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Editorial Annual Dinner Etc. Our Annual Dinner this year will again be held at the Johannesburg Country Club on the 14th September, and the guest speaker is Col. Pat Hill. As you'll see from the Chairman's note, the cost will be R170 per ticket which includes bottles of wine scattered on the tables. The committee, as indicated in the previous issue, has had little choice but to increase the charge in the face of rising costs and inflation everywhere. Our Annual Dinner is the premier event of the year and we do everything in our power to make it an unforgettable gala event by providing a good speaker, memorabilia (which this year will include a special new BSAP medallion), raffles and auctions - apart from the thrill of meeting all the old faces (and some new ones) and the camaraderie engendered. Please accept this increase in the spirit it is meant and don't let the price put you off. R40 increase in a year is a little over R3.00 per month (not even half a beer), which I'm sure most can afford. I want to thank once more all the "Inposters" whose input enables me to put the magazine together in a newsworthy fashion. So much so that, together with the news from other branches, this normally leaves me little space to publish as many articles, true stories and humour as I would like. Keep 'em coming lads! Did you know that the first BSAP magazine was started in March, 1911, by one Trooper Wilfred Bussy of 'K' Troop? His successors included Trooper E. Moore Ritchie, Trooper (later Sir) Gerald Grove, Corporal J. Bettle, S.J. Coni, S.S. Sawyer, E.A. Cordell, Reg Lowings, Harry Baldwin, Eric Crabbe, and of course, Alan Stock. The Z.R.P. Outpost is naturally excluded. I've been reading of their experiences and can only say that they had a much tougher job than our current branch newsletter editors. That's about it for now. Enjoy this edition and hope to see you at "The Dinner." Best wishes, Glenn Macaskill. PS Note new email please!!
Chairman's Note
BASP Golf Day: Was held on the 1st June 2007 at the Roodeport Golf Club, run and organised by Jock Pirrett, and as usual the event was a great success. Thanks Jock. Curry and Rice luncheon: Was held at the Northcliff Bowls Club on the 9th June 2007. The turn-out was great and good fellowship was enjoyed by our members. Good sales of memorabilia were made topping the R 2 000,00 mark, this was mainly due to new lines introduced by Dave Holmes. Thanks go to Glen Macaskill and Keith Douche for organising and running the event. Annual Dinner: Last year's venue was great and therefore we have decided to hold this year's Annual Regimental Dinner at the same venue, the Country Club Johannesburg. The event will take place on Friday 14th September 2007. Please diarise the date. A booking form is included with this Outpost, please fill it in and return it, with the dinner fee and your annual subs if you haven't paid them yet. Due to increased costs we unfortunately have had to increase the cost of the Dinner to R 170,00 per head. The rise in costs is due to numerous factors, and we feel that a rise in cost would be preferable to a compromise in the venue and the meal. We have arranged for Lt. Col. Pat Hill "The Troopies Friend" (O.C. RLI Training) to be the guest speaker, and we will arrange a suitable person from our ranks to reply. There will be the usual memorabilia table, raffles and hopefully an auction. Book now to avoid disappointment. See you all there. Monthly Gatherings: The July gathering at the "Jocks" was well attended, keep it up guys. It was great to see members who I haven't seen in years such as Charlie Piscopou and Harry "the horse" Browne. Good to see you guys. Rhodesian Forces Memorial Project: Going on from Other Business at our Annual General Meeting held on the 9th February 2007: There is a need to have some sort of Memorial for us former Rhodesians to be able to remember those Rhodesians who paid the ultimate price for their fellow Rhodesians and our wonderful country. (The Selous Scouts/S.A.S. have erected their own memorial in Durban). We feel its time to erect a memorial to all the Rhodesian forces involved in the bush war between UDI and Zimbabwe independence. A committee has been established by Col. John Redfern of the Flame Lilly Foundation (RASA) to manage the project. The committee members are Pat Hill - Chairman, Graham Peak - Secretary, John Parkins - Treasurer, John Redfern - FLF, Bruce Harrison - AIR FORCE, Barry Enslin - INTAF, myself - BSAP, Carol Doughty - SAS Association, Old Bill Fallon Calcutt - MOTHS Reg Lotter ARMY , Gus Mason and Fred Du Toit. An application was made to the MOTHS to build a permanent Memorial on the grounds of the Dickie Fritz Shell-Hole in Edenvale but this was turned down by the MOTH hierarchy on "political grounds". Alternative sites will be investigated, including the Rhodes Memorial area in Cape Town, but in the meantime a portable Memorial is being planned (built onto a trailer). This will include the 4 plaques BSAP, ARMY, AIR FORCE and INTAF on the sides of the RHODESIAN Coat of Arms which will be in the centre. Leather-bound books containing the "Rolls of Honour" of each force will be housed in