ORAFS NEWSLETTER 07 FEBRUARY, 2017

[Eddy Norris]

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Old Rhodesian Air Force Sods

Newsletter 07 February, 2017

Kind Thanks.
Sadly we have seen the passing of family and friends of the ORAFs family in the last few days,and all families have asked that I please convey their thanks for all the messages of condolence and support received by the many that wrote in.

I read all the messages myself before passing on and we received many messages regarding Dr. Standish-White and the constant theme was of thanks for giving new hope to many ex patients. Having not met the Doctor, it was an eye opener to the obvious talent and dedication he bestowed on so many. A wonderful gift that he shared in helping others in their time of need.

Rhodesian Sports Men and Woman.
We have received the following request from Dewalt Steyn ;
My name is Dewald Steyn and I recently published a 5 volume book called "History of South African Cross-Country, Middle- and Long Distance Running and Walking - 1894 to 2014" . I also started writing up the total history of Track and Field between 1894 and whenever I finish...maybe 2018 or 2020.

Rhodesian athletes historically played a big role in Southern African athletics...for instance Terry Sullivan was the first athlete from Southern Africa who ran a sub-4 minute mile while he was also SA 1-mile champion several times. Even Great Heart Newton famous Comrades athlete had a Club somewhere in Rhodesia and used to run in a vest with Rhodesia-Natal written on the front. The black Rhodesian athletes also competed at the SA Non-white championships between 1961 and 1973. Athletes like Robson Mrombe, Mathew Kanda, Bernard Dzoma, Pilate Ndhlovu and Artwell Mandaza were just a few of these athletes. White athletes were David Dodds, Paul Spoine, Frank and Keith Pearce.
There must be more that I don't have proper record of. The south African Athletic Championships even took place in Bulawayo in 1947 and in Salisbury in 1953. I have the CV's of Mollie Bragge, Dorothy Ballantine and Cinthea Keay who were top Rhodesian sprinters in 1935 and represented Southern Rhodesia at the 1934 Empire Games.

I am looking for as much as possible about all Rhodesian athletes, especially photos from albums or scrap books or even just contact details of relatives

If you are able to assist Dewald in his research kindly write to me at orafs11@gmail  Folks this will be another great contribution to our history keeping for future generations so please consider this request. Thank you.

1970 - CB Vol 19 what is a Rhodesian - Mutare extract by Bob

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Fernandes.
Mutare or as we Rhodesians knew it as Umtali, that is until 1983. It is the third largest city in Zimbabwe and is the capital of Manicaland province or what is sometimes referred to as the Eastern Districts. Mutare was founded in 1897 as a fort, about 8 km from the border with Mozambique, and is just 290 km from the Mozambican port of Beira, earning this city with the title of "Zimbabwe's Gateway to the Sea". And it is also sometimes called "Gateway to the Eastern Highlands". Many Zimbabwean locals refer to it as 'Kumakomoyo' (place of many mountains).There is a border railway station at Mutare situated on the railway line from Harare to Beira. The railway serves daily passenger and freight links from Beira onto towns such as Nyazura, Rusape and Harare.


​A view of Umtali as seen from Christmas Pass.


​A view of Umtali showing the main street.

There is within the Umtali Railway Station yard, a railways mechanical workshop. I mention this, because there is a very interesting and PROPER book for you to read and it is all about the early days in Umtali around the time of 1898. It is called Some African Milestones and is written by HF Varian M.I.C.E., F.R.G.S. And he was a railway engineer who had a great deal to do with the construction of the railway line from Beira to Salisbury. Later he moved to Victoria Falls and oversaw the construction of the famous Railway Bridge there.

The city area was the original site of Chief Mutasa's kraal. In 1890 A.R. Coquhoun was given concessionary rights and Fort Umtali and was established between the Tsambe and Mutare Rivers. The word mutare originates from the word 'Utare' meaning gold. The name was probably given to the river as a result of gold being discovered in the nearby Penhalonga valley through which the Mutare River runs.


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In 1891 the location of the town was moved from the town’s present location to a site now known as Old Mutare and which was situated to the North and over the other side of Christmas pass. However as Frank Varian points out in his book the steep inclines that they would encountered by taking this route was prohibitive and so another way had to be found and this he did. Thus this new route led to the town being moved for a third time and compensation was paid by the British South Africa Company to the townspeople for the cost of moving. The town was proclaimed a municipality in 1914 and in 1971 it was granted city status. The name was officially changed from Umtali to Mutare in 1982. Apparently there used to be a tramway, which transported passengers from the Railway station up to the Umtali Club. There is a horn at the Railways which is an audible siren that can be heard in almost any location in the city. It sounds off at 7:00 am, 12:00 noon, 1:00pm and 4:30pm.

