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(1916-2009)
by
Ross Dix-Peek
Submariners are among the very best of the best. Although the South African Navy’s Submarine branch only dates back to the early 1970s upon acquiring three “Daphne” Class Submarines, South Africa’s connection with the submarine service of the Royal Navy can however be traced back to the First World War (1914-1918), essentially the very beginning of the submarine service itself, and the South African submariner tradition is alive and well to this day, the South African Navy having acquired Class 209 attack submarines in 2006!
Sub-Lieutenant William Inglis Tatham, Royal Navy:
Tatham was the Son of Lieutenant-Colonel The Hon. F. S. Tatham, D.S.O., and Ada Susan Tatham, of Parkside, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa, the Tatham’s being a well known Natal and South African family. William Tatham was born in Natal and entered the Royal Navy on the nomination of the Government of South Africa. He was assigned to H.M. Submarine “H3”, an “H” Class submarine. The Royal Navy’s “H” Class submarines were Holland 602 type submarines and were built between 1915 and 1919 in response to the German mine-laying operations that were taking such a toll of Britain’s merchant ships.Although cramped and lacking a deck-gun, the “H” Class submarine was, as strange as it would seem, very popular among submariners. They operated all around the British isles and as far distant as the Adriatic Sea. Tatham’s submarine, the “H3” was built by the Canadian Vickers Company in Montreal, being laid down on the 11 January 1915 and commissioned shortly thereafter on the 3 June 1915. Following her commissioning the “H3”, together with her sister ships, the “H1”, “H2” and “H4”, crossed the Atlantic from St. John’s in Newfoundland to Gibraltar, the submarines having been escorted by the armed merchant cruiser, Calgarian. She later found herself in Adriatic waters and that is where she succumbed on the 15 July 1916, having struck a mine in the gulf of Cattaro, taking 19 year-old Sub-Lieutenant Tatham with her, Tatham possibly being the very first South African submariner to lose his life. Tatham’s name appears on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, memorial
Lieutenant Charles Philip Voltelyn Van der Byl, Royal Navy:
Philip Van der Byl hailed from Cape Town, and like Tatham was also a descendent of an old and illustrious South African family. Van der Byl initially served aboard the battleship H.M.S. Goliath, and was lucky to survive when the “Goliath” was sunk in the Dardanelles in 1915. He then transferred to submarines and was assigned to H.M. Submarine “G1”. The “G1” was a “G” Class submarine of the Royal Navy and was built at Chatham Dockyard, being laid down on the 1 October 1914 and launched on the 14 August 1915. The “G1” had a crew of 31 and her armament consisted of two guns and ten torpedoes in total. She could effectively reach a speed of 14.5 knots (approximately 27 Km/h) while surfaced and 10.0 knots (approximately 18 Km/h) while submerged. Although the “G1” would survive the war, sadly Van der Byl would not and was lost on the 9 October 1916, having drowned, just three months after his fellow countryman and submariner, Tatham, had also succumbed. Van der Byl’s name is to be found enshrined on the Chatham Naval Memorial, memorial reference 15.
Lieutenant Harold Chapman, Royal Navy:
Harold Chapman received his grounding aboard that most famous of South Africa’s naval establishments, the South African Training Ship, General Botha. Chapman then entered the Royal Navy in 1927 as a Midshipman, serving aboard HMS “Erebus” and “London”, before transferring to the submarine service. He was later assigned to HMS Thetis (N25) as second-in-command, the submarine having been named after the Greek Goddess, Thetis, a Nereid or sea-nymph. A “T”-Class submarine, she was built by Cammell Laird in Birkenhead, England, and was the last of no-less than twelve ships of the Royal Navy to be christened “Thetis”. Twelve “Thetises” in just over 200 years; surely this must have sounded a cautionary note, and warranted the need to find another name. Sadly, it was not to be and H.M. Submarine “Thetis” was launched on the 29 June1938. She commenced her ill-starred sea-trials in Liverpool Bay on the 4 March 1939 and sank during the trials on the 1 June 1939, taking 99 men, including our South African submariner, Lieutenant Harold Chapman, and her captain, Lieutenant-Commander Guy Bolus, with her. Interestingly, she was salvaged and recommissioned as H.M. Submarine “Thunderbolt”, but “Thunderbolt” fared no better, for she was lost off Cap St. Vito, north of Sicily, on the 14 March 1943, by the Italian corvette, “Cicogna”.
Lieutenant-Commander Voltelin James Howard Van der Byl, Royal Navy :
Voltelin Van der Byl was possibly the first South African to command a submarine. Yet another of the Van der Byl clan, and incredibly also a Royal Navy submariner, he had entered the Royal Navy as a cadet in the early 1920s. It would seem his first experience of submarines was in April 1929 when he was assigned to H.M. Submarine “Odin” (N84) and served with her in Chinese waters, and also later served with the submarines, “Sturgeon” (1933-1934), “Rover” (1934-1935) and “Salmon” (1937), commanding the latter in the Mediterranean. With the advent of the Second World War, Lieutenant-Commander Van der Byl found himself in command of the submarine, H.M.S. Taku (N38). The “Taku”, a British “T” Class submarine, had been built by Cammell Laird and Company Ltd at Birkenhead and was launched on the 20 May 1939, just a couple of months prior to the commencement of hostilities, and her crew numbered approximately 56. It was on the 8 May 1940 that Van der Byl attacked a German convoy with ten torpedoes, damaging the German torpedo boat Möwe (900 tons) east of Denmark, and subsequently received the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) at the end of June. He then served in a variety of capacities which included serving with the Anti-Submarine Warfare Division of the Admiralty (HMS President, March 1943 – June 1944) and aboard the submarine depot ship, HMS Cyclops, until the cessation of the war in Europe. Captain V.J.H. Van der Byl, Royal Navy, DSC retired from “Senior Service” in January 1958.
Lieutenant-Commander Frederick Basil Currie, Royal Navy:
Currie was another South African submariner to be found during the early part of World War II. He was the son of Colonel O.J. Currie of the South African Medical Corps and Sarah Gough Currie and was born at Mowbray, Cape Town in 1908. Currie attended Dartmouth Naval College from the age of 14 and became a naval officer. Currie was given command of the “R” Class submarine, HMS “Regulus” (N88), which had been built by Vickers Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness, in the United Kingdom, and launched on the 11 June 1930. The 32-year-old Currie, and the “Regulus”, left Alexandria, Egypt, on the 23 November 1940, for the purpose of patrolling the southern Adriatic, and unfortunately were lost, and it is believed that the “Regulus” may have fallen prey to mines, off Taranto, Italy, on the 6 December 1940.
Vice-Admiral Arthur Hezlett, Royal Navy:
Born in Pretoria, South Africa, to an officer serving in the British Army, Hezlet joined the Royal Navy in 1928, aged just 13, attending the Royal Naval College Dartmouth and the Royal Naval College Greenwich. He initially served during the second world war aboard the submarine H43, before being appointed first lieutenant aboard HMS Trident (N52). He subsequently passed the “Perisher” exam, thus becoming a submarine commander, and subsequently commanded HM Submarines, Unique (N95), Ursula (N59), Upholder (P37), Thrasher (N37) and Trenchant (P331). It was while commanding the “Trenchant” that Hezlett performed the attack that essentially defined his career, and ostensibly the man himself. He took the Trenchant into the shallow and mined waters of the Banka Strait, situated off the coast of Sumatra, where he intercepted the Japanese heavy cruiser, Ashigara, and despite being attacked by the Japanese destroyer, “Kamikaze”, managed to sink the “Ashigara”, five of his eight torpedoes finding their mark. This was indeed a remarkable feat, given that it was effectively the largest Japanese ship sunk by the Royal Navy during World War Two. Hezlet would later aspire to the rank of Vice-Admiral, and one of his subsequent appointments would be that of Flag Officer Submarines.
Lieutenant-Commander Stephen Lynch Conway Maydon, Royal Navy:
The son of a member of the Natal Legislative Assembly in South Africa, Maydon was born in Natal but was brought up and educated in England at Twyford School near Winchester. He later attended the Royal Naval College in Dartmouth, and during World War II was to command HM Submarines, L26, “Umbra”(P35) and “Tradewind” (P329). An intrepid submarine commander, Maydon was responsible for sinking a number of Italian and German vessels in the Mediterranean theatre and in the Far East, including the Italian salvage vessel Rampino, the Italian heavy cruiser Trento; the Italian transport ship Manfredo Campiero, and the German supply ship Amsterdam (all in the Mediterranean), as well as the Japanese army cargo ship Junyo Maru off Mukomuko, Sumatra, in the Netherlands East Indies; five Japanese sailing vessels with gunfire off the west coast of Burma and the Japanese merchant cargo vessel, Kyokko Maru, off the Mergui Archipelago, Burma. Maydon earned the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and bar (1942 and 1943 respectively), and the Distinguished Service Cross (1945) for his courageous endeavours during the war. He later served as Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance under Harold MacMillan.
