. He was 49. • 1978 - Corporal Charles • 1993 - Forces of Somali • 1918 - US and French • 1978 - Warrant Officer II Jo- • 1997 - South Africa an- Benjamin de Villiers from 1 warlord Mohammed Farah halt the Germans at Cha- seph Johannes Burger HCS nounces the development of SAI was killed in a military Aidid ambush UN soldiers teau-Thierry. from 2 SAI was killed in a a revolutionary canon an ex- vehicle accident in Bloem- in Mogadishu, killing twen- • 1942 - Reinhard Heydrich, military vehicle accident at ternally powered gun code- fontein. He was 22. ty-two Pakistani soldiers. Himmler’s henchman, is as- Messina. He was 38. named EMAK3S, designed • 1984 - Rifleman M. Sipipa • 2006 - Islamic militants with sassinated at the age of 38. • 1979 - Rifleman David Jo- by Denel at the request of from 202 Battalion SWATF alleged links to al-Qaida • 1944 - During World War II hannes van Heerden from ARMSCOR. was Killed in Action during a in Europe, Rome was liber- Eastern Province Command contact with SWAPO/PLAN ated by the U.S. 5th Army, was killed at M’pacha after 5 June Insurgents. He was 22. led by General Mark Clark. being struck by a bullet from • 1900 - Second Anglo-Bo- • 1984 - Rifleman Andries Rome had been declared an an accidental discharge of a er War: British troops enter Christiaan Jacobs from Reg- open city by German Field fellow soldiers rifle. He was Pretoria and Lord Roberts iment Port Natal was killed Albert Kesselring Marshal Albert Kesselring 28. captures the capital of the in a military vehicle accident 66 67 This month in military history ... June This month in military history ... June critically injured in a military the south West Africa Police tests an airplane-mounted Kevin Henry Stanley (19). “Ace of Aces” (74 confirmed • 1984 - Two members from vehicle accident. He was 20. Counter-Insurgency Wing: machine gun. • 1981 - Israeli air strikes de- kills, 30+ possibles), dies at 5 Reconnaissance Regiment • 1978 - Sergeant Coenrad Ops-K Division (Koevoet) • 1916 - Germans capture Fort stroy Iraqi nuclear weapons the age of 59. were Killed in Action during Jacobus Theron from 32 were killed in action follow- Vaux, Verdun. facilities. • 1960 - Argentine govern- a contact with enemy forces Battalion Died of Wounds ing a contact with SWAPO/ • 1917 - Battle of Messines: • 1982 - Rifleman Carlos ment demands Israel release in Southern Angola. They in 1 Military Hospital after PLAN insurgents in North- Mines totalling nearly 500 Everisto from 32 Battalion Adolf Eichmann. were: Corporal D. Shiningi- suffering multiple shrapnel ern Owamboland. The casu- tons of explosives demolish was Killed in Action during • 1965 - US troops ordered to vali (24). Lance Corporal K. wounds in a friendly fire in- alties were: Special Warrant the German trenches, and the a contact with enemy forces fight offensively in Vietnam. Awino (22). cident on 6 May. He was 19. Officer J.M. Tsitula (34). Canadian Corps storms the in Southern Angola. He was • 1976 - Corporal Hendrik Jo- • 1985 - Rifleman Izaskar • 1979 - Lance Corporal Hen- Special Sergeant Lindu ridge 21. sias Stephanus Coetzee from Kariko from 911 Battalion drik Swart from SWA SPES Valentino (26). • 1940 - British and French • 1982 - Sergeant Lloyd Mi- 4 Maintenance Unit was SWATF was Killed in Ac- was Killed in Action during a • 1988 - Airman Ian-Roy troops evacuate Narvik, Nor- zwandile Mbele from 5 Re- killed in a military vehicle tion during a contact with contact with SWAPO/PLAN Francois Erasmus from the way. connaissance Regiment was accident at Wenela Base in SWAPO/PLAN insurgents insurgents in the Oshivello Air Force Gymnasium was • 1942 - Battle of Midway: Killed in Action during a the East Caprivi. He was 19. near the Cut-line. He was area. He was 24. killed in a private vehicle ac- The USS ‘Yorktown’ (CV-5) Contact with Enemy Forces • 1979 - Rifleman Johannes 22. • 1980 - Corporal Mario van cident while returning to the goes down, after a desperate in Southern Angola. He was Leonardus Truter from 8 • 1987 - Corporal Jacques Wyk from 32 Battalion was Air Force Gymnasium from fight to save the ship. 28. SAI was critically wounded Barand Zaayman from 1 killed in action. He was 20. a weekend pass. He was 19. • 1942 - The Germans capture • 1985 - Trooper Johannes in the head when his Tempo- SAI was killed on the Ma- • 1981 - Rifleman Robert • 1988 - With a border dis- Sebastopol. Ludwig Basson from 701 rary Base near Beacon 6 was selspoort to Glen Road out- Owen Brindle from SWA pute escalating into bombing • 1944 - British 50th division Battalion SWATF was killed attacked by SWAPO/PLAN side Bloemfontein when his SPES died from a gunshot raids, hundreds of foreigners liberates Bayeux. at M’pacha after being struck insurgents on 4 February. Ratel overturned while he wound accidentally sus- scramble out of Eritrea, fear- • 1962 - Phosphorous bombs by a bullet resulting from an This serious head wound left was instructing a pupil in tained as a result of a acci- ing war with Ethiopia. are detonated at Algiers Uni- accidental discharge of a fel- him completely paralysed driving skills. He was 19. dental discharge of a fellow • 1991 - Rifleman Johannes versity by members of the low soldiers rifle. He was 19. and he remained in intensive • 1988 - Colonel Andre Bek- soldiers rifle at Etale Base. Frederick Lombaard Nel Organisation de l’Armee Se- • 1990 - President F.W. de care in 1 Military Hospital ker from the South African He was 18. from 8 SAI was accidentally crete (OAS), a secret (terror- Klerk lifts the state of emer- until he succumbed to his Air Force was killed when • 1982 - 30,000 Israeli troops killed when he was run over ist) French army organisation gency in SA. wounds on 8 June 1979. He his civilian Christen Husky invade Lebanon to drive out by a Ratel during field ma- opposed to the withdrawal of • 1991 - Several Lesotho army was 19. aircraft crashed at Wonder- the PLO. noeuvres at the Army Battle French troops from Algeria. officers are arrested after • 1981 - 2nd Lieutenant Dun- • 1983 - Rifleman Vincent School. He was 20. • 1967 - Israeli forces reach attempting a counter-coup can Frederick Lahner from Mandla Mthembu from 121 Suez Canal in Egypt, two to reinstate Major-General 32 Battalion was killed when Battalion was Killed when 7 June days into Six-Day War. Metsing Lekhanya, ousted his Buffel Troop Carrier his Buffel Troop Carrier • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer • 1977 - Lieutenant Alwyn on April 30. overturned at Buffalo Base. overturned in Windhoek. He War: The battle of Roodewal Merwe van Zyl from Regi- • 1997 - Foreigners flee heavy He was 21. was 20. Siding takes place near Kop- ment Oranjerivier died in the fighting between rival mili- • 1985 - Captain Curtis McLe- pies, OFS. General De Wet Grootfontein Hospital after tias in Brazzaville, Republic od from 4 Squadron was and eighty men attack two contracting malaria while of Congo. killed when his Atlas MB- companies (172 men) guard- serving in the Operational 326KM Impala crashed at ing a train and supplies. Eight Area. He was 26. 