DURBAN REUNION
2009
Our friend Terry Bennett writes:-
Wallace and Mathews always looked
like skraal old goats - they have not changed.
Noleen and Carol as young and
lovely as ever.
The rest of you - fair to
middlin.
Great photos.
Doug (the Swing) Smith Writes:-
Absolutely
wonderful. The next one I will be there, God willing. Just give me some
notice.
Tks very much for the photos.
Ron
Jarman Writes:-
Ta eversomuchly for the excellent Pickies
taken in Durbs but I'm darn sure that I'm not as old as some of those guys
look!!!!
Bestest regards as always my friend and thanks for the
memories
TROUT TO
CHIMANIMANI
Peter Petter-Bowyer
Writes:-
Further to Rex Taylor's article on transporting
trout to Chimanimani, I wrote this short bit into Winds of
Destruction:
Mountain flying was by far the best part of training. On
my first time out, Mark had arranged for us to route via Mare Dam in the
Inyanga area to collect young breeder trout that we were to release into
pre-selected pools in the Bundi Valley high up in the Chimanimani
Mountains. Rex Taylor had done this previously with fingerling trout but
platanna frogs had devoured all of them. We were trying larger fish. There
were about fifteen six-inch trout sealed in plastic bags that were half
filled with water and blown to capacity with oxygen. Each bag was in a
cardboard box and about 30 odd boxes filled the rear cabin. It was
necessary to fly the one-hour leg directly to Chimanimani to limit damage
that fish could cause each other.
The beauty within the mountain range
astounded me because previously I had only seen the side of this range
from Melsetter village. Hopping from one pool to the next we emptied the
trout into the cold water and saw them all swim off strongly. These fish
survived and more trout were flown in for National Parks over time. By
early 1970 all the pools within the Chimanimanis, both within Rhodesia and
Mozambique, carried good populations of large trout.
Rex's early
morning efforts were not altogether a waste of time. But what a hell of a
long and expensive way to go to enjoy those scones 'baked before dawn by a
certain lady of my (Rex's) intimate acquaintance'.
Thanks PB.
Eddy
PENSIONS
Christopher Hudson replies to Keith Kemsley's insert on
pensions:-
Go and have a look at www.ospa.org.uk, the website of the
Overseas Service Pensioners’ Association. I have been a member for years
because I know how their chairmen over the years have fought to get the
British governments, both Conservative & Labour, to acknowledge a
responsibility, at least moral, if not legal, for maintaining Federal and
Southern Rhodesian civil servants’ pensions. The fight has not borne
fruit, unfortunately, but they have tried, with questions being asked in
both the Commons & the Lords down the years. The latest state of play
is set out in the Chairman’s Report 2008/09 which can be accessed from the
home page of OSPA. It is all there, right at the beginning of the
report.
Peter Petter-Bowyer
PB
responds Keith Kemsley's query concerning Britain's obligation to honour
unpaid pensions.
Barry J Lennox has done battle with the British
parliamentarians and House of Lords individuals on this issue for many
years. His refusal to give up on the issue is amazing considering the
ongoing lame response that Britain has no obligations considering the
entire responsibility for pensions was accepted by the Zimbabwean
government in the Lancaster House Agreement.
Thanks PB
BOB & LUCIA MUMFORD
NEWS
Bob and Lucia send their thanks for the condolences
regarding Lucia's mother.
Bob has also advised that he is on pension
from the end of June.
We wish him well.
GWERU AIRCRAFT
MUSEUM
Colin Anderson Writes:-
The silver vamp RRAF 112 was
painted in those colours and decals by 27 LAR airframes fitters when we
arrived at Thornhill in 1971 as a project for the new "appies" Brian
Vermeulen, Dennis Jarvis ,Chris Warner, Graham Reuterink ,Pete Besant,
Colin Anderson , this was done in the afternoons after daily work was
completed cant remember who supervised us , may have been Roy Pardoe , we
did a good job as it is still there I hope some of the other fitters LAC's
can remember those days and add a few lines
P.S. There was lots of
over spray and the decals had about 4 attempts to get looking right
.