Lieutenant Peter Rawstorne Gibson, Royal Navy:
Born in Umtata in the Transkei region of South Africa, on the 20 August 1920, Gibson was educated at Umtata High School and attended the training ship “General Botha” (1936-1937), before serving as an entry cadet aboard HMS Vindictive. Gibson began the war serving aboard HMS Durban whereupon he joined HMS Cyclops (the 7th Submarine Flotilla at Rothesay), and in July 1942 he was appointed to H.M.S. "Regent" as a lieutenant, and together with the entire crew was lost with “Regent” on the 1 May 1943, the submarine having collided with a mine. His name appears on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Panel 72, Column 3.
Lieutenant Alan Harold MacCoy, South African Naval Forces (SANF) :
MacCoy initially served with the South African Naval Forces (SANF) before being seconded to the Royal Navy. He served aboard the submarines, “Sunfish” (N81), “Pandora” (42P),”Umbra” (P35), “Porpoise” (83M) and the “Tantalus” (P98), whereupon he commanded H.M. Submarines “Seaborne” and “Unruffled” (P46) during the last days of the war, having seen service in the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, European, Far Eastern and North American waters, and was also awarded the DSC in 1943;
Lieutenant Peter Philip and Lieutenant J. Terry-Lloyd, South African Naval Forces (SANF) :
Terry-Lloyd (hailing from Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa) and Peter Philip were seconded from the South African Naval Forces (SANF) to the Royal Navy’s submarine arm, and gained renown for their part in “Operation Course” in September 1943, the attempted neutralization of German Battleships’, including the “Tirpitz”, by the British X-Craft midget submarines - Philip and Terry-Lloyd commanding X7 and X5 respectively during the initial crossing of the Norwegian Sea, both submariners being awarded MBE’s for their covert endeavours.
Lieutenant John Claude Hudson Wood, Royal Navy:
Born in Nyasaland (present-day Malawi) and educated at Durban High School and aboard the South African Training Ship, “General Botha”, Wood was lost with H.M. Submarine, “Utmost” (N19) on the 25 November 1943. The “Utmost” was a British “U” Class submarine and was built by Vickers Armstrong at Barrow-in-Furness and commissioned in 1940. “Utmost” was lost on the 25 November 1942 off the south west coast of Sicily, having been sunk by depth charges from the Italian torpedo boat “Groppo”.
Admiral Sir Michael Cecil Boyce, Royal Navy:
Boyce was born in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1943 and was subsequently educated at Hurstpier College and the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth. Boyce joined the Royal Navy in 1961 and during his career commanded H.M. Submarine’s Oberon (S09, first of the “Oberon” class, commissioned in 1961 and later sold to the Egyptian Navy in 1987), Opossum (S19, an Oberon class submarine in service with the Royal Navy from 1964-1993) and Superb (S109, a nuclear powered fleet submarine of the Swiftsure class, launched in 1974, and was the first British submarine to visit the Arctic Ocean and sail under the Polar Ice Caps) . Promoted to flag rank, Boyce was appointed First Sea Lord (1998-2001) and Chief Of The Defence Staff (2001-2003), and also served as Aide-de-Camp to Queen Elizabeth II, being created Baron Boyce in 2003.
Commander Richard Lindsey, Royal Navy:
Born in South Africa, Lindsey completed his education in West Sussex at Haywards Heath Sixth Form College, before joining the Royal Navy as a Midshipman in April 1986.He later attended the Submarine Service, and on completion of the Basic Warfare Course he joined HMS Opossum (S19)as the Torpedo Officer which culminated in a deployment to Russia in 1993. Lindsey’s submarine career continued with his service in HMS Repulse (S23, a Resolution-class ballistic missile submarine), HMS Trenchant (S91, a Trafalgar-class submarine) before he was appointed to HMS Spartan (S105) as the Operations Officer, seeing service in the North Atlantic, Mediterranean and Indian Ocean. Having passed the Submarine Command Course, the “Perisher’, in 1999, he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and then appointed to HMS Triumph (S93) as the Executive Officer, “Triumph” deploying to the Middle East and then to the Far East. He was promoted to Commander in 2008 and assigned to HMS Vanguard (S28, a Trident ballistic missile-armed submarine) as the Commanding Officer.
By
Ross Dix-Peek
The dark docile waters glimmer, shimmer and dance
in the milky moonlight glow of a warm,
sultry night, fishing rods
at the ready and languid lines immersed,
The ink-black night punctuated
by the quiet whispers of eager, expectant
anglers, eagle-eyed and intent upon
the glassy, spangled surface
of a fisherman’s delight, a sip of cold coffee or Satan’s
Brew and the night hangs heavy, ready and
most pregnant, beneath the waters scurry
scaled prey, alert yet ever-desirous
of the nagging need of their big bulbous bellies,
The scene set midst the glowing, incandescent
embers of a crackling fire, and as the
sands of time slowly ebb, mere minutes
and then hours, who will possess the
staying power, the sharp, steely resolve,
the fisherman’s weary eyelids hang heavy with
each passing moment, the attentive arms of Morpheus await,
but wait! A faint nagging nibble, and again!
The line and the reel suddenly agog, awhizz
and awhirl, the great game afoot, the anglers’
taut and ready, their eager eyes splendidly a-sparkle with
avid anticipation in the ghostly light of a pale pallid
moon, proud predator and poor prey pulsating to
The march of an atavistic, primordial drum, the hunter
and the hunted, sweet life, stark death, the quiet
refrains of an amphibious battle borne aloft
upon the fleeting, fitful winds of a dark soulful night,
and in the dismal dreary depths of a watery tomb,
the poor, valiant silver scaled foe
begins to wearily wane before the solid and steady
resolve of the hunter’s will…
to finally flop and flounder upon a waiting riverbank,
its very life-force spent, and at a perilous and parlous end it seems,
above, the silent, shadowy blur of a grasping human hand…
but the high Heavens’ have smiled,
the great Gods’ merciful, for this intrepid finned foe
is soon unleashed to again grace the murky depths
of its vast, watery domain,
a doughty denizen of the dear deep,
The fisherman’s fevered brow and
fiery eyes alight,
The great and honourable contest is done,
and Victory is indeed sweet!
(written in tribute to my dear departed father, Errol Dix-Peek, a most avid and skilful angler)
by
Ross Dix-Peek
Dogs have been used in warfare since the dawn of time, either in the guise of so-called “war dogs” trained for combat conditions, or that of scouts, sentries and trackers, and are still used to this day by various military forces worldwide. No-less than 18 dogs were awarded the Dickin Medal, the animals “Victoria Cross”, from the year of its inception, 1943, until 1949, and “Sadie”, a black Labrador serving with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps in Afghanistan received the award in 2007. South Africa is a nation of dog-lovers, and also as a nation with a lengthy martial past has seen many “soldiers” of the canine variety serving the “colours”. What follows is a list of five famous dogs of South African origin that have acquired lasting fame and glory through their steadfastness, loyalty and courage.
“Scout”
Having landed at the port of Durban, Natal, in 1899 during the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) soldiers of the Royal Dragoons were busy eating when a lone puppy began nosing about, whereupon they began feeding the pup. “Scout” was out and about the next day again looking for those generous soldiers and for a bit of “scoff”, but unbeknownst to her the troops had already set off for Pietermaritzburg. Incredibly, “Scout” managed to hop on a train bound for Pietermaritzburg and was soon reunited with the soldiers of the Royal Dragoons. She always seemed to be at the head of the troops, hence her name “Scout”, and was present during the Battle of Colenso (25 December 1899), where she was put on patrol duty, and also acted as a guard dog during the Battle of Spion Kop, crossing the Tugela River twice during operations. When peace was at last declared, “Scout” marched at the head of the regiment and again led the way when the Royal Dragoons journeyed to Cape Town in order to embark for England. Following a period of quarantine “Scout” rejoined the Royal Dragoons at Shorncliffe and for his services during the South African War was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal with six bars, and the King’s South Africa Medal with two bars.
“Billie”
Billie was a brindled bull terrier found by the mounted company of the Royal Irish Rifles on a deserted farmhouse in South Africa during the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899 - 1902). He served with the 2nd battalion, Royal Irish Rifles for the remainder of that battalion’s service in South -Africa, at one stage sustaining a wound to one of his legs, yet nevertheless managed valiantly to keep up with the regiment, despite having the use of only three limbs. “Billie”, having earned the Queen’s and King’s South Africa medals, accompanied the battalion to Dublin, Ireland following the cessation of hostilities and served in Ireland during the First World War with the 3 rd battalion, Royal Irish Rifles, passing away in Ireland of old age and rheumatism.