8 June Sandfontein near Lanseria. British soldiers are killed; • 1981 - Two members of the • 1900 - Botha’s Pass in Natal He was 29. twenty-four wounded and South African Medical Corps comes under attack by Gen- • 1985 - 2nd Lieutenant Mark- between 500 and 600 crates were killed after suffering eral Buller’s forces. us Wynand Pearson from of ammunition are taken. multiple shrapnel wounds in • 1948 - John Rudder becomes 7 SAI was killed in action • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer an accidental hand grenade the first black officer in the while on patrol in Southern War: Units under General explosion at Walvis Bay. US Marine Corps. René Fonck Angola. He was 21. Hunter occupy Lichtenburg. They were: Private Henry • 1953 - Colonel René Paul • 1985 - Two members from • 1912 - US Army Air Service John Pieterse (20). Private Fonck, Allied World War I 68 69 This month in military history ... June This month in military history ... June boom Airport during a rou- rectly for the built-up area of accidentally killed while SWAPO/PLAN insurgents Pietersburg during a routine • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer tine training flight. He was Monument Park. Realising busy building a bunker at in Southern Angola. He was training flight. He was 23. War: General Redvers Henry 46. this and although extremely Bagani. He was 20. 24. • 1977 - Dutch Marines rescue Buller occupies Volksrust af- • 1995 - Marines rescue low, he persisted with his left • 1979 - Rifleman Johannes • 1982 - Rifleman K Comox- hostages on a train held by ter a victory at Allemansnek. downed USAF Capt Scott turn in a final effort to avoid Wilhelmus Landerd Jans oxo from 201 Battalion Moluccan terrorists. • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer O’Grady in Bosnia. damage to property and in- from the Johannesburg Reg- SWATF was Killed in Ac- • 1985 - Rifleman Litwayi War: President Steyn issues jury or death to persons on iment was Killed in Action tion during a contact with Herbert from 202 Battalion a proclamation refuting Lord 9 June the ground. The aircraft was in Southern Angola. He was SWAPO/PLAN insurgents SWATF was killed in a mili- Robert’s annexation procla- • 1865 - The Second Basotho by this time so low as to ex- 22. near the Cut-Line. He was tary vehicle accident at Vun- mations. He points out that War, known as Siqiti war, clude the possibility of ejec- • 1980 - Rifleman Jose Miguel 25. gu-Yungu. He was 20. the Orange Free State gov- breaks out. tion and it hit the ground just from 32 Battalion was Killed • 1982 - Israeli troops reach • 1994 - After 49 years, the ernment is still in existence • 1938 - The Chinese breach as it cleared the built-up area, in Action in a landmine ex- outskirts of Beirut. Soviet military occupation of and its military forces are the Yellow River dykes at disintegrating on impact and plosion in Southern Angola • 1991 - Ticker tape parade up East Germany ended. At one still unconquered and thus in Huayangkuou, halting a Jap- killing him instantly. For his during operations against en- Broadway to honour Gulf time there had been 337,800 terms of the Hague Conven- anese offensive at the cost of actions he was awarded a emy forces. He was 29. War veterans. Soviet troops stationed in tion, military rule cannot be perhaps 800,000 lives. posthumous Honoris Crux. • 1980 - Thirteen members Germany. Over 300,000 imposed. • 1940 - French government He was 21. of 61 Mechanised Battalion 11 June Russians died during World • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer flees Paris for Tours, as Ger- and 1 SAI (attached) were • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer War II in the Battle for Ber- War: The two-day Battle of man troops cross the Seine. 10 June Killed in Action or Died of War: Colonel B.T. Mahon lin. Diamond Hill or Donker- • 1940 - Norway surrenders to • 1915 - British and French Wounds during the attack on occupies Potchefstroom. hoek, started on the previous Germany, as King Haakon troops secure German Cam- the PLAN Smokeshell Base • 1900 - The battle of Donker- 12 June day, ends when darkness sets VII flees into exile in Lon- eroon, Africa. complex during Operation hoek (Diamond Hill) marks • 1898 - The Philippines de- in and Comdt.-Gen. Botha don. • 1917 - The South African Sceptic in Southern Angola. the continuation of the South clared their independence orders his burghers to return • 1942 - Nazis raze Lidice, Native Labour Contingent The casualties were: Lieu- African War. from Spain. The islands were to Bronkhorstspruit. The Czechoslovakia. About were recruited and employed tenant Johannes Jacobus Du • 1904 - German Lieuten- named after King Philip II. following day Lord Roberts 1,400 people are slaughtered. to assist Britain in the First Toit (HC) (22). Rifleman ant-General Lothar von Tro- Once freed from Spain, the withdraws to Christinen Hill, • 1944 - Normandy: U.S. VII World War with labour du- Francois Johan Loubser tha lands in Swakopmund, islands were then invaded Sammy Marks’ farm. & V Corps link up to form a ties. (19). Rifleman Petrus Jo- South West Africa. and occupied by U.S. forc- • 1918 - First air raid by an continuous beachhead. • 1944 - Ouradour-sur-Glane: hannes Joubert (19). Rifle- • 1940 - World War II: North es. They became an Ameri- American aviation unit, • 1959 - The first ballistic mis- SS massacre 642 men, wom- man Gert Johannes Venter Africa. British planes raid can colony and remained so France. sile sub is launched from en, and children in a French (25). Rifleman Gerhardus Italian targets in Libya fol- until after World War II. • 1937 - The Purges: Stalin USS ‘George Washington’ village. Johannes Kemp (19). Rifle- lowing Italy’s declaration (SSBN-598). • 1967 - Cease fire ends the man Jacobus Hendrik Fou- of war against Britain and • 1967 - Military service be- Six Day War (Syria, Jordan, rie (20). Corporal Paul Kru- France on the 10th. comes compulsory for White Iraq, Egypt vs. Israel). ger (20). Rifleman Stephen • 1940 - Italian air raid on South African men. • 1974 - Captain Petrus Jo- Maritz Cronje (19). Rifle- Malta. • 1976 - 2nd Lieutenant Kevin hannes Coetzer from 6 SAI man Peter William Warren- • 1940 - RAF raids Genoa and Roy Winterbottom HC (P) suffered severe brain injuries er (19). Rifleman Roberto Turin. from 4 Squadron had just in a private motor vehicle Nicola de Vito (19). Rifle- • 1960 - Libyan president taken off from Air Force base accident on 8 June 1974 near man Michael Clarence Luyt Colonel Muammar Gadhaffi Waterkloof in his Atlas MB- Lichtenburg while on leave. (19). Rifleman Francis John admits