boxes in front of each plaque. The whole trailer will open out displaying the 4 plaques and the coat of arms. The unit will be used at commemorative services (11th November Memorial Service) and any other occasion where deemed necessary. A fund raising letter, for the Rhodesian Forces Memorial Project, "CALL FOR ACTION" follows. Dear Members of the BSAP Regimental Associations - PLEASE support this project. Thank you. Dick Latilla Herewith a letter/update from the Chairman Pat Hill on the project as a whole: "Rhodesian Forces Memorial Preserving the memory of those who paid the supreme sacrifice. A call to all Rhodesians and those who fought in the war. There is no established memorial for all members of the Rhodesian Forces who died in the line of duty during the Rhodesian Conflict. This is a Rhodesian Forces Project and the Flame Lily Foundation kindly volunteered their assistance if needed. The Rhodesian Forces Memorial is now a fact of life. It has been thoroughly researched, plans have been finalized and decisions made under the Chairmanship of Pat Hill. The committee comprises members of each Force, namely, the BSAP, Army, Air force, INTAF together with Rhodesian volunteers who have pledged their time and expertise. These include an architect, insignia designer, a historian who specializes in Rolls of Honour, and a PR guru who excels in special projects. The Treasurer is from the FLF, as they agreed to warehouse the funds on our behalf, and the secretary is a brown of SAS fame. There is also representation from the MOTHS. Three plans were mooted. PLAN A: The original plan was to erect a permanent brick memorial at the Dickie Fritz Shellhole. Unfortunately the MOTHS hierarchy rejected this idea for what we believe were political reasons. The alternative plan was to purchase ground adjacent to this MOTHS site. This option is being investigated but is unlikely to bear fruit in the short term if rumblings of "bribes will suffice" are an indication of what is to be expected. This would be an expensive alternative and one fraught with many political and municipal hassles. PLAN B: A mobile memorial mounted on a trailer with detachable insignia that would be able to be moved around the country. All insignia, design, master drawings, materials, costs have been thoroughly researched and checked for correctness. Size of regalia has been done to fit the trailer exactly. The Committee must still review the work of the two companies who are bidding to carry out the work on the insignia. It must be noted that all the elements of this mobile concept can easily be adapted to suit a permanent memorial and vice versa. PLAN C The final resting place of such memorial, mobile or otherwise, should be at the Cecil Johan Rhodes site in Cape Town. The Committee has unanimously voted to adopt Plan B to be carried out with immediate effect. PLAN A will be a continuing exercise but will be governed by political and cost considerations. Initial costs are estimated to be in the region of R450 000. PLAN C will remain the task of future historians. The Committee has been able to keep costs reasonable without sacrificing on quality. Quotes have been received from various companies regarding the various requirements necessary to implement a memorial of this nature:- Custom-made trailer by Venter. R29 500 Insignia, badge for each force, Rhodesian Coat of Arms. R40 000 Rolls of Honour (bound in buffalo hide and embossed with service badge printed on special long lasting paper). Display cabinets for Rolls of Honour. R10 000 Accessories (curtains, carpets, flagstaffs etc). Stability stays, insurance, licensing etc. R10 000 A sum of R100 000 has been considered by the Committee to be fair in order to make this memorial one we can be proud of. The MOTHS at Dickie Fritz have agreed to house the trailer and related equipment at no charge. However, the Committee have decided that a contribution will be made to the Shellhole. This will be a minor expense and we will handle later. After 27 years, we can finally say - "We got our act together!" I would like to thank my fellow committee members for their support - I can say with complete confidence: "A finer, more dedicated, commonsensical, logical, cut the crap, let's remember our fallen, get on with it" bunch of people I am proud to be associated with. This is a cause near and dear to all our hearts and we need to remember those who sacrificed their lives to enable you and I to smile and laugh today. On behalf of my tireless Committee, and myself we ask you to reflect on bygone days and think of what the fallen did for you and what we can do for them. Our plight: we have everything in place, ready to go, but no funds are available to execute the plan. We need the monies immediately to cater for lead and production times. Orders and go-aheads have to be given now if we are to have everything completed by 11 November 2007. We ask you to treat this as a matter of URGENCY. Please don't let us wait another 27 years to show own respect - they've waited long enough. Donations can be made to: Bank: Absa Should you have any queries, please feel free to contact me. Chairman: Patrick Hill A project worth supporting, don't you think? - Ed.
