His last voyage was on the coaster MV Induna which was lost at sea with only one survivor on or about 05 September 1978. He was according to reports second officer.
On 5 September 1978 she encountered heavy weather off the southern tip of Madagascar and began taking water in the forward hold. When the ship began to sink, two lifeboats were lowered but capsized.The chief officer and second engineer managed to board a life raft and while trying to assist other crew members were blown away from the ship. Twenty-four days later the chief officer was rescued some six hundred miles from where the ship sank by the Greek vessel Constantia, the engineer having died some days before. There were no other survivors.
April 2019 returned to lecturing at Durban University of Technology.
1971 crewed on the ketch Howard Davis on the first Cape to Rio yacht race.
Retired. Deceased 26th October 2021.
Born 3rd December 1927. Deceased 1993.
1995 joined Kien Hung Shipping as their Cape Town Branch Manager.
2000 – Branch Manager of Diamond Shipping, Cape Town.
2003 joined Cape Reefers as Operations Manager.
2011 retired.
1964 – Durban Harbour Pilot.
Cadet Draft 1929-30 (Senior Cadet Captian). After leaving General Botha Allan Stuart Ainslie became a cadet in the White Star Line and also a Probationary Midshipman RNR. In 1938 he joined the RAF in which he became Flight-Lieutenant and was awarded the DFC for gallantry in action during operations off the Island of Silt. He was lost with flying-boat and crew over the North Sea on 29 June 1940.
1966 returned to S.A. And worked in various posts for various companies.
2003 Toll Reach Operations Manager.
Deceased 14th September 2016.
Reported in S.A.T.S. Magazine No.3 1937: with Union Castle Line.
Latterly a doctor resident in Knysna. Deceased 22/02/2005.
1945 was First Lieutenant on HMSAS Natal.
Deceased 12/03/96
Basil Algar, sent to the four masted steamer Sontay as a cadet after leaving the training ship General Botha and joining Union Castle in 1941, spent the entire war on the former Vichy French troopship that has been captured while on a voyage from Madagascar by a joint South African and British naval squadron. She had been brought to Durban, where her accommodation was modified to carry over 1 800 troops, and she was placed under Union-Castle management. Shortly after sailing from Durban, the ship came under attack from a submarine in the Mozambique Channel, but the Royal Navy gunnery crew fought off the submarine with the vessel’s six inch gun mounted on the poop. Surviving several aerial attacks in the Mediterranean, the ship moved troops along the North African coast, participated in the invasion of Italy and then sailed for India to take troops to Burma. Indeed, she carried the first British troops up the river in Burma after the occupation of that country by the Japanese.
Algar worked for a spell in a bank after the war, but the call of the sea lured him to serve with a small Greek company trading out of South Africa, as well as on ships operated by South African Lines, Mollers of Hong Kong, and Safmarine, and on South African harbour tugs. The time with Mollers was particularly interesting. He joined their Alpha Oranje in Durban at the start of a long voyage to Hong Kong via India and Aden. A spell on a salvage tug proved useful later during his career with Unicorn as did his service on Louise Moller, a tanker that tried to break a blockade by the Nationalist Chinese in the approaches to Shanghai.
His first command was SAL’s Kaapland and he also spent time in London as the company’s cargo superintendent. After his return to South Africa he was appointed master of Point Shipping Company’s Komati, formerly Smith’s coaster Mead. He responded favourably to an approach from Ron Sellick to join Smith’s Coasters as their marine manager and became a familiar figure on Maydon Wharf for years, taking personal interest in the cargo operations and the running of the ships. The report of the manager of Smith’s Coasters in June 1956 included a note about Basil Algar:
The employment of Captain Algar as Marine Superintendent has raised and is still continuing to raise the standard of our operation at Maydon Wharf, and the standard of our ships’ maintenance and husbandry out of all recognition. Captain Algar has proved eminently successful in the job for which he was employed.His initial misgivings about the merger with African Coasters were put aside as Algar moved from stevedoring manager in 1966 to marine manager of Unicorn in 1968, positions he found extremely challenging and exciting as he was still directly involved in cargo handling innovations and found the team with whom he worked extremely good. The highlight of the career of this remarkable man – who also had an intense love of fine art and a proven ability as an artist and cellist – was his appointment to the Unicorn board as marine director in February 1975. When he retired in 1984 he could certainly reflect on an unusually interesting and varied career in shipping. His experience had been invaluable to the company as it embarked on a fleet renewal programme, developed containerization, and ventured into the offshore supply vessel business. At both Smiths and Unicorn Algar was personally responsible for improving the management systems for the ships’ operations and for tighter discipline aboard the vessels. Overall, his contribution led to a more efficient coastal shipping industry.
Deceased 8th March 2019.
1993 Manager on a Citrus Farm in Addo. Deceased 02/06/2012.
Reported in “Both watches” 1952: With the rank of Lieutenant-Commander, S.A.N.R. is Commanding Officer of the South African Naval Reserve at Port Elizabeth.
After Bothie joined the merchant marine and ten years later served in WWII which evetually took him to the recaptured Tobruk where he was harbour master for two years.
Later returned to Port Elizabeth where he commanded the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Base from 1954 to 1963. After WWII he returned to stevedoring in Port Elizabeth and later became manager of Constructional Enterprises. 1947 started a camping and caravan hire business before forming the Port Elizabeth Express Delivery Service and P E Storage Company which he ran for 30 years. Deceased 30th May 2005.
The next three years was spent with the Goldfields Mining Group as an underground official (read Learner Official/Shift Boss). Having been abandoned by aforementioned young maiden I joined Lever Brothers for a few years in their Sales Division.
At the end of 1964 the travel bug bit and spent the next four years travelling and doing too many different jobs to enumerate, amongst them a Butlins Holiday Camp Red Coat (Bag man) and a test driver for MIRA (Motor industrial research) I think their philosophy was that if you could drive on South African roads you could drive anywhere.
On my return in ’68, I got married and joined the fledgling Penguin-Poolquip Group as a rep. In their filtration division, and was national sales manager when the company was liquidated (not my fault-honestly) I was employed by the liquidators for a year or so, until everything was wound up and was then offered a position with a franchise of the Pall Filtration Group, the Head Office being in Portsmouth U.K. The windows of the lecture rooms overlooked H.M.S.Victory, I can probably sketch it in my sleep.
Somewhere along the way I joined Round Table until they evicted me at age 40, as they tend to do. If Mike Lundy happens to read this, I still have a copy of the minutes of the meeting of his first meeting as chairman of Hout Bay Round Table at which I was a guest. (Hangover registered 9.9 on Richter the next day).
In 1984 I joined Lions and was President of Randburg Lions in 87/88 and President of Northcliff Lions in 2010/11. Had a lot of fun and met some wonderful people along the way.
Left Pall in 1994 as travelling and being away from home was interfering with domestic bliss, a bit too late and I received my independence a couple of days before the rest of the country became a democracy.
A complete change of direction saw me in the garage door industry. The Wispeco Group has a policy of compulsory retirement at 65, they put up with me until 69 and a policy reshuffle saw the rule enforced.
2014 I’m freelancing in both the garage door and swimming pool industry and generally not stressing too much.
Was a Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force during WWII.
1964 Assistant Port Captain in Port Elizabeth.
On completion of his time at the Botha, John returned to the Transvaal starting work as an official learner at Ellerton Gold Mine before transferring to Buffelsfontein near Klerksdorp.
In 1957 he met his wife to be, Gloria and moved to Carletonville where, while studying for a mine captain’s certificate, he was posted to Western Deep Level as shift boss. In November 1961 he and Gloria were married in Krugersdorp and they moved back to Klerksdorp to start a family, which eventually resulted in two daughters, Bev and Cheryl.
After a further four years on the mines, John decided to call it a day and went into selling air-conditioning. He enjoyed his sport and was selected for Western Transvaal and Griqualand hockey, as well as Transvaal spear fishing. This latter activity took him to Port Elizabeth where he continued in the air-conditioning business leading in due course to a partnership in Cape Town with his former Port Elizabeth manager.
In November 2003 John and Gloria decided to retire to Fish Hoek in order to do all those things they couldn’t do while John was working and, in particular, to spend some time with their three grandsons, Greg, Jamie and Dean.
Starting building a small tourist resort, stopped working in shipping 2019 to get resort going. Name is Illa da Marocanhe, as we have an island within a lagoon.
1946 – 1948 – Union Castle Merchant Fleet
1949 – 1959 – Land Surveyor, Cape Town Municipality
1969 – 1980 – Minister, Methodist Church, Worcester, Swaziland, Burgersdorp, Umkomaas (Natal), Newcastle and Cape Town.
1981 – 1992 – Minister, United Reformed Church in the U.K. (Chelmsford)
November 1992 – retired
Bothie nickname “Skaap”
Deceased 2002
1964 at sea with Mobile. 1994 Marine Superintendent with Pentow, Cape Town. Responsible for the Deck Superintendency of the Pentow Fleet.
2006 retired.
Born 4th July 1911. Died at Johannesburg on 12th October 1934 as a result of a motor accident.
Deceased August 1999.
1996 relocated to England, working for Zodiac in bulk shiping operations.
2004 working for the RSPCA in Brisbane, Australia.
2014 working as Business Development Manager for a construction company in the UK.
Deceased 31/08/2009.
Deceased May 2007.
In 2016, wife and I moved and have settled in New Zealand. After almost 30 years in the electronics industry I went into the building industry. I’ve recently started a new job with a courier company.
2005 A messianic Jewish preacher.
Deceased 02/09/2014.
WWII Leading Seaman SANF.
2000 teaching computer systems engineering and networking in New Zealand.
2005 moved to Sydney.
Deceased 16/01/2013.
1960 obtained Masters Certificate.
1961 – 64 – Teacher Training College, Manchester
1964 – obtained Teacher’s Certificate.
1964 – 68 – Teaching Primary School children, Liverpool.
1968 – 94 – teaching in Comprehensive School, Jersey, Channel Islands. Nautical studies and mathematics. Part time lecturer, navigation evening classes.
1972 open University Degree B.A.
1974 – 84, Chairman nautical studies southern examining group, England.
1973 – Mate on Square Rigger Regina Maris.
1984 – VHF Examiner.
1992 – took part in first race Kersey to San Sebastian, Spain, to celebrate the traditional skills of Ocean Navigation.
1993 – Channel Islands triathlon supervet champion.
1994 fell of bike, retired from racing.
Deceased March 2017.
1968 – 71 – 2/O & C/O & Master with Rennies Coasters.
1971 – 82 – Mate & Master Tugs, S.A.R.& H. Cape Town. Have done relief duties in Saldanha, Port Nolloth, Luderitz and m.v. Johan Hugo.
1982 – 87 – Pilot Walvis Bay
1987 – Pilot East London.
2006 RETIRED.
Joined the Seaward Defence Force [SDF] as a Junior Rating 19th February 1942. Served in South African waters and in the Mediterranean, 1945 was Lieutenant on HMSAS Spindrift.
Discharged from service 7th April 1946. After his service he went on to study at Natal University and graduated as the first person to receive an Honours Degree in Social Science. He went into personnel management and training thereafter ending up as Personnel Manager at Safmarine for many years.
1968 personnel manager of Safmarine.
Deceased mid 1980s.
See page 237 of War at Sea, author C.J. Harris.
1965 – 1967 Cadet Officer, Merchant Marine (SAFMarine).
1968 – 1969 Audit Clerk, Natal Provincial Administration.
1970 – 1975 Computer Programmer with PMBurg Corporation.
1976 – 1969 Data Processing Manager with PMB Corporation.
1979 – 1981 Senior Systems Analyst with Port Elizabeth Municipality.
1982 – 1990 Data Processing Manager with Port Elizabeth Municipality.
1991 – 1998 Information Systems Manager with Port Elizabeth Municipality.
1991 – 2000 Retired but contracted to Municipality to insure applications were Y2K compliant.
2001 – Retired but still support a few special customers with legacy applications.
Served as Sub Lieutenant on the HMSAS Southern Sea during WWII.
