Using PowerPoint illustrations, Prof Jan Myburgh (from Onderstepoort), a Society member of many years' standing, spoke about Animal Suffering and Sacrifices during the Anglo-Boer War - Veterinary Aspects and Animal Stories.
The first part of Jan's lecture wiped out the still widely-held notions that animals do not feel pain, are not intelligent and cannot communicate with each other and/or with humans, let alone form emotional bonds. He gave a general overview of how humans of necessity cannot judge what animals are thinking or how "intelligent" they might be, stressing that in its own environment for example a crocodile is very intelligent.
Our speaker displayed physiological comparisons e.g. brain sizes and a few cartoons to educate us about the similarities and differences which might influence animal reactions in stressful situations. His work with police dogs and military horses illustrated his conclusions and he was quick to point out that dogs and horses enjoy working with humans and rise to challenges. Conversely they can suffer from PTSD if the situations are beyond what they might have encountered. Individual animals can be identified which might be better suited to challenging situations, while bonding between horses and humans, and dogs and humans, are well known and well documented.
Unchallenged, animals can become bored and 'opt out' e.g. chained up dogs in back yards.
The second session contained stories of specific animals which had acted or reacted in amazing ways during the Anglo-Boer War. He made an appeal for any other similar stories known to members to be sent to him, as he hopes to be able to collate them in his impending retirement.
His lecture is recorded in the Society's Video Library on the website.
FORTHCOMING ATTRACTIONS -
ZOOMINARS
Eastern Cape Branch (SAMHSEC) Zoominars
Monday 11th August 2025 at 19h30 and then at 20h15:
Speaker Barbara Ann Kinghorn
Subject Harnessing Art..
SAMHSEC RPC
The next RPC (Request the Pleasure of your Company) Zoominar will be on Monday 25th August 2025.
Details will be on the invitations
Johannesburg
Thursday 14th August 2025 at 19h30 and then 20h15
Speaker: Susanne Blendulf (speaking from Ed in Sweden)
Subject: One who came creeping: The curious battlefield death of Karl XII of Sweden, 30 November 1718
On a dark winter's night in a trench just outside the walls of Fredriksten Fortress in south-eastern Norway, a man in a dark tricorne hat was shot straight through the head. This was no ordinary man. Karl XII was the legendary Swedish Meteor, king of a powerful northern European empire and his death marked its end and the beginning of Russia's rise as a dominant force in the Baltic.
Next KwaZulu-Natal Branch Meeting
Saturday 23rd August 2025.
NB 09:30 for 10h00
The meeting will be a combined presentation with the SA National Society as the Ken Gillings Memorial lecture. Speaker will be Hugh Bland whose lecture will focus on a review of the battlefields of Natal.
The venue will be St Margaret's Church in Delaware Avenue, Virginia (Durban North).
Full details will be in the branch newsletter or whatsapp Phil Everitt on 085 437 1636.
ELANDS RIVER MUSEUM, SWARTRUGGENS
A celebration of the 125th Anniversary of the Siege of Elands River will be held on
Saturday 16th August 2025, starting at 09h30 for 10h00.
The theme for this day will be "The fleeing women of the Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902."
There will be an unveiling of a monument to the fleeing women.
Contact Maarten Stols 0825568861
or Gert van der Merwe 0832321770
Advance notice from Kathy Munro:
Theme "Historical Middelburg, the Gateway to History"
More information, full programme and bookings email rossouwsonnet@gmail.com
BRANCH CONTACT DETAILS
Eastern Cape details contact Malcolm Kinghorn 041-373-4469 culturev@lantic.net
Gauteng details contact Joan Marsh 010-237-0676 joan@rfidradar.com
KwaZulu-Natal details contact Prof Phil Everitt 084-437-1636 everitt@iafrica.com
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