Monthly Sundowner 13/04/07 A fair turnout at the Jocks. Present were: 6345 Dave Holmes, 6817 Keith Douche, 5807 Alastair Webb, 7184 Chris Russell, 7651 Dick Latilla, 5526 Phil Devlin, 9790 Duncan Waugh, guest Cameron Waugh, 110887 John Herdman, 6610 Jock Pirrett, 6769 Dick Glanville, 6538 Glenn Macaskill. Monthly Sundowner 11/05/07 A good evening indeed. In attendance were: 6650 Peter Combes, 4988 Bill Crossan, 6817 Keith Douche, 6382 Terry Schwartz, 5930 Roy Gardener, 9790 Duncan Waugh, 7038 Ashley Collings, guest Morag Willis, 6345 Dave Holmes, 5539 Andy Learmonth, 6017 John Hill, 6538 Glenn Macaskill, 6692 Brian Garvey, 7978 Doug Hay, 6610 Jock Pirrett, 346 M. Merrifield, Ian Hooper, Tvl Scottish, 6769 Dick Glanville. Monthly Sundowner 8/06/07 Not many there coz of the Curry and Rice the next day. 6345 Dave Holmes, 7453 Neil Dawson, 7651 Dick Latilla, 9271 Frik Hanekom, 6769 Dick Glanville. Curry & Rice Luncheon 9/06/07 The experiment of a new venue at the Northcliff Country Club resulted in a good attendance in spacious surroundings. Well done to Keith Douche for setting it all up. The disappointments were the standard and quantity of the food and the poor bar service. We learn as we go along. I believe that most present enjoyed the day and the event certainly brought out some new faces we hadn't seen before or for some time. Those who signed the register were: 6769 Dick Glanville, 5756 Peter Gibson, 5839 Colin & Barbara Becks, 7038 Ashley Collings & Morag Willis, 5137 Don Norris, 110756 Chris Birtle, 6268 Leon & Merle du Toit, 6382 Terry Schwartz, 7819 Rob Stewart, 9354 Simon & Rina Rhodes, 5526 Phil & Robin Devlin, 6817 Keith Douche, WP58 G. Drummond, 900202 Malcom & Richard Barnfield, 8741 RHAF Dave McClellan, 10337 Colin Kenny, 8566 Greg Hill, 8452 Dave James, 5619 Barry Enslin, 6145 Alex Fraser, 8025 Martin van Rensburg, 6316 Bob Wishart, 6484 Mike Williams ex Natal, guests David & Barbara Richmond, 6612 Dave Willis, 7272 Charlie Piscopou, 9189 C.H. Cox, 18813Y Hamish & Janice Roberts, 6017 John & Meg Hill, 8053 Gus & Brenda Albertson, 7717 Tony & Yvonne Merris, 19714C Tom Rutherford, WP422 Hilary Beck, 9364 Jerry Lancaster, 6593 Jac van Niekerk, 110687 Nick & F/R John Sheward, 7885 Harry &Joey Esterhuizen, 6255 Jack & Fiona London, 6185 Errol Worton, 6117 Roy Edwards, 8081 Peter Francis, 7651 Dick Latilla, 6764 Willie Wielopolski & (5703) Judy Hankinson, 6538 Glenn & Jo Macaskill. Those who did not sign included Doug Hay, Dick Judson and Maxie MacDonald??? Monthly Sundowner 13/07/07 A fair turnout. Present were: 6769 Dick Glanville, 9150 Jeremy & Libby Thompson, 9165 Geoff & Orlanda Lotter, 7651 Dick Latilla, 7184 Chris Russell, 7272 Charlie Piscopou, 7102 Harry Browne, 7038 Ashley Collings, guest Morag Willis, W346 Maureen Merrifield, guest Lorraine Rutherford, 9271 Frik Hanekom, (5703) Judy Hankinson, 6764 Willie Wielopolski, 6538 Glenn Macaskill, 6345 Dave Holmes. BSAP Golf Day 1/06/07 Convened by 6610 Jock Pirrett, the day was a great success with approx. R12000 raised. A great effort from all concerned plus notable increased support from ex members. Deputy Chair Dave James played and assisted on the day. Keith Samler especially flew up from East London for the day, thanks for your support. Amongst our many kind sponsors were Dave and Marion Wright from Montagu, and their daughter Tracy who, apart from out-driving everyone on the day, was a great motivator with prizes, raffle and auction, these events raising R5080. Thanks also to auctioneer Warren Banks. Special thanks to the organising team before and on the day: Carol from Jock's office, Dick Glanville, Keith Douche, Phil Devlin and particular thanks to Blythe Stone, ex PTC Rusape, a golfer who played a major part before and during, ably supported by his wife Peggy and Lydia Cloete. The cost to play was R350, which included green fees, guarantee of excellent prize, four course dinner (magic), paerticipation in raffe with top value prizes. Most corporate or fund raising days cost at least R500 with only 30% of the value we offer, so next year let's see some old faces and new ones. Jock Pirrett. Well done Jock and helpers! Ed. Reminder!!!!! Monthly gatherings every second Friday at the Transvaal Scottish (The Jocks) anytime after 5.30pm. Wives, partners and guests welcome Please make the effort - you'll not be disappointed and you'll be surprised at who you meet.
"Hey Glenn, I would also like to know, I remember him well. Can anyone out there help? - Ed. "Dear Glenn, I recently had occasion to spend a night in the Natal Midlands at a
delightful BXB called Milgate Cottage at Balgowan. It has a pub, "The Mole &
Pig" run by the family, and I naturally went in to quench my thirst. I
noticed it had items of military memorabilia adorning the walls and one item
in particular drew my attention. Again, can anyone assist? Could well be a self-produced PATU stick - Ed. "Greetings For info from our webmaster - Ed "Hi Glenn I've been to one - well worth attending - Ed. "Hello Glen and greetings. A favour please - space in the next Outpost for the following - Any takers pse reply to Peter - Ed. "Glenn, You might care to peruse the notes below and the attachment with a view
to putting a summary of the project in the Transvaal Outpost, maybe Geoff
Quick's note is suitable on its own. You will see the UK branch of the
Regt.Association are very much involved in this which, from more recent
correspondence, is turning into not just a Rhodesian Army Archive Project
but more a Rhodesian Services Project. Geoff Quick is very much involved,
even providing hands-on assistance to the archivists. "May 04, 2007 5:15 PM "4 May 2007 08:27 For information - Ed. "Hi Dick/Glenn, Another missing person request - can we help? - Ed "Glenn, This has been referred to the working committee. Thanks Malcolm - Ed "Hi Glenn, Finally getting down to writing to you after many false starts. The only sources I can think of would be either the Editor or Hon Sec of the United Kingdom Branch. Thanks for the compliment, Howard - Ed. "Words from Charlie Aust - ex OC RLI - brilliant I think - you may want
to pass it on to the rest of the association? Rhodesia - They Gave When pale November gloom enshroud's your Cenotaph, I agree it's wonderful - Ed. "Mike Abbotts (copied to Tvl Outpost per request Mike Reeler in Cape Town.) Dear Mike, For info. No photos received - Ed "Hi Glenn, "Glenn Yes I know, when you've finished choking and re-composed yourself you're
going to thank me for not being a ghost from your past, a skeleton in your
closet, and another opportunity to dance with my wife. PS If you get to see Bob & Wendy Wishart, please convey my best to them as we always seem to miss each other over the years." "Dear Glenn, Would you please be kind enough to ensure that his obit.
gets into the next Outpost ? For those who knew & remember Guy Houghton (we
had been friends for over 56 years) & Pat, she is staying on in the house in
George & is well & is very positive. If you are interested I have a list of
former BSAP who live in the Garden Route area. We have had a Braai on a
couple of occasions as BSAP Reg. Assoc. to which not all members belong.