Lieutenant J.F.P. Baker, SANF (604) had served in the anti-submarine vessel HMSAS Southern Isles escorting convoys to and from Tobruk which had earned him a Mention in Dispatches “for his consistent devotion to duty and for the example he has set his ship’s company during air attacks at Tobruk and off the Libyan coast”. He volunterred to be seconded to the Royal Navy and to serve in submarines and was First Lieutenant of HMS Trident from October 1943 to September 1945. HMS Trident earned the battle honours Mediterranean and Atlantic during this time.
After I qualified was offered a position with Safmarine, but on the eve of departure met my wife to be then, and happily married ever since.
Self-employed (Kindeace (Pty) Limited) as a consulting design company for 36 years in the material handling business.
2019 retired and building model boats J Class Endeavour 1:33, SL Bat Windemere steam launch 1:12, Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter 1:33 That my father was on in the depression years Cardif Harbour etc etc all radio controlled and fully functional.
Looking down the list of my fellow cadets is most nostalgic yet feels like yesterday, with so many stories to tell.
SA Navy 3 years Permanent Force Finance Branch.
PicknPay 8 years Retail Branch Manager.
OK Bazaars. 4 years Retail Branch Manager.
Shoprite Checkers 24 years Retail Branch Manager and Claims Assessor.
I have retired officially in March 2021.
June 1998 relocated to England. Based in London as General Manager of a new shipping operation Europe to Nigeria.
2008 relocated to Singapore with an oil company and latterly in Australia.
Deceased 29th May 2015.
During WWII served with the South African Seaward Defence Force and was awarded a DSC and was mentioned in dispatches:
“For skill and resource in action against enemy Submarines while serving in H.M. South African Ships Protea and Southern Maid and in H.M. Naval Aircraft:
The Distinguished Service Cross. Lieutenant Leonard John Bangley, S.D.F. (from the London Gazzette).”
Graham developed a career in marketing, and was the Marketing Manager for Afrox, Cape Town and PE. Later joined BP. 1982 – Marketing Manager in non-ferrous metals for McKechnie. 1987 – Entered the winemaking industry when he became Manager of Drakenstein Winery. Moved up to General Manager of Boland Wine & Brandy (Paarl). Around the turn of the millennium he became Marketing Manager Overseas Marketing for Roodesandt Winery.
The first Botha Boy to die after WWII began, he was an apprentice wireless operator. He was seriously injured when the Wapiti bomber in which he was flying crashed into a sand dune at Blouberg Strand on 5th October 1939, and he succumbed the following day. He was, however, not considered by the authorities to have been on war service when he met his death.
1964 – Durban Harbour Pilot.
Deceased 01/03/1991
1988-1994 Farming in Upington
1995-2005 Safmarine/Maersk
2006 – 2010 Smit Operations Manager: Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia, Angola (Luanda), Indonesia (Tangguh).
2011-2013 Marine Manager at Moma Mine in Mozambique
2014-2016 Port Manager, Base Titanium Kenya, Mombassa.
2017 Retired in Portugal.
2001 – Joined Cape Reefers in Cape Town.
2002 – Joined S.A. Stevedores in Durban.
July 2002 – Joined Smit Marine as a Loading Master based in Mossel Bay.
November 2016 – company changed to African Marine Solutions (AMSOL).
1996 – relocated to Beira as Manager of Lloyd’s Agency and P&I Associates / R.M. de Gruyter.
1999 – working for the World Food Program in Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique based in Richard’s Bay.
2000 – Owner of an Inn in Richard’s Bay.
2005 – moved to the Free State where he runs a B&B, Oude Werf.
2010 owns a glass company in Gauteng.
He and ‘Ikey’ Quayle went away to sea together as cadets in the South African Merchant. ‘Barney’ finished his time as a cadet with Safmarine and then joined Thesens, where he served as second mate in the Herero Coast. He then came ashore joining Europe/Africa Shipping Lines in Durban, rising to be their Durban manager. In 1980 he joined Ellerman and Bucknall in Johannesburg, before passing away in the early 1980s.
1950 – 58 – worked in various branches of Standard Bank in Natal and Witwatersrand.
1958 – 63 – Transport Controller with Dickon Hall Products, Nelspruit.
1964 – 68 – Office Manager with Leyland Motor Corporation, Nelspruit.
1968 – 72 – Secretarial Officer with Syfrets Trust in Cape Town.
1973 – 93 – joined Eskom as Regional Auditor, Western and Eastern Cape and later in Natal.
1986 moved to the Finance Division and became Senior Financial Accountant in various regions. Retired in 1993. Deceased 13/11/2012.
1925 won the Royal Meterreological Society of Great Britain, first place in the society’s Howard Prize Essay Competition.
Harold Walter Bennett (191) joined the S.A. Naval Service and was commissioned. When almost all the personnel of the S.A. Naval Service were paid off during the Great Depression he was transferred to the Royal Navy and during the Second World War he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-commander and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for gallantry at Crete.
Deceased 15/03/2001.
“This year, another Botha Boy distinguished himself, making headlines around the world. On 25 October (1938) the Sandpiper, a British gunboat, was bombed by Japanese planes at Changsha in China. The Daily Telegraph said:
It seems incredible that the crew of 78 all escaped injury. This was probably due to the fact that throughout the bombing two officers, Lieut.-Commander Eames and Lieutenant Barr, remained on the bridge and kept the crew below decks.
The lieutenant, who was second-in-command of the Sandpiper, was O.R. Barr (139, 1924/26). 15th August 1941 he had been promoted to Lieut.-Commander in the RN and won the DSC.”
1980 – 81 – After 2 months on the “Cable Restorer” served on the Safmarine Deep Sea salvage tugs “Wolraad Woltemade” and the “John Ross” as Third Officer.
1982 – 84 – Second Officer with Safmarine and Mobil Shipipng.
1984 – joined De Beers Marine as Chief Officer, promtoed to Master in September 1986. 1993 Master of m.v. “Grand Banks.” Later appointed Marine Superintendent for De Beers.
Sailed for sometime on the s.v. “Lawhill” as Third Officer and then shipped out on the “Commondore”, a five masted schooner which sailed between South Africa and South America. After marrying came ashore and went steeple jacking on the reef.
Deceased 28/02/2004.
2003 at sea with de Beers Marine.
2012 joined NAUTIC Africa.
139220. Flying Officer A K Barry RAFVR. Navigator, 38 Squadron RAF Bomber Command, Med. Undertaking a sweep across the Aegean, down with the aircraft, at sea. Wellington JA108 3 Feb 1944. Buried Rhodes War Cemetery 2.B.3, Greece.
2011 GM of a logistics company in Ghana, with offices in Burkina Faso.
Deceased 10/06/2011.
Deceased.
Deceasd 06/02/2004.
1971 crewed on the ketch Howard Davis on the first Cape to Rio yacht race.
In the Second World War he was awarded the Military Cross [MC] for his actions in the Sidi Rezegh tank battles [late November 1941]. He was serving as a Lieutenant in the South African Tank Corps [SATC] of the South African Army.
1994 Master/OIM/PIC NAN HAI 6.
Deceased 23/05/2007.
Deceased 05/09/2005
1989 moved ashore
1993 retired. Deceased 03/01/2007.
Served as Probationary Midshipman R.N.R. and was later apprenticed to the Union Castle company, s.s. Sandgate Castle.
Left the sea in May 1929 and took up appointment as Senior Guide to the Cango Caves.
Born 26th May 1907. Died under tragic circ*mstances at Oudtshoorn on 31st March 1932.
When Maury retired he was the Director responsible for Consumer Marketing at Mobil S A.
In SATS General Botha he was known as Maurice Walter Beiles No. 1393 [1945-1946 term]. He reportedly changed his name to Bassett shortly after completing his two years. He was not a seagoer.
10/1968 – 06/1969 – Second Officer with Durban Lines.
06/1969 – 09/1970 – Chief Officer with Unicorn Lines.
12/1970 – 12/1975 – Supermarket Manager with Greatermans & Checkers.
01/1976 – 02/1977 – Owner/Manager of Durbanville “Wimpy Bar?
03/1977 – 07/1986 – S.A.T.S. Cape Town Tugmaster.
08/1986 – 07/1987 – Owner/skipper of own fishing vessel.
07/1987 – 05/1989 – S.A.T.S. Cape Town Tug Mate & Port Control
06/1989 – 05/1992 – S.A. Sea Products, Hout Bay, Master of MFV “Aster”
1995 – Tug Master at Fawley Terminal, Southampton, England.
Deceased 18th June 2012.
Deceased 13th August 2004.
2003 Proprietor of Triplex Plywoods in Cape Town.
2012 reported deceased.
After leaving the Botha, he served his apprenticeship with Union Castle Line and returned to them after passing his second mates, serving as a fourth officer in the Winchester Castle then onward and upward, passing his mates and serving as third officer and then second officer in the Union Castle fruit ships.
In 1962, having been in London for a while, making friends with a bunch of Aussies, David went off to Western Australia where he worked for Elder Smiths Ships Agency as a boarding officer. In 1965 he moved into insurance and in 1968 into real estate – and that became his lifetime work.
In 1963 David met Julia Davison in Perth and they married soon after. They have a married son with two daughters and a more recently married daughter with a son and daughter. As are all grandchildren, they’re delightful.
David is now ‘almost’ 100% retired but still does the odd job looking after a real estate office while the owners take time off. David and Julia have lived down in the south western corner of Western Australia at a small place called Dunsborough (25 kilometres south of Perth) for 15 years and fully believe they live in a paradise of beaches, wineries and good friends. David is very involved with the local community; the rugby club and Gold Oldies rugby; a local choir; surfing and swimming off the myriad beautiful beaches and both are involved in the local Anglican Church. As David says, ‘Life doesn’t get much better than that!’
Deceased 18/03/1994.
01/1935, joined the B.I.N.S. Co in London. Served three years as a cadet but left in Durban to join Crown Mines in Johannesburg. 04/1940, entered the S.D.F. in Cape Town as Sub-Lieutenant on mine sweepers. 1941 sailed ‘Whylock’ to Durban in Command.
11/1942 went to Alexandria to take over ‘Boksburg”. Swept North African ports. First ship to enter Tripoli 25/01/1943.
1945 rejoined Crown Mines.
1949 joined Mine Safety Appliances in Durban
1961 sent to Sydney to form Australian company for M.S.A.
1982 retired.
Deceased 07/11/2000.
Deceased 30/01/1988
Failed final exam 1934. Returned in 1935 for a further year’s training. Passed December 1935.
War service November 1939 – HMS Comorin, HMS Queen of Bermuda (AMC) and finally HMS Tay, a River Class Frigate. Was First Lieutenant, initially midshipman and Sub Lt RNR. Then LT SADF seconded to RN. After war, in textile business until retirement. Deceased 16th May 2009.
Mark was essentially a businessman running and owning several businesses in Rhodesia and Malawi. Mark was a keen sportsman, playing rugby, baseball, fencing, and a bit of golf. He also loved fishing.
End 1987 – Resigned from Unicorn.
End 1991 – obtained Bachelor of Journalism at Rhodes University
April 1992 – obtained a Commercial Pilots Licenses
May 1992 – rejoined Unicorn
July 1992 – joined Lifara International and sailed Chief Officer on LPGC Hetland
July 1996 – Marine Surveyor with A.R. Brink & Associates, Durban.
Jan 2002 – Joined Mediterranean Shipping Company as Fleet Safety Officer based in Durban
July 2005 – Became Operations Manager for MSC in charge of all ports and all port operations as well as Fleet Safety Officer
Oct 2009 – Director Shosholoza Operations (MSC South Africa BEE operations company)
Oct 2010 – Country Manager MSC Swaziland based in Matsapha Swaziland
Oct 2017 – resigned from MSC and moved to Plettenberg Bay to play golf and fly.
In his junior year, Frikkie won the floating trophy for Navigation and Seamanship and in his senior year was appointed Junior Cadet Captain, winning the Seamanship Trophy and a mathematics prize, as well as the Silver Bugle for his musical ability.
On leaving the Botha, he served his apprenticeship with T & J Harrison, then a spell with Safmarine and later, master with Thesens. He lectured on the staff of the General Botha for 19 years before taking up a post with the Department of Transport, Marine Division in Cape Town where, in due course, he became one of their senior examiners of masters and mates. Young candidates for their second mates would know they were in for a grilling if ‘Frikkie’ was to take them for orals! “I’ll be fair but you’ll need to know your stuff!” was his dictum. Frikkie obtained his Extra Masters in 1985.
