The South African
Military History Society
Die Suid-Afrikaanse Krygshistoriese Vereniging
Military History Journal
Vol 9 No 3 - June 1993
Activities 1992
The Annual General Meeting was held on 9 April 1992.
The retiring Chairman, Prof I B Copley, outlined the
Society's activities during the past two years. He
reviewed the extraordinary diversity of topics presented by
speakers since the Society's inception in 1967.
Mr M J C Marsh, Honorary Treasurer/Secretary
presented the financial statements indicating the Society's
sound financial position, pointing out, however, that the
membership fee was directly related to the cost of the
Journal. The Chairman had already pointed out that
the amalgamation of the Journal with the Museum
Review, the use of a laser printer and submission of
articles in disc format would allow publication cost increases
to be kept to a minimum.
Mrs Jennifer Copley, a member of the Committee and
several times speaker, was unanimously elected Chairman,
the first lady Committee member and Chairman
in the Society's history.
The following members constituted the Committee:
Prof I B Copley
Cmdt (Dr) Felix Machanik
Dr Peter Rush
Mr David Panagos
Mr Avram Pelunsky
Mr Paul Melville
Mr David Unwin
Mr John Mahnke
Mr Martin Ayres
Mr Hamish Paterson (Museum Representative)
Mr Gavin Moore was appointed Hon. Auditor
The Roderick Murchison Memorial Prize for the best
contribution to the Military History Journal in one year
(1991), was awarded to Gill Vernon and Denver Webb
of the East London Museum for their article on The
Camp at Fish River Mouth.
The AGM was followed by a very amusing account by
Mr Lionel Bussin of his escapades as a POW in WWII.
Topics for the year were each preceded by a 'curtain-raiser'
or short talk prior to the main speaker, given by
members and museum staff, a custom started by Maj
Darrel Hall, which has become very popular. The main
topics were as follows:
January: - The Greek War of Independence - Mr Achilles Kallos.
February: - Wellington's Peninsular War - Mr Martin Ayres.
March: - The SA Air Force in Madagascar - Col Jack Clayton.
May: - The Manufacturer of War Gas in SA - Mr John Keene.
June: - The Battle of Silkaatsnek - Prof Ian Copley.
July: - Dogs of War - Mrs Fordred.
August: - The Rhine Cauldron - Mr Walter Murton.
September: - Video: The Falklands War (reviewed ten years on).
October: - Inside Story: Reminiscences of a POW - Mr Ike Rosmarin.
November: - Zeppelins - MrJohn Mahncke.
December: - In the Wake of HMS Dragon - Capt Ivor Little.
Three one-day excursions were undertaken in 1992.
These included a tour of Rietfontein Camp and
Cemetery and Silkaatsnek in March, the inspection and
ascent of the mule track to the Western Buttress Fort at
Commando Nek in June, and a tour of the ambush site
and forts at Kalkheuwel Pass in October.
The March visit to Rietfontein Cemetery included the
Society's handing over of the new tombstone for
Bandsman Thurgood, Lincolnshire Regt, to Miss Jean Beater
of the National Monuments Council, British War Graves
Division. The stone was replaced with funds forwarded
from the Trustees Royal Lincolnshire, now Royal Anglian
Regt.
I B Copley
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