Despite its tropical location, the city has a temperate climate. The average annual temperature is 19 °C, surprisingly low for its moderate altitude which is lower by some 360 meters than that of Salisbury, which if my memory serves me correctly, is approximately 5 500 feet above sea level. This is probably because of its sheltered position against the mountain ridge of Cecil Kop and the cool South Easterly winds which emanate from lower altitudes and the Indian Ocean. The coldest month is in July with a 6 °c minimum temperature and a maximum of 20 °c. The hottest month is in October with a minimum 16 °c and maximum 32 °c.  The annual rainfall is plus or minus 818 mm, with the rain falling between the months if November to March of the following year although heavy showers are possible before and after this period. The wettest month on record was January 1926 which received 580 mm while January 1991 received only 24 mm.  The town lies north of the Bvumba Mountains and these cool green hills shelter several country hotels, a casino and golf course at the famous Leopard Rock Hotel and also the nearby Botanical Gardens with one of the best views in Africa. And these mountains are also known for their coffee plantations

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​Leopards Rock Ho

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el in the Vumba near Umtali.

The Town of Mutate, also lies to the South of another high feature known as the Christmas Pass This is a mountain pass over which the main road to Salisbury traverses and that leads down into Umtali. The pass was so named by some of the colonial pioneers who camped at the foot of the pass on Christmas Day 1890.  Frank Varian in his book gives some dramatic descriptions in his book of those early pioneers and their ox drawn wagons negotiating this formidable obstacle Christmas Pass.  


​H.F. Varian, M.I.C.E, F.R.G.S.

Many thanks Bob, a beautiful city with a rich history.

​O​

n a google search

​ ORAFs​

found a link to a free book by H.F. Varian - click the link https://archive.org/stream/someafricanmiles008873mbp#page/n7/mode/2up

Zimbabwe Emigration Forms.
ORAFs has been requested to assist with an emigration document for Zimbabwe;
I am sending this email on behalf of my father, *** , to ask whether anyone is able to help with the completion of the 'Zimbabwe - Form A (Emigration)' form, in particular the Pension Remittance Certificate section (copy attached).

According to an email received from CABS, Zimbabwe's Exchange Control requires all external pensioners to complete an Emigration form before any monies can be transferred out of the country. As my father left Zimbabwe over 11 years ago this is proving to be something of a challenge. If anyone has experience completing these forms we would welcome your advice.

My father was in receipt of a Zimbabwe Government Pension up until August 2016 (that's another story) but has no record of the name of the pension fund or the fund registration number. In addition we do not know who the Principle Officer of the Fund is or how to obtain a signature.

Any advice or guidance will be much appreciated.

If you can assist with this kindly write to me at ora...@gmail.com  For privacy sake I have removed the persons name but I can verify that the person is an ex Air Force member.


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Mazoe Dam.
Mike Garden writes - Mazoe  dam is at long last approaching capacity, the first time in almost 20 years, and is looking lovely. The best way to appreciate it, obviously, is from a boat, and Hunyani Rowing Club have nestled on its banks for almost 60 years, getting people "on the water" whilst offering the world

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healthiest form of exercise.

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Photograph

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courtesy Mike Garden

Many thank Mike.

​Still incredible beautiful there. ​

ORAFs also heard that Mutare has

​ had​

very good rains recently.

Circus in Umtali.
Brian Du Preez comments on the query by Dave White regarding the visiting circus that performed in Umtali;  The circus in Rhodesia, it was called Boswell Wilkie circus. One of my cousins who was circus mad as a kid & joined the circus as a clown (circa) 1970 and eventually became the catcher for the trapeze. He also worked showing people to their seat & checking tickets.

Danie Theron also sent a link of interest related to the Circus - click the link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boswell_Wilkie_Circus

ORAFs also did a search and found the following link - click http://www.circusfederation.org/uploads/circus_culture/about/southafrica_boswells.pdf  Here

​in ​

it states the circus once visited Rhodesia

​as far back as​

 1924.

Many thanks Brian and Danie. Brian any chance of photos ?