“Private Jack”
“Private Jack” initially served with the Boer forces before deciding to switch allegiances, and duly “enlisted” in the British Army, gaily serving with the 1st battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, where-after he was surreptitiously smuggled aboard ship by members of the regiment and accompanied them to England. Attired in a uniformed jacket, “Private Jack” later received his campaign medal from General Sir Reginald Pole-Carew.
“Private Modder”
“Private Modder” ("modder" meaning mud in Afrikaans), a farm collie, served during the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) with the Grenadier Guards and earned the Queen’s South Africa Medal with six clasps and the King’s South Africa Medal with two clasps.
“Just Nuisance”
Able seaman “just nuisance”, was the only animal ever to be enrolled as a member of the Royal Navy and is, together with “Jock of the Bushveld” the most famous South African of the canine variety. This legendary great dane was born and reared in Rondebosch, Cape Town, and was inducted into the Royal Navy in 1939. During the war “Just Nuisance” “served” at various naval bases in the Cape peninsular, including a period of “service” with the Fleet Air –Arm (FAA) at the Royal Naval Air Station at Wingfield, Cape Town. Sadly this wonderful canine, unique in the annals of the Royal Navy, was put to sleep in April, 1944, having severely injured himself due to his predilection for jumping off moving transport, including buses, lorries, and trains. Able-Seaman “Just Nuisance” was buried with full naval honours at Klaver Camp near Simonstown, on Saturday the 2, April 1944, his body ceremoniously wrapped in the white ensign of the Royal Navy!
By
Ross Dix-Peek
What is Patriotism I ask?
And why, oh why,
When called to task
Are people so willing to die?
When the martial music is still,
And the bugle and beating drum cease,
And warm blood begins to spill,
Then what of life’s short lease?
And in the dark bowels of a coffin shroud
What does a mere flag mean?
When the victorious “Reaper” struts proud,
Death’s wail shrill and obscene
And onward, onward all,
Do the great masses still plodder,
Ready to answer the clarion call,
Naught but cannon-fodder!
By
Ross Dix-Peek
The charnel stench of war,
Foul and foetid mire,
The Politicians abject whore,
Mortal man’s martial desire
Tranquil peace torn asunder,
A most savage sanguine stain,
On high the Gods of Thunder,
Naught but the living dead remain
Like willing puppets they cavort,
Upon a blood-drenched stage,
Sweet sanity cut most short
In a great glare of blinding rage
Crimson Red the rivers run,
Midst the cacophony of Hell,
A canvas of torn flesh under a zealous sun,
And the lonely sound of a tolling bell
Here be the Devil’s playground,
Man's dire folly to the fore,
Where vile death and madness resound,
The sad, sad threnody of War!
By
Ross Dix-Peek
Fate is but a choice,
Destiny a masked virtue,
Our actions our voice,
False or most true
Even in times most dire
And events so bleak,
Life’s vexed coil we sire,
Life’s fleeting treasures we seek
Our naked emotions to the fore,
Great friend or foul foe,
Resonating forevermore,
Fevered joy or foetid woe,
Although Life’s mortal bell
Tolls most true and deep,
It’s our “choices” that tell,
And Destiny is but our “Keep”!
(1915-1945)
By
Ross Dix-Peek
Captain (later Brigadier) Charles Calveley Foss, Bedfordshire Regiment :
Charles Calveley Foss was born on the 8 March 1885 at Kobe, Japan, the eldest son of the Right Reverend .Hugh James Foss, Bishop of Osaka. He entered the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in 1902, and was commissioned a second-lieutenant in the Bedfordshire Regiment, the old 16th Regiment of Foot, also known as the “Old Bucks”,in 1904. He was at the time of the commencement of hostilities, stationed with the 2nd Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment in South Africa, but the regiment was soon on the western front, and took part in the First Battle of Ypres. Foss was one of only four officers of the regiment to escape the battle with his live, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). Then came March 1915, and the Battle of Neuve Chappelle. Captain Foss, on the 12 March 1915, after the Germans had captured a portion of one of the trenches and a subsequent British counterattack had proved fruitless, dashed forward with eight men all the while under intense fire, and attacked the enemy with bombs, the result being the re-capture of the German-occupied trench, and the capture of 52 enemy soldiers ensconced therein. These “bombs” were crude devices (empty jam tins often being the container of choice), that consisted of a short length of safety fuse and was normally lit with a cigarette. Captain Foss was subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross for his courageous endeavours, the award being gazetted in the Third Supplement to the London Gazette of Friday,20th August 1915, dated Monday,23 August 1915.
Lieutenant (later Brigadier) Cyril Gordon Martin, Royal Engineers:
Cyril Gordon Martin was born in Foochow, China, on the 19 December 1891. It was while serving as a lieutenant with the 56th Field Company, Royal Engineers, at Spanbroek Molen, Belgium, on the 12 March 1915, that Martin displayed the intrepidity and raw courage that resulted in the award of the Victoria Cross. Despite having been wounded, Martin led a party of six bombers against a section of the German trenches. The enemy were subsequently driven out and Martin and his men proceeded to strengthen their new redoubt with sandbags. The inevitable German counterattack then ensued but Martin and his small detachment managed to hold off the enemy attack for more than two and a half hours until orders arrived stipulating that he should abandon the post. His citation was gazetted in the Second Supplement to the London Gazette of Friday, 16th April 1915, dated 19th April 1915.:
Major (later Lieutenant-Colonel) George Campbell Wheeler, 9th Gurkha Regiment, Indian Army:
Born at Yokohama, Japan, on the 7 April 1880, Wheeler attended Bedford School in England. He won his VC for his courageous endeavours at Shumran, on the River Tigris, in Mesopotamia, on the 23 February 1917, while serving with the 2nd Battalion of the 9th Gurkha Rifles. Major Wheeler, together with one Gurkha officer and eight men, crossed the river and rushed the Turkish positions in the face of very intense fire. The tentative beachhead was subsequently counter-attacked by the Turks, and Wheeler’s reply was to lead a charge pell-mell, receiving a bayonet wound to the head in the process, but undeterred managed to disperse the enemy attack and subsequently consolidated his position. All the while subjected to very heavy fire, Wheeler’s daring-do undoubtedly saved the day. The award of the Victoria Cross was duly gazetted (in the Supplement to the London Gazette of 8 June 1917) and presented to Major Wheeler “for the most conspicuous bravery and determination”.
Captain Ian Oswald Liddell, 5th Battalion, Coldstream Guards:
Liddell was born in Shanghai, China, on the 19 October 1919, and later enlisted as a private in the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry (the old 53rd Regiment of Foot), before he was commissioned in the Coldstream Guards. He was one of eight officers of the Brigade of Guards selected to protect the Royal Family in case of invasion. He was posthumously awarded the VC for “outstanding gallantry” while capturing a bridge over the River Ems, near Lingen, Germany, on the 3 April 1945, having neutralised demolition charges put in place by the Germans to destroy the bridge, all the while under intense enemy fire. Liddell was killed just 18 days later, on the 21 April, succumbing to a sniper’s bullet.
By
Ross Dix-Peek
It is essentially easy to invade Afghanistan, many armies have done thus, but it seems to be a totally different endeavour when wishing to extract oneself militarily from such a rugged and exceptionally inhospitable country.
The war in Afghanistan concerns me greatly, an asymmetrical war fought within the parameters of conventional strategy, against a fanatical opponent devoid of fear and completely immersed in deep-seated ideology, in an environment permeated with discontent and unrest, and scarred by political in-fighting and divisiveness.
The coalition forces are seen as nothing more than “invaders”, the “infidel”, while abject poverty, coupled with a fractured religious and nationalistic zeal, together with the coalition-induced deprivation of a staple economic product (namely the poppy seed)will, I feel, continue to bring about the recruitment of ready-minds intent on expelling the much-hated “invader”.
In addition the fiercely independent and tribalistic spirit of the Afghans and their zealous desire for their own sense of "personal space", as well as their complete and utter disdain for danger and life's tribulations, must never be forgotten, thus any form of "overlordship" (whether it be democratic or otherwise)would never be tolerated by the Afghan people...distinctly anathema!
Given these variables, the coalition forces can at best win tactical victories, to the detriment of grand strategy, and will therefore not be able to win the war.
Psychologically, the West is at a distinct disadvantage in that unbridled casualty lists are simply not acceptable, and yet are of absolutely no consequence to the Taliban and additional terrorist organizations( where death in battle is not only accepted but welcomed), and therefore the “butcher’s bill” is in essence a prominent and extremely effective weapon in itself.
Thus, a “war of attrition” is simply not acceptable to the West, and yet that’s exactly the situation apparent at the moment, where small “cells” of fanatically dedicated individuals ensconced in caves and enclaves, and ostensibly protected and supplied by the locals, are not only able to stave off defeat, but are on the brink of winning a strategic victory.