to providing funds, Muammar Gadhaffi 326KM Impala Mk II, when He remained on life support Lello (19). Rifleman An- munitions, and training to it suffered engine failure due in 1 Military Hospital until drew John Madden (19). the IRA. to a bird strike. There was a he succumbed to his injuries • 1981 - Rifleman Antonio Jo- • 1968 - Lieutenant Johannes busy road ahead of him, so on 10 June 1974. He was 29. hannes from 101 Battalion Viljoen from 1 Squadron he began a left turn. which • 1975 - Corporal Timothy SWATF was Killed in Ac- was killed when his Canadair set him up on a heading di- Chadwick from 6 SAI was tion during a contact with CL13B Sabre crashed near 70 71 This month in military history ... June This month in military history ... June initiates mass executions of contact with SWAPO/PLAN ing the waterway over to works on Honshu. Andries De Bruine from 1 dre Clifford Meyers from 6 senior military personnel insurgents in Northern Egypt after operating it for • 1952 - Keel laid for the USS Squadron was killed in when SAI was accidentally killed • 1943 - British King George Owamboland. He was 26. seventy-four years. ‘Nautilus’ (SSN-571), the his Canadair CL13B Sabre after suffering severe head IV lands in Algiers at the • 1989 - Private Clive Dean • 1970 - P.W. Botha announc- first nuclear powered sub- crashed near Pienaarsriver. injuries when he fell 10m start of a North African tour MacKenzie from 1 Mainte- es that South Africa is es- marine. He was 23. from a slide during training of Allied troops. nance Unit was killed instant- tablishing a new submarine • 1979 - Rifleman Lloyd • 1964 - Last French troops at Grootfontein. He was 26. • 1943 - Himmler orders ex- ly when he was electrocuted base at Simonstown at a cost Matthew Marthinus Kas- leave Algeria. • 1984 - Ciskei’s former Com- termination of all Polish after accidentally touching of $7.7 million. toor from the South African • 1974 - Minister of Defence mander of the Armed Forces, ghettos. overhead high tension wires • 1973 - Captain Anthonie Jo- Cape Corps was killed in a P.W. Botha announces dur- Major-General Charles Sebe, • 1944 - First V-1 cruise mis- at the Bulkop Railway Sta- hannes Brits from 8 Squad- military vehicle accident at ing a press visit to the Ca- brother of President Lennox sile attack on London. tion while in the process of ron was killed when his Grootfontein. He was 20. privi Strip that the Defence Sebe, is sentenced to twelve • 1944 - US troops liberate offloading military supplies. AT-6 Harvard crashed near • 1982 - Falklands: Argentines Force has taken over protec- years’ imprisonment after Carentan and Chaumont, He was 18. Bloemfontein during a rou- surrender to Britain, ending tion of the country’s northern being found guilty of incite- Normandy. • 1993 - US helicopters and tine training flight. He was the 74 day war. borders as a full military op- ment to public violence. • 1962 - Two members from gunships destroy four of So- 28. • 1985 - The SA Defence eration, replacing the police • 1988 - A meeting between Central Flying School Dun- mali warlord Mohammed • 1993 - Twenty Somalis are Force attacks alleged ANC in the area. the End Conscription Cam- nottar were killed instant- Farah Aidid’s arms depots, killed and fifty more wound- homes and offices in Gabo- • 1975 - Rifleman Rumai Tete- paign (ECC) and the SADF ly when their AT-6 Harvard one week after his forces al- ed when Pakistani members rone, Botswana, in Opera- ko from Alpha Group (Later takes place, with a main ob- struck the ground and dis- legedly killed twenty-three of the United Nations (UN) tion Plecksy. Twelve or thir- 31 Battalion) was killed after jective to discuss alternative integrated near Dunnottar Pakistani members of the peacekeeping forces fire into teen people are killed. being attacked and trampled national service. In August while they were carrying out United Nations (UN) peace- a crowd of demonstrators to death by an enraged Buf- Minister of Defence Magnus unauthorised low level aero- keeping forces in a series of protesting UN attacks on 15 June falo while on Patrol in South- Malan broke off relations batics. The crew of the air- fire fights. warlord Mohammed Farah • 1864 - General Robert E ern Angola. He was 22. with the ECC. craft were: 2nd Lieutenant • 1999 - NATO peacekeeping Aidid.. Lee’s home, Arlington, be- • 1978 - Bombardier Christo • 1993 - Rifleman Johan Bruce Erroll Gaylard (19). forces begin operating in comes a US military ceme- Loots from 4 Artillery Reg- Cloete from 8 SAI died from Air Mechanic Hermanus Kosovo, Yugoslavia. 14 June tery. iment was killed at Oshakati a gunshot wound accidental- Lambertus Booysen (18). • 1775 - The first U.S. Mili- • 1901 - Second Anglo-Boer after being struck by a bullet ly sustained in a shooting in- • 1967 - Israel declares it will 13 June tary service, the Continen- War: Sergeant J. Rogers of resulting from an accidental cident at Boskop. He was 21. keep some of ground won • 1900 - The “Boxer Rebel- tal Army consisting of six the SA Constabulary earns discharge of a fellow sol- from Egypt, Jordan and Syr- lion” begins in China. companies of riflemen, was a Victoria Cross near Thaba diers rifle. He was 19. 16 June ia in Six-Day War. • 1917 - Major German bomb- established by the Second Nchu. • 1981 - Rifleman Peter An- • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer • 1976 - A military coup in er raid on London’s East Continental Congress. The • 1915 - After the 1914 Rebel- Uruguay overthrows civilian End, 162 die, including 18 next day, George Washing- lion, General Christiaan de Adolf Hitler and president Juan Bordaberry, children at the Upper North ton was appointed by a unan- Wet is found guilty of high Benito Mussolini beginning a nine-year dicta- Street School. imous vote to command the treason in the High Court, torship. • 1942 - World War II Britain army. Bloemfontein, and sentenced • 1983 - Staff Sergeant Donald loses 230 tanks in desert bat- • 1912 - The headquarters of to six years’ imprisonment Norman Coleby from Regi- tles. the defence force of the Un- and a fine of £2000. Within a ment Groot Karoo Died of • 1942 - Peenemunde: First ion of South Africa is found- few months the fine had been Wounds 10 km south of Cu- V-2 rocket reaches 1.3 km. ed in Pretoria. paid from voluntary contri- velai. He was 27. • 1944 - First V-1 raid: one • 1917 - General John J. Persh- butions. • 1983 - Special Constable K of ten missiles fired strikes ing and his staff reach Paris. • 1934 - At a meeting in Rome Kambirua from the South London, six die. • 1940 - The Nazis open Hitler meets Mussolini for West Africa Police Coun- • 1951 - UN forces reach concentration camps at the first time. ter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Pyongyang, Korea. Auschwitz and Oranienburg. • 1940 - The Germans capture Division (Koevoet) was • 1956 - Last British troops • 1944 - First B-29 raid on Ja- Verdun. Killed in Action during a leave Suez Canal base, turn- pan; 60 bombers hit the steel • 1962 - 2nd Lieutenant Johan 72 73 This month in military history ... June This month in military history ... June War: Start of the ‘scorched Nghifino from the South West • 1940 - Operation Ariel: Last with SWAPO/PLAN insur- Base, Walvis Bay. The Post Napoleon, suffered a crush- earth’ policy. Lord Roberts Africa Police Counter-Insur- British and Allied troops gents. He was 20. Mortem revealed that he ing military defeat from a issues a proclamation warn- gency Wing: Ops-K Divi- evacuated from France. • 1982 - Two members of 5 was suffering from a brain combined Allied army of ing the Republican forces sion (Koevoet) was Killed in • 1942 - World War II: The Reconnaissance Regiment tumour. He was 20. 