SAMHSEC meeting 12 October 2026
Stephen Bowker’s presentation on Squadron Leader Brian Lane, DFC ….. a love for the Spitfire has been postponed to 2027 due to tech issues on 12 October.
SAMHSEC meeting 9 November 2026
Alan Mantle is to discuss the Yalta Conference – 1945: The Twilight of Postwar Europe.
The Yalta Conference was a pivotal moment in world history. It took place towards the end of the Second World War bringing together the leaders of the three major Allied powers and their military advisors. Its role was to determine the Occupation of Germany and the future political and territorial arrangements for post-war Europe. While it achieved important short-term military and diplomatic objectives, many of the hopes for a united, peaceful and democratic post-war Europe were disappointed. The Soviet’s immediate flouting of the commitments for the restructure of Eastern and Central Europe brought about a fractured peace and a break in the once allied unity. The consequent mistrust and tensions gave rise to the Cold War between the East and the West, lasting over four decades.
SAMHSEC Requests the Pleasure of your Company (RPC) meetings to talk about military history in 2027
SAMHSEC RPC meetings are to be held on the last Mondays of March, June and September 2027.
RPC meetings are opportunities 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. Please contact André at andrecrozier@gmail.com if you want to share your knowledge.
Hidden Histories progress report
https://samilitaryhistory.org/memorial/index.html
Our aim is to preserve South Africa’s overlooked military heritage in the cloud. To do this, we need original photos of military memorials/monuments, cemeteries and graves with the photographers’ permission to use them, how to find the hidden history & its significance. We focus on what is on the ground today and include references to further reading on SAMHS’ website and other hidden history entries in the vicinity. Entries are not once-off and additional information and photos are added as they become available.
The following have been added since newsletter 265 October 2026:
Linton farm shooting stone
Perla Gibson
Major Karl Siedle MC Memorial Clock Tower
2 Lt D.T. Gilfillan, SAAF
Private J Barry VC
South African Army College War Memorial
Lt Col Frederick Miller VC RA
Colonel Edmund Hartley VC CMG
Captain George Pilkington RE
Rand Revolt graves in Braamfontein Cemetery SAP
Conductor H.H. Glasock VC
3rd Dragoon Guards ABW RoH
Sgt TE Rendle VC
Magersfontein Burgher Monument
Battle of Boomplaats British Roll of Honour
German military graves in Maitland Cemetery
Captain Clive Keith
Commandant Danie Theron
Battle of Boomplaats Rifle Brigade Memorial
Christ Church, Mayfair
Bombardier Moyle
Gunner Ratcliffe
Maraisburg ABW Cemetery Plot
Major Mackenzie
Lieutenant Chetwynd
Knysna War Memorial
We are now 175 up, not out. Plenty of room for more. Thanks to all who have contributed already. Please contact me to contribute to this initiative.
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