Air Trans Africa - A Rare Event.
Carol Reid-Daly commented on the article by Shumba in the last NL regarding the reunion of some ATA friends. Carol writes; In response to the article sent in my Shumba, I remember so well the rebuilding of the Spitfire which Jack flew, watching it taking off for the first time after many months of hard work.  I worked for Catercraft at Salisbury Airport at the time and we all watched from the upstairs airport offices.  Tweedy Reid-Daly my late husband and John Potts, John Borejszo and a few others were also involved (all ex Rhodesian Air

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orce).  Shumba it must have been really fantastic to catch up with the guys.
It was really said when Jack died flying the Spittie, but he was doing something he loved the most.
So many wonderful (and sad) memories of a life once shared by so many of us now all over the world.

Nick Baalbergen writes -Shumba's story is of particular interest. The family lived two houses up from a partner of Jack Malloch, from his very early days in commercial aviation (Jamie Marshall & Fishair Pvt Ltd). Jack Malloch used to 'buzz' Jamie Marshall's house in his Spitfire, when he required a lift from the local airfield, just outside town. Some time ago I had tried to locate the airstrip Jack Malloch used in his Fishair days - it was reported to have been in the middle of the town's race course. It had never occurred to me to look at a Google Earth image, until Tim Musto pointed out the clear outline of an old airstrip, still visible in the now defunct town race course.

TS Mashona -Rhodesian Sea Cadets in Salisbury, Rhodesia by J

​.A. Wilson.​

I would like to share some of my memories I have between 1956/1958 when I was in the Sea Cadets.
At the time the commanding officers were Lieutenant Burns, followed later by Lieutenant Link.

The venue was the

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T S Mashona which was a steel corrugated building in the grounds of the Drill Hall.

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However, the cap tally us ratings wore had RSCC – which stood for Rhodesian Sea Cadets Corp.

The only other ratings were lucky enough to be selected to go to Simonstown in Cape Town, South Africa, to serve on a ship there, were allowed to wear the ships’ cap tally which they had served on.

The items of interest on the ship, were a binnacle, a telegraph, ship’s wheel, ship’s anchor, a showcase of model ships and a ship’s bell with HMS Stork engraved on it.There was also a navel field gun and ammunition box which, on one occasion, was used outside in the grounds of the Drill Hall. There was a dinghy and a 27ft whaler which was considered too old to repair and was finally broken up.

We went to the range twice a year, usually for a full day, where we fired the Lee-Enfield 303 rifle.

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This particular activity was most enjoyable!

Around this time TS Mashona was given a lifeboat from a passenger ship, which was berthed at Lake McIlkwaine. This boat was then decked out with cabins forward and aft and a wheelhouse. Work was carried out by a shipbuilder from Lake McIlwaine .To fund this work TS Mashona organised a dance at the Drill Hall which turned out to be a great success, bringing in the funds required.

Further finishing work was carried out by work parties on the weekends at Lake McIlwaine.

The only time I saw the boat underway was when some VIP’s came to inspect it. They were no sooner on-board and underway, when the heavens opened up and the flat water of Lake McIlwaine resembled water in a washing machine. I rather think the VIP’s were glad to return to shore!

Some three to four years later, after having lost all contact with the Sea Cadets and was working by then, I went to Kariba to go fishing, where I saw the boat again.

This time it was sunk in shallow water with only its mast and wheelhouse above the water.

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A great pity after all the work that had been put into it.

Can anyone recall what became of the boat?

**I use the word “boat” but the word “launch” was used most of the time by us.

Many thanks John - if anyone can assist John then kindly write to me at ora...@gmail.com

Place of the week - Macloutsie Camp.
Colleen Bowker commented; My grandfather, Richard Bell Carruthers Smith, the youngest member of the B.S.A Police at the age of nineteen, was there.  He was attested  to the BSAP  on the 15th May 1890  No 527.  He and my grandmother, were well known and loved by all who knew them in Rhodesia.

​The Late Mike Whiley Wake.

Brien Rooken-Smith kindly let us know how the wake for the Late Mike Whiley unfolded.

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​Our Wake started with registration in the hands Dick Latilla, a gathering of old friends around the bar and build up towards the formalities while Cheryl and her ladies supplied nourishment to for the gathering.

There was background music from the Shows which were musicals produced by Mike's schools.

Grant Symmonds (Ellis Robins) opened proceedings and controlled the purse.

Grant paid tribute to the part Mike had played in his school and sporting life.

