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How far back does one go? The 1906-07 Springbok tour was a watershed in South African sport. It was the first overseas tour by a South African rugby team and it was during this tour that the term 'Springboks' was coined for a South African team and for 'Springbok' to denote an individual who has represented South Africa. |
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New Zealand is still accusing South Africa of poisoning them in '95!
This animosity between these two great teams goes right back to the
very first encounter between the teams in 1921 when South Africa
toured New Zealand and the series was drawn 1-1 and 1 match a draw.
These two teams have met a total of 81 times since 1921 - and the statistics are 3 draws, 45 wins for New Zealand, and 33 wins for South Africa. So hopefully we see an interesting clash again this year! We wish all the of the teams the best (not really) - and we at least here in South Africa are looking forward to some really good rugby. Bring home the trophy boys! |
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ALL the Springbok matches of the 2011 World Cup campaign will be shown on a Big Screen at The View |
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"We sleep safely in our beds
because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would
do us harm." - Attributed to George Orwell |
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5 pearls of Scottish wisdom to remember...
1. Money cannot buy happiness but somehow, it’s more comfortable to cry in a Mercedes Benz than on a bicycle. 2. Forgive your enemy but remember the bastard’s name. 3. Help a man when he is in trouble and he will remember you when he is in trouble again. 4. Many people are alive only because it’s illegal to shoot them. 5. Alcohol does not solve any problem, but then neither does milk. |
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![]() Events in The Regiment OC's Report by Lt Col D. Smythe The Band retained their position as the best band at the July gatherings and were declared South African Champion Band after the final gathering in Benoni on the 30th July. Well done Band! MilComp and CIOR participation. Lt A Roberts RSO: 1TS and Sgt LD Daniels Jetted off to Berlin then onto Warsaw, Poland to participate in the NATO/CIOR YROW and MilComp respectively. They held the Regiments' name high and both did very well. The RSM held his WOs’ Sgts and NCO dinner on 23rd – attended by the WOs, Sgts and NCOs mess members. Guests included the WO SA Army Res/Chairman of the TSRA, CMWO T Wright, HC, MMM, JCD & Bar. The Transvaal Scottish Officers' Mess dinner went off as planned (besides the normal last minute adjustments to seating plans etc). Colonel Jerry Heal (UK Defence Attache, Royal Marines) gave a fantastic speech, and the dinner was attended by many guests including Colonel Hugh Blackman of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards. The SANDF has agreed to finance the manufacture of a new Regimental Colour. We hope to have this ready for presentation at our 2012 Birthday Celebration. On the 22nd July : His Grace the Duke of Athol was installed as a Knight in the Order of St. John. The event was staged at St. Georges Anglican church in Sherbourne Rd, Parktown, Johannesburg. Pipe Major Craig Whitley and Piper Rhys Fitter piped the Highland Cathedral and the Athol Highlanders at the investiture.
(DD SMYTHE, JCD) |
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Artillery Day - 4 Artillery Regiment, Potchefstroom (17th September 2011) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Several "Jocks"
(and one Navy) joined the MOTHS from Steel Helmet Shellhole to
attend the day. We gathered at the Shellhole, got on to the bus that
the MOTHS had arranged and then the party started! Very well done to
the MOTHS for a super day - sandwiches on the bus as well as the
required refreshments - a stop at the Gunners Memorial for a Wreath
Laying by General Anderson, as well as a small re-vamp of the
memorial. Maj van 't Hof for the Transvaal Scottish, and Lieutenant
(SAN) Sinclair both planted a "piece" of the new hedge - and then on
to the range.
Parachutists from 44 Para, some Air Force Pumas doing a flypast and then bringing in some loads, a "Small Arms" Infantry attack and then 120mm Mortars, G5, G6 and the MRL - very impressive firepower. The return journey took a bit longer than expected, because we had to stop and "Water the Horses" at Kraalkop! (There's a story in there somewhere!) Thanks to MOTH Old Bill Peter Boberg from Steel Helmet Shellhole for arranging the transport, refreshments and food for a thoroughly enjoyable day. We will join you again next year. |
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"The Americans fight for a free world, the
English mostly for honour and glory and medals, the French and
Canadians decide too late that they have to participate. The
Italians are too scared to fight; the Russians have no choice. The
Germans for the Fatherland.