In 1963 Frikkie married Leonore Janssen and they had two children, Frederick and Jenny. This marriage ended in divorce in 1985. Frikkie married Rosemary (Rosi) in 1987.
Frikkie continues to do the odd marine consulting job but in essence, he and Rosemary live in happy semi-retirement in Cape Town.
Joined British Tanker Company in 1932 and won the Company’s third year apprentice prize. Indentures cancelled October 1934 due to ill health after an accident on board the British Strength. Returned to S.A. as a sailor on T.S.T. W.H. Fuller. Employed by Ellerman & Bucknall as a shipping clerk from January 1935 to April 1936 before joining E.R.P.M. in July 1936. January 1938 to December 1939 worked for Palmietkuil Mine. Started on Randfontein Estates April 1940 and left May 1949 to go to Stilfontein. Retired from Stilfontein Mine as Chief Survey Draughtsman in 1977. Since then to 1995 employed as caretaker of the block of flats where he resided.
Deceased 29/05/96 of cancer.
Deceased 11th November 2003.
Deceased 13/01/93.
Served as Sub Lieutenant (June 1942) in the Mediterranean During WWII.
Apprenticed to Prince Line.
Hugo Hendrik, better known as HH, passed away 27th March 2012. As past Chief of the S.A. Navy as well as past Chief of the S.A. Defence Force HH received a high profile funeral service attended by a number of retired Chiefs of the S.A. Navy as well as the present Chief of the S.A. Navy. After the service his coffin was borne away on the traditional gun carriage by the S.A. Navy. After G.B. served as a Cadet in the British Merchant Navy until 1938 when transferred to the Maritime Department of the S.A.R.& H. 1938 commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant in the RNVR war reserve. 1946 appointed Lieutenant Commander, S.A. Navy Permanent Force. 1952 Naval attaché, London, Rank, Commander 12/52 Naval and Marine Chief of staff. Rank, Commodore. 1957 promoted to Rear-Admiral. 1965 promoted to Vice Admiral. Chief of the Navy and Commander, Maritime Defence, S.A. Defence Forces. 1972 promoted to Admiral. Appointed as Chief of the S.A.D.F. 1976 retired from the S.A.D.F. Since retirement served on the boards of: St Dunstans, N.S.R.I., Sandock-Austral, Trust Bank, K.F. Albrecht & Co, Suiderland Ontwikkelings Korporasie, Gilbeys Distillers & Vintners, Sunnyside Travel Bureau, Pretoria. Patron of the G.B. War Memorial Fund. HH was described as “The father of the modern South African Navy”. Served with distinction in WWII and was awarded the OBE.
Hugo Biermann
South African AdmiralHugo Hendrik Biermann, SSA, SD, OBE (6 August 1916 – 27 March 2012) was a senior officer in the South African Navy.
He served as Chief of the Navy from 1952 to 1972 and Chief of the South African Defence Force from 1972 until 1976, the only naval officer to have served in the post.
South African Navy
Years of service 1938-1976
Rank Admiral
Service number 01222819PE
Commands held Chief of the South African Defence Force
Chief of the Navy
HMSAS Bloemfontein
HMSAS Gamtoos
HMSAS Aristea
HMSAS Roodepoort
HMSAS Imhoff
Battles/wars
Second World War
Awards
Star of South Africa
Southern Cross Decoration
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry
Spouse Peggy Cruwys
Relations Rear Admiral Stephanus Biermann
Early life
Biermann’s father, also named Hugo Hendrick, joined the Orange Free State postal service at the age of 12, and later joined the South African Railways and Harbours as a telegraphist.
Born in Johannesburg on 6 August 1916, Biermann was one of four children. His brothers Phillip and Stefanus (Chips) served on whalecatchers that had been converted to minesweepers during the Second World War.
His brother Stefanus reached the rank of rear admiral in the South African Navy.
Biermann started school in the Transvaal until his father was transferred to Cape Town.
He completed his schooling at Jan van Riebeeck High School and, after leaving school at the age of 16, joined the South African Training Ship General Botha.
After two years training on the General Botha from 1932 to 1933, Biermann entered the British Merchant Navy as a cadet and served until 1938, when he was transferred to the Maritime Department of the South African Railways and Harbours.
Career
Second World War
Biermann began his naval career in 1938 as a sub-lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
In January 1940, he was called up for full-time service and transferred to the Seaward Defence Force.
Promoted lieutenant in mid 1941 he commanded HMSAS Imhoff, HMSAS Roodepoort and HMSAS Aristea, before being promoted to lieutenant commander in command of the salvage vessel HMSAS Gamtoos.
The crew of the HMSAS Gamtoos cleared several Mediterranean ports of sunken and scuttled ships, and at Marseilles, Biermann blew a hole in the harbour wall so that he could enter the Vieux Port and begin work.
The Gamtoos went on to salvage the Sidi Aissa, towing it away to clear the valuable graving dock at La Ciotat by 14 December 1944.
This earned Biermann appointment as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).
The citation for his OBE reads:
On the recommendation of the British Admiralty, the then Lieutenant-Commander H. H. Biermann, an officer in the South African Naval Forces [SANF], was appointed an Officer of the Military Division of the Order of the British Empire “for distinguished service during the invasion of Southern France.”
Post-war and rise to senior command
After the Second World War, and with the establishment of the South African Navy (Permanent Force) in May 1946, Biermann was appointed lieutenant commander in the Permanent Force and made captain of the Algerine class minesweeper, HMSAS Bloemfontein, commissioning it in Devonport on 8 September 1947.
He was also the Senior Officer of the minesweeping squadron.
In 1950, Biermann was transferred to Defence Headquarters and served on the staff of the then Director-General of the South African Naval Forces.
Two years later he attended the British Naval Staff Course at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, and was appointed as naval attaché at South African House, London with the rank of commander.
Frans Erasmus reshuffle
Minister Frans Erasmus embarked on a process of ridding the Defence Force of officers associated with the Smuts government and replacing them with others whom he considered more Nationalist, one which Afrikaners would feel more at home.
In 1952, Erasmus posted Brigadier Pieter de Waal as a Military attache to the United States, replacing him with Biermann, one of only seven Afrikaans officers in the navy in 1948.
Then Commander Biermann was appointed Naval and Marine Chief of Staff (the head of the navy) on 1 December 1952 and promoted to the rank of commodore, jumping two ranks.
During his tenure the Simonstown Agreement was signed on 30 June 1955.
He held commodore rank until 1 April 1957, with the handing over of the Simon’s Town Naval Base, he was promoted to rear admiral.
Biermann was made vice admiral on 1 December 1965, when his position was simultaneously retitled as Chief of the Navy.
In 1972, Biermann took over the position of Commandant General of the South African Defence Force and promoted to admiral, the first time this rank was used in the South African Navy.
The title was changed to Chief of the South African Defence Force a year later.
In 1977, Biermann authored ‘The South African Response. The Southern Oceans and the Security of the Free World: New Studies in Global Strategy’.
The navy’s submarine base was named after him.
Contribution to yachting in South Africa
Following the success of Bruce Dalling and the yacht Voortrekker in the 1968 Single-Handed Trans-Atlantic Race, Biermann, then chairman of the Springbok Ocean Racing Trust, suggested that South Africa host an ocean race of its own.
The South African Ocean Racing Trust (as the SAORT became known) selected the Iate Clube do Rio de Janeiro, who were willing to co-operate in the organising of the race and the race would be known as the Cape to Rio.
The first race was organised for 1971, with the organisers anticipating at most 15 entries into the race.
However, the race attracted a large amount of interest and 58 boats entered the 1971 race.
Awards and decorations
Biermann received the Star of South Africa on 13 May 1960 in recognition of his exceptionally meritorious services.
He was also appointed Grand Cross of Naval Merit of the Order of May from Admiral Guillermo Brown of Argentina, and the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Infante Dom Henrique of Portugal.
He was the first recipient of the Southern Cross Decoration, which he received upon his retirement as Chief of the South African Defence Force in 1976.
Personal life
In 1940, Biermann married Margaret (Peggy) Cruyws.
She died in 2008 at the age of 90.
The couple had two children, Hugo Hendrik and Diana. Biermann died on 27 March 2012 at the age of 95 in a retirement home, Silvermine Village, near Cape Town. He was buried with full military honours.
References, Military offices.
1 a b c d e Williams, Roger (October 2003). “Admiral H H Biermann”. Naval Digest. 9.
2 a b “Chips Biermann obituary”. Cape Argus. 21 February 2003. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
3 a b “Admiral Hugo Biermann – The Telegraph”. The Daily Telegraph. London. 14 May 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
4 “Archived copy”. Archived from the original on 13 December 2007. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
5 a b c d “A sad farewell to Admiral H.H. Biermann SSA, SD, OBE 01222819 PE”. Navy.mil.za. Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 27 April 2012.
6 Gomm, N (1973). “From the Ships Log of H.M.S.A.S Imhoff”. Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies. 1. 3.
7 “Obituary in newsletter” (PDF). The South African Institute of Marine Engineers & Naval Architects. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2016.
8 Admiral Hugo Biermann – The Times
9 Weinerlein, Vic (June 2006). “HMSAS GAMTOOS, 1942-1945 A South African salvage vessel in the Second World War”. The South African Military History Society Military History Journal. 5. 13 (5).
10 https://www.generalbotha.co.za/OBA05%202012.pdf[permanent dead link]
11 Du Toit, Allan (1992). South Africa’s fighting ships past and present. Ashanti Publishing. ISBN 978-1874800507.
12 a b Boulter, Roger Stephen (1997). “F.C. Erasmus and the politics of South African defence, 1948-1959”.
13 Race and U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War. Taylor & Francis. 1998. ISBN 978-0-8153-2958-9.
14 Fact file: Chiefs of the South African Navy | DefenceWeb
15 Fact file: Chiefs of the SANDF,past and present | DefenceWeb
16 Morgan, Brad (9 July 2008). “Sailing legend Dalling passes away”. Sport. For Brand South Africa by Big Media Publishers. Archived from the original on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2009.
17 a b c Hocking, Anthony (1972). Yachting in Southern Africa. Purnell. P. 131. ASIN B001OZHFF8.
18 “South African Defence Force: 1975–2003”. SA Honours and Awards. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013.
19 “‘Moeder van die vloot’ (90) oorlede / Mother of the Navy passes away”. Die Burger. 31 December 2008. Retrieved 18 September 2015.[permanent dead link]
20 “People’s Post False Bay”. 17 April 2012.
21 “Obituary”. Daily Telegraph
New title
Retitled from Commandant General of the South African Defence Force Chief of the South African Defence Force
1973-1976 Succeeded by
Magnus Malan
Preceded by
Rudolph Hiemstra Commandant General of the South African Defence Force
1972-1973 Renamed Chief of the South African Defence Force
New title
Retitled from Naval Chief of Staff Chief of the South African Navy
1966-1972 Succeeded by
James Johnson
New title
Retitled from Naval and Marine Chief of Staff Naval Chief of Staff
1955-1966 Renamed Chief of the Navy
Preceded by
Pieter de Waal Naval and Marine Chief of Staff
1952-1955 Renamed Naval Chief of Staff.
Apprenticed to Hall Line.
Worked at the Satmar Oil Refinery in Boksburg.
Deceased early 1980s.
Obtained Chief Officers Certificate and sailed as second officer.
Came ashore and studied computer science before joining the CSIR.
Later joined a company that handled naval systems.
2009 retired.
After G.B. Joined Norwich Union Insurance as a Filing Clerk. Two years later became a Trainee Insurance Assessor and remained in assessing until 1973. After various positions in the insurance industry joined Minet Insurance Brokers in 1982 and was transferred to Johannesburg. Company later merged with Glenrand and is now known as Glenradm I.B. Which is the largest management owned insurance brokers in S.A.
Retired as their Group Claims Director after 20 years in subject position. Then joined Crawford & Co, as Insurance Loss Adjuster in Cape Town.
Retired 2003 to the country village of McGregor and consulting for a leading international Loss Adjusting Company. Also owns an art gallery.