Thanks Colin. Eddy
Cliff Booth (6 SSU) Writes:-
I was
interested to note that the Vampire RRAF 112 was in the Gweru Aircraft
museum. I flew it on October 4 1955. We were flying
a "Pansy " in 3's
at 35,000ft and it brought back many happy memories. Strangely enough, it
was the only time I flew 112.
Thanks Cliff.
Eddy
CONDOLENCES
ORAFs records it
condolences to Pat Galleymore on the recent passing of both his parents
recently:-
Pat writes:-
My Dad
went in for an emergency op to repair a leaking abdominal aneurism on the
4th May but died in ICU shortly after the surgery. My folks had been
married for 57 years and when I told Mom that Dad had gone I could just
see the will to live leave her there and then. She lasted until the 17th
May and died in her sleep, the official autopsy report being “old age” (I
forget the medical term) but when we spoke to the coroner she said that
Mom had died from a broken heart! Dad was 86 and Mom 76.
Nigel Fotheringham Writes:-
Jeremy (Jerry)
Parker recently passed away in Perth Australia after a 3 year battle with
the big C.
Jerry played in the Vertigos band in Gwelo along with Pete
Badenhorst, Rake De Kok, Roger Cowling & Dave Bowman. He was the only
civvie in the group I think.
Jerry was also my brother-in-law at one
time. Although he & my sister, Shirley, divorced a long time ago, they
were still good friends and were constantly in contact and he is survived
by their children Angie & Stewart and his present wife Rhonda & 2
sons.
He was still very fond of his music and played right up until his
passing and actually made a couple of CD's which we enjoy playing at our
home.
Jerry may be remembered by a few Air Force types but the point of
this email is to ask if you could just pass this info on to Pete, Rake,
Roger & Dave if you have their contact details.
They are welcome to
contact me direct if they want anymore info.
NIGEL LAMB
NEWS
Rob Hilton recommends this website on Nigel http://www.nigellamb.com/
INFORMATION REQUEST
Julie (Robins nee Prescott) Writes:-
I have
a request which I will totally understand if you feel is inappropriate, so
please don't hesitate to say "sorry, no can do" if that is how it
is.
One of my hobbies is writing, and last year I joined the London
School of Journalism to do a novel writing course, part of which involved
actually writing a novel. I set my fictional story in Rhodesia at the time
that the first Rhodesian war was brewing, which would have been around
1969 I guess, and then played around a bit with historical accuracy so
that it ended about the time that the Kariba plane incident occurred.
I
have worked quite closely with my ex, Steve Robins, who was in the BSAP,
and he has provided me with some anecdotes and refreshed my memory on some
matters, but I would really love to have some insight from any of your
subscribers on any of the following:
what it was like during Operation
Noah (pre my timeline but I do make references to it)
what it was like
in the Honde Valley (any anecdotes on incidences when patrolling the
pipeline etc.)
PATU (Police Anti-Terrorist Unit)
experiences/anecdotes
Hardships for people living in the Vumba,
Melsetter and other outlying districts of Umtali (I.e. road travel,
supplies, labourers etc.)
Write to Julie on ju...@hcm.fpt.vn
JACKLIN TROPHY WINNERS
1968
Eddie Flawn Writes:-
You may have heard from Tom
Chalmers by now that 1968 was the wrong date for some members to have been
on 5 Squadron at that time such as Porky Mclaughlin' Archie Ramsbotham
Brian Strickland and a few other members. I was on 5 Squadron in 1968 and
we did win the Jacklin Trophy about that time unfortunately I do not have
that photo with me( it is in Zim) but I am sure that someone will have
that photo, Squadron Leader Donaldson was the Squadron Commander in 1968.
This photo must have been about 1964-1965.
Comment by Eddy Norris
Concur with Eddie, 7
Squadron won the trophy in 1968 and as such 5 Squadron must have won the
trophy between 1964 (7 Squadron) and again in 1968.