113,000 British, Dutch, Bel- that houses in the vicinity of Action during a contact with first American expeditionary were Killed in Action dur- • 1993 - United Nations (UN) gian, and Prussian troops. Boer activities will be burnt SWAPO/PLAN insurgents force lands in Africa. ing a Contact with Enemy troops storm the headquar- • 1823 - The British Army and the inhabitants made in Northern Owamboland. • 1945 - Final Japanese de- Forces. They were: Sergeant ters of Somali warlord Mo- adopts trousers for infantry, prisoners of war. He was 32. fensive line on Okinawa Lloyd Mziwandile Mbele hammed Farah Aidid in in lieu of breeches & gaiters. • 1911 - The City of Fez, Mo- • 1992 - Two members from breached. (28). Lance Corporal Oiva Mogadishu, but he is not • 1940 - Hitler and Mussolini rocco, is occupied by the 117 Infantry Battalion were • 1963 - Field Marshal Sir Shilongo (22). there. confer in Munich, discuss French army. killed when their Military Alan Francis Brooke, Vis- • 1982 - Special Constable A. • 1997 - Sierra Leone’s mili- the imminent surrender of • 1953 - Soviet tanks crush Vehicle was involved in a count Alanbrooke, dies at the Ndawedapo from the South tary leader, Johnny Paul Ko- France and plans for an inva- workers’ protest in East Ber- head on collision with civil- age of 79. West Africa Police Coun- roma, is sworn in as head of sion of Switzerland. lin. ian vehicle at Mankweng. • 1965 - Vietnam: First B-52 ter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K state and pledge to restore • 1940 - Winston Churchill • 1955 - Abortive coup against They were: Corporal Sedi- raid, 50 km north of Saigon. Division (Koevoet) was peace to the war-weary West says “this was their finest President Juan Peron of Ar- ma Johannes Lebepe (25). • 1967 - China becomes killed in action during a con- African nation. hour”. gentina. Rifleman Kgabo Theophil- world’s fourth thermonucle- tact with SWAPO/PLAN in- • 1998 - USS ‘Missouri’ (BB- • 1942 - Dr. Bernard Whit- • 1957 - French offensive in lus Kubjana (25). ar power. surgents in Northern Owam- 63) is dedicated as a war me- field Robinson becomes the Algeria. • 2006 - Up to 5,000 children • 1975 - The British Minister boland. He was 26. morial, Pearl Harbour.. first black officer in the U.S. • 1965 - Civil war starts in still serve in the Ugandan of State for Defence says that • 1984 - Trooper Andre van Navy. Chad. armed forces even though the ending of the Simon’s Neel from 202 Battalion 18 June • 1945 - William “Lord Haw- • 1975 - The Simon’s Town they are officially banned Town Agreements means SWATF was Killed in Ac- • 1812 - After much debate, Haw” Joyce is charged with agreement on naval coop- from enlisting, a senior UN an end to all the military co- tion during a contact with the U.S. Senate voted 19 to treason. eration between Britain and official said. operation between Britain SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. 13 in favour of a declaration • 1974 - Marshal of the Soviet South Africa is formally and South Africa. He was 19. of war against Great Britain, Union Georgi Zhukov, dies ended by mutual agreement 17 June • 1977 - Private Johannes • 1985 - Rifleman Juston King prompted by Britain’s vio- at the age of 78. after 169 years. • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer Albertus Erasmus from 11 from 6 SAI was killed in lation of America’s rights • 1975 - Two members from • 1976 - Rifleman Clifford War: “Steinaecker’s Horse”, Squadron was killed in a pri- Private Vehicle Accident at on the high seas and British Infantry School accidentally Donald Holland from the an irregular unit of about vate motor vehicle accident. Uitenhage while returning incitement of Indian warfare drowned at Gamkaskloof. Durban Light Infantry was fifty mercenaries in British He was 19. to his Unit from a leave pass on the Western frontier. The They were: Rifleman Gabri- killed at Ruacana when he service, using Black armed • 1978 - Rifleman (Mrs) Hey- to clear out on completion of next day, President James was struck by bullet resulting tribesmen and operating letta Swanepoel from the his National Service. He was Madison officially pro- from an accidental discharge from Swaziland, damages Bronkhorstspruit Comman- 21. claimed the U.S. to be in a of a fellow soldiers rifle. He a bridge near Kaapmuiden. do collapsed and died after • 1987 - Two members from state of war. The War of 1812 was 19. The rail traffic to Delagoa suffering a fatal heart attack the Central Flying School at lasted over two years and • 1977 - Rifleman Stephen Bay is interrupted for about while on official duty at Dunnottar were killed when ended with the signing of the Jones from Regiment fourteen days. the Zonderwater Shooting their AT-6 Harvard, Serial Treaty of Ghent in Belgium Schoonspruit died from a • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer Range at Cullinan. She was No. 7048 crashed on the farm on December 24, 1814. gunshot wound accidental- War: President M.T. Steyn 40. Rietkuil, 10km South East • 1815 - On the fields near ly sustained at the Oshivello appoints judge J.B.M. Hertz- • 1979 - 2nd Lieutenant Sam- of Delmas during a training Waterloo in central Belgium, Training Area. He was 27. og as general. uel Walters Coetzee from 32 sortie. The casualties were: 72,000 French troops, led by • 1984 - Rifleman Johann • 1901 - Second Anglo-Boer Battalion was Killed in Ac- Captain Bruce Matthew Jacobus Hurter from 1 Para- War: British politician David tion during a contact with Nelson (26). Captain Ricar- chute Battalion was killed in Lloyd George denounces the enemy forces. He was 20. do Henrico Vergottini (26). a private motor vehicle acci- concentration camp policy. • 1980 - Rifleman M Tjisota • 1989 - Rifleman Neill Mohammed dent. He was 24. • 1940 - France asks Germany from 37 Battalion was Killed Knight from 4 SAI collapsed Farah Aidid • 1984 - Special Sergeant N. for terms of surrender. in Action during a contact and died while at