13 Mill Street McGregor 6708.
1946 Able Seaman on ss Dalia.
Came ashore and worked for Babco*ck & Wilco*ck in Worcester before moving to Johannesburg where he worked for the City Council, G.K.N. Mills and finally retired from ARMSCOR. Deceased 11/05/2008.
At the beginning of 2000 I was on the Ferosa which was taken over by Enterprise Shipping . Unfortunately the Management and myself were not too compatible and they offered me retrenchment which I gladly accepted . During my leave / retrenchment I forwarded my CV to numerous Companies and was picked up by Safmarine / Maersk in Cape Town and they offered me a Chief Officers job which I accepted towards the end of 2000 . Strangely enough I was quite happy in this position and stayed as Chief Officer until I was promoted to Master once again on the Safmarine Concord 27/07/2004. During these last tours of duty the one that stands out is probably the handing over of the Oranje 16/12/10 to 07/01/12 in China to Greek owners, last container vessel on the South African Registry.
Retired in May 2012 on attaining the age of 60 and subsequently I am working back to back on the Safmarine Chilka, 3 on 3 off and am basically on voyage contract..
When I sign off here I will have basically 20 years as Master , 14 as Chief Officer and 42 years in service.
1964 Officer in Charge Gunnery School, rank of Lt Cdr.
1976 – 1984 appointed as the Defence Attaché at the S.A. Embassy in Bonn, Germany. 1985 returned to S.A. and appointed the Director Naval Inspectorate, Naval Headquarters in Simon’s Town and in 1986 appointed Inspector General (S.A. Navy) until retirement in April 1986.
Deceased 17th June 2019.
1941 – 1953 Rigger, Ropeman Rigger Broken Hill Dev Co, Northern Rhodesia.
1953 – 1963 Rigger, charge hand, foreman Chin Gola Consolidated Mines, Northern Rhodesia.
1964 – 1984 Rigger apprentice Training Officer S.A. Naval Dockyard Simonstown
July 1984 retired
Deceased 12/07/95.
Tugmaster and finally as a Pilot.In 1998 I joined Pentow Marine where I worked as a Discharge Advisor at the Durban SBM, with a brief secondment to the Marsha Bashayer Terminal in Sudan as a Load Master/Mooring
Master.
In 2000 I joined Qatar Petroleum as Senior Port Supervisor/Pilot in the Port of Ras Laffan. In August 2005 I was promoted to the position of Harbour Master in Ras Laffan, the worlds biggest LNG export terminal.
In October 2012 I left Qatar and commenced working for Svitzer in Angola as their Country Manager. I was based up in Soyo where we operated 11 vessels for our client, Angola LNG. After nearly 4 years with Svitzer in Angola I left there in July 2016 and relocated back to my home town of Port Elizabeth.
Deceased 21/07/86
1949 October obtained Masters Certificate . Joined Palm Line in 1950 as second and then chief officer. 1954 May I left Palm Line to join Rea Limited as a Cargo Superintendent. Rea Ltd were taken over by Mersey Docks and Harbour Company following the Devlin Report. In 1978 I transferred to the Seaforth Grain Terminal as Assistant Manager taking early retirement Feb.1982. Deceased 15th February 2019 at age of 95.
October 1959 – promoted to Master s.s. South African Pioneer.
1964 Master of m.v. Langkloof.
1965 – 68 – Marine Superintendent (New Construction).
1968 – Marine Manager
April 1974 – General Manager
Decemebr 1982 – Alternate Director to Board of Safmarine.
May 1985 – Director to Board of Safmarine
1981 – 1990 – Chairman South African Nautical Academy “Genearl Botha” board of control.
1981 – 1996 Board Member National Sea Rescue Institute of S.A.
1990 – Chairman, National Operations & Technical Committee, N.S.R.I.
1992 – 1993 – Chairman, National Sea Rescue Institute of S.A.
4th March 1988 – Awarded the Order of the Star of South Africa (non-military); Class III, Commander.
Past President of S.A. Shipowners Association.
Deceased 08/06/2006
1948 was Second Officer on the S.A. Government vessel Gamtoos. Went missing whilst on his way to re-join the ship 16th August 1948.
Presently lives in Havant on the South coast of England where he owns a highly repsected sail-making business, Arun Sails, Rockall Sails and Sail Loft at Bosham.
Joined the Royal Navy as a special entry Cadet in May, 1950. On conclusion of his training period at Dartmouth, he was awarded first prize for navigation. Later resigned from the Royal Navy and studied medicine at the University of Cape Town. Worked at Groote Schuur Hospital, Edendal Hospital and later joined a practise in George followed by his own practise in Alice. After five years moved to East London where he practised as a GP for 30 years.
Deceased 17th March 2011 on his 79th birthday.
“Is about to complete his sea time for Second Officer in the Roxburgh Castle.”
1996 – retired Master from Unicorn Lines. Deceased 2nd September 2015.
07/11/1943 joined S.A.R. & H. as tug mate.
1964 harbour pilot in Port Elizabeth.
28/02/1976 retired as Acting Port Captain, Port Elizabeth. Deceased 09/01/95.
January 1979 – joined Operational Mobilisation to work abroad their book exhibition ship, Doulos. Served as Chief Officer and then Masters.
1987 – 88 – In Operationa Mobilisation South Africa with occastional trips either on m.v. Doulos or m.v. Logos II.
January 1989 – rejoined M.V. Doulos for a year as Master before moving ashore in New Zealand as Manager/Director of Operation Mobilisation there. Occasional relieving trips still made on the two ships.
First to be awarded the ‘Kings Gold Medal’, 1923
Union Castle Mail Steamship Company United:
Sandgate Castle – 13/03/24 to 02/02/25 Cadet apprentice
Sandown Castle – 03/02/25 to 11/02/27 Cadet apprentice
Dromore Castle – 12/02/27 to 04/04/27 Cadet apprentice
Balmoral Castle – 24/06/27 to 11/07/27 Cadet apprentice
Worked for Cape Town City Council. Signed up during World War II and served on numerous minesweepers. Rank Lietutenant. He was in command of I9 SANF vessels during (and just after) the war
As an eyesight defect precluded him from going to sea as a deck officer, Rex’s ambition was to join the Royal Navy as an electrical engineer. This meant attending Cambridge University in the UK where he would need passes in A-levels maths, physics and applied maths. However as the Royal Navy’s entry level age was 18, Rex was obliged to remain at the Botha for a third year during which time he played a useful game for the Under-19A rugby team.
Faced with having failed one of his A-level exams, the physics practical which precluded him from Cambridge, Rex, undaunted, enrolled at Rhodes University, finally graduating with a BSc and an Honours Degree in Mathematics. While at Rhodes, he played double bass in a jazz band and enjoyed a round or two of golf, in which sport he excelled, representing SA Universities and earning his colours against Natal.
On graduating, Rex joined IBM in Johannesburg as a trainee systems engineer and in 1969 formed his own computer science bureau (CAB), which processed computer work for many large corporations. CAB grew until it employed 65 people with branches in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town.
Rex moved to Cape Town in 1979, selling his interests in CAB in 1985. He continued doing the odd computer work, planning to retire in 2004.
While at Rhodes, Rex met Mary-Anne Murray, sitting for her fine arts degree and teacher’s diploma. They married in 1961 and have five children. The eldest, Jeremy, died before the age of three but the remaining four, Belinda, Tessa, Nicholas and William all graduated from UCT with one or more degrees, all getting married and producing lovely grandchildren.
Looking forward to the 2004 reunion, Rex died suddenly from cancer 18th November 2003 leaving a family of nineteen, scattered between Cape Town, Canada and the USA. Mary-Anne still lives at Sunset Links in Milnerton, where Rex had been improving his golf when he finally retired.
1976 – Electronics course at Technikon.
1977 – sailed with Univorn and served with South African Railways & Harbours.
1978 – 82 – saledw ith Mercury Shipping Line.
1982 – 85 – Own businses in Knysna.
1986 – Lieutenant in S.A. Navy.
1987 – Portnet, Port Manager of Mossel Bay.
November 1997 relocated to Canada.
1999 – working for a U.K. company servicing North Sea Oil Rigs.
2001 – returned to UK working for Associated British Ports on the Humber River as a Harbour Pilot.
“Much water has passed under the bridge since the Africana, This includes fiber optic root clearance in the Bristol channel and off the south coast of Ireland, diamond survey and mining off the Namibian coast (Smit & Norwegian company), environmental protection (Smit Amandla), offshore supply west Africa (RK Offshore), seismic survey south east Asia (MMA Offshore). Also, in between, some Port Captain/supercargo related work in Mozambique. 2015 doing contractual work for MMA Offshore involving vessel inspections and internal audits.”
Cadet with Unicorn obtaining Master’s Certificate.
1988 joined Manica Freight Services based in Beira and Maputo in the above post.
1995 resigned from Manica and relocated to Walvis Bay, Namibia, and started own survey company, Raffles Inspection Services.
2014 qualified as a Pastor and providing ministry services to seamen at Walvis Bay.
Reported in “Both Watches” 1952.
Served his time in the Union Castle Line until 1932. Then, during the shipping depression of that year he left the sea to farm at Somerset East, where, after some years of endeavour, he has made a big success of his farm Rietfontein.
1964 tug Master in Durban Harbour.
Reported Deceased.
1957/58 – Clan Line Steamers.
1959/62 – Johannesburg Fire Department.
1963/67 – Smiths Coasters.
1968 joined S.A.R.& H. and later appointed harbour pilot.
2016 moved to U.K.
Deceased 6th August 2017.
He did his apprenticeship as a motor mechanic in Johannesburg as his father wanted him to work in the family business, but the lure of the sea was too strong. The only info I have of the ships he sailed on are:-
SS Erica sailing out of Durban, during the years 1937,38 & 1940.
He arrived in Melbourne in 1940 on the M.V. Stensby (having jumped ship), he then served on the Kooringa in 1941, the Dumosa in 1941/42 and the Duntroon in 1942 sailing out of Melbourne .
Details from his daughter [helibouch@primusonline.com.au]:
“Sailing was in his blood as I have traced the Bouch Family ancestors back to 1750 and they all came from Sutton Bridge or Long Sutton Lincolnshire, and dad’s Great, Great Grandfather was a Master Mariner , I have his certificate No S35585 from Greenwich.
He was master of the following ships:-
Patriot , Clifton, Ebenezer, Goward, Royal Mall, Anson, Margaret , from 1855 to 1868 also I found a genealogy web site, stating he was master of the windjammer Elizabeth Huddleston.”
1968: cadet at General Botha, Granger Bay
1969-1971: Ellerman and Bucknall, PE office and student at UPE
1972-1991: various positions in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town
1992-2007: outdoor and adventure camps in Villiersdorp, Western Cape
2007: retired in PE.
1945 – 1946 – Third Mate Steusky & Plettenburg.
1946 – 1949 – Second Mate Erica, Dalia, Agulhas & Nahoon
1950 – First Mate & Relieving Master Hoeveld
1951 – was spent as Skipper of Ovenstones Purse Seiners Pilchard Fishing ex Walvis Bay.
1952 – Skippered the “North Cape” from Cape Town to Western Australia where she was used in the Crayfish industry. Swallowed the Anchor and entered commerce. Held number of Chief Executive positions & Director of several of Australia’s largest companies. Retired late 1991 and opened own marketing consulting company. Sold 2001 and retired again.
Deceased 26th May 2003
1989 – resigned from Pentow.
1990 – started with Sea Harvest as Training Officer. Obtained diploma in Industral Relations.
1992 – studying Third Year B.Comm (Unisa).
1963 – 67 – A.E.C.I. South West Africa.
1968 – 72 – Cymot Ltd (Motor Spares) Cape Town and Durban
1972 – 87 – Gaydon Spares Centres, Regional Manager
Diplomas: Business Management, Marketing Management & Finacnial Management
1987 – 88 – own businses
1988 – 90 – Parts Manager, Top Parts, Pietermaritzburg.
1990 – 91 – Sanlam Assurance
1991 – present (11/93) – Estate Agent and Independent Insurance Agent.
