December's Zoom lecture found Dr Anne Samson speaking from the UK on the subject of SA in African Air gallantry awards in WWI
Considering how little time had passed since the Wright brother's efforts in 1903, the number of aircraft and airmen involved in Africa during WWI is astonishing. Anne once again covered her subject in meticulous detail, from an overview of the handful of theatres of war in Africa, to the details of individual awards to men who served.
Before the merging of the RFC (Royal Flying Corps) and the RNAS (Royal Naval Air Service) in 1918 to form the RAF (Royal Air Force) there was a lot of flying done, apart from on the Western Front in Europe, in particular the actions against the Senussi in Egypt and against von Lettow-Vorbeck's forces in German East Africa (GEA). RNAS had been prominent in keeping an eye on the Koenigsberg in the Rufiji Delta.
26 Squadron was composed of South Africans who had mainly trained in England. The men were involved in GEA and Salonika but were also granted awards for other areas. Unlike awards for specific actions as was the case in Europe, many awards were for sustained performance including "Mentioned in Despatches" which formed the bulk of those identified by Dr Samson. Not only pilots but ground crew were also recognised.
Among those she traced were several who would feature between the World Wars (eg van Ryneveld and Brand whose pioneering flight down Africa used to be commemorated by statues at the then Jan Smuts Airport; Andrew Beauchamp Proctor VC) and some who would serve in WWII. The Head of Bomber Command, "Bomber" Harris, who was a Rhodesian, comes to mind.
Anne's lecture is recorded in the Society's Video Library on the website.
FORTHCOMING ATTRACTIONS - ZOOMINARS
Johannesburg
Thursday 22nd January 2026 at 19h30 and then 20h15
Speaker: Johann Ahlers
Subject: Operation Savannah - Boys in a Civil War
It is fifty years since South Africa's secret 1975/76 participation in the Angolan Civil War. What was it about? What happened behind the scenes? What actually happened?
Eastern Cape Branch (SAMHSEC) Zoominars
Monday 12th January 2026 at 19h30 and then at 20h15:
Speaker Nick Cowley
Subject: Piet Nieuwenhuizen: the Germans' Jungle Man.
He was a Boer who scouted for von Lettow-Vorbeck and the reference is to Maj PJ Pretorius, with whom he had much in common apart from scouting on opposite sides of the same campaign.
SAMHSEC RPC
The next RPC (Request the Pleasure of your Company) Zoominar will be on Monday 26th January 2026. Details will be on the invitations.
If you would like invitations to the ZOOMinars send an email to joan@rfidradar.com
Next KwaZulu-Natal Branch Meeting
Saturday 17th January
This sees the meeting reverting to the third Saturday of the month. Details from Phil Everitt, Cell or WhatsApp: 0844371636
The venue is the St Cyprians Church Hall off Umbilo Rd, with secure parking. Entry is free and open to all, with visitors welcome, but a donation of R20 for the car guard and gives entry into the monthly raffle is requested from all attendees.
Visitors are welcome and encouraged.
Subscriptions for 2026
Invoices have been sent out by e-mail to all current members
Single Membership R340 Family Membership R360
Discounts for members aged over 80 - contact Joan to apply.
Overseas membership US$37 available via PayPal.
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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