Lines of manoeuvre and geometric warfare will not win this war, while the Coalition’s “lines of communication” have at times proved vulnerable, and the very nature of the enemy together with the size and geographical extremes of the country precludes effective use of the economy of force, and therefore the Coalition’s endeavours constitute nothing more than “stop-gap” warfare.
Air-suppression, Special Force insertion teams, rotary platforms and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) will only achieve limited gains in this war, a contrived tactical solution to a strategic problem, and political endeavours are of no use given the fact that the political factions involved, namely the Afghans and the Pakistanis, are completely unstable and reactionary.
War is too important an enterprise to bequeath to the politician, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been thus dictated by mere politicians, men and women completely devoid of the skills needed to win such an endeavour, and it is simply galling that General-Officers of the Coalition forces, essentially the “captains of war”, have allowed themselves to be “duped” and dictated to by those fundamentally not equipped to give advice regarding the tenets of warfare.
Moreover, it must be argued that any professional soldier worth his salt, and au fait with military history, Sun Tzu, Clausewitz, Jomini and the principles of warfare in general, would not have invaded Afghanistan and Iraq so nonchalantly (if at all), an air of insouciance that has in effect brought about dire consequences for the Coalition and the soldiers on the ground.
Increased troop strength in Afghanistan will not bring about ultimate victory, but will only serve to further mire the troops in a protracted and ill-advised war, a war nominally without end, and, as per usual, the “butcher’s bill” will be paid by the poor troops on the ground, those wonderful yet sadly forgotten men and women of the American, British and Coalition Forces who have already, in my opinion, sacrificed more than enough!
by
Ross Dix-Peek
The wedding ring I wear
upon my finger,
Is far more than just that,
It is in essence a most majestic
golden-band forged on a white-hot anvil
of unconditional and eternal love
within the deepest recesses of my beating,
burning heart, a most enduring
and indestructible bond that
transcends time immortal, and
forever binds my fevered soul
to this flame-haired Goddess
of my destiny,
Sweet love and passion incarnate,
My Dearest Aphrodite…
By
Ross Dix-Peek
My mind harks back to another day,
To Africa and a shallow riverbed,
Three young boys at play,
Wet mud all about and overhead
We’re playing our favourite game,
The “Art” of flinging mud-pies,
Hiding, and taking careful aim,
Shrill laughter fills the skies
The “enemy” clearly in sight,
Mud “loaded” on the end of a stick,
The Sun so very warm and bright,
And then, “Bombs Away” with a deft flick
“Got Him” I yell with sheer glee,
But not long is it before
A thick dollop of wet clingy mud strikes me,
“Ah, damn” I shout with a happy roar
What fun, all day we would scurry
To and fro in that old riverbed,
In a paroxysm of playful flurry,
As the Sun slowly waned overhead
All muddied and gooey,
And very dirty we were,
Truly, it was ecstasy,
The day just one big happy blur
And then, unfortunately, the time would come
And we would have to go,
Always made us feel a bit glum,
Trudged back home so very slow
And as we left that old riverbed,
I would always look back,
And still it lives in my mind, never dead,
A well-worn memory, a mental bivouac!
By
Ross Dix-Peek
The foul stench of burning flesh permeates the air,
Rotten, putrefying bodies lie in the baking sun,
Bright crimson death everywhere,
Frightened masses on the run
Wide-eyed terror on the prowl,
Africa rent asunder,
Can be seen Death’s scowl,
Sheer madness in Rwanda
Frenzied killing unabated,
A fevered orgy of blood,
Hate and bloodlust not sated,
A vile and incessant flood
Machete’s gleaming in the firelight,
Dark night knows no end,
Rampant death beneath stars bright,
The victims’ souls ascend
Sculpted in lifeless repose,
Torn bodies and silent screams,
The legion of dead in abject throes,
Naught can ever the killers redeem
And, where must be asked, was the World?
When they were needed the most,
Why were their actions not most bold?
Why was saving lives not topmost?
And today, the land lies sullied in shame,
The rabid killers remain unbowed,
The dark pall of hate still silently aflame,
And beyond, a menacing cloud
But perhaps, as if from the ashes of the dead,
Rwanda can rise once more,
To assuage the blood, terror and dread,
And embrace “Peace” forevermore!
By
Ross Dix-Peek
When we were children,
We would always let our
Emotions out,
Say what we felt,
Jump, scream and shout,
But then society deemed
that wrong, and insisted
we sublimate,
Whereupon we were
Taught to hide normal
Feelings, such as anger,
frustration,sorrow and hate
For society this was
All very good and well,
But for many folk
this meant living in
their own little Hell
And then many
Years on, when it
All became far too much,
These same people
would then need to see
Psychologists and such
This they did in
Order to at last understand,
Those selfsame feelings
The world had
originally banned
So it was that many
Years, and loads
Of cash,
Were then spent to
Avoid a society-induced
Psychological “crash”
And thus can
We see life’s
emotional cycle,
Which all began by
Suppressing feelings
Most natural and vital
And what does this teach us,
Indeed, what lesson?
That’s easy, to heck with Society,
Always be your own person!
By
Ross Dix-Peek
Rhodesia, land of my heart,
Oh, wondrous and rugged jewel,
Whence my soul shall never part,
And forever love most purposeful
Most majestic nation of yesteryear,
And Pride of Africa indeed,
Forever ensconced in memory most fair,
Oh country of noble breed
For many you shall never die,
Always to flourish anew,
Your vast cerulean sky
A beloved imprint most true
Bulawayo, Kariba, the Great Zambezi,
Their noble names a melodious song,
The Matopos, Gwelo, Umtali and Salisbury,
Will in memory forever live on
And, when I do leave this mortal coil behind,
And most pale do lie in deathly leisure,
Emblazoned upon my lifeless heart they shall find,
Only one word, “Rhodesia”!
(This poem has nothing to do with politics, it is merely a heartfelt tribute to the land of my birth…Rhodesia!)
By
Ross Dix-Peek
Soft patter upon my window,
Above, clouds most grey,
The sound of sweet rain a-flow,
Bejewelled ribbons at play,
Cascading petals of sweet reprieve
Fall on parched soil,
Ever so eager to receive,
Thus to end the day’s toil
And when the rain has fled,
And in the distance lost,
A new “Eden” bred,
Heaven and Earth crossed
A bedazzling dash of colour,
Of every shade and hue,
What divine splendour,
As all begins anew
And with the new start,
A Joyous melody and song,
Perhaps, a change-of-heart,
And to embrace life, most strong!
By
Ross Dix-Peek
Africa beats a proud tattoo upon my heart,
Its ancient glory my heritage,
Its great azure sky my eternal solace,
Born to “Mother Africa”,
I cling to her bosom,
Her loving child forevermore,
Although wild, savage and unrelenting,
Beneath the majestic copper sun,
She remains my beloved “home”,
Her sunburnt realm my souls abode,
Never to relinquish her sweet hold,
And across the great ocean divide
I still long for her,
To feel her assured warmth
upon my brow,
Her loving rays upon my face,
To again immerse myself
in her great splendour,
And to tread underfoot her most ancient soil,
To once more behold her natural wonders,
Her vast and glorious majesty,
And although her dear soul
Lies racked by fitful convulsions,
Of poverty, terror and abject horror ,
Her beloved children most febrile and restless,
Africa will again rise, rise she will,
A veritable Goddess,
To again stand bestride the world,
In candescent Glory,
Finally to take her rightful place
Amidst history’s splendid pantheon,
Oh Mother Africa, I do thee adore!
by
Ross Dix-Peek
This article is a tribute to the Southern-African soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan while serving with the British Army. Southern- Africans in the service of the British Armed Forces have been termed “Mercenaries” by the South African government, which is not only erroneous but indeed a travesty, as South-Africans (and more recently Rhodesians/Zimbabweans) have served in the Crown’s forces for over two-centuries, a tradition harking back to at least 1804 (General Sir Abraham Josias Cloete, born in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1794, earning the sobriquet, “Father of the British Army”), while at least 10,000 South Africans’ earned the “King’s Shilling” during World War I, serving in the British Army, the Royal Navy, the Royal Naval Air Service, the Royal Flying Corps and the Royal Air-Force, thus these eight intrepid men, who served with great pride, and sadly made the ultimate sacrifice, were following in the fine traditions of their forefathers, and like their countrymen of old, helped to perpetuate the illustrious name of the British Armed Forces, while also bringing indelible honour to Southern Africa. I salute them!
