SHELLHOLES

Cape Midlands Provincial Dugout's new executive, with visiting Moth (Gen.) Constand Viljoen.

(l to r):  Brian Porter (Old Bill), Wally Boulter (Sgt. Major), Moth Viljoen, Pat Tate (Adjutant) and Siebert de Bruyn (Dep. Old Bill).  Absent:  Pay Bill Colin Calmeyer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cape Town branch of the South African Legion hosted the third annual Poppy Run on Saturday 3 January.  This is a 15km affair, held under the aupices of the WP Athletics Union.  The Legion was assisted by volunteers from Cape Garrison Artillery and from 3 Medical Btn Group (at waterholes and medical care, respectively).
We, as fellow veterans from Cape Midlands, decided to support our comrades and members from Weskus Quartel decided to form a relay team and to push their Adjutant, Moth Frankie Robbins, all the way in his wheelchair.
An impromptu relay team was formed practically at the start-line, with assorted unfit Moths from Blaauwberg Cuca, Marshal Smuts and Weskus Quartel, with our (very fit) Provincial Sgt-Major Mac Beets running the race from the start.
Also taking part as a registered runner (but not a Relay Team member) was Moth Bill Brown of Bomb Alley Shellhole who finished well within the time limit, in spite of age.
We Moths were very well-received by the crods at the finish and we have decided to work with the S.A.Legion at future events.
The Cape Town Legionnaires are planning to register an Athletic Club with WP Athletics and will take part in all kinds of like-minded events under the colours of the Legion.  We believe this to be a great idea and already many of our members have expressed an interest in joining that club when it gets under way.  Ideas such as this will certainly build greater cohesion between veteran's organisations as well as with our local Reserve Force Units.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The attached photo is of myself and of Past Old Bill (Cosy Corner Shellhole) Moth Norman Landman, while on an official visit to SimonsTown Naval Base in November.

Moth Norman was treated to a most comprehensive tour around one of the South African Navy's new Valour class Frigates, S.A.S. Isandlwana (F146) and into S.A.S Charlotte Maxeke (S102), our newest submarine.

 

Moth Landmans' war service is somewhat unique:

He was the Senior Sergeant with the Kaffrarian Rifles at the outbreak of the war but,being employed by the railways and not allowed to "go north" with the Regiment due to being considered Essential Services, he was offered a position with the Railways & Harbour Brigade.  He kicked that plan into touch and "unofficially" joined the Navy as a Rating.

He was made up to Officer rank in fairly short order and served as a Weapons Officer at sea.

He transferred to the Royal Navy and did duties in the South and North Atlantic, as well as with Convoy protection across the Atlantic and the Med, including 16 months of "Malta Convoys", which he remembers as being the most stressfull times of all.

He then transferred to the Royal Marine Commandos, passed the selection course and spent many months training in preparation for the D-Day landings.  But this was not to be.  The Navy needed pilots and cox'ns for the various Landing Craft required for the Invasion and he was sent back to sea duties for that purpose.

Just a few weeks before the Big Day, the Americans suffered a major setback when many of their own landing craft were attacked and sunk by German U-boats during a practice run, killing many American troops in the process.  Being short of craft, the R.N. lent a number of L.C.T's to the Americans, including crews.  It was in the course of this service that a young Sub-Liutenant from East London, serving in the Royal Navy, brought American troops to Omaha Beach at 08h00 on 6 June 1944.  I wonder how many other South Africans were on those beaches on that day?

 

Brian Porter

 

 

 

BLAAUWBERG CUCA

BOMB ALLEY

MARSHAL SMUTS

PLUM & APPLE/BUQ BUQ

SEAGULL

TIMRAD

TOMMY RENDLE VC

WESKUS QUARTEL