The Boers? Those sons of bitches fight for the hell of it."
American General, George "Guts and Glory" Patton |
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Mobilizations, Shooting & Parades |
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Mobilization | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
There is a unit
training camp being held from the 27th September to the 5th October
2011 in Potchefstroom. Red Force versus Blue Force and an evaluation
of our Junior Leaders. A "Visitors Day" is being arranged by the Adjudant on the 1st October 2011 - please contact him should you wish to see our troops and get an idea of the standard of training - then please e-Mail the Adj - here |
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Shooting | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A team is going to Port Elizabeth from the 6th Sept to the 9th Sept for a bit of competition against Prince Alfred's Guard. Our Springbok shots will also give a training session to the men on the range. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
And here is the report from our team that shot in the National Championships by Cpl W. Vermaak: |
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Good
Day Col Smythe,
Please allow me this opportunity to thank all Jocks who attended the 2011 National Championships held at De Brug Bloemfontein from April 29th to May the 6th. Your conduct and sportsmanship have set the example for the other units. Colonel, your support is much appreciated and we extend our sincere thanks to you and your support staff for creating the opportunity for us to have competed in this prestigious event. The Championship had its highs and lows for most of us, Gerhard Harmse and Spyker Troskie were selected for the SA A team based on their very good individual performances. Well done to you guys and you are now on the last step to the highest award we work for. I wish you well in your preparations for 2012 Champs! |
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Well
done guys, for those below the top 100 we have a lot work and
preparations to do for next year, set your sights on a personal goal
for next year and start working now.
Congratulations to
Hannes who came third (B Class) in the SANDF Championships held on
Saturday the 30th. |
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Team performance 5 Team matches are shot during the championship and we were awarded three third places and two fourth places. This was an exceptional performance by the team. We were fortunate to enter 2 four men teams and the results are as follows: |
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Transvaal Scottish Red:
LDJ Du Plessis, FA Du Plessis, G Harmse and W Vermaak
Transvaal Scottish Black: VH Troskie, B Norton, S Swanepoel and JZ Helberg Match 20: Unit Team Championship, TS Red 3rd, TS Black 12th Match 21: Unit Team Sentry, TS Red 4th, TS Black 17th Match 22: Unit Team 300 Snap & Rundown, TS Red 4th, TS Black 13th Match 23: Close Quarter Combat, TS Red 3rd, TS Black 16th |
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Match 24: Unit Team Counter Terrorist, TS Red 3rd, TS Black 7th (Very good for the B Team) For a unit team which is less than five months old and with three members on their first national championship, I do not have the words to explain how well these guys have done. I'm proud to be associated with such a good bunch of guys. "All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes to make it possible." T.E. Lawrence Regards Wouter Vermaak |
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Ed: Note the Red Hackle - if we can't wear wear it on our Kevlar Helmets - we'll make a plan! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A complete schedule of shooting dates - practice and competitions is available. We have new rifles available for issue to shooting team candidates and hopefulls. There is a rumour that there are even rifle and spotting scopes on the way for the team! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Upcoming Parades: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2nd October 2011 - Jewish Ex-servicemens' League Memorial Service. 10H30 for 11H00. West Park Jewish Cemetery. Seating by 10H15. Medals and Decorations to be worn. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12th November 2011 - "Freedom of Johannesburg" Parade | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
13th November 2011 - Remembrance Day Service and Parades - awaiting details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
20th November 2011 - Sidi Rezegh 70th Anniversary Parade - awaiting details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Our heritage and ideals, our code and standards - the things we live
by and teach our children - are preserved or diminished by how
freely we exchange ideas and feelings. |
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Proposed Dates for our "Birthday Week" in 2012 to celebrate 110
years!