Bill Bowles exchanged the strict Brothers of St Joseph’s College, Rondebosch (Marist Brothers) for the rigors of the General Botha, where he won the Senior Certificate Prize for English. On leaving the General Botha, Bill married his childhood sweetheart, Betty Docherty and took a job with the Cape Times Ltd in the photo-lithographic section. He was the fifth generation of his family to follow a career in Lithography.Unfortunately his first marriage ended in divorce when Betty refused to accompany him in a career change move to Johannesburg. During this period Bill travelled to Japan and Hong Kong and also met his soul-mate Peggy who consented to marry him in June 1961. A marriage that lasted through 48 years ending only at Peggy’s passing in August 2009 after contracting Alzheimer’s Disease.
His career moved from the then Transvaal to Mossel Bay from where he opened and ran various companies extending to both Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. Fate, however, intervened in the form of Peggy’s illness and Bill personally undertook the care of the love of his life for almost three years at Nazareth House Port Elizabeth until her passing.
He retired from all forms of business activity in the early 2000’s and lived in Port Elizabeth where he used his flair for the written word and passed the time in this pursuit which included two novels and an anthology.
2004 with the City of Cape Town Finance department.
2005 retired.
After the war, he returned to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and spent some time with his uncle, a tobacco farmer, learning the trade. He was then allotted a farm in the Doma area. This farm was virgin bush when he arrived there and he had to develop it from scratch in order to grow tobacco and maize.
Deceased 22/11/2005.
Captain Geritt “Dutchy” Brand, 58 master of the freighter Kowie died yesterday in Cape Town after a long illness.
A former naval man who spent almost his whole working life at sea, Captain Brand grew up at Aurora in the Cape.
He served in both the merchant navy and South African Navy, spending World War II in warships in the Mediterranean, the Pacific, Africa and Madagascar.
1945 all the deck officers of ss Dalia were Bothie Boys:
W.E. Jenkins (104) Master.
E. Holmes (253) chief officer.
V. Canning (740) second officer.
F.J.V. Brand (674) third officer.
J. Butler (1281) cadet.
1964 Master of Thesen’s Zulu Coast.
Entered S.A. Naval Service as Stoker.
Deceased June 2000.
2003 with Smit Salvage.
1993 appointed as Saflink (Safmarine Marketing Division) representative for Malawi, based in Lilongwe.
1995 Regional owner’s representative for Safmarine based in Harare covering Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi.
1997 transferred back to Safmarine H.O., Cape Town.
1999 joined Unicorn Lines as Branch Manager, Cape Town.
2000 joined P&O NLL London as Trade Sales Manager, Africa Trades.
2006 joined MAERSK LINE as General Manager , Sao Paulo, Brazil.
2008 transferred to APM Terminals as Chief Commercial Officer , Tangiers Morocco
2011 transferred to APM Terminals Bahrain as Chief Commercial Officer
2015 joined Abu Dhabi Terminal , UAE as Chief Commercial Officer
2018 joined Peterhead Port Authority, Scotland as Chief Executive.
On completion of sea time in BI, wrote Second Mates in London after studying at Edward V11 college Then signed on the Bullard King ship Umzinto, under Roy Harber (GB cadet 291). Put in time for First Mates there and signed off in Durban. Studied at the MN Officers Club in Gardiner Street where Denny Underwood (GB Cadet 656) taught two nights a week. Managed to pass the written portion but failed the oral portion and had to put in extra sea time. Fortunately SARShips Aloe needed a third mate, and I signed on under Scotty Edwards. Sat for orals again in Adelaide, Australia, and was successful there. Remained on Aloe for a further year as second mate, until she was sold to Greek interests. I then signed off and Safmarine, whose entire fleet consisted of three Victory ships, needed a Fourth Officer, and I signed on Vergelegen.
When I had accumulated enough sea time for Masters, I signed on the Warwick Castle as a Quartermaster to work a passage to the UK. Attended school at Warsash, and became a paid up member of the Rising Sun, as well as the Bugle in Hamble. In spite of that managed to pass Masters and worked a passage back to Cape Town as ordinary seaman on the Athlone Castle
Shortly thereafter, Safmarine acquired four more ships. This opened up tremendous promotion possibilities, and I received command of Constantia in January of 1959. Safmarine had also opened their own offices in the States, and I was sent over as Port Captain, Houston to oversee operations in the US Gulf and South Atlantic. Held this position for three years, and then moved to New York as Marine Superintendent. Then to Cape Town as Marine Manager for a further three years. Went back to the States as Vice President, and served in various positions there until finished up as President.
Retired to Huntington Beach California, known as Surf City.”
Prizes won: “Howard” Silver Medal for first in navigation and seamanship, first in technical and non-technical subjects, first in nautical astronomy, first in geography, second in sailmaking, second in technical subjects and second in science.
Apprenticed to Ellerman & Bucknall line and served in s.s City of Khartoum and City of Mobile.
Born 19th June 1910. Died at Colombo, Ceylon, on 17th April 1930.
1998 relocated to Saldanha.
2000 relocated as Port Captain, Cape Town.
2004 appointed Chief Harbour Master for National Port Authority. 2006 retired but continued with pilot and tug masters training. 2012 fullly retired.
Deceased 22/07/2000.
After G.B. went into the Motor Trade but joined the S.A. Navy in June 1956. Qualified as a Diver and Seamanship Instructor and served in various ships and bases. Was also on detached duties to the army to assist in the Formation of the Waterborne Regiment in Langebaan. Returned to the Navy in January 1985 and was posted as Salvage Officer for the S.A. Navy for 3 years. Attained the rank of Warrant Officer 1st Class and received the only Van Riebeeck Medal to be awarded in the S.A. Navy. (Admiral Woodburne received the Van Riebeeck Decoration). September 1989 drafted to Durban as Command Master-at-arms of Naval Command East, retired April 1990. Returned to Simon’s Town formed K B Salvage and Fishing CC, purchased a 13m fishing trawler which he worked from Kalk Bay Harbour, sold 1995. 1996 established a tourist resort in Binga, on Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe.
He was one of only four Defence Force personnel ever to be awarded the van Riebeeck Medal [VRM]. This was a very prestigious decoration awarded to Warrant Officers, Senior Ratings and Junior ratings in the Navy as well as to personnel in the other services “for distinguishing himself by outstanding acts of resourcefulness, perseverance or personal courage or by his outstanding leadership or responsibility and personal example against an enemy in the field”.
Was one of the Sea Cadets that sailed the TS General Botha (previously the HMS Thames) from the United Kingdom to South Africa in 1921. He went on to become a Master Mariner serving in various vessels. He was Senior Harbour Pilot in Cape Town in the 1950’s and in East London in the 1970’s. Passed away in East London in the late 1970’s.
Extract from the book “Gentlemen – The Ship!” author Ian Manning ex cadet 1956 term 1955-56:
After leaving the training ship at the end of 1923 he served his apprenticeship with Hall Line and Andrew Weir and Company’s Bank Line. He then wrote and passed his Second Mate’s First Mate’s and Master’s (Foreign Going) tickets in England. He later joined the South African Harbour Service as a Mate in Durban and then served in Cape Town and Walvis Bay as a tug-master.
He was Master of the tug Sir Charles Elliot when she was wrecked during rescue operations when Dunedin Star grounded, leaking, on the Skeleton Coast North of Walvis Bay during the Second World War. He was an experienced and very capable Pilot in Table Bay Harbour. One of his accomplishments was berthing Shaw Savill and Albion’s large passenger ship Dominion Monarch in a South-Easterly gale, a feat for which he is well remembered. He was subsequently posted to East London where he retired about 1967.
Captain Brewin died in Frere Hospital, East London, at 2020 on 13 December 1978 and his ashes were scattered at sea from the Pilot Launch A.C. Craigie after a service conducted by the Reverend Donovan, a Mission to Seafarers Padre.
On leaving the Botha he joined the British India Steam Navigation Company as cadet, serving in 13 of their ships over three years. These included the troopship Dilwara, moving troops mainly around the Mediterranean and taking part in the Suez fiasco; and the Kenya, where he held hands with Princess Margaret for approximately 2 seconds.
A particular fascination for Chinese Junks and a love of the Far East propelled him to join the China Navigation Company, where he served in the South China Sea and Western Pacific for five glorious and sybaritic years. During this time he met up with fellow Bothie boy Colin Ogg (51/52) and talked him into the idea of sailing a junk across the Pacific. Together they had the 42 feet junk Ying Hong built on the small island of Aplichau and in due course set off from Hong Kong heading east for America. An encounter with a typhoon in the China Sea brought them to shelter in Taiwan from where, on setting off once again, they were obliged to beat against the NE Monsoon for days on end with little or no progress. It was then that they made the momentous decision of turning round to head west for South Africa, a decision which was to significantly affect Mike’s life! Arriving in Durban, Colin left to resume a normal life while Mike met his crew for life, Paddy (nee Patricia Mast). The two sailed on to the Caribbean where two sons were born, both on the island of Grenada. After exploring the Windward Islands allowing their two sons to get through initial babyhood, the Briants continued their voyage to the States where they eventually sold Ying Hong.
The family returned to South Africa in 1968 to settle in East London. There Mike and Paddy started a small leather business and laid the keel for a new junk, Chi Lin. To assist with the building costs, Mike made a number of ship and yacht delivery trips in collaboration with the inimitable Tubby Eastman. In 1976 they sold the leather business and moved to Cape Town, where Mike joined Land and Marine as master of the Atlantic Shore.
In 1978 Mike moved to Irvin & Johnson as marine manager spending the next ten years trying to make seamen out of fishermen. During this time he took part in a couple of South Atlantic races and a number of Double Cape races. Together with ‘Bunny’ Curran, the pair founded the South African Sail Training Association for Under-Privileged Youngsters.
Chi Lin was launched in 1982.
In 1988 he joined Peter Wilmott in Deep Salvage 1 as salvage master and operations manager, a saga of ambitious eccentricity which included the discovery of the wreck of the Waratah and involved several other highly unprofitable salvage operations. After two years, in which they managed to avoid doing each other serious injury, Peter and Mike parted company on the best of terms. Many other commands followed, all small hands-on ships; some very strange; fishing voyages to Tristan da Cunha; an Antarctic scientific expedition; large tandem tows across the Atlantic to Guiana; a spell in Brazil managing a fishing company; and an epic tow job from Montevideo to Rio, where Mike came close to losing the rigs and the installation of the Mossgas production platform from construction to start up.Home was by this time in Simon’s Town, Topsail House, the old St Joseph’s Convent School which, between periods at sea, he and Paddy converted into apartments and self-catering accommodation. Topsail House was sold in 1995; Mike and Paddy moved on board Chi Lin and sailed away. For the next ten years they cruised the Caribbean, Bahamas, United States, Nova Scotia, Azores, Ireland, England, and Central America. Winters were spent gainfully employed topping-up the cruising kitty; salvage tugs in Yemen; ice-breaker supply vessels in the North Sea and a year spent lecturing, inspiring young Irishmen at the Cork Institute of Technology.
Chi Lin’s final deep sea voyage was from North Carolina to British Columbia via the Panama Canal. After transiting the canal, a momentous Pacific passage, Balboa to Nanaimo taking an arduous 83 days! (They could have walked it faster). Here Mike and Paddy ‘swallowed the anchor’ and six and a half years later obtained their ‘landed emigrant’ status in Canada, whereupon they built a house in celebration. Chi Lin, with 78,000 nautical miles under her keel is still sailed every summer in the sheltered waters of the Georgia Strait.
Mike and Paddy’s eldest son John went to the General Botha then Safmarine. Their younger son Paul became a professional yacht skipper and now lives in San Diego. Two grandchildren in Canada and two in California – ain’t life great!
Bothie nickname : “Spike”.
1995 – Harbour Pilot, Port of Richards Bay. Retired 2001.
2004 – relocated to Port Elizabeth.
1982 – 85 – Bachelor of Business Science at UCT.
1986 – 87 – LLB at UCT
1988 – 89 – Articles with Routledge-MacCallums, Cape Town. Admitted as an Attorney.
1991 – Practising Attorney. Post graduate diploma in tax law at UCT.
1995 – Port Captain, Port of Richards Bay
2003 – Relocated to Cape Town responsible for National Port Authority Marine Nationally.Went to sea with Safmarine for 11 years and obtained his Masters. Joined SAR&H (eventually named Transnet National Port Authority of SA). Became marine pilot. 2003 – became National Harbour Master – being in control of all the National Ports harbour masters and as such formed part of the head office team
2004 Retired, but does marine consulting work – which took him to Madagascar, England and Mozambique. Fully retired 2012.