Redeem Ngadze (OP)  followed with his recollections and introduced Ralph Mupita (OP) who told of how he was unique in the Plumtree fold as, having been recruited from Churchill for Lower and Upper 6 at Plumtree ended up Headboy thanks to Mike!

Mike's first black Headboy was OP Franklin Sibanda who told of his experience as the only black face in his Form 1 year and how he had to live through  this feeling of isolation, but Mike had encouraged him all along the way and had developed his leadership skills!

Brien thanked all present for making this Wake possible and recalled Mike's first Plumtree Sports Weekend in 1984.

It was raining non stop throught Friday night and into Saturday.

An Executive decision was taken to switch the Saturday and Sunday programmes and we started off with the Parents AGM and then moved to the Chapel for the Memorial Service, hoping Sunday would clear and Sports could continue.

Mike welcomed parents and looking out of the Beit Hall doors used the R2 D2 quote: "Its raining on the outside, but also raining on the inside!"

Mike then dropped the bombshell that he was losing the following Senior Members of Staff at term end:

Deputy Head Rob Bing and Betty;

Gaul Housemaster Neil Todd and Sue. Neil went on the Head Falcon College;

Grey Housemaster Dave Thompson who in time took over as Head at CBC;

Tom & Betty Reakes (Rugby and Library)

Seven Key players in Jim Clarke's "A" Team in the rescue of Plumtree from its possible move to Guinea Fowl for security reasons , proposed by the new Minister of Education Dennis Walker and Education Secretary Grant. Grant had at the previous Sports Weekend assured parents that Plumtree would "stay put!"

All you could now hear was the rain beating down outside and Mike had a big hole to fill!

This Mike did and Roy Jones, Ant Squires, Dave Mackenzie, David and Gilly White, Sandy Downey  and Rose Hughes are some of the names that come to mind.

Plumtree went from 120 boys to close on 400 in Mikes' time and was again a keen competitor in the High School stakes of Zimbabwe in the academic and sporting fields.

I used an Irish Prayer to conclude my last Parents' Meeting at Plumtree in 1965. Mike went on to serve Plumtree until 1993!

Eric Caldecourt used this same prayer at Mike's Memorial on the 5th of January at St Georges.

It was to be found prominently displayed in Mike's Headmaster's home at Plumtree: 

 

        May the rain fall gently on your fields

        May the road rise up to meet you

        May the wind be forever at your back

        And until we meet again

        May God hold you gently in the Palm of His Hand.

 

I leave you with these words:

 

        Live simply

        Love generously

        Care deeply

        Speak kindly

        Leave the rest to God

 

Alf Whitson (PE) gave us Amazing Grace on his pipes

Followed by the Last Post

Silence and

Reville

Then Alf again with "The Saints"!

I called up the Dickie Fritz helpers to receive tokens of appreciation from the WW` Team

Franklin closed proceedings by leading the singing of the hymn "God be with you til we meet again"!

Thank you to all who made this happen and who joined forces to come together and cast a prayer up in memory of Mike and his achievements.

T

​hank you Brien, I am really chuffed to hear all went as planned. Alf playing the bagpipes is always a treat.

The Battle of Macequece. 

When the Pioneer column reached Fort Charter in 1890, Selous and Colquhoun accompanied by a police escort turned east into Manicaland.  Their aim was to obtain concessions from the chiefs who controlled the eastern area. They arrived at Chief Mutasa's Kraal in the middle of September, an on the 14th of that month, the chief agreed to grant a concession to the B.S.A. Company. 

Selous then continued East to Macequece where he met Baron de Rezende, the representative of the Portuguese Mozambique Company.  The Baron objected to the activities of the B.S.A. Company, saying that the whole area was Portuguese. When Colquhoun reached  Salisbury he despatched Captain Forbes, with a small group of police, to the Manicaland area. When Forbes reached Mutasa's Kraal he found a number of Portuguese officials there. Forbes arrested two of these, D'Andrada and De Sousa, and sent them to Salisbury as prisoners.  They were later released. He then cut down the Portuguese flag and marched towards the coast, hoping to take control of a corridor to the sea. Two days' march from Beira he was recalled by the British Government, who had made a temporary agreement with the Portuguese.