Marine Sholto “Sonic” Hedenskog, “Y” Troop, Royal Marines:
Hedenskog was born in Pretoria, South Africa, and was educated in South Africa, acquiring a degree at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Hedenskog always wanted to be a Royal Marine, and graduated from marine school in November 2000, and his first tour of duty involved combing the subterranean caves of Afghanistan in search of the elusive Osama Bin Laden following the 9/11 tragedy. 26 year-old Hedenskog was killed on the 21 March 2003, just days after the invasion of Iraq had commenced, when the United States “Sea Knight” helicopter carrying a detachment of British and US soldiers crashed near the Kuwaiti border with Iraq, killing Hedenskog, seven other British soldiers, and four US soldiers. He was the first South African soldier to die in what became known as the “War on Terror”.
Piper Christopher Muzvuru, Irish Guards :
Christopher Muzvuru, hailing from Gweru, Zimbabwe, joined the British Army in February 2001, and served as a Piper with the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards and, like Sholto Hedenskog, was killed during the early part of the invasion of Iraq by coalition forces, falling victim to a sniper in Basra, on the 6 April 2003. Just 20 years-of-age, Muzvuru was the first black piper in the history of the Irish Guards. Piper Muzvuru’s remains were subsequently repatriated back to England, and given a heroes funeral at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.
Lance-Bombardier James Dwyer, 29th Commando Regiment, Royal Artillery:
James Dwyer was born and raised in South Africa, and joined the British Army in July 2003, and the 29th Commando Regiment in June 2004, the latter unit being the Plymouth-based regiment that serves as the Close Support Artillery Regiment to 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines. Dwyer, known as “Doobs” to his friends and colleagues, was described as a “professionally outstanding soldier” and was imbued with an “infectious sense of humour”. Lance-Bombardier Dwyer, who was extremely popular with the regiment, was the first South African soldier serving in the British Armed Forces to be killed in Afghanistan, when his vehicle hit an anti-tank mine during a mission in the desert, south of Garmsir, on the 27 December 2006.
Lance-Bombardier Ross Clark, 29 Commando Regiment, Royal Artillery:
Born in Zimbabwe on the 18 July 1981, Clarke was brought up in South Africa and joined the British Army in April 2002, and following his basic and specialist military training volunteered for service with 29 Commando Regiment, Royal Artillery. After passing the Commando Course in March 2003, he saw service in operations on the Al-Faw Peninsula in Iraq. “An exceptionally gifted soldier,” Lance-Bombardier Clark had also undergone training exercises in Norway, Belize and the United States. Clark deployed to Afghanistan on operations in September 2006, and was killed during a rocket attack in the Sangin area of Helmand province on the 3 March 2007, his friend and colleague, Lance-Bombardier Liam “Paddy” McLaughlin, also succumbing during the attack. Clark’s Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Neil Wilson, was to say of him: “Ross was a determined, intelligent and motivated young man who epitomised the standards of professionalism against which we measure ourselves. He was extremely popular within the Regiment and had already begun a rapid progression through the ranks. It is particularly poignant that his Battery should lose two of its members on the day that it celebrates its battle honour, and the entire Regiment is profoundly saddened by his loss. Our thoughts are very much with his family and friends at this terrible time.”
Lance-Corporal Luke McCulloch, 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment:
McCulloch was born in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1984, and joined the British Army in 2001. He was an enthusiastic soldier, who loved “soldiering”, and served with distinction in Northern Ireland, Iraq and Afghanistan. McCulloch was a very popular soldier and lived life to the full. He, together with other members of the Royal Irish Regiment, was seconded to the 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment, and was engaged with the Taliban forces in Sangin in early September 2006.The Taliban had begun their attack on the British troops stationed at Sangin in the early hours of the 6 September 2006, and at 5.30 in the afternoon a number of Taliban mortar rounds landed in the compound, wounding McCulloch together with two other soldiers. Lance-Corporal McCulloch had been hit in the head by shrapnel and it was manifestly clear that the wound was indeed life threatening. He was eventually flown out from Sangin back to the “Bastion”, thanks to the brave endeavours of Major Mark Hammond of the Royal Marines, but unfortunately McCulloch was pronounced dead in the ambulance on the way to medical centre. His Commanding-Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Michael McGovern, described him as a “truly outstanding character” who "was a delight to have around”. Lance-Corporal McCulloch was later posthumously mentioned-in-despatches (MID).
Private Johan Botha, Mercian Regiment (Worcesters and Foresters):
Born in Pretoria, South Africa, private Johan Botha served with the 2nd Battalion, the Mercian Regiment (Worcester and Foresters), and was described as the “archetypal South African” and a “mountain of a man”, as well as a “devoted family man” who doted on his wife and his daughter. Botha, 25 years-of-age, was killed on the 8 September 2007 at Garmsir, in the Helmand Province, Afghanistan, after his section had been heavily engaged by an enemy position and pinned down by intense and accurate fire. Botha was in the thick of the fighting, and was wounded, going to ground, but “despite his severe injuries he was still able to engage the enemy until the very end”. Mention must be made of Sergeant Brelsford, also of the Mercian Regiment, who attempted most valiantly to find private Botha. Sergeant Brelsford repeatedly fought “through tenacious enemy fire to extract casualties and was hit on his final attack to find Private Botha”.
Major Sean Birchall,1st Battalion,Welsh Guards
Birchall was born in Vanderbijl Park, South Africa, and moved to England with his family when but six-months old. He attended the RMA Sandhurst in 1999, and was commissioned into the Welsh Guards on the 11 December 1999. He served as a Platoon Commander both on ceremonial duties in London and on exercise in the jungle of Belize.Following Staff College in 2006-2007 he worked in the Permanent Joint Headquarters, Northwood, but was then appointed commander of the newly formed IX Company, Welsh Guards, based in Lashkar Gah,Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Major Birchall was to lead the company in an operation , alongside the Afghan Army, designed to drive the Taleban out of a village called Basharan, 10km North West of Lashkar Gah, in which endeavours the company distinguished itself under his “inspired” leadership. Sadly, Major Birchall was killed on the 19 June 2009 in an explosion in the vicinity of Basharan, one other soldier also being injured during the incident.It is readily apparent that Birchall was a consummate soldier and very highly regarded by all who knew him.
Lance-Corporal Dane Elson, Welsh Guards:
Dane Elson was born in Harare, Zimbabwe, and had joined the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards in 2004. He served in Bosnia and Iraq, and was killed on the 5 July 2009 in an explosion near Gereshk, in the Helmand province, Afghanistan, while on patrol. Elson, a team commander, was providing fire-support in an attack on a enemy-held compound in Babaji, when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded, killing him. The Ministry of Defence was to state that lance-corporal Elson had been an outstanding soldier “with a very bright future”, and his platoon commander, Captain Phil Durham added that, “L/Cpl Elson was recently promoted because he embodied all the qualities of the most promising of junior leaders: outstanding fitness, calmness under pressure and an intense reliability.”
Mention must also be made of Marine Jason Mackie, Armoured Support Group,Royal Marines, who, although born in Oxfordshire,England, was very proud of his Rhodesian/Zimbabwean heritage, and was killed instantly, in the Basharan area, on the 14 may 2009, when the vehicle he was travelling in was struck by an explosive device.Marine Jason Mackie was described as an "outstanding young man and a superb soldier".
“They shall not grow old as we who are left grow old. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them!”
By
Ross Dix-Peek
A sorry and abject wretch was I,
Before I drank from the fount of love,
Lonely pleas to an empty sky
Brought pure blessing from above,
Came the love of a woman,
Most unselfish and sublime,
It was then that life began,
Contentment at last mine
And in her warm embrace I do lay,
Her bounteous love my sweet succour,
Forever to greet the day,
With this woman I do so adore,
Her soft words a stirring melody,
Her eyes a celebration,
Life no longer a sad threnody,
My Love, My Salvation!
by
Ross Dix-Peek
The Royal Naval Air Service was the air arm of the Royal Navy and served with great distinction during World War I until it merged in April 1918 with the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) to form the Royal Air-Force (RAF). It is difficult to estimate how many Southern Africans would have served in the RNAS during the war, but of the seven distinguished South African RNAS airmen listed, one was to become the fourth highest scoring “ace” of the RNAS (Jordan), one was to become the first man to land an aircraft on a aircraft carrier (Dunning), four were to attain “ace” status (Jordan, Slatter, Hayne and Kinkead), two were destined to become Air- Marshals in the RAF (Slatter and Brown) and all seven were to be awarded Distinguished Service Crosses (DSC) while serving with the RNAS…a splendid record indeed.
Flight -Lieutenant Arthur Frank Brandon, RNAS (DSC):
Brandon hailed from Ladysmith, Natal, South Africa, and was educated at Michaelhouse and Cedara College in Natal, South Africa. He initially served with the South - African forces in the German South-West African campaign, whereupon he joined the RNAS, serving in Salonika. Brandon was to shoot down a German “Gotha” bomber on the south - east coast of England on the 22 August 1917, but was killed on the 26 October 1917 (in an air-collision) before his award of the DSC had been gazetted. The citation to his DSC read: “for services on the August 22nd ,1917, when he attacked single-handed an enemy formation returning from a raid on England, and brought down one of them in flames. As his aeroplane had been hit several times, he landed to change machines, and proceeded to attack again with a new one, making repeated attacks on individual machines, and pursuing the enemy formation over the North Sea to the Belgian Coast where he made a final attack.”