2015 Planning manager for Edward Snell, a wine & spirit merchant in South Africa.
After leaving General Botha, he started working for the Old Mutual, I think, initially as an office clerk. He continued working at the Old Mutual until retirement at age 60, in the position of Pensions Manager. Thereafter he was asked to come back to work for the Old Mutual, as a consultant, which he did pretty much up until his passing.
S.A. Navy 1984 – 90. Served on Strike Craft – Assistant Weapons Officer. Drafted to S.A.S. Saldanha 1989 as Senior Divisionsal Officer, rank Sub-Lieutenant.
Sea Harvest Saldanha 1990 – 92 as Shore Operations Manager. Transferred to Mossel Bay 07/1992 as Fleet Operations Manager Mariette Fishing, a company of Sea Harvest.
2010 Incident Management at Qatar Petroleum. Still owns their house in Dana Bay.
1953 drafted to Artillery and then Marines as O.C. Harbour & Boats. 1955 drafted to S.A. Navy in Simon’s Town as O.C. Several SO Boats and laid up mine sweepers.
1963 retired from the SA Navy and purchased land on the shores of Island Lake, Wilderness, George area and built a caravan park.
1985 sold the park and retired in George.
Retired Land Surveyor.
Deceased 04/01/2001.
1964 was a rigger in an engineering firm in Durban.
Deceased mid 1993.
1973 – passed Second Mates
1973 – 74 – Durban Lines as Second Officer
1974 – passed Mates
1974 – 2017 – with Deutsche Afrika Linien.
1977 – passed Masters
1978 – joined the Dal Cement Fleet.
Third Officer till December 1975. Second Officer till 1978. Chief Officer till 1986. 1987 to 2017 Master on various DAL and Lafarge cement carriers.
2018 Master on a 5,000 ton cement vessel trading in the Mediterranean.
After Bothie joined the R.S.S. Discovery as a Seaman.
Was a S.A. Army POW during WWII, demobbed with the rank of Staff Sargeant.
1996 – National Operations Manager for Polaris Shipping based in Durban.
Did cadetship with Safmarine. After Second Mates sailed on the coast and islands and did Masters FG in Durban about ’68. Sailed as skipper on coasters for a year and came ashore for a spell to help rebuild an old sailing vessel, Cariad, in Durban. Amazing bunch of guys involved in this project. Helped sail her in the first Cape to Rio race, 1971. Sailed another yacht from Rio to Malta and spent a couple of years travelling around Europe, financed by odd stints on tug/tenders in the establishing North Sea oil fields. Came back to SA to get married. From ’73 to 2006 did various things ashore like stevedoring, ship owners rep., agent, ship operator, supercargo, attending long shipping lunches, etc. In between did a bit of sailing, mainly on my brothers yacht, including a Cape to Rio. Ended up moving from Durban to Velddrif where we built a house and in 2006 decided to sell it and buy a yacht. Not really a yacht, more a stinkpot, but very comfortable for the two of us to cruise the Med from Turkey to France and the bits in between. Went through the rivers and canals in Europe depositing ourselves into the North Sea in Belgium and crossing to the UK ending up in a lovely marina on the Norfolk Broads. Sold the boat in 2012, came back to Velddrif, Western Cape.
2020 moved to live in France.
1932 Appointed Midshipman Royal Naval Reserve. Apprenticed to Ellerman & Bucknall Line.
Born Kirkcaldy, Scotland, 19th February 1915. Son of George Aichison Brown and Caterine Berry, nee Menzies. Ed, Rondebosch Boys’ High School.
Cadet Draft 1931 – 2 (Junior Cadet Captain). Joined Ellerman Lines 1933-38, transferred to Bank Line. WWII posted to RNR as Sub-Lieutenant. Survivor of Auxilary Cruiser Foylebank. Transferred to Auxiliary cruiser HMS Camito as Lieutenant. Put in command of caputered Italian tanker which was struck by a torpedo and sunk. Reported missing, believed killed, 6th May 1941.
May 1969 – 1993 – ashore with Safmarine as Assistant Superintendent, Superintendent, Marine Manager, Executive Manager
Retired 1993.
Previously member of the War Memorial Fund Managing Committee.
Deceased 22/11/2009.
Deceased December 1937.
1952 – C/O Certificate, Sir John Cass College
1956 – Masters Certificate, London University
1947 – 1950 – Cadet with Union Castle Line
1950 – 1958 – Third to Chief Officer, Ellerman Lines
1967 – 1968 – Master with Unicorn Lines, Coastal voyages
1958 – 1963 – Lecturer at Nautical Academy, Cape Town
1964 – 1969 – Chief Executive Officer at S.A.M.N.A. “General Botha”
1969 – 1970 – Safmarine, Fleet Liason Officer
1971 – 1981 – Safmarine, Training and Development Officer
1982 – 1990 – Safmarine, Marine Personnel Manager
Deceased 12/05/2001
Deceased 18/11/1999.
2009 own refirgeration company.
Deceased 27th June 2017.
Attended St. John’s College, Johannesburg before joining SATS General Botha.
He was born in 1918 in Umkomaas, Natal. At the age of 16 he entered the cinema business as a technician, later enlisting with the South African Air Force. He also joined the Associated British Cinema Corporation and was sent to cover Africa for their news reels. While travelling, he gathered information for his books. Later he began his own publishing company and focused on this and his travels until his death in 1999 at the age of 81.
2nd Mate/Mate – Unicorn and Sea Fisheries.
Studied CIS/IAC Diplomas (ACIS/AIAC Management).
Portfolio A.C – D.C.F. Properties
Assistant Management A/C – Safmarine (SAECS Service)
Financial Manager – ITC Travel,
Admin Manager – Grindrod Containerlink
Financial Manager – Media Film Service
Production Accountant – Ground Glass
Insurance and HR – Media Film Service
Retired – part time accounting and bookkeeping
Served as Senior Pilot Cape Town 1981-1984. Served as Harbour Master & Pilot and Ass. Port Captain Saldanha 1984-1988. Served as Port Captain Walvis Bay 1988-1991. Served as Manager & Senior Manager Marine Operations and Lighthouses 1991-1997 Johannesburg
(During this time served on various International Maritime bodies and as IALA Councillor)
Appointed CEO of Transnet Subsidiary Marine Data Systems (MDS) 1993 -1998 JHB
Served as Commercial and Operations Director on secondment and on contract to MDS 1998-2004 JHB. Retired from Portnet 2001. Contracted to MDS as Director 2001-2004 JHB
Retrenched from MDS – 2004. Started Burport Marine Consultancy Africa (Pty) Ltd, Managing Director. Established B&B – 2005. Greenville Lodge, Cyrildene JHB. Sold B&B 2010- Relocated with Businesses to Cape Town.
2011 joined GBOBA Cape Town Branch and also founding Chairman of GBOBA Bursary Fund until 2019. Remained a Board Member of the Bursary Fund. SOMMSA committee member.
1964 Assistant Port Captain Table Bay Harbour.
Photograph of J.D. Burnett in our album showing him in Air Force uniform, RAFVR Sargeant.
2Lt Bruce Burns (Engineers Corp) was killed in action on 06 September 1979 when he perished, along with 16 other servicemen, as a result of a SAAF Puma helicopter being hit by an RPG7 during the raid on Mapai, Mozambique.
Qualified B.Com, FCMA, FCIS and returned to England as a Management Consultant.
Returned to S.A. in 1963 and ended his career as director of companies.
Four children, (youngest son in RECCE Commando’s awarded Honoris Crux in the “Crocodile Incident”).
Proud moment: rowed in number 1 cutter crew against Royal Navy whilst still a chum [junior cadet].
Deceased 30th August 2014.
1999 – Retired.
Late thirties commissioned into the Royal Navy.
1945 all the deck officers of ss Dalia were Bothie Boys:
W.E. Jenkins (104) Master.
E. Holmes (253) chief officer.
V. Canning (740) second officer.
F.J.V. Brand (674) third officer.
J. Butler (1281) cadet.
1964 was a rigger with an engineering firm in Durban.
2008 Country Operations Manager, Kenya & Tazania, Wilhelmsen Ship Service.
“I left Kenya/Tanzania middle of 2010 and spent 4 Months in Dubai with MUR Shipping Ltd. I am now in Johannesburg with MUR Shipping RSA Ltd/ Shipping Branch of Macsteel International as Port Captain/Planning. Its very exciting as we own 11 Ships which are named African Eagle/Falcon all birds and we have about 40 Ships on Charter world wide at anyone time.”
Deceased 18th May 2017.
On leaving the General Botha he joined British India Line serving in a variety of cargo ships and passing his examination for mates in London. While in Australia, Dan resigned and joined the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand. In 1967 he took a job as tug master in Newcastle, NSW where he remained until 1992. Dan then fulfilled every sailor’s dream and bought a pub in Kilcoy in the Outback, before finally retiring to Mooloolaba in 1998.
In l965 Dan married Diana Kellner in Sydney and they had two daughters, Samantha and Amanda, along with two grandsons. Dan passed away 9th March 2007.
Initially did a voyage from Durban to Cape Town experiencing serious sea sickness. He then joined the S.A.R. & H. as an Electrician. In due course he took control of the Electricians workshops as well as responsibility for the lighthouses on the S.A. Coast. Deceased 01/04/2000.
Worked at Playtex as the manufacturing director but retired when the company sold to Sara Lee. Bothie nickname “Pepsi”. Deceased 15/03/2013.
After Bothie apprentice with Thesen Line.
1964 was farming in Natal.
Deceased 27/08/96
1964 was a clerk in the Harbour Revenue Department, Durban.
Deceased 12/12/2013.
After leaving Safmarine I went on to become a mechanical engineer. Thereafter I went on a venture to the UK and when I tried to get employment, I discovered the birth place of the industrial revolution had long since forgotten what a mechanical engineer was or did. I then took what was initially going to be temporary job on a cross channel ferry using my Class 4 Engineers Officer of Watch as my Second Mates had expired but stayed on. I have been luckily enough to sail on the Trinity House vessels, SA Agulhas plus others. 2021 sailing as Chief Engineer with Swire Pacific Offshore in Australia.
Winner of the King’s Gold Medal. Deceased 28/08/2007.
Served in WW2 in the Royal Navy. Lt.Ronald Allen Cann from Capetown S.A.
Deceased.
Second officer on SAR&H ship ss Columbine.
At 20.00 hours on 16 June 1944 the unescorted Columbine (Master Arne Reidar Simensen) was hit on the port side just abaft the engine room by one torpedo from U-198 while steaming at 9 knots about 25 miles west-northwest of Cape Columbine, South Africa. The crew began to abandon ship in all four lifeboats with some troubles in a heavy swell and moderate seas with a fresh wind blowing from the shore out to sea, but already after eight minutes the ship was hit by a coup de grâce and sank within two minutes after the cargo of timber caught fire. The Portuguese steam merchant Angola was seen two miles on port bow when the attack occurred, altered course and passed Columbine on her starboard side making no attempt to render assistance. The master, 17 crew members, two passengers and three gunners were lost. 28 crew members and one gunner survived: the 16 occupants in the boat in charge of the chief officer were picked up by a patrol craft and taken to Cape Town and the others made landfall near the Cape Columbine Lighthouse.1945 all the deck officers of ss Dalia were Bothie Boys:
W.E. Jenkins (104) Master.
E. Holmes (253) chief officer.
V. Canning (740) second officer.
F.J.V. Brand (674) third officer.
J. Butler (1281) cadet.
Previously with the Rhodesian National Parks and Wild Life Department.
Murdered by would be robbers at night in his home, Maun Botswana, on the 27th December 1995. Robbers were arrested and charged with murder.
Decesaed 29/08/95.
1998 – Master with Pentow Marine on Salvage tugs.
2012 Marine Safety Advisor for Angola LNG, Soyo Angola.
Deceasd 10/03/2001.
Father of Mike Carrington 1976 and Chris Carrington 1977.
2002 moved to Australia. 2005 tug Master.
Father Peter Carrington 1945/46 and brother Chris Carrington 1977.