The following year, rumours reached Salisbury that a large Portuguese force was gathering to attack across the eastern border to Colquhoun sent further re-enforcement's to Manicaland.  In May 1891 Captain Melvile Heyman led an attack on the Portuguese fort at Macequece.  The battle lasted about two hours and ended with the Portuguese abandoning the fort. Heyman then led his men in a dash towards the coast. However, the British Government sent Herbert Langton Sapte with a written message ordering the B.S.A. Company forces to halt, which they did.

These incidents on the eastern border caused a great deal of anger in Portugal. However, the temporary agreement which had been drawn up between the British and the Portuguese Government's in November 1890 was later ratified in the Anglo-Portuguese convention.  This agreement established the Eastern border of Rhodesia and resulted in improved relations between the Portuguese and the B.S.A. Company.

Source - Encyclopaedia Rhodesia 1973. 

I included this due in part to our place of the week earlier on and the referral to the articles by Dave White and Emily Payne.

​The Boom and Nozzle.

Folks another long forgotten Pub -

John Gair writes;​The Boom and Nozzle was a pub situated within the hangers at Charles Prince Airport.

It had a nightly clientele of workers at Charles Prince.
A pilot from South Africa was working for Agric Air, and always carried a .357 Magnum revolver.
This was during the war years. Gert was his name.

One night he and Jake Storey got into a few. Gert decided it was time to leave and go home
and left the bar, only to find the exit gate locked.Returning to the bar, asked Jake if he had a key to the gate. Jake replied that he did not ,but very jokingly, suggested that Gert should shoot it off.
No more thought was given to this, until a very loud bang was heard.
Gert had taken Jake seriously and had done exactly as suggested.
As you can imagine, a very serious situation immediately presented itself. !!

​Many thanks John - Does anyone perhaps have a photo of the Boom an Nozzle?

For non-Rhodesians the Charles Prince Airport was the old Mt. Hampden Air Port located approximately 11 miles from the city of Harare (Salisbury).​

Adoption Query.

Many thanks to all who responded to our query regarding finding closed adoption information in Zimbabwe. We received these contact details for those who may be searching for adoptive children or family.

​Brian Murphy - click the link ​https://www.facebook.com/brian.murphy.5477272?fref=ts

 

Fran Charles - click the link https://www.facebook.com/francharles

Doris - click the link https://www.facebook.com/No-longer-lost-Rhodesia-Zimbabwe-adoption-searches-369409293154052/?fref=ts

ORAFs does not participate on Facebook but I received a few folk forwarding the same details.

Familiar Faces.

John Britton forwards the following photograph taken recently in Cape Town.

​From Left to Right - John Britton, Hugh McCormack, Rick Singleton.

Many thanks John - good to see you all again.

Aviation  Enthusiasts.

Erik Eilertsen forwards a really sentimental link to a 100 year old woman who flew during WW2 who celebrated her milestone birthday behind the controls once again.

Click the link http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4191976/Woman-flew-spitfires-WWII-celebrates-100th.html#ixzz4XnG7CK7T

John Mussell forwards a link to a Navy Helicopter landing. 

click the link https://www.youtube.com/embed/bC2XIGMI2kM

Syd Polwarth forwards a link to the last airworthy Vulcan Nuclear Bomber Click the link http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4181656/Last-airworthy-Vulcan-bomber-STUCK-hibernation.html?ito=email_share_article-top

Thank you gentleman - All the links are well worth the visit.

ORAFs thanks all who contributed to this weeks NL. ORAFs thanks all owners/producers of any materials used in the making of this NL. No monetary gain is intended  or sought - for sharing purposes only. Again, sincere thanks to all who forwarded condolence messages over the last few days.

Reminders -

AFA (Cape) Monthly Braai 
First Friday evening of each month.
Contact Johnny Ness and or Tony Cowell for details

 

AFA (Gauteng) Monthly Prayer Meeting

First Saturday afternoon of the month at Dickie Fritz Shellhole.
Contact Cheryl Grover for details

 

AFA (Natal) Social
First Friday evening of each month.
Contact Neville Mare (RhAF) for details

​Comments are always welcome - send them to ora...@gmail.com

Place of the week - Lesapi River.

The Lesapi, or Rusape, River rises north-east of the town of Rusape and flows southwards to join the Macheke River and eventually the Sabi River. The dam, built just below the town of Rusape, acts as a water storage for the irrigation schemes lower down the Sabi system as well as providing water for local township and agricultural purposes.

Source - Encyclopaedia Rhodesia 1973.

_____________________________

Sent in memory of Eddy Norris

by Paul Norris & Denise Taylor

RSA & Canada