Rooikop 74 75 This month in military history ... June This month in military history ... June el Johannes Erasmus (19). by the U.S.S. Kearsarge. • 1976 - Corporal Robert • 1992 - Warrant Officer 1 Jo- killed when his AT-6 Har- • 1984 - Special Constable Rifleman Gerhard Joshua • 1900 - Second Anglo-Bo- Sheppard Gibbon from 1 hannes Jacobus Fourie from vard crashed near Dunnottar Blasius Kutenda from the Franzen (19). er War: General Buller en- Special Service Battalion 10 Engineer Squadron was while on a routine training South West Africa Police • 1983 - Rifleman Johan ters Volksrust, the first town was killed in a military vehi- critically injured in a mili- flight. He was 19. Counter-Insurgency Wing: Steyn from 3 SAI died from in the ZAR to fall into his cle accident. He was 19. tary vehicle accident on 15 • 1973 - The Minister of De- Ops-K Division (Koevoet) a gunshot wound acciden- hands. • 1979 - Two members from 8 June 1992. He was admitted fence denies that South Af- was Killed in Action dur- tally self-inflicted while at • 1948 - USSR blocks ac- SAI were killed when their to the Pietersburg Hospital rican troops are supporting ing a contact with SWAPO/ Potchefstroom. He was 18. cess to West-Berlin: Berlin Buffel Troop Carrier over- where he succumbed to his Portuguese armed forces in PLAN insurgents in North- • 1984 - Rifleman Paulus Blockade begins. turned at Oshivello. They injuries on 19 June 1992. He Mozambique, as alleged by ern Owamboland. He was Hausiku from 202 Battalion • 1953 - Julius and Ethel were: Rifleman Daniel Jo- was 45. FRELIMO. 25. SWATF was Killed in Ac- Rosenberg were executed by hannes Mocke (19). Rifle- • 1992 - The Goldstone Com- • 1983 - Trooper Jan Hendrik • 1987 - Rifleman K. Tjihote tion during a contact with electrocution at Sing Sing man Gerritt Franchois Roos mission recommends that the de Lange from 2 Special from 102 Battalion SWATF SWAPO/PLAN insurgents. Prison in New York. They (19). 32nd Battalion “should not Service Battalion was killed was Killed in Action dur- He was 20. had been found guilty of pro- • 1980 - Rifleman Jacobus again be used for peacekeep- after being struck by a bullet ing a contact with SWAPO/ • 1985 - Private Kurt Preuss viding vital information on Frederick van den Bergh ing duties anywhere in South resulting from an accidental PLAN Insurgents in North- from the Technical ser- the atomic bomb to the Sovi- from 53 Battalion SWATF Africa”. The Commission’s discharge of a fellow sol- ern Owamboland. He was vice Corps was killed when et Union during 1944-45. was Killed in Action when Tokoza Committee says that diers rifle. He was 17. 22. struck by a bullet resulting • 1968 - Candidate Officer his patrol was ambushed by the battalion has commit- • 1984 - Two members from • 1988 - Rifleman Ian Michael from the accidental dis- Alwyn Johannes Botha SWAPO/PLAN insurgents ted acts of violence against the 2nd Battalion Trans- Webb from 6 SAI died in charge of a fellow soldier’s from Regiment Molopo was near Etale Base. He was 19. residents of the Phola Park vaal Scottish accidentally hospital at Tsumeb after sus- rifle. He was 21. killed in a Military Vehicle • 1985 - Private Johannes squatter camp. drowned while their patrol taining severe head injuries • 1987 - Five members from Accident 11 kilometres from Philippus Prinsloo from 101 was crossing the Cunene when the right front tyre of 32 Battalion were Killed in Zeerust. He was 18. Base Workshops was killed 20 June River near the Ruacana Falls. a SAMIL truck burst caus- Action during a contact with • 1973 - 2nd Lieutenant Hen- in a military vehicle acci- • 1901 - Second Anglo-Bo- They were: Rifleman Arthur ing the driver to lose control enemy forces near Evale drik Willem Alberts from 4 dent at Bagani. He was 20. er War: The British execute Hendrik Boshoff (21). Rifle- approximately 5km past the in Southern Angola during Squadron was killed when • 1987 - Lance Corporal Ger- P.W. Kloppert, a Cape rebel, man Leslie George Wasas Tsumeb turn-off. He was 20. Operation Radbraak. The his Atlas MB326M Impala hardus Christiaan Meyer by hanging. Cloete claimed (21). casualties were: Corporal Mk I crashed near Masito from the Technical Service that he was not a rebel be- Bernard Sokola (34). Lance while engaged in Operation Corps was killed in a mili- cause he had Orange Free Corporal Joao Vocolo (32). Brolly Tree 3, a training ex- tary vehicle accident at the State citizenship. Rifleman Joao Goncalves ercise that was being carried Army Battle School at Lo- • 1939 - Heinkel He-176 rock- (38). Rifleman Paulus Ka- out in the Zeerust area. He hatla. He was 24. et plane flies for first time, at Ethel and Julius pinga (22). Rifleman Lituya was 23. • 1987 - Rifleman Adriaan Peenemunde. Rosenberg Ntjamba (19). • 1975 - Sergeant Daniel Jo- Gerhardus Riekert from the • 1941 - The U.S. Army Air • 1988 - Special Warrant Of- hannes Labuschagne from Brakpan Commando was Corps is reorganized as the ficer Daniel Katapotle from 19 Squadron was killed in a killed in a military vehicle Army Air Forces. the SWA Police Counter-In- military vehicle accident in accident in Brakpan. He was • 1963 - Cold War: Washing- surgency Wing: Ops-K Di- Rhodesia. He was 30. 24. ton-Moscow “hot line” es- vision (Koevoet) was Killed • 1975 - Rifleman Diederick • 1987 - Rifleman Willem tablished. in Action during a contact Johannes Vorster from Ser- Uithaler from the South Af- • 1963 - Air Mechanic Robert with SWAPO/PLAN insur- vices School was acciden- rican Cape Corps was killed Henry Mentis died from a gents in Northern Owam- tally killed when struck by after being struck bullet re- gunshot wound accidentally boland. He was 37. a bullet resulting from the sulting from the acciden- sustained while stationed at 19 June accidental discharge of a fel- tal discharge of a fellow Voortrekkerhoogte . He was • 1864 - The Alabama, Amer- low soldiers rifle while he soldiers rifle while at the 17. ican raider, is sunk outside was stationed at Oshakati. Touw’s River Training Area. • 1968 - Candidate Officer Cherbourg harbour, France, He was 19. He was 23. Pieter Frans Jurgens was 76 77 This month in military history ... June This month in military history ... June 21 June • 1979 - Two members from Construction Regiment was China Sea. bouti, the United States’ only Potchefstroom after flying • 1901 - Second Anglo-Boer 32 Battalion were Killed killed in a Military Vehicle • 1944 - Russians begin “Op- base in Africa. into High Tension Wires. War: “In a letter to St John in Action during a contact Accident at Musese in West- eration Bagration”, the De- The aircraft crew were: 2nd Broderick, Secretary of War, with enemy forces in South- ern Kavango. He was 56. struction of German Army 23 June Lieutenant Johan van Sit- Lord Kitchener declares, ‘It ern Angola near Beacon 32. Group Centre. • 1900 - Second Anglo-Boer tert (21). Candidate Officer was a mistake to regard the They were: 2nd Lieutenant 22 June • 1945 - Okinawa secured: War: British forces advance. Petrus Johannes van Deven- Boers as a civilized race Willem Adriaan de Vos (19). • 1939 - World War II: France 110,000 Japanese troops, General Clements reaches ter (22). which could ever be an asset Rifleman S. Mukonda (27). surrenders to Germany eight 100,000 civilians, 17,520 Winburg. General Hamil- • 1974 - Lieutenant Freddie to the British Empire: they • 1980 - Corporal Petrus Jo- days after the German forces US troops died. ton enters Heidelberg after Johannes Zeelie from 1 Re- are uncivilized Afrikaner hannes Badenhorst from 5 invaded the country. • 1955 - Soviets shoot down a slight skirmish. General connaissance Commando savages with a thin White ve- SAI was critically wounded • 1940 - About 10,000 Afri- US patrol plane over the Clery joins Buller at Stand- was Killed in Action while neer ...’ He asks the cabinet on 20 June 1980 in an ex- kaner women, led by Mrs Bering Sea. erton. engaged on anti-insurgent to endorse a scheme that will plosion while doing evening H.C. Steyn, march to the • 1984 - Rifleman Andries • 1902 - Field-cornet Salmon operations in Southern An- allow the permanent ban- “Klaarstaan” in the Ops Union Buildings to protest Kees from the South African van As is executed by a fir- gola. He was the first South ishment of all Boers who at Room at Concor Base, east about the South African in- Cape Corps died from gun- ing squad after being found African soldier to be Killed any time have fought against of Ruacana. He succumbed volvement in World War II shot wounds accidentally guilty by a British Court in Action during the Border Britain, as well as their fam- to his wounds and resultant on the side of Britain. The sustained. He was 18. Martial of murdering Cap- War. He was also the only ilies... He suggests the Fiji blood loss in the early hours women protested against • 1985 - Corporal Johannes tain Richard Miers. member of Special Forces to Islands in the South Pacific.” of 21 June. He was 20. South Africa’s participation Gobe from 201 Battalion • 1940 - Hitler orders prepara- ever receive the Louw Wep- • 1919 - Scapa Flow: Germans • 1980 - Corporal Willem in World War II on the side SWATF was Killed in Ac- tions for an invasion of Swit- ener Decoration. He was 22. scuttle over 400,000 tons of Adriaan Finnies from 41 of Britain and requested that tion during a contact with zerland. • 1980 - Sergeant Jacobus warships. Battalion was Killed in Ac- South Africa should with- SWAPO/PLAN insurgents • 1942 - Rommel breaks the Daniel Cilliers from 17 • 1942 - World War II: The tion during a contact with draw from the war. near the Cut-line. He was Gazala Line and drives on Squadron was Killed in ac- Second South African Di- SWAPO/PLAN Insurgents. • 1941 - Starting at 3:15 am 29. Egypt. tion when his Alouette III vision under Major-Gener- He was 18. Operation Barbarossa be- • 1987 - Airman John Liam • 1970 - Two members from was shot down by an RPG- al H.B. Klopper surrenders • 1982 - Bombardier Dirk gins, as some 3.2 million Corrigan from the Lowveld 42 Squadron were killed and the German force under Hero Onne Hassebroek German soldiers plunged Airspace Control Sector was when their Cessna 185A General Rommel captures from 84 Motorised Brigade headlong into Russia across accidentally shot dead by a crashed at Vaal River near 25,000 Allied troops, under was killed in a Military Ve- an 2,987 kilometre front, visitor at Mariepskop while whom 10 722 South Afri- hicle Accident in Sector 70. in a major turning point of he was on guard duty. He cans at Tobruk on the coast He was 23. World War II. At 7 am that was 20. of Libya. • 1982 - Three members from morning, a proclamation • 1990 - Signaller Ronald • 1948 - Berlin Airlift begins. the South West Africa Police from Hitler to the German Leon Wheeler from Group • 1967 - Air Mechanic Adam Counter-Insurgency Wing: people announced, “At this 10 was killed in a military Hendrik Schoeman from 1 Ops-K Division (Koevoet) moment a march is taking vehicle accident at Um- Squadron was accidentally were Killed in Action dur- place that, for its extent, komaas. He was 20. killed at AFB Pietersburg ing a contact with SWAPO/ compares with the greatest • 1993 - The UN resumes food after he was sucked into the PLAN insurgents in North- the world has ever seen...” distribution in Mogadishu, Erwin engine air intake of a Cana- ern Owamboland. They • 1942 - The heaviest single Somalia, ten days after fight- Rommel dair C13L Sabre while set- were: Special Constable day’s loss of life in Aus- ing between UN troops and ting the fuel pumps during a Paulus Antonius (20). Spe- tralian military history; 845 those of warlord Mohammed full engine run. He was 19. cial Constable Immanuel soldiers and 208 civilians Farah Aidid halt. • 1977 - Rifleman Raymond Kavulu (29). Special Con- aboard the Japanese pris- • 2003 - A US Marine is killed Ward from the SWA SPES stable Theophillus Ndevelo oner-of-war ship ‘Montevi- and eight other service mem- was killed in a military vehi- (26). deo Maru’ was sunk by the bers are injured by errant cle accident while travelling • 1983 - Sergeant Terrence American submarine ‘Stur- bombs dropped by a US to De Aar. He was 24. Moffat Atkinson from 1 geon’ (SS 187) in the South B-52 Stratofortress in Dji- 78 79 This month in military history ... June This month in military history ... June

7 anti-tank rocket during the from 1 Satellite Radar Sta- 4,000 Indian Braves near the killed after being struck by a 32 Battalion were acci- • 1977 - Gunner Willem Chris- later stages of Ops Sceptic. tion at Mariepskop died Little Bighorn River. Only bullet resulting from an acci- dentally shot dead by own tiaan Lentink from 14 Artil- He was 23. from head injuries received one scout and one horse on dental discharge of a fellow forces in a friendly fire inci- lery Regiment was killed in a • 1982 - A Defence Amend- in a private motor vehicle the US side survive the bat- soldiers rifle. He was 19. dent near Evale in Southern Military Vehicle Accident in ment Bill provides for a accident. He was 20. tle. • 1979 - Gunner Jeffrey James Angola during Operation Pretoria. He was 20. re-organisation of the de- • 1980 - Private Michael Jo- • 1940 - Hitler tours Paris, tak- Mitchell from 4 Artillery Groenslang. They were: • 1977 - Rifleman Christiaan fence system intended to hannes Range from the South ing in the Eiffel Tower, Na- Regiment died in 1 Military Corporal James Conroy Hendrik van der Westhuizen give the South African De- African Defence Force Insti- poleon’s Tomb, and the Op- Hospital after suffering ex- (20). Rifleman Antonio Pe- from the Witwatersrand Ri- fence Force (SADF) ade- tute (SADFI/SAWI) in Pie- era. tensive burns accidentally dro Manuel (32). fles was killed when he acci- quate manpower to deal with tersburg was killed when the • 1941 - Finland declares war sustained when a fuel tank • 1983 - Leading Seaman dentally fell off the back of a almost every conceivable military vehicle in which he on the Soviet Union. exploded at the Regiment in George Edward Wellington moving Unimog. He was 21. threat. was travelling, overturned. • 1942 - World War II: Gen- Potchefstroom. He was 20. Ford from the 1st Marine • 1984 - Corporal Johannes He was 18. eral Sir Claude Auchinleck • 1980 - Two Members from Brigade, South African Ma- 27 June Christiaan Theunissen from • 1983 - Corporal George Lou- becomes commander of the Central Flying School Dun- rines was killed in a military • 1905- Mutiny in the Russian 7 SAI was Killed in Action. is Steytler from 1 Parachute British Eighth Army in North nottar were killed when their vehicle accident while on battleship ‘Potemkin’. He was 21. Battalion Died of Wounds Africa. AT-6 Harvard crashed 1,6 deployment in Eastern Ca- • 1918 - First use of para- • 1994 - Some 2,500 French after being critically wound- • 1942 - World War II: British kilometres North of Dunno- privi. He was 20. chutes to escape an aircraft troops head into Rwanda ed in the head when his Pa- Air Force stages 1,000-bomb- ttar while carrying out simu- • 1988 - Angolan, Cuban, in combat: two German air- to protect civilians, the first trol TB was attacked by a er raid on Bremen, Germany. lated instrument flying. They South African and United men jump. outside forces sent there FAPLA/Cuban force while • 1942 - Eisenhower takes were: Lieutenant Donald States officials meet in Cai- • 1941 - The Germans capture since UN. Secretary-Gen- in an area approximately command of U.S. forces in Gordon Stanbury (22). Can- ro, in search of independ- Bialystok. eral Boutros Boutros-Ghali 38km from Cahama. He suc- Europe. didate Officer Lloyd Doug- ence for Namibia in tandem • 1942- As the Eighth Army appealed for international cumbed to his wounds while • 1950 - The Korean War las Liebenberg (19). with a withdrawal of Cuban abandons Mersa Matruhin, involvement to stop the gen- on the Casevac helicopter breaks out. Nearly 90,000 • 1981 - Lance Corporal Fred- troops from Angola. North Africa, Rommel’s ocide. ferry flight back to AFB On- North Korean soldiers and erick Aspeling from North • 1991 - The last Soviet troops forces claim to have captured • 1997 - In the Central African dangwa. He was 19. hundreds of Russian-built West Command was killed leave Czechoslovakia. another 6,000 British troops. Republic, soldiers fire on • 1997 - Defence Minister T-34 tanks cross the border in a Military Vehicle Acci- 26 June • 1944 - American troops lib- foreign peacekeepers in the Joe Modise warns that the into South Korea. South Af- dent, at Oudtshoorn. He was • 1917 - First American com- erate Cherbourg from the third major rebellion since proposed R1,4 billion cut in rica, as one of the founding 19. bat troops arrive in France. May. the defence budget could se- members of the United Na- • 1981 - Corporal Johan Cor- • 1934 - Germany and Poland riously disrupt the defence tions, decide to assign a fight- nelius Du Toit from Reg- sign a non-aggression pact. 24 June force’s ability to function er squadron to the UN forces iment Langenhoven was • 1939 - Polish anti-aircraft • 1916 - World War I: The first and to contribute to the fight to help defeat North Korea. Killed in Action in Southern gunners down a German Battle of the Somme begins. against crime. The Korean War claimed Angola. He was 24. plane that had “strayed” over It lasted five months and the the lives of thirty-six SA Air • 1981 - Staff Sergeant Willem the Hela Peninsula. death toll of more than 1 25 June Force members. Marthinus Roothman from million resulted in an allied • 1677 - Governor Johan Bax • 1960 - Corporal Petrus Cor- the South African Corps of advance of 125 square miles. of the Cape, who waged war nelius van der Merwe of the Military Police was killed in Many SA troops were killed against the Hottentot (Khoi- South African Air Force was a military vehicle accident in in action. Khoi) Chief Gonnema from killed when his Defence Fly- Oudtshoorn while on a call- • 1917 - Russian Black Sea 1676, concludes ‘a good, ing Club Piper Cub crashed out to investigate a case. He fleet mutinies at Sebastopol. lasting peace’. and burnt out near Pretoria was 41. • 1940 - France signs an armi- • 1862 - Custer’s Last Stand. while on a routine general • 1981 - Signaler Dirk Jaco- stice with Italy. 250 men of the US 7th Cav- flying training flight. He was bus Venter from 84 Signals Boutros • 1945 - Victory parade in Red alry, under General George 24. Unit was killed in a military Boutros-Ghali Square in Moscow. Armstrong Custer, are at- • 1972 - Rifleman Arno vehicle accident. He was 22. • 1978 - Private Anton Nel tacked by between 2,000 and Roesstroff from 1 SAI was • 1982 - Two members from 80 81 This month in military history ... June This month in military history ... June Germans. in Action North East of Cal- 28 June encircle portions of German during a vehicle recovery naissance Regiment died • 1950 - North Korean ueque. He was 19. • 1914- Archduke Frans Fer- Army Group Centre. operation at Tsumeb. He was from a gunshot accidentally troops reach Seoul, as the • 1988 - Eleven members of dinand, Austrian heir to the • 1945 - Operation Olympic: 22. sustained while at Fort Dop- Security Council calls on UN the SADF were Killed in Ac- throne, and his wife are shot President Truman set the • 1985 - Rifleman H. Andreas pies, Caprivi Strip. He was members to aid South Korea tion during a retaliatory air and killed by a student in Sa- invasion of Japan for 1 No- from 101 Battalion SWATF 22. and Truman orders USAF & strike by Angolan Air Force rajevo. This leads to World vember. died from a gunshot wound • 1986 - Rifleman L.N.D. Jonas USN into action. MiG-23 aircraft on SADF War I. • 1949 - US troops withdraw accidentally sustained while from 101 Battalion SWATF • 1950 - US sends 35 military positions near the Calueque • 1919 - The signing of the from Korea after World War in Northern Owamboland. was Killed in Action during a advisers to South Vietnam. Dam after SADF Artillery Treaty of Versailles formally II. He was 23. Contact with SWAPO/PLAN • 1971 - The Chairman of had accurately bombarded ended World War I. • 1965 - Lieutenant Lourens • 1988 - Rifleman Christiaan insurgents in Southern Ango- Armscor announces that Cuban and FAPLA positions • 1942 - British 8th Army in Benjamin Schlesinger from Fick from 1 SAI was critical- la near the Cut-line. He was under an agreement with a in the town of Techipa on 26 North Africa retreats from 1 Squadron was killed near ly injured in a private vehicle 26. French aviation company, and 27 June 1988 causing German attack to El