1966 Obtained my 2nd Mate certificate in Liverpool and joined 3rd Officer South African Shipper.
1966 Left Safmarine and joined mv Glyntaf (Glenafon Shipping Co, Cardiff) tramping
1967 Left mv Glyntaf and obtained my Chief Mates certificate in Cape Town
1968 Joined Zapata Oil Co as Mate/Navigator tug Plato and signed off Texas, USA
1969 Immigrated to Canada joined Canadian Coastguard as 3rd Officer ice breaker John A Macdonald’ escorted the ss Manhattan through the NW Passage to Prudoe Bay, Alaska
1969 Obtained my Masters certificate Halifax, Nova Scotia
1969 to 1975 Worked Imperial Oil Ltd , Northland Navigation and BC Ferries
1975 Obtained my Masters certificate in Cape Town.
1975 to 1999 with Portnet, last three years as Marketing and Port Manager, port of Cape Town.
1999 returned to sea with S.A. Marine Corporation/Maersk as Chief Officer.
2000 Immigrated to New Zealand.
2000-2006 GM, Lamnalco Nigeria and Oman.
2006- 2010 seconded to Abu Dhabi JV ADNOC-Lamnalco..
2010- 2013 APMSCO-Jordan
2013-Lamnalco consultancy work incl. Kuwait
2014 Resigned from Lamnalco and retired to New Zealand.
Decorations: Chief of Defence Force recommendation. Good service medals, bars – silver & gold.
1939 – 1945 Star 1939 – 1945 Medal Atlantic Star, Africa, Star, Africa Service Medal
Promotion dates: January 1953, S/Lt. December 1954, Lt. January 1960, LT/CDR. July 1966 CDR. May 1973 Captain. Reported deceased October 1997.
Retired Trinity House Ship Surveyor.
Deceased 04/10/1991.
Deceased 03/08/2000
The Greek submarine Triton was sunk by the German patrol boat UJ201 off Kafirea in the Aegean Sea on 28 November 1942.
2020 immigrated to England.
Served in the Merchant Navy until 1964 with T&J Harrison Line. Later joined Thesen Coasters. Studied at the University of Cape Town, 1965 to 1969 (Mechanical Engineering) and worked in the railway industry until 1999. Runs own businesses in Pretoria.
Deceased 28th October 2018.
1964 was Master of Smith’s Coasters Ingane.
Reported deceased.
Reported deceased September 2017.
Previously CEO of Forest Solutions International LLC
1939 called up by R.N.R. to assume duties at naval headquarters, Durban. 1940 transfererd to Seaward Defence Force as Sub Lieutenant, subsequently changed to S.A. Navy, Naval career in Executive Sea going capacities. 1949 resigned from Navy and joined S.A.R. & H. as Shipping Agent. 1951 appointed shore superintendent of all SAR Ships and chartered vessels and retained title of SAR Ships Agent. 1973 manager Pandora Maritine Agencies. 1977 Safmarine Buyer, Marine Supplies. Retired December 1987.
Decorations: 1939-1945 Star, Atlantic Star, African Star. War Medal 1935 – 1945. Africa Service Medal joined the Cape Town Branch Committee in 1951. Deceased 14/11/98.
Prizes won: first in Geography.
Was apprenticed to British & Continental S.A. Line ss Cambrian Marchioness and, on insolvency of the line, joined, as seaman, ss Bareeba in order to complete sea time. Also served as seaman in Elder Dempster Line. Passed second mate’s examination at Durrban in August 1932 and obtained a billet at the Rose Deep Gold Mine, Germiston.
Born 30th July 1909, died August 1935.
1930 apprenticed to Houlder Line ss “Gambia River”.
Reported in S.A.T.S. Magazine No.3 1937: with Union Castle Line.
1964 was manager of African Associated Stevedoring Co., Table Bay Harbour.
Deceased 28/09/2008.
When Evan Granville Chapman was born on 19 November 1914, in Kimberley, Kimberley, Cape Province, South Africa, his father, Harry Chapman, was 30 and his mother, Mary Rawson, was 24. He married Myrtle Kathleen Osborne on 9 November 1946, in Salisbury, Mashonaland East, Southern Rhodesia. They were the parents of at least 1 son. He died on 17 October 1972, in Sofala, Mozambique, at the age of 57.
Was a Lieutenant, Royal Navy, second in command of the submarine, HMS Thetis, which was lost with all hands on the 1st June 1939 during sea trials.
1964 was a representative of Suncrush Mineral Water Company, Durban.
Deceased 09/11/1995
Deceased 12/04/2006.
First Bothie Boy to achive Extra Master Certificate. Became a Major in the South African Air Force during WWII.
Previously served with the S.A. Harbour service in Durban before starting a Navigation class at Natal Technikon.
1964 operating his own company of marine surveyors in Durban.
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While the majority of Botha Boys pursued their chosen career at sea, many had also taken to the air, where their success rate was remarkable. The Vital role of G.A. Chettle (119) in the war-time SAAF, as well as the career which led up to it, were well described by Francis H. Gibson in an article in The Outspan of 21 April 1944:
Major G.A.Chettle, SAAF, Chief Instructor of No. 42 Air School, Port Elizabeth, is one of the Botha’s early cadets (1923/24). He joined the Ellerman-Bucknall Line as an apprentice, and rose to Fourth Officer in 1928, but, like many others, was driven ashore by the Great Depression, becoming a freelance journalist.
In 1935 to 1937 he delivered ships all over the world as master in the service of a London Company specializing in ship delivery. In 1937 he gained his Extra Master’s Certificate, the Merchant Navy’s highest qualification, facing many hardships ashore to gain the time to study and sit for it. In the same year he became an associate member of the Institute of Naval Architects and the SA Harbour Marine as mate.
In 1938 he opened the only marine school for masters and mates at the Durban Technical College. The next year he was put in charge of the SAR & H Marine School at the Point.
Released for war service he joined the SAAF as navigation instructor; many thousands of pupils have since passed through his hands; hundreds of them are blitzing Germany now.
Retired in 1995. Deceased 31/10/2103.
Joined Freight Services Durban as a ships Agent and was transferred to Johannesburg.
Spent time with Titan Industrial and Wolhuter Steel and then joined Sappi in 1983
Retired early 2004 as Group Transport Manager and started my own distribution and logistics company – which I still run (2015).
Currently (2015) engaged in analysis work for the Port of Mombasa and also helping develop the National Freight Strategy for the RSA Department Of Transport.
1964 harbour pilot in Durban.
Emigrated to Canada in 1977 and was involved in the Aviation industry.
Retired to Vancouver Island in 1997.
1958 – qualified as Chartered Secretary. Spent 13 years with Caltex. Various positions, including retail manager for Central African territories, leaving in 1968 as Real Estate Manager.
1968 – joined Estate Agency, Syfrets Trust Co, Ltd, Advancing to Property Sales Manager.
1973 – joined the Board of Executors to become Managing Director of their property companies.
1980 – self employed as an Investment Property Broker. Various positions on the Institute of Estate Agents. Retired and lived in Australia. Past Committee Member of the Association.
Deceased 07/01/2010.
2007 retired, but continue to teach, do research and consultancy work. Have written a few academic books and focuses most of his time on social health matters.
2014 graduated with Ph.D
1987 moved to Durban as Marine Personnel Manager for Safmarine.
1988 switched to marketing and sales with Safmarine before leaving shipping and moving into the Pharmaceutical industry in October ’88 as a sales representative with Glaxo.
1990 Promoted to regional sales manager and moved to Johannesburg.
1990 2002 stayed in the Johannesburg in the Pharmaceutical Industry but moved into marketing (with first Glaxo and thereafter Janssen-Cilag).
2002 Moved to Basel, Switzerland as a Global Brand Manager with Novartis.
2004 returned to RSA as marketing and sales manager for Consumer Health with Janssen-Cilag.
2005 Joined Aspen Pharmacare as Divisional Head.
2010 Moved to Boehringer Ingelheim as Consumer Health Care Head in RSA.
2013 Moved to Poland as Divisional Consumer Health Care Head still with BI.
September 1943 – Deck Boy with SAR Ships.
January 1944 – June 1946 – joined a Norwegian Company as an Ordinary Seaman, promoted to Able Seaman.
July 1946 returned to S.A. and sat for Mates Certificate.
1947 – 1950 – worked ashore in the Gypsum industry.
May 1950 – joined Department of Sea Fisheries as an Able Seaman
September 1950 – promoted to Chief Officer, 7 years, and Master for 2 years.
November 1962 – transferred to S.A. Navy, Sub Liutenant.
Various sea and shore appointments. Retired May 1980 with the Rank of Commander. May 1982 joined the S.A. Navy as Confidential Books Officer in a civilian capacity.
Decorations: Bronze long service,
1939/45 Star Atlantic Star, Pacific Star war medal.
Deceased 01/02/2006.
2001 relocated to New Zealand.
2019 a pilot for the Port of Tauranga for the last eight years, before that was pilot-tug driver in Auckland for about five years.
Submitted by Michael Linck: “Keith was a great guy and one who favoured maintaining high standards, albeit personally remaining quietly in the background.. He was born in Kimberley.
Like me, both he and I were General Botha 1941/2 vintage. Also, similar to me, he wet to sea as a midshipman R.N.R. and served on cruisers of the East Indies and British Pacific Fleets.
At the end of the Second World War he transferred to the S.A.N. and later obtained a B.Com degree at the University of CapeTown. Around about that time he was also Honorary Secretary of the CapeTown Branch of the General Botha Old Boys Association, successfully helping its early development. Subsequently he held positions with both Imperial Tobacco and Mobil Oil, both in secretarial and accountancy roles. For a time he was also a principal aide to Evan Campbell, the former High Commissioner for Rhodesia in the UK and travelled with him on Tobacco Industry promotional visits, mainly to the Far East.
Before finally retiring Keith moved from Johannesburg to CapeTown and ultimately settled at Silvermine Village, Noordhoek.
With the Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Company in the Far East.
Cadet Draft 1931-2. In 1933 Frank Stilwell Coburn became an apprentice with Messrs. Hogarth & Sons, serving in their Baron Dichmont and later in their Narragansett, when she was lost in mid-Atlantic on 25th March 1942. He was reported missing, presumed drowned.
In 1961 he inherited a baronetcy from his father and became Sir William Codrington Bart.
2003 Warehouse Manager, Western Cape, for Safcor Panalpina.
2006 retired.
Committee Member of GBOBA Cape Town Branch. 2011 founding board member of GBOBA Bursary Fund including a period as Treasurer.
Changed surname from Coetzee to Smith.
2008 retired.
2000 Operations Manager, Martrade London
2001 Operations Manager, Dry Bulk, Billiton Freight Trading, Holland.
Reported in S.A.T.S. Magazine No.3 1937: with Clan Line.
2010 retired.
1959 – Obtained Masters F.G. Certificate
1960 – 61 Dart & Howes in Export Department
1961 – joined Ellerman & Bucknall with whom appointed to Operations department Cape Town
1972 – 76 Assistant Branch Manager Durban
1976 – 83 Regional Manager Port Elizabeth
1983 – 90 General Manager Natal, Durban
1991 promoted Director of E&B, Cape Town
August 1997 retired. Deceased 23rd June 2016.
Sailed on Safmarine’s S.A. Morgenster in 1948/49. Subsequently worked for Wispeco in Jacobs.
1995 – Principal Officer, Department of Transport, Port of Richards Bay.
1996 – Transferred to DOT Cape Town, later named SAMSA.
2014 retired to farming.
Served in the South African Marine Corporation as a Cadet for 6 months. Gave up the sea and is now (1952) a draughtsman in Cape Town.
I enrolled at UCT and did a five year BSc course studying Quantity Surveying. My seagoing experience and qualifications stood me in good stead during these years though as I was able to get an end of year vacation job with Unicorn, in a seagoing capacity, where I earned enough to keep me in beer, cigarettes and rent for another year. Varsity fees was another thing though which kept me in debt for a number of years after graduating.
After UCT I worked for a number of years as a quantity surveyor in a small Cape Town practice before joining Old Mutual Property as a Property Development Manager and I have been here for the past 20 or so years.
1953 – 1959 – Studied and graduated at Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin. Returned to S.A.
General practise after internship in Uitenhage and East London. During years of practise in Namibia transferred to medical corps and did annual duty on the border as a Major.
1989 – Semi retired, Swakopmund. Doing a daily clinic at Henties Bay. Town Councillor of Swakopmund.
