Pre-Christmas season message.

:Merry Christma:Merry Christma:Merry Christma

Thanks Pete , and the same to you , yes a special thought for our members who've since departed .
90th

Fully reciprocated Pete, again very many thanks for the forum and all the effort you put into to. Gary keep the fire hose close mate, thinking of all my Aussie mates over this testing period.
We have lost some good friends and a wealth of knowledge this year so to their families and friends I would bid a special greetings.
Right thats me for the year, Im of to the bush. Gonna get me some Crockodile steak for Xmas dinner.

Season's greetings to all. Thank you to all participants for a stimulating and thought-provoking year of threads.

Happy Christmas and I shall raise a glass to absent friends.

Watch out Frank....the krokodil may get you for Christmas dinner.....

Cheers

Simon

Happy Christmas to one & all.

To those of our numbers who have entered the “Non-Effective Column” Lest We Forget.


JY

Seasons Greetings. New to the Forum, rather than new to the Study. The AZW has been a particular interest of mine for at least the last 15 years. I am South Afrcan and have been to Islandwana three or four times (swam across the Buffalo at Fugitives) and have also climbed Hlobane. I spent the Holidays reading the The Missing Hours thread - and it became immediately obvious to me that I will be asking questions rather than answering them.

Just as a matter of interest (Frank maybe familiar) there is a great South African Author - Mr Peter Digby who wrote Pyramids and Poppies - the story of the 1st South African Brigade during WW1. Sadly Peter was recently placed into care and some of his memorabilia was made available for purchase

Peter visited Islandwana in 1967 and rescued artifacts including Martini Henry cartridges, belt buckles, nails and screws and a '4' of the '24th' Either this was a shoulder badge or from a forage cap. My wife had these items framed for me and are now on the wall in my study. Whereas I am privileged to own those items considering Peter's condition it is with more than a tinge of sadness. I am also not insensitivenot to the fact that a battlefield is hallowed ground and that these items should not have been removed in the first instance. 1967 was a different time I guess

Anyway, i am privileged to meet you all and thank you in advance for your forbearance when I dig deep into the treasure trove of knowledge you all have

Hello and welcome......

Cheers

Simon

Hi Sihayo and welcome to the forum. I do remember the 'Captain' very well. I had occasion a number of years ago to contact him for information on the Transvaal scottish. A most forth coming gentleman. Im sorry to hear of his decline and do wish him well. Could I ask that you keep in touch with any details of the Auction.

Frank

PS As you see Simon, I got the croc before he got me.

Frank Allewell wrote:

PS As you see Simon, I got the croc before he got me.

You must have got the drop on it somehow......maybe it was asleep or ill........?

What does it taste like anyway?.....please don't say it tastes like crocodile......that would not be helpful.....its not the sort of thing that we get in Staffordshire.......I've seen one in a zoo but never had the courage to try and bite one

Good Morning Frank

You can contact Mr Alan Schmidz who is the owner of the War Store in Rosebank Johannesburg. My apologies but am prevented from posting contact details - presumably until I can be shown to be of good charachter

Incidentally, and you obviously have an interest in the Transvaal Scottish - Alan has a photo Album which was compiled by Major Hunt covering his period of service with this fine Regiment. I think Alan had an asking price somewhere in the region of R 20 thousand (an indulgence I couldnt justify)

The Auction may have already occurred but it is certainly worth contacting Alan

For any other members that may perhaps be interested visit the War Store website - there is an Oliver patent water bottle for sale. I think they quote prices in Dollars US

Best Wishes

Wow, I corresponded (by post!!!) with Peter for a while years ago (actually, decades ago - how time flies). How strange his name should crop up all this time later! Does anyone else remember sending off a letter to RSA and waiting WEEKS before getting a reply? On the other hand, the mail always got there (unlike today).

Simon, Chicken in texture, slightly fishy in taste, chewy, sweet. Best served fried with a touch of chillie, lime and ginger. Add some biltong, blue wilderbeast .
Food of the Gods

So pleased to here that Peter is familiar to you both.

According to Mr Alan Schmidz, Peter had boxes of memorabalia. His collection of cap badges was nothing short of incredible (I wasnt able to appreciate the true significance or value thereof)

Also, Peter was an Anglo Boer War fundi - and his collection of medals and battlefield artifacts was I venture to suggest, second to none.

I dont know enough to do justice to Peters collection. I have absolutely no doubt though that Frank would better appreciate, and would obviously encourage his interest

Sihayo
Thanks for that, Ive had dealings with the War Store, I will give Alan a call.
Thanks for the info.

Sihayo Welcome to the forum, looking forward to your questions relating to the TMFH.

Ngiyabonga

Wamukelekile

ubukekile, ngiyaqiniseka

(if the translator serves me well)

humm, complimenting Pete on his good looks Simon?

No, this was surely a 'my hovercraft is full of eels' moment.

Well, that wasn't the phrase I put in the English side of the translator....but hay ho......

JW: now that phrase is even beyond my Zulu translator (unless 'hovercraft' is 'i-hovercraft'......but I believe Hungarian was the chosen language.

a légpárnásom tele van angolnákkal

Ta

Sime

Boldog új évet, Simon!

Julian Whybra wrote:

Boldog új évet, Simon!

és neked is

(though knowing my past history with the Google translation - that has probably come out as "up yours")

Happy New Year to all on the forum - may 2020 bring all the answers to some of the questions......

Simon