SAMHSEC turns 21!
SAMHSEC’s first meeting was in the PAG Drill Hall on 4 September 2004. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to SAMHSEC’s soldiering on.
26 August 1966 and all that
See http://samilitaryhistory.org/8/p08novne.html for a reminder that the value of SAMHS’ website includes access to past records afforded by the site’s search engine. Thank you, Mike for making the website happen!
SAMHSEC meeting 11 August 2025: Harnessing Art in the service of War by Barbara Ann Kinghorn
Barbara Ann’s presentation demonstrated how art has been a powerful tool in wartime, and afterwards. The illustrated talk featured an idiosyncratic selection of many artworks, including a drawing from Parade by Si Lewen; the Alexander Mosaic; a sculpture and coin depicting Julius Caesar; several portraits of Napoleon Bonaparte by Jacques-Louis David; some prints from Francisco de Goya’s The Disasters of the War; Gassed by John Singer Sargent and Guernica by Pablo Picasso.
Barbara Ann’s presentation is in the SAMHS Zoom library.
SAMHSEC RPC meeting 25 August 2025
In session 1, Anne Samson focused on Kitchener’s management of the guerrilla phase of the Anglo-Boer War after March 1901, what experience he drew on and the impact of his actions.
Although counterinsurgency (COIN) was not a term Kitchener would have recognised, he by instinct applied NATO’s COIN principles and combined military, psychological and political strategies. Few recognise his skill as the consequences of his decisions were controversial. His influence was to resonate in different ways into the Great War of 1914-1918.
In session 2, Anne Irwin presented a brief account of the occupation of Colesberg by Boer forces from 14 November 1899 until 28 February 1900. This personal account is based on the diary of one of the residents of the town at the time, a Miss Jane Gardener, who describes the arrival of the Boers, the incarceration of prominent English citizens, the daily fighting, as well as the various movements of the Boers. She describes interesting details, such as storekeepers being paid in Transvaal money and – when food supplies were running low – Boers taking ripe pears from her garden. Her expectation of relief from the occupation is palpable and her disappointment at seeing British soldiers as prisoners instead of as a victorious force drives this home. She mentions snippets of the battles as she hears of them and provides an insight to the feelings of the residents, whose movements were curtailed during the occupation. One cannot help recognising her joy when the British soldiers finally march into the town, spelling the end of the occupation.
Anne’s presentation is in the SAMHS Zoom library.
SAMHSEC meeting 8 September 2025
Anne Irwin is to discuss “Fighting talk: how wars and the military have influenced language”.
SAMHSEC Requests the Pleasure of your Company to talk about military history on 29 September 2025
RPC meetings are opportunities for you to share your knowledge of a military history subject or book with fellow military historians. Presentations should last approximately 15 minutes to allow time for sharing the pleasure of one another’s company. You can do any number of RPC presentations per year. Please contact André at andrecrozier@gmail.com if you want to share your knowledge.
Inaugural Military Heritage Symposium: Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town on 28 & 29 October 2025: Calls for Speakers and Exhibitors
Calls for speakers and exhibitors for the above event are available from me by e-mail request to culturev@lantic.net.
War Memorial inside St George’s Park east gate
The inscription on the small War Memorial inside the St George’s Park east gate, on the left as one exits the park towards the Cenotaph includes “Not for ourselves, but for others”, so I presume it to be the Legion’s. However, leading Legionnaires in PE have never heard of it before. Please contact Malcolm if you know its story.
SAMHSEC
Chairman: Malcolm Kinghorn culturev@lantic.net
Secretary: Stephen Bowker stephen@stephenbowker.co.za
Speaker coordinator: André Crozier andrecrozier@gmail.com
Scribe: vacant
Field trip coordinator: vacant