Leslie Oswald Brown, RNAS (DSC) :
Born in Durban, Natal, South Africa, Brown was educated at Hilton College, in Natal, and initially served with the Natal Field Artillery in German South-West Africa before joining the RNAS. He received his aviator’s certificate,No.2032, on the 14 October 1915, flying a “Short” biplane at the RNAS Flying School at Eastchurch, and served with the RNAS in France and East Africa, earning the DSC (1917). Brown was awarded the AFC in 1918, and remained with the RAF following the war. Air Vice-Marshal Sir Leslie Oswald Brown, KBE,OBE, CB, DSC and Bar, DFC, commanded No 84 Group, Allied Expeditionary Air Force (AEAF) in North-West Europe from 1944-1945, and following his retirement from the RAF was to return to South Africa.
Squadron-Commander Edwin Harris Dunning, RNAS (DSC):
Dunning was born in South Africa, the son of Sir Edward Harris Dunning, and was educated at the Royal Naval Colleges at Osborne and Dartmouth. He was awarded the DSC in March 1916 while flying with the RNAS, but Dunning holds a most singular honour in RNAS and aviation history, in that he was the first person to land an aircraft on an Aircraft Carrier. This feat occurred on the 2 August 1917, when Dunning landed his Sopwith Pup on board HMS Furious in Scapa Flow, in the Orkneys. Sadly he was killed five days later during his second landing attempt of the day,when an updraft caught his port wing , forcing the aircraft overboard, and Dunning, who had been knocked unconscious, subsequently drowned in the cockpit. The Dunning Memorial Cup, named in his honour, is bestowed annually upon the officer considered to have done most to further aviation in connection with the Fleet.
Flight Lieutenant Edwin Tufnell Hayne, 1 Naval Squadron, RNAS (DSC):
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa on the 28 May 1895, Hayne was educated at King Edward VII School, Johannesburg,South Africa. He joined the RNAS in 1916 and was transferred to No 3 Naval Squadron in 1917. Hayne’s first victory came in August 1917 (an Albatros DV, south of Middlekerke) and he was to account for six German aircraft while flying with the RNAS, the rest of his 15 victories coming while serving with No 203 Squadron,RAF. Haynes earned the DSC while serving with the RNAS (30 November 1917), and his citation read: “In recognition of his services with a Wing of the R.N.A.S. at Dunkirk between March and September, 1917. He has had numerous engagements with enemy aircraft and on the 16th August, 1917, attacked an enemy aerodrome and placed a whole flight of machines out of action by machine-gun fire. During a flight of over two hours, during which time he attacked transport and railways, he never exceeded a height of 1,000 feet .” He later earned the DFC, and was rested in July 1918. All of Hayne’s victories came while flying a Sopwith Camel (eight of these accrued while flying Sopwith Camel D3376). Sadly, Haynes survived the war only to die in a flying accident at Castle Bromwich, having attempted to return to the aerodrome after his engine cut-out, the result being a stall and the concomitant dive to earth. Hayne is buried at Castle Bromwich Churchyard, Warwickshire, England, and his headstone is still extant.
Flight-Lieutenant William Lancelot Jordan, 8 Naval Squadron, RNAS (DSC and Bar)
Jordan was born in Georgetown, Cape Province,South Africa, and joined the RNAS as a mechanic in September 1916. He subsequently flew as an air-gunner before becoming a pilot. He joined No.8 Naval Squadron, initially flying Triplanes before the squadron’s convertion to Sopwith Camels. Jordan scored his first victory on the 13 July 1917, and by the end of the year his tally topped eight, with most of his kills shared. Jordan was awarded the DSC (February 1918), and Bar (March 1918), by which time he had 18 “kills” to his name. His citation (22 February 1918) reads: In recognition of the courage and initiative displayed by him in aerial combats.On the 13th July, 1917, in company with another pilot, he attacked an enemy two-seater machine. After bursts of fire from both of our machines, the enemy observer was seen to collapse in the cock-pit, and the enemy aircraft was last seen disappearing among some houses. On the 6th December, 1917, whilst patrolling at 15,000 feet, he saw a two-seater enemy aircraft at 10,500 feet, and dived on him, firing about thirty rounds. After falling over to the left, enemy aircraft went down vertically. He has also been instrumental in bringing down other enemy machines.” Jordan notched up a further 21 victories, earning a bar to his DSC, as well as the DFC. Jordan was the fourth-highest RNAS “ace” of the war, as well as the fourth-highest Sopwith Camel “ace” of World War I, all 39 of his victories accruing while flying the Sopwith Camel. Jordan survived the war but was killed in a motorcar accident in the 1930s.
Flight-Lieutenant Samuel Marcus “Kink” Kinkead , 1 Naval Squadron, RNAS(DSC and Bar):
Samuel Marcus Kinkead was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, on the 25 february 1897. He was educated at Jeppe High School in Johannesburg, and joined the RNAS in September 1915. He subsequently served in the Dardanelles with 3 Naval Wing, where he scored his first three victories, the first a Fokker E on the 11 August 1916 over Xanthi, while flying a Bristol Scout. Kinkead then saw action on the Somme and at Ypres while serving with No. 1 Naval Squadron, RNAS, and between the 17 September 1917 and 22 March 1918 was to account for a further 15 German aircraft, shooting down two Albatros DVs on the 15 November 1917, within forty minutes of each other. He was awarded the DSC in February 1918, the citation stating: “In recognition of the conspicuous gallantry and skill displayed by himin the face of the enemy in aerial combats, notably on the following occasions: On the 24 October 1917, he brought down an enemy machine, and immediately afterwards encountered and drove off a group of seven hostile aeroplanes.On the 4 december 1917,he brought down an enemy two-seater machine completely out of control. By his skill and determination in attacking enemy machines he has always shown a fine example to other pilots.” Kinkead was to receive a bar to his DSC in April 1918, and accounted for no-less than 18 enemy aircraft while flying with the RNAS. Following the amalgamation of the RFC and RNAS in April 1918, Kinkead then served with No. 201 Squadron,Royal Air-Force, and added a further sixteen aircraft to his tally of 35 German aircraft shot down, being awarded the DFC and bar, and the DSO. He was , in fact, the top scoring Sopwith Camel ace of 201 Squadron, and the 12th highest scoring Camel ace of the war. Kinkead later served in Russia in 1919/1920,adding another 5 - 10 kills to his wartime tally, and was the top Allied scorer in that theatre. He again saw action in 1921, while serving as a flight commander under the famous Canadian ace Raymond Collishaw in the Middle East, but was sadly killed at Calshot, in Hampshire, in March 1928, while participating as a member of the RAF Schneider Trophy team, in an attempt to raise the world air speed record to more than 300 miles per hour (482,7 Km) while flying a Supermarine S5. Kinkead has been described as “one of the finest RAF officers of his generation”, a glowing tribute indeed, and an apt one.
Flight-Commander Leonard Horatio Slatter, 13 Naval Squadron, RNAS (DSC and Bar):
Slatter was born in Durban, Natal, South Africa, on the 8 December 1894, and was educated at Dale and Selborne Colleges in South Africa, and at Battersea Polytechnic in England where he trained to be an civil engineer. He joined the Royal Navy a month after the outbreak of war, and served in France with the Royal Naval Armoured Car Division, taking part in the second battle of Ypres, and was in action during the first German use of mustard gas on the Western Front in April 1915. Slatter then transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service, and after completing his training as an observer was posted in February 1916 to a seaplane squadron at Dunkirk, in France. He started flying-training in July 1916, and initially served at Dover before he was posted to the Seaplane Defence Flight (Which later became No 13 Naval Squadron, and 213 Squadron of the Royal Air-Force) as a pilot, operating from Dunkirk. He subsequently shot down six German aircraft while serving with the RNAS, to become an “ace”, attaining his first victory on the 12 August 1917,when he shot down a German seaplane off Ostend. Slatter’s last victory, while a member of the RNAS, came on the 11 March 1918, shooting down a Albatros DV two-miles North of Mariakerke, and he was to shoot one more German aircraft while serving with the Royal-Air Force, to end hostilities with a total tally of seven. Slatter was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) in November 1917, and a bar to his DSC (17 May 1918), as well as the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) during the war. Slatter’s second DSC (Supplement to the London Gazette 14 May 1918) was awarded for : “distinguished service rendered during a bombing attack on Ostende [sic] Seaplane Station on the 26th March, 1918, when, in spite of intense anti-aircraft fire and the glare of numerous searchlights, he descended to 400 feet over his objective to drop bombs. Flt. Cdr. Slatter is a leader of unqualified keenness and dash and possessed of exceptional courage and judgment.” Slatter remained with the Royal Air-Force after the war, serving with No 47 Squadron in Russia in 1919, and during World War II Air Marshal Sir Leonard Horatio Slatter was to command No.201 (Naval Co-operation ) Group in the Middle East (1942), and RAF Coastal Command from 1945-1948. He passed away in April 1961 in Uxbridge, Middlesex.