Regimental Ball 2012 - Date to be finalised |
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Upcoming Functions: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
6th November 2011 - SA Legion Variety Show. Gold Reef Theatre | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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"The number of medals on an officer's breast varies in inverse proportion to the square of the distance of his duties from the front line." -Charles Edward Montague |
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Seeing as we are on the subject of the Springbok - to my knowledge there is only one South African military medal that features the Springbok on it! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Africa Service Medal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The ribbon is orange-red (the colour of the shoulder flash worn by South African volunteers), edged in green and gold (the "springbok" sporting colours, which were adopted as the Defence Force colours). World War II ex-servicemen referred to the ribbon of this medal as "Ouma's Garter". "Ouma" (i.e. "Granny") Smuts was the wife of the South African World War II prime minister, Field Marshal Jan Smuts. The nickname was a tribute to her unstinting efforts to supply the South African troops with home comforts. Each medal bears the regimental number and name of the recipient. (All British stars and medals of the Second World War given to South Africans were similarly named, although citizens of Great Britain and other Commonwealth countries received unnamed medals.) A bronze King Protea flower emblem was authorised, to be worn on the ribbon of the Africa Service Medal, for valuable services in connection with the Second World War. It could be awarded posthumously and was the equivalent of a Mention in Despatches for services rendered away from the battlefield. |
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No matter how enmeshed a commander becomes in the elaboration of his own thoughts, it is sometimes necessary to take the enemy into account. - Winston Churchill | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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A message from the Chairman of our Regimental Council - Lt.Col. A. Becker | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
"The Transvaal
Scottish Regimental Council has been busy with an upgrade and
restoration of the View. This has been done with the assistance of
the National Lotto Distribution Trust Fund who have made a generous
contribution to the project. The ground floor work has almost been
completed and will be ready for the open day at the end of
September. The View will be open again for the normal Regimental
activities thereafter. |
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We asked which German medal was instituted in 1813 by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia? The answer of course is "The Iron Cross" The Iron Cross (German: Eisernes Kreuz) was a military decoration of the Kingdom of Prussia, and later of Germany, which was established by King Friedrich Wilhelm III of Prussia and first awarded on 10 March 1813 in Breslau, during the Napoleonic Wars. The recommissioned Iron Cross was also awarded during the Franco-German War, the First World War, and the Second World War. The Iron Cross was normally a military decoration only, though there were instances of it being awarded to civilians for performing military functions. Two examples of this were civilian test pilots Hanna Reitsch and Melitta Schenk Gräfin von Stauffenberg, who were awarded the Iron Cross First Class and Second Class respectively for their actions as pilots during the Second World War. The Iron Cross was also used as the symbol of the German Army from 1871 to March/April 1918, when it was replaced by a simpler Greek cross. In 1956, the Iron Cross resumed its German military usage, as it became the symbol of the Bundeswehr, the modern German armed forces. The traditional design is black and this design is used on armored vehicles and aircraft. A newer design in blue and silver is used as the emblem in other contexts. |
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This Months' Military Trivia - Just for Fun |
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"If you're in a fair fight, you didn't plan it properly." - Nick Lappos, Chief R&D Pilot, Sikorsky Aircraft. |
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Some Good News |
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Chitra Bodasing
The badly vandalised Scottish Horse War Memorial, in Kensington, is on its way to returning to its former glory. Last week Mr Eric Itzkin, the deputy director of immovable heritage in the city’s department of community development, confirmed that the purchase order for restoration and repair of the monument was approved. “I am glad to say that people have been appointed to conduct the restoration. The Scottish Horse War Memorial is a landmark structure that gives Kensington its identity. Once the restoration is complete we hope to get the support of the community to help make sure that no one vandalises the monument again,” he said.
In the June 1, 2010 edition of the EXPRESS it was reported that the lightning conductor on the back of the cross was missing. Ms Sharon Doubell, a Kensington resident, said that she was concerned as the monument had a hole chopped in the centre as well as at the beginning of the tunnel underneath it. She believed that people dug up the monument thinking that there were items of value buried inside. Last week Ms Lee Cahill, Kensington resident and from the Johannesburg Advocacy Group (JAG), said that she was delighted that the restoration of the Scottish Horse War Memorial will be going ahead. “Johannesburg has a rich and varied history, and we believe it is essential to preserve that history for both residents and for local and international tourists. Apart from its historic value, the memorial is also situated on one of the city’s most spectacular view sites, and offers a unique vista of both the inner city and the landscape to the east, which includes the Bezuidenhout farm, one of the original farms on which Johannesburg was established. Sunset views are, in particular, a special treat. “Further, as much as it is important to preserve the site for present usage, it is also important to preserve it for the use, information and benefit of future generations. A connection to all aspects of our history gives us a sense of where we come from, and solid ground on which to build a new and vibrant future,” she said.