Looking at this
photo the Squadron Commander is holding the Jacklin Trophy.
Thanks to Eddie Flawn for the correction. Eddy
HELP IDENTIFY SAAF
PILOTS
Phil Wright Writes regarding the
recent photo that was circulated:-
The one on the left of
Vellerman is 2 nd Lt Neil Smit ( a Cessna / Bosbok pilot) , the one on the
right of Vellerman is Lt Andre Marais - a chopper pilot. The photo was
taken at Grootfontein in September 1976.
Thanks
Phil. Eddy
SITREP
Dennis "Rusty"
Theobald - SITREP
My Dad, Dennis "Rusty" Theobald, after 2 weeks now,
is still enjoying his vacation, with visits from family members on
occasions. He has got some more limited movement back in his legs, (the
outer ones!), but still needs aid to walk, and only short distances. The
Doctors are still probing, and scratching their heads as to the actual
cause. We are still unsure when they are going to let him out.
Mum
(Shirley), Sarah (sister) and I would like to thank you all, for your kind
thoughts and messages, Dad enjoyed your messages and says that he will be
commenting back, once he is out and is able to get he fingers back on
the
keyboard, so I'm not going to say any more.
Many
thanks
Regards
Kent (Pronto)
Thanks Kent.
Eddy
K-CAR
Sent
in by Rich Carroll and Nev Mare
To the memory of the
Rhodesian Helicopter Pilots and the 20mm cannon Gunner. Two men one
helicopter; known as K-car…..Killer-car.
A formidable force in the
Rhodesian Bush War.
RHODESIAN K-CAR
‘Chopper’ pilot
calmness,
Cannon gunner’s skill,
Two minds in perfect harmony,
Flew in now for the kill,
Ten comrades in arms,
Pinned down by
enemy fire,
Ambushed and compromised,
Their backs now to the
wire.
One pilot and one gunner,
Men who knew no fear,
S.O.S. came through to them,
Urgent… but so clear,
“K-car,
Call sign Bravo, ”
“Contact, contact, contact”!
Pilot with nerves
of steel,
And veraciously exact,
“We have you visual, four
o’clock”,
Crackled in the pilot’s ear
He responded calmly
“Roger
Call sign Bravo… illuminate a flare”
Flare lit up and in they
flew,
Oblivious of the danger;
Twas deaths turn to roll the dice,
With life their coin of wager.
Two hands upon the cannon grips,
One finger on the trigger,
Gunner’s eye took a site,
Through
peep site to the jigger;
Bullets ripped into the cockpit,
Of that
killer-car machine,
Barely two year out of school,
K-car gunner…
aged nineteen
Fire Force airborne pilot,
Turned cannon to the
smoke,
Gunner pressed the trigger,
And the dragon now awoke;
Twenty millimeter cannon,
Boomed forth volcanic life
Spewing
deadly rounds,
Of instant death and strife.
No place for enemy
to hide,
From this matchless opponent;
Terrorists now in full
flight,
Were gunned down in a moment.
The Kill-car hovered
overhead,
Just six foot off the ground,
Two enemy lay screaming,
But from thirty dead…no sound.
Most men of war, whom I knew
then,
Have turned now to the Lord,
They have turned into plow
shears,
Their weapons and their sword.
Lord please teach us here in
Africa,
Love for one another;
Take xenophobic intolerance from us,
Teach us to love our brother.
Alf Hutchison
Thanks to Rich and Nev and special thanks to Alf
Hutchison. Eddy
SEEING MY FIRST
SPITFIRE
Peter Hume
Writes:-
Fascinating read, and we Humes hail from Wales so
that also struck a cord. We also have WW II connections with Thornhill
near Gwelo in that three Brit airmen who trained there during the war,
married sisters of my late mother. Quite a few stories there too. I
remember as an ankle biter going to some of the braais, and was told that
RAF pilots took half the time to get their wings there as against training
in Blighty. Our blessed weather. Went up in a Tiger Moth once at one of
their shows, BIG thrill, but never in one of the Harvards, that used to
sound under full throttle like a hammer drill. Reflect that these
reminiscences make me feel a little more eligible for the honorary ORAF
status you have accorded me!