By
Ross Dix-Peek
People love to talk of Democracy,
But, like a dog without fleas,
Truth be told, arrant fallacy,
Merely subjugation in varying degrees,
For, no matter time nor age,
Life has never been fair,
Never without its cage,
The wolf forever in lair,
Man cares not for equality,
And sentiments noble and divine,
His only concern is his reality,
And to drink of life’s sweet wine,
And thus ever will be,
The vile Fat Cat,
Wealth, caste and hierarchy,
And the poor Drowned Rat!
(1892-2008)
by
Ross Dix-Peek
21 Southern African-born individuals have represented England at Rugby Union, the first to do so being W.B. Thomson, born in what constitutes modern-day Zimbabwe, in 1892, 117 years-ago, while a further three England Internationals may also have been born in South Africa. Of the 21, Eighteen were born in South Africa, 1 in Rhodesia/Zimbabwe, 1 in Mozambique and 1 in Basutoland (modern-day Lesotho). Their selection was not always without controversy, as in the 1920s and 1950s, when the English press had something or other to say about the inclusion of “colonials” in general. These 21 Southern Africans have, between them, accumulated 185 Caps, and at least two, namely “Tuppy” Owen-Smith and Mike Catt, have also captained the England rugby team.
W.B. Thomson (4 Caps, 1892-1895: Full-Back)
Born in Matabeleland in approximately 1871, in what was to become Southern Rhodesia, and later Zimbabwe, Thomson initially joined Blackheath during 1890-1891, and although he later moved to Glasgow and played rugby for the West of Scotland, he still represented Blackheath in important matches. Thomson was, according to contemporary reports, a fast and strong rugby footballer, and his first rugby test came in 1892 against Wales (Wales thrashed by England, 17-0,the English scoring no-less than four tries), whereupon he again represented England in 1895 against Wales, Ireland and Scotland respectively (Scotland beating England 6-3).
Frederick John Van der Byl Hopley (3 Caps, 1907-1908: Flanker)
The son of a judge, Hopley was born in Grahamstown, South Africa, on the 28 August 1883. Educated in England at Harrow School, he was an accomplished boxer and reigned as public school heavyweight champion from 1901-1902, while also playing cricket and athletics. He represented England on three occasions, against France and Wales in 1907, and Ireland in 1908. His debut, against France, was rather eventful, England beating France 41-13, the English team scoring nine tries, of which the wing, Lambert, claimed no-less than five of those tries! Hopley served with the Grenadier Guards during World War I, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for “conspicuous gallantry” at Beaumont Hamel. Hopley later returned to Southern Africa, residing in Rhodesia, where he served as the School’s Physical Training advisor to the Rhodesian government. Hopley passed away in Salisbury, Rhodesia, in August 1951, just shy of his 69th birthday.
Reginald Harold Myburgh Hands (2 Caps, 1910: Forward)
Born in Cape Town, South Africa, on the 26 July 1888, he was educated at Diocesan College (known as “Bishops”),Rondebosch, Cape Town, and Oxford University, earning rugby “Blues” in 1908 and 1909. He played for Middlesex and upon selection for England, played in 2 tests, against France and Scotland. A member of a well-known South African family,he and two brothers, namely K.C.M. and P.A.M. Hands all played test cricket for South Africa in 1913. Reginald Hands served with the South African Heavy Artillery (which was affiliated to the Royal Garrison Artillery) during World war I, and was sadly killed in April 1918, having attained the rank of major.
Ronald Owen Lagden (1 Cap, 1911: Lock)
Born in Maseru, in what was then Basutoland (now Lesotho), on the 21 November 1889, he was educated at Marlborough College, and later attended Oxford University, where he won “Blues” at Cricket (1909-1912), Hockey (1910-1911), Rackets (1909), and Rugby (1909-1911). Although he only played in one test match for England (as a Lock), his two conversions helped England win the Calcutta Cup. A teacher by profession, Lagden taught at Harrow, but was sadly killed in action in France during World War I, on the 1 March 1915, at St.Eloi.
Frank Whitmore Mellish (6 Caps, 1920-1921: Flanker)
Born in Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa, on the 26 April 1897,Mellish at Wynberg Boy’s High School and Rondebosch Boy’s High School in Cape Town. He served with the South African forces in German South West Africa (now Namibia) , and in France, being awarded the Military Cross (MC) in 1916. His test debut for England came on the 17 January 1920,against Wales, playing in the position of Flanker. He represented England on five more occasions, against France, Ireland and Scotland (all in 1920), and Wales and Ireland (in 1921). Mellish later returned to South Africa and represented the Springboks in 6 tests, against New Zealand and the British Lions (1921 and 1924 respectively), and also represented South Africa on the board of the Rugby Football Union from 1945-1946.
J.A. Krige (1 Cap, 1920: Centre)
Born on the 6 June 1897 in Caledon, in the Western Cape, South Africa, Jan Krige was educated at Victoria College in Stellenbosch, and in England played for Guy’s Hospital, whereupon he was selected to represent England against Wales on the 17 January 1920. His selection caused quite a stir as the English press were steadfastly set against the selection of a South African, and no further South Africans were selected in the next few years, although Frank Mellish (who played with Krige in the match against Wales) was selected to play another five tests for England, and he may have escaped censure due to his English surname. It is difficult to say whether the decision on the part of the English selectors not to select South Africans may have cost Krige further England caps, but it is certainly worth speculation.
Thomas Egerton Seymour Francis (4 Caps, 1926: Centre)
Born in South Africa in 1902, Francis was educated at Tonbridge School in England, and at Cambridge University. He earned his rugby “Blues” from 1922-1925, and also earned a cricket “Blue” in 1925. His debut came against Wales on the 6 January 1926, whereupon he played against Ireland, France and Scotland in that same year. He returned to southern Africa, and passed away in Bulawayo, Rhodesia, in 1969.
Brian Henry Black (10 Caps, 1930-1933: Lock)
Born in South Africa in May 1907, Black was a South African Rhodes Scholar who attended Oxford University, earning his rugby “Blue” in 1929, and was subsequently selected to play for England. His test debut, on the 18 January 1930, against Wales, saw him score a penalty-goal and a conversion, and he also toured New Zealand and Australia in 1930 as a member of the British Lions, scoring no-less than 82 points (3 tries, 26 conversions, and 7 penalty-goals). The irrepressible Black also played in the England team that won the 1931-1932 Calcutta Cup,his contribution being a try. His 10 Caps came against Wales (1930, 1931 and 1933);Ireland (1930 and 1931); Scotland (1931), and France (1930 and 1931). Black was an accomplished all-round sportsman and also represented Great Britain at Bobsleigh, being a member of the British teams that won world Championship titles in 1937 and 1939. Black joined the Royal Air Force during World war II, and was killed early in the war, in July 1940.
Harold Geoffrey “Tuppy” Owen-Smith (10 Caps, 1934-1937: Full-Back)
Born in Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa, on the 18 February 1909, Owen-Smith is probably the next best-known South African-born player, after Michael Catt, to have played for England. He was educated at Diocesan College (known as “Bishops”), Rondebosch, Cape Town, and at the University of Cape Town (UCT),as well as Oxford University. His debut for England came in January 1934, against Wales (in which match England beat Wales 9-0) and he was ultimately to captain England on three occasions, playing against Wales (3 matches), Ireland (3 matches), Scotland (3 matches) and New Zealand (1 match), and sharing in England’s Triple Crown victories of 1934 and 1937. A gifted sportsman, “Tuppy” Owen-Smith also played cricket for South Africa, being named, in 1929, as one of Wisden’s five cricketers of the year.
Clive Berrange Van Ryneveld (4 Caps,1949: Centre)
Born in South Africa in 1928, Van Ryneveld was also educated at the Diocesan College,”Bishops”,in Cape Town, and at the University of Cape Town (UCT) and Oxford University, and played for England in all four internationals of the 1948-9 season, his debut being against Wales on the 15 January 1949. van Ryneveld was to accrue further laurels as a sportsman, playing cricket for South Africa from 1951-1958, captaining the Springbok cricket team in 1950.
Murray Bernard Hofmeyr (3 Caps,1950: Full-Back/ Fly-Half)
Born in Pretoria, South Africa, Hofmeyr attended Pretoria High School, Rhodes University (Grahamstown), and then Oxford University (earning his rugby “Blues” in 1948,1949 and 1950. His debut came in January 1950, against Wales, in which match he scored a conversion (Wales beating England 11-5), and he also played against France and Scotland.