Kindest regards & your good work is greatly appreciated & we also look
forward to the next Outpost. Guy Houghton's death notice appears in this issue. It had not been received in time for the last - Ed.
To the families and friends of the deceased we extend our sincere condolences. 4456 Snr. Asst. Comm. Guy Michael Hyslop Houghton 6684 Frederick John Wells 7228/7906 Gert Hendrik Petrus de Bruin 3497 William James Castle-Ward PR 7077 John Edward Stedall 5204 Robin Bull 9384Z R/S/O Frank Henry Cox 6050 Brian Gibbs 5250 Martin Lithgow Braidwood Nora Gallagher 4596 Nelson Howard Graham 16772 FR Christopher William Ensor McCanlis
Bestsellers from Wanderlust Books www.wanderlust.co.za The Winelands Explorer Cape Town on Foot Garden Route Travels The Cape of Good Hope Special Discount to members! Contact Phil Devlin (011) 7870010 The Sweaties A compelling story centred on the BSA Police Salisbury S.W.A.T. team in
the final days of the war. Facing impossible odds, the 'thin blue line' was
never thinner as they and the Special Branch faced the threat of armed
insurrection in the city, the horrors of Communist-backed terrorism, and the
ultimate atrocity. It is also the story of a country in its death throes. Available from: 011-8732731 or 011-4755808 or 083-3055675 or PO Box 1461 Southdale Jhb 2135 or www.amazon.com or www.kalahari.com or pegasuspublishers.com (U.K.) or Pegasus Elliott MacKenzie Publishers, Cambridge, UK Tel 01223 370 012 Fax 01223 370 040. An Elephant Bloodline Will be reviewed in the next edition of the Transvaal Outpost. This is a wonderful book - Ed. Please see website www.elephantbloodline.com or email amoren@mweb.co.za
Cpu Stories By "Fred" Dagga A part of Licence Inspectors was known as the Drug Squad and they had a specimen of cannabis growing in a pot, which was taken to schools as part of the campaign for children not to use drugs. It was a sickly, malnourished specimen indeed. One night Malcolm in CPU got a lead to a supplier of dagga and approached a newly-commissioned duty officer who hadn't settled in to the rules and regulations yet. Malcolm managed to get the officer to part with a five pound note and, after the serial number had been recorded, set off to make a deal. That went well and an arrest was made and a fair amount of dagga seized. Except for one thing, the fiver was missing. After a little persuasion, it was known where the note had gone. The follow-up netted further arrests and more dagga. However, once again the note was missing. More persuasion and the lead developed with yet more arrests and dagga but still no fiver. Once more Malcolm and his team chased the lead and made yet more arrests and recovered a huge pile of dagga but this time the fiver as well. Phew! Back at the office, we did our best to keep up with the detentions and the exhibit labeling. At the end there was just dust and few seeds left over. So we took the seeds and planted them round the hibiscus bushes growing in the centre of Salisbury Central. We watched them germinate and start growing madly, well fertilized with the byproduct of the depot stables. We asked the gardeners not to pull out the plants. In due course, the plants grew out of the tops of the neatly trimmed hibiscus bushes until, one day, some in authority recognized the plants for what they were. Now those were fine specimens of cannabis sativa linn. Good Coppering Barry was possibly the longest serving Patrol Officer ever. If I remember correctly he did eleven years in the rank. However, his forte was not examinations, promotion and responsibility; he was probably the best instinctive copper I have ever served with. When there was nothing to follow up on, he would take an up-to-date list of stolen vehicles and walk the streets, checking number-plates, license discs and descriptions. His recovery rate was very high. He had a huge work ethic. But it was the instinctive application that I found so impressive. One evening, at the corner of Second and Jameson, we stood watching the people streaming from the Avenues towards the city centre. We stopped ten people on Barry's indication and made eight arrests for Theft from Employer, Possession of Dagga and a few smaller offences. Eight out of ten ain't bad! To be continued - Ed.
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