CLARIFICATION
The
latest Bateleur states:-
"As you have probably gathered from past
Bateleurs, the publication is not a conduit for obituaries, but more
an adjunct to Eddy Norris’s ORAFs, where formal death notices
are sent out timeously to nearly 800 people around the world.
Bateleur delves into the lesser known aspects of people’s lives and
endeavours to portray, with- out being disrespectful, a more light-hearted
side. "
ORAFs advises that there are many more
than 800 people who receive this notification. Death and sick notices are
given priority treatment to afford friends to visit sick friends or pay
respect at the passing of friends.
Over the past ten years, hundreds,
yes many hundreds of stories have been circulated and most have been about
people. I have been approached to put into print the stories that
ORAFs has accumulated, remember the provisional title was "A Pride of
Turkeys."
I, believe I am entitled to my say as well but for me the
matter is closed.
RHODESIAN SNIPPETS OF
INFORMATION
BADGE OF OFFICE
Each CHIEF is issued
with:
1. A brass chain, with a brass crescent-shaped badge bearing the
ARMORIAL BEARINGS OF RHODESIA in silver.
2. A brass lapel badge, with
the Armorial Bearings embossed thereon in enamel on a green background,
with the Chief's traditional name on it.
3. A red robe, with purple
facings and one brass button as a fastener.
4. A Staff-of-Office,
bearing the Armorial Bearings on it in brass.
5. A white pith helmet,
bearing on it the Armorial Bearings in brass.
Each HEADMAN is issued
with:
1. A brass chain, with a brass rectangular badge bearing the
Armorial Bearings in silver, superimposed on a centrally-situated silver
disc.
A brass lapel badge with the Armorial Bearings embossed thereon
in enamel a red background, with the Head-on
man's traditional name on
it. Each Kraal Head (Head of family living in one village or kraal) is
issued with:
An oval brass lapel badge, bearing the Armorial Bearings
embossed thereon in enamel on a black background, with the words 'Kraal
Head' also
embossed on it.
Source:
Encyclopaedia Rhodesia by College Press
SMILE
A WHILE
This one is all the way from
Durban!
This is a real life exam of a Grade 5 (Std. 3) pupil
in SA.
Primary School Exam 1 of the second term:
Write an essay on
the following question: "What is a crocodile?"
Use block letters and
write legibly.
Name: GERHARD JANSE VAN VUUREN
Answer: The crokodil
is a specially built so long because the flatter the better swimmer. At
the front of the crokodil is the head. The head exists
almost only of
teeth. Behind the crokodil the tail grows. Between the head and the tail
is the crokodil. A crokodil without a tail is called a rotwieler. A
crokodil's body is covered with handbag material. He can throw his tail
off if he gets a fright but it doesn't happen much because a crokodil is
scared of nothing. A crokodil stays under the water because if you were so
ugly, you would also stay under the water. It is good that a crokodil
stays under the water, because a person gets such a big fright if a
crokodil catches you that he first has to rinse you off before he can
eat
you. A crokodil isn't hardly as dangerous as people say he is,
except if he catches you. The longer he bites you, the more it hurts. Very
old crokodilssuck their people and buck that they catch dead. If you eat
him, he is a crokosatie. A crokodil did not learn to swim with his arms so
he uses histail. The little brother of the crokodil is a lizard. The slow
sister of the crokodil is a chameleon. The gay brother of the crokodil is
a daffodil.
And the crokodil also has a dead brother the frikkadil
.
BITS 'N PIECES
Please note that I will not be on
line from the 21 June till 29 June. As and when I can I will be back on
line and sending material.
Till then, stay safe and no falling off your
perch!
Please
keep all our friends that are not well at present in your thoughts and
prayers, many need our love and support.
Remember ORAFs relies on you
for information.
Till next week stay safe and
strong.
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