Harold Dudley Small (4 Caps, 1950: Flanker)
Born in South Africa on the 7 January 1922,Small was educated at Dundee High School in South Africa, at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, and at Oxford University. A flanker he made his debut, together with fellow South African Murray Hofmeyr, on the 21 January 1950 against Wales, and his three other matches were against Ireland, France and Scotland respectively.
Nicholas Arthur Labuschagne (5 Caps,1953-1955: Hooker)
Born in Durban, Natal, South Africa, in May 1931, Labuschagne attended Hilton Colllege (Natal, South Africa), and Cape Town University, before attending Guy’s Hospital in England, where he studied to be a dental surgeon. His debut for England camein January 1953 (against Wales), but it was only in 1955 that he accrued the rest of his England caps, playing against Wales, Ireland,France and Scotland respectively, and was thus a member of the 1955 Calcutta-Cup winning team . Labuschagne later played for Western Province and Natal upon returning to South Africa.
Dyson Stayt “Tug” Wilson (8 Caps, 1953-1955: Flanker)
Born in the Wilderness area, near George, Cape Province, South Africa in 1926,Wilson accompanied his family to England when eight-years of age, and was educated in England, joining the British Metropolitan Police, and served in one of the undercover branches of the force. He played rugby for the Metropolitan Police and Harlequins, and his test debut for England came in February 1953 against France. Wilson was to play a further seven matches for England, and later returned to his native South Africa.
Noel Sidney Dudley Estcourt (1 Cap, 1955: Full-Back)
Born in Southern Rhodesia on the 7 January 1929, and educated at Plumtee School in Matabeleland, Rhodesia, and at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa, Estcourt then attended Cambridge University. He played as a member of the Cambridge rugby XV, but did not earn a “Blue”, however, but did earn his cricket “Blue” in 1953 and 1954. Estcourt played for Blackheath, and upon selection represented England in his first and only match, against Scotland on the 19 March 1955, and returned to his native Rhodesia shortly thereafter.
Ronald Clive Ashby (3 Caps, 1966-1967: Scrum-Half)
Born in Mozambique in 1937, of South African parentage, Ashby was educated in South Africa and later in England, at the Royal Grammar School at High Wycombe, and at Harper Adams Agricultural College. He was involved in the family business, and also spent some 18 months in Antarctica, before returning to England. Ashby played for the famous English rugby club, Wasps, and was subsequently selected to represent England at scrum-half. His first match came in February 1966 against Ireland, whereupon he also played against France and Australia.
Michael John Catt (75 Caps, 1994-2007: Full-Black, Fly-Half, Inside Centre, Outside Centre,Wing)
The most successful South African-born player to ever represent England in Rugby Union, Catt was born in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa, on the 17 September 1971. Educated at Grey High School, in Port Elizabeth, he initially played for Eastern Province and then opted to leave for England after school, a most sagacious move. He played for Bath rugby club, and was then selected to play for England in 1994, his mother being English. A utility back, Catt’s debut was against Wales, as a replacement for Rob Andrews, and he was also a member of the 1995 England Grand Slam winning side, while also representing England in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, a most memorable “event” being the complete obliteration of Catt by the gargantuan New Zealand wing Jonah Lomu, which epitomised Catt’s character; he did not flinch from his duty, and although faced with what can only be described as true “adversity”, he tried (albeit in vain) to stop the Kiwi behemoth…truly commendable. Called up as an injury replacement, Catt played in the last test match of the 1997 British Lions tour to his native South Africa. Catt formed part of the 2003 England Rugby World Cup side (the eventual champions), playing at centre in the semi-final against France. Then followed a period of rugby “exile”, whereupon he was recalled to the colours in 2006, making his reappearance on the England tour of Australia, and was appointed captain of the England side in the 2007 Six Nations championship. He then took part in England’s Rugby World Cup endeavours of 2007, helping England to reach a second successive final, whereupon this most intrepid rugby international opted to retire from the game, being 36 years-of-age at the time.
Michael Horak (1 Cap, 2002: Full-Back)
Born in Johannesburg in 1977, he played Craven Week for the Orange Free State and for the Free State Under 21s, before trying his hand at Rugby League in Australia. Horak subsequently played for England Under 21s and represented the senior England rugby team in one match, against Argentina, on the 22 June 2002. He is currently resident in Italy where he plays for the Benetton Rugby Treviso club.
Geoff Appleford (1 Cap, 2002: Centre)
Born in Dundee, Natal, South Africa, Appleford was educated at Maritzburg College in Natal, and played for the Natal Sharks before joining London Irish in 2000. He made his England sevens debut in 2001, but his only England cap (in the fifteen-a-side format) came in 2002. Like so many rugby players who have gone before, Appleford was forced to retire from rugby due to injury in January 2007.
Stuart Abbott (9 Caps, 2003-2006: Centre)
Born in Cape Town, South Africa, in June 1978, Abbott was educated at Diocesan College (“Bishops”) in Rondebosch, Cape Town, and made his debut for England in August 2003 against Wales, England beating Wales 43-9, and was to represent England for the next three seasons, his last test being against Australia, on the 17 June 2006, in which match England were soundly whipped by Australia, 43-18. Abbott’s test tally includes three matches played for England during the 2005 Rugby World Cup, England the eventual victors, and Abbott, together with his England team mates, subsequently received an MBE in the 2004 New Year’s honours list. Abbott also played for the English club side Wasps, and was instrumental in helping them clinch the 2002-2003 Zurich Premiership, and the 2003-2004 Heineken Cup. Unfortunately injury woes prematurely put paid to a promising rugby career, and Abbott is now the Backs Coach at Rosslyn Park Football Club.
Matthew John Hamilton “Matt” Stevens (32 Caps, 2004-2008: Prop)
Born in Durban, Natal, South Africa, and educated at Kearsney College, in South Africa, Stevens earned representative honours for Western Province, South African Universities, and the Junior Springboks at Under 18 and Under 19 level, before opting to play for the English Rugby club side, Bath. He subsequently qualified to play for England, by virtue of an English father and grandfather, and in June 2004 made his debut, against New Zealand, in Dunedin. Stevens, a prop, made his Six Nations debut in 2005 and was selected to play for British Lions during their 2005 tour of New Zealand, but unfortunately a shoulder injury during the 2006 Six Nations resulted in Stevens being out of contention for over a year. Following his injury woes, his next match came against South Africa in 2007 during England’s summer tour, and Stevens was also to partake in England’s Rugby world Cup endeavours, playing in 3 pool matches while also featuring all the other games as a replacement. Then came what can only be described as an infamous end to a truly promising career, when Stevens was banned from all rugby for two years after having tested positive for a banned substance, namely cocaine! Stevens is young enough to mount a comeback following the lifting of the ban, but fierce competition and the inevitable “new blood” might put paid to such an eventuality (no sympathy from me, I’m afraid!).
And 3 England Rugby Internationals who were also most likely born in Southern Africa, in this case South Africa.
Rupert Henry Williamson (5 Caps, 1908-1909: Scrum-Half)
Educated at St Andrew’s College in Grahamstown, South Africa, he attended Oxford University, and earned 5 caps for England, scoring a try on his international debut against Wales in January 1908. Williamson returned to South Africa, where he worked as a mining manager, and was also to serve in World War I.
Hubert Dainton “Trilby” Freakes (3 Caps, 1938-1939: Full-Back)
Educated at Maritzburg College, Pietermartizburg, Natal, South Africa and at Rhodes University, in Grahamstown, South Africa, Freakes attended Oxford University, and made his debut for England on the 15 January 1938, against Wales. Freakes later served in the Royal Air Force during World War II, and was killed-in-action in 1942.
Sydney Charles Newman (3 Caps,1947-1948: Full-Back)
Educated at Christian Brothers College in Pretoria, South Africa, and at the University of the Witwatersrand, Newman also attended Oxford University, where he earned his Rugby “Blues” in 1946 and 1947. His debut for England came in April 1947, against France, and he also played against Australia and Wales, in 1948. Newman had served with the South African forces during World War II and was captured, spending three years as a prisoner-of-war.
And last, but not least, 1 individual who grew up in South Africa, but was born in England, and who represented England at Rugby Union.
Ossie Newton-Thompson was born in London, England, and educated at Diocesan College, Cape Town, South Africa, and at the University of Cape Town (UCT). Newton-Thompson also attended both Oxford and Cambridge Universities, and played 2 tests for England, in the position of scrum-half. He also served in the South African Air Force (SAAF) during World War II, earning the DFC, and was South Africa’s representative on the board of the Rugby Football Union from 1947-1948, as well as a South African politician from 1961-1974. Sadly, he was killed in an air-crash in March 1974.