Alamein. Louis Trichardt when his accident and died later that • 1988 - The SA Defence Force Mirage III and F jet fighters heavy casualties. The casu- • 1942 - North Africa. Gener- Canadair CL13B Sabre suf- day. He was 19. claims that 200 Angolan and will be built in South Africa alties were: Lieutenant Noah al Rommel and his Panzer- fered a suspected bird strike. Cuban troops died in a clash with the help of French per- Tucker of 8 SAI (23). Cor- armee Afrika capture Fuqa. He failed to eject from the 30 June at Calueque earlier in the sonnel. poral Ewert Phillipus Koorts • 1965 - President Johnson or- aircraft before it struck the • 1851 - The Battle of Viervoet, week. • 1976 - First women cadets of 8 SAI (19). Lance Corpo- ders US ground forces to Vi- ground, exploding on im- in the British-Basotho War, • 1988 - Zimbabwe foils a enter the Air Force Academy. ral Johannes Reinhard Ger- etnam. pact. He was 24. takes place. The British un- South African commando at- • 1977 - Private Hendrik Jo- hardus Holder 8 SAI (19). • 1975 - Private Gerhard Eras- • 1965 - Captain Peter Max- der Warden suffers a reverse. tempt to rescue five alleged hannes Naude from 42 Rifleman Johannes Mat- mus Smith De Beer from 1 well from Central Flying • 1917 - Greece declares war South African agents awaiting Squadron was killed in a pri- theus Strauss Venter of 8 Maintenance Unit was killed School Dunnottar, a veteran on the Central Powers. trial for bomb attacks against vate motor vehicle accident. SAI (19). Rifleman Thomas in a military vehicle accident of the Korean War, was killed • 1934 - “The Night of Long the ANC in Zimbabwe. He was 18. Benjamin Rudman of 8 SAI in Grootfontein. He was 18. instantly when his AT-6 Har- Knives”: Hitler’s “blood • 1989 - Sudanese military • 1980 - Rifleman Nicolaas Jo- (20). Rifleman Phillipus Ru- • 1976 - Three British mer- vard crashed at Potchef- purge”. leader Omar Hassan al- hannes Kruger from 25 Field dolph Marx of 8 SAI (19). cenaries, Andrew McKen- stroom Airfield after the left • 1936 - Emperor Haile Selas- Bashir topples the civilian Squadron was Killed in Ac- Rifleman Andries Stepha- zie, John Barker and Costas wing of the aircraft struck the sie of Ethiopia appears be- administration of Sadeq tion when he stepped on and nus Johannes Els of 8 SAI Georgiou and an American, ground when he attempted to fore the League of Nations al-Mahdi. detonated a boosted anti-per- (19). Trooper Michael John Daniel Gearhert, are sen- execute a roll at low level. to appeal for help following • 1992 - Four members from sonnel mine near Okatope in van Heerden of 8 SAI (19). tenced to death in Luanda for He was 42. Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia 9 SAI were killed when their Northern Owamboland. He Lance Corporal Wynand Al- their part in the Angolan civil • 1966 - North Vietnam: US and his exile. Samil 20 vehicle overturned was 20. bert van Wyk of 1 SSB (19). war. bombs fuel storage facilities. • 1941 - Leading German at Middelrust. The casual- • 1985 - Rifleman J. Filimon Trooper Gregory Scott of • 1986 - Rifleman Geelbooi • 1970 - US/ARVN end two Protestant clergymen con- ties were: Sergeant Clinton from 101 Battalion SWATF 2 SSB (19). Trooper Emile Zamblenzini Mthimunye month military offensive into gratulate Hitler on the inva- Donavan Elliot (25). Lance was Killed in Action during a Erasmus of 10 Armoured from 115 Battalion was mur- Cambodia. sion of the Soviet Union. Corporal Cleston Beukes contact with SWAPO/PLAN Car Squadron (20). dered at Weltevrede after be- • 1977 - Rifleman M. Make- • 1960 - The Belgian Congo (19). Rifleman Jacobus Ad- insurgents. He was 23. • 1990 - Lance Corporal C ing attacked by persons un- he from 34 Battalion (Later becomes the independent ams (24). Rifleman Aubrey • 1986 - Rifleman Frikkie Car- Chimongaia from 201 Battal- known and burned to death. 202 Battalion) SWATF was Republic of the Congo, with John Ruiter (19). olus from the South African ion Died from Natural Causes He was 20. Killed in Action during a Joseph Kasavubu as presi- Cape Corps died from a gun- at Omega. He was 27. contact with SWAPO/PLAN dent and Patrice Lumumba shot wound sustained during • 1995 - SA signs a protocol of 29 June insurgents. He was 22. as prime minister. Civil war the accidental discharge of intent on military coopera- • 1913 - Bulgarian troops in- • 1982 - Lance Corporal Jaco- soon erupts. a fellow soldiers rifle at De tion between the Ministry of itiate hostilities with Serbia bus Johannes Gerhardus van • 1962 - The French Foreign Aar. He was 26. Defence of South Africa and in Macedonia, triggering the Staden from 61 Base Work- Legion leaves Algeria for the • 1988 - 2nd Lieutenant Mul- the Ministry of Defence of Second Balkan War. shops was accidentally killed last time. ler Meiring of 61 Mecha- the Slovak Republic. • 1944 - Bobriusk: Soviets when he was crushed be- • 1980 - Corporal Theo Bence nised Battalion was Killed tween two military vehicles van Niekerk from 1 Recon- 82 83 quiz Military WWII Patches & Badges Despatches 1. Combined Operations (Brit- ain). ish). 13. SS Division Dirlewanger 8 2. SS Totenkopf (Death’s (Germany). Website Head) (Germany). 14. US Army Air Force (USA). 3. 7th Armoured Division (De- 15. British Free Corps Waffen sert Rats) (British). SS (Germany). 4. 82nd Airborne Division (All American) (USA) “Things don’t have to 5. Royal Tank Regiment (Brit- change the world to be ish). important.” 6. 1st Guards Army (Russian). Steve Jobs 7. Waffen SS (Germany). 3 8. 101st Airborne Division 12 (Screaming Eagles) (USA). 9. Luftwaffe (Germany). 10. 1st Infantry Division (The Big Red One) (USA). 11. Afrika Korps (Germany). 12. Parachute Regiment (Brit-

Useful links Our aim is to make the Military Despatches website easy to use. Even more important to us, we Every month we will be featuring a few useful links to military websites, newsletters and on- want to make the website informative and interesting. The latest edition of the magazine will be line magazines. Stuff that we think our readers will appreciate. available, as will all the previous editions. More over, there will be links to videos, websites, and Here are two of our favourites. The first one is Nongqai, the unofficial police newsletter for articles that our readers may find interesting. So check out the website, bookmark it, and pass the veterans of the former South African Police Force and for those interested in Police History. The URL on to everyone that you think may be interested. second is Jimmy’s Own, the official newsletter of the South African Signals Association. Click on the magazine covers to go to the respective websites. Have you checked out the bookshelf on the website? Here you can open and read individual articles on screen with no need to download anything.

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