JAG has been working closely with the city in the hopes of having the monument restored. Ms Cahill thanked Mr Itzkin who according to her went out of his way to obtain budget for the project and complete the tendering process required for specialist contractors to undertake the work on the monument.
“Sincere thanks are equally due to the Transvaal Scottish Regiment and, in particular, to Lieutenant Colonel Don Smythe, who is assisting us with, among other things, photographs of the original monument and the names of those listed on it as some names were lost when the monument was vandalised,” said Ms Cahill.
Lt Col Smythe said that he and the regiment are ecstatic about the restoration. “There are a lot of monuments that have been vandalised and we are happy that that something is being done to repair the damage to the Scottish Horse War Memorial. We have great interest in this monument. This memorial is a replica of the one erected on the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle in Scotland,” he said.
Ms Cahill said that the community will also be assisting with security measures to ensure that the restored site remains safe and undamaged. She said that the long-term objective is to work with the city to make this monument into an attractive sanctuary equipped with benches, permanent garbage bins and possibly even some trees and flower beds.
“The immediate project will consist of a full restoration of the monument itself, which is built from the indigenous stone found in the area. Since JAG began working with Mr Itzkin Eric on this project, the I Love Kensington Association (Ilka) has formed a Heritage Trust dedicated to this kind of work in the area. As JAG’s primary focus is on civil society advocacy, we have therefore asked the trust’s committee whether it would be prepared to take over the project management of this restoration, which will include liaising with the local community to assist with security arrangements.
“JAG will continue to offer both information and support in any way that it can, and we look forward to the day when we can all enjoy the beauty of the restored monument again,” said Ms Cahill. Mr Brendon Burmester, chairperson of Ilka said, “This is exciting news. We will help make sure that the monument is secure. We are going to raise funds for a camera so that the monument can be monitored. We will also seek the services of the local security companies. I am glad that council has taken a step to make sure that historical areas such as the Scottish Horse War Memorial are kept in good condition. A meeting will be held to discuss how we are going to go ahead with plans,” said Mr Burmester.
The Scottish Horse War Memorial is situated on Caledonia Hill. Access is from Highland Road. The monument commemorates all officers and men from the Scottish Horse Regiment who were killed in action, died of wounds, disease or by accident during the South African Anglo-Boer War in 1901 – 1902. It is one of Johannesburg’s earliest war memorials overlooking the site of one of the largest remount camps of the Anglo-Boer War, 1899-1902. |
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Politics ought to be the
part-time profession of every citizen who would protect the rights
and privileges of free people and who would preserve what is good
and fruitful in our national heritage. |
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For Fun! My obligatory politically-incorrect post! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A small zoo in Glasgow acquired a very rare species of gorilla.
Within a few weeks the gorilla, a female, became very difficult to
handle. Upon examination, the veterinarian determined the problem .
The gorilla was in season . To make matters worse, there was no male
gorilla available. Thinking about their problem, the Zoo Keeper thought of Terry Davey, a local lad & part-time worker responsible for cleaning the animal cages. Terry, like many of the Scottish men folk, had little sense but possessed ample ability to satisfy a female of any species. The Zoo Keeper thought they might have a solution. Terry was approached with a proposition. Would he be willing to mate with the gorilla for £500? Terry showed some interest, but said he would have to think the matter over carefully. The following day, he announced that he would accept their offer, but only under four conditions: 1. "First", Terry said, "Ah'm no gonnae kiss her on the lips." The Keeper quickly agreed to this condition. 2. "Second", he said, "Ye cannae never tell naebody aboot this." The Keeper again readily agreed to this condition. 3. "Third", Terry said, "I want all the weans raised as "Celtic fans. " Once again it was agreed. 4. "And last of all", Terry stated, "Ye'll need tae gie me at least anither week to come up with the £500" |
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