“Only one claim to fame – I bet you haven’t one Bothie boy who has pulled a live, but doped, lions tooth.”
Deceased 2018.
Served in the Royal Navy, including Submarines. Served on H.M.S. Cumberland with N. John G. Young (No 1080 1939/40) for 2 1/2 years and then on “Asturias” until she was torpedoed on 24/07/1943. The Italian submarine which torpedoedt eh “Asturias” surrendered about a month later and was brought into Durban.
Following received from D.E. Cowley #1093:”Although I lost track of him for a while when I was living in the U.K., I met up with him again during the 70’s. He was at that time working in the publishing business in Durban but died suddenly, I think in the late 70’s, of a heart attack. I attended his funeral at Stellawood. As I recall Terry was SCC in 1940 and Joung Young was CCC.”
Norm is one of 5 Fish Hoek boys who attended Bothie between 58 to 61.
Post Bothie he completed a heavy engineering apprenticeship at the naval dockyard, Simonstown. At that time it was still under Royal Navy control.
He joined Safmarine’s ss SA Merchant, completed one trip and decided seafaring wasn’t for him.
Norm was very unhappy about “apartheid” and after marrying, migrated to Australia.
At this time the Australian east coast was developing its electricity grid, building power stations. Norm joined the construction teams, after one was completed one moved to the next. So this meant caravan living, two sons were were born and raised in a caravan.
Norm built a house at Caves Beach, Newcastle, NSW (very like Fish Hoek). Started work at the coal loading facility Newcastle harbour (government run). Then when coal exports increased beyond the government facility a huge private enterprise coal loading was built and Norm worked there until retirement.
A very good tradesman, completed complicated house alterations, enjoyed surfing, camping, did many trips up north with his 4WD + offroad caravan. In retirement enjoyed cruising around the Pacific islands.
Norm and Jen had a great relationship of 50 years and 3 wonderful children, 2 boys and a daughter.
Norm was always ready to stop what he was doing to help someone else. He has been taken before his time.
Served a short while with Elder Dempster Lines. Later joined the civil service, retiring in 1993.
1999 at sea with De Beers Marine, Diamond Mining.
Part owner of a fishing boat – African Boy – at Port Elizabeth
Was a POW during WWII.
Deceased 27/08/2008.
Alan was born in Cape Town in 1948. He matriculated at Pinelands High School and attended GB during 1966. After serving as a Cadet with Safmarine Alan joined Durban Lines and gained his Masters Ticket at the age of 26 (youngest Master in the group). He came ashore in 1972 and joined Mediterranean Shipping Company [MSC], later Rennies, as operations manager.
In 1994 he formed a partnership Seamaster Marine which later became Vulindela Agencies.
Alan passed away on 27 August 2008
Director of Atlatech (Pty) Ltd. Company provides diving, salvage, shipcleaning, pumping, drydock, painting, oil pollution control and stevedoring services.
1983 awarded the Woltemade Decoration for Bravery, Silver for laying demolition charges on the bow section of the burning oil tanker Castillo de Bellver.
1976 – 79, Master with Uiterwyk Corporation.
1979 – 83 Port Captain with Uiterwyk Corp based in Alexandria, Egypt.
1984 – 89 Marine Cargo surveyor with Perfect, Lambert & Co, of London covering Mediterranean and Middle East. 1989 – 90, Port Captain with Afram Inc Tampa, Florida.
1990 – 91 Marine Superintendent with Gulfship Marine Inc. based in Houston. 1992, Port Captain with London Offshore Consultants Inc. and Ewig International of Houston, Consultant with Allied Maritime Co. 1993, Chief Officer with Safmarine and Master with Midocean Ship management. 1994, Master with Pentow Marine and 1995 Master with Safmarine, of Cape Town. 2000 joined Maersk as Master. Past President of the Nautical Institute.
Deceased 30th April 2018.
On leaving the Botha, Bill served his apprenticeship with Ellerman Hall Line, sailing in the City of Dundee and City of Philadelphia, along with Louis Nel.
After passing his second mates in Cape Town, Bill decided to give up the sea and took a job with the Metal Box Company in the field of quality assurance. He then moved through De Beers Diamond Research, the concrete division of Hume Pipe Company and then to the clay division of Stone Quarry and Crushing. A career change from cement and concrete took him to the South African Bureau of Standards where he served in their civil engineering department’s minerals testing lab in Cape Town before becoming a SABS accreditation and quality systems auditor.
1995 Bill established his own company, Petro Malan Associates, Industrial Engineering Consultants, finally retiring in 2005. He was married to Jeanne and they have two daughters. Bill and Jeanne lived happily in a pleasant retirement complex in Noordhoek.
Deceased 29th June 2020.
Chris commenced his seagoing career in Shell Tankers T2 tanker Tectarius, together with Dick Whipp and Mike Shaw. After a year he was transferred to the white oil carrier Bela on the Malaysian coast. In June 1956 he joined the Volsella being promoted to fourth mate, serving on the Persian Gulf to Haifa run via the Cape. In this ship he found himself in the first northbound convoy after the re-opening of the Suez Canal. In July 1957 he was transferred to the Hydatina as third mate finding John Sampson (51/52) there as second mate.
Chris then attended the King Edward VII Nautical College in London, obtaining his second mates in December 1958 after which he returned to Rhodesia on leave. During this leave spell Shell Rhodesia offered Chris a position discharging fuel barges from Kigoma at Mpulungu on Lake Tanganyika. He accepted and then worked in various positions in Zambia, Rhodesia and Malawi until 1982 when he transferred to BP in Johannesburg and then to the Eastern Cape and Cape Town. Retiring in 1996 after 40 years with the Shell/BP Group, Chris returned to East London to relax, sunbathe and play golf but instead, started his own fuel agency, selling products for Exel and BP and an environmental firm.
While working in Ndola in 1966, Chris met and married Jenny Curtis and they have two sons, both of whom are married and are also living in East London.
Chris’ future plans are to sell the business, reduce his golf handicap and take on Tiger Woods!
WWII Air Mechanic SAAF.
1930 Appointed Midshipman Royal Naval Reserve.
Reported in S.A.T.S. Magazine No.3 1937: with Union Castle Line.
Was a Lieutenant-Commander in the Royal Navy Circa 1948.
BORN ON BENONI ON 25TH MARCH 1947. WENT TO BOARDING SCHOOL IN KIMBERLEY FROM AGE 6. EDUCATED AT KIMBERLEY BOYS PREP AND MATRICULATED FROM KIMBERLEY BOY’S HIGH IN 1964. PLAYED ‘CRAVEN WEEK’ RUGBY AND ‘NUFFIELD WEEK’ CRICKET WHILST AT SCHOOL, ACCEPTED FOR THE GENERAL BOTHA MERCHANT NAVY TRAINING COLLAGE IN GORDON’S BAY IN 1965. JOINED SAFMARINE IN 1966 AS A JUNIOR NAVIGATION OFFICER AND SERVED FOR 3 YEARS ON BULK CARRIERS, TANKERS AND GENERAL CARGO VESSELS. RESIGNED IN 1969 AS A RESULT OF FAILING AN EYE TEST PRIOR TO WRITING 2ND.MATES EXAM. JOINED QUINTON HAZELL SUPERITE AS A SALES REP AND OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS OCCUPIED VARIOUS MANAGEMENT POSITIONS IN DIFFERENT SUBSIDIARIES WITHIN THEIR STABLE. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY A 3 YEAR STINT WITH TRICO WINDSCREEN WIPER BLADES AS MARKETING MANAGER, WHEREAFTER HE JOINED A FRIEND, GEORGE SANTANA IN HIS NEWLY FORMED BUSINESS, AUTOQUIP, AS GENERAL MANAGER FOR JOHANNESBURG. A YEAR LATER, HE AND GEORGE BOUGHT OUT THE THEN MAJOR SHAREHOLDER, PARTS CENTRE. IN 1987 THE GROUP LISTED ON THE J.S.E. TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE LISTINGS BOOM AND TO RE-FINANCE THE BUSINESS. IT LISTED ON THE VERY SAME DAY THAT WALL STREET CRASHED. IN 1988 GEORGE EMMIGRATED TO AUSTRALIA WITH HIS FAMILY AND BRUCE BECAME MANAGING DIRECTOR. IN EARLY 2000 THE DECISION WAS TAKEN TO DELIST THE COMPANY. IN FEBRUARY 2008 RELOCATED FROM JOHANNESBURG TO GORDON’S BAY AND COMMUTED TO HEAD OFFICE IN JOHANNESBURG ON A BI-WEEKLY BASIS.
BRUCE PASSED AWAY ON THE 7th.JANUARY 2012 AFTER A LONG ILLNESS.
BRUCE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE , DAWN , HIS 2 CHILDREN & 2 STEP CHILDREN
He was an outstanding swimmer and in the Gordon’s Bay Regatta, came first in the junior mile open sea race and a year later, second in the senior mile open sea race. In his senior year, Barry was promoted to Junior Cadet Captain and at year’s end, won the prize for character and came third in the Queen’s Gold Medal competition. He added to this by beating the side drum in the band. Barry enjoyed the Botha so much that he stayed for a third year becoming Drum Major!
On leaving the Botha he went off to British India Line, serving with them for many years. Together with Mike Briant, he wrote his second mates at Warsash then, in due course, his mates, masters and Extra Masters (the latter by the age of 27) all at Warsash. During this time he met and married Suzanne Olier, a nurse from the South of France working in London.
Barry then bought a small yacht in which he, Suzanne and their three month old daughter Veronica sailed out to South Africa. Obtaining a job with African Coasters as master of the Nahoon, he was soon promoted marine superintendent with them. After three years there, Barry took a job with Zapata Oil, working as master in their oil field supply vessels. He then moved to ODECO, a drilling rig company, taking command of the Ocean Prospector, the world’s first self-propelled semi-submersible oil rig.
In 1975 Barry and family emigrated to New Zealand to take up a teaching post with the New Zealand Maritime School in Auckland where he found steady employment for fifteen years. Barry then set up his own school, the ‘City of Sails Maritime School’ in Auckland and continued actively running it for many years while also lecturing at the Maritime School.
Barry remained a keen competitive swimmer all his life, swimming every day. He was the only New Zealander in the Masters Section of the International Swimming ‘Hall of Fame’ in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to have held several FINA world masters records.
In his late sixties Barry designed and built a motorised catamaran naming her Pacific Zulu. He and Suzanne had had plans to go cruising in Tonga, Fiji and other Pacific archipelagos but technical issues and, perhaps, senior years put paid to that wonderful idea!
Barry, happily retired with Suzanne in Auckland for many years – with their daughter, two sons and three grandchildren all there too, died 4th December 2014.
29 September 1939 appointed as Cadet RNR to the Armed Merchant Cruiser Carnarvon Castle.
2010 Manager for an IACS Classification Society Project Department for Europe, African and the Middle East (European Division) which deal with new buildings and major conversions in both the Marine and Offshore Sectors.
1931 Appointed Midshipman Royal Naval Reserve.
DOB 23/07/1914. After Bothie sailed as apprentice for 3 years with the British Tanker Company. After obtaining second Officer’s certificate returned to S.A. and joined a mining company. At the outbreak of WWII joined the Seaward Defense Force and served on S.A. vessels and Royal Navy destroyers in the Mediterranean, during which time he commanded two anti-submarine escort vessels. After WWII returned to S.A. and joined the S.A. Navy. First command was the SAS Transvaal and in 1955 commanded the SAS Good Hope.
1959 appointed Commander of the Dockyard followed in 1961 with the appointment of Naval Attaché to the S.A. Embassy in London for a four year period. On return to S.A. In 1965 was given command of the SAS Tafelberg, the newly acquired fleet replenishment vessel. Retired from the S.A. Navy 31st July 1972. Deceased 25/09/2007.
2005 Atlantic Maritime Services, independent marine consultant and surveyor.
Retired 1980. Deceased 10th August 2016.
His campaign medals included the Atlantic Star, the Africa Star and the Burma Star.
“A belated thank you for your kind message when Dennis died. There can’t be many left now who were on the ship but he was very proud of being one of the “originals” and we never went to CapeTown without making a special pilgrimage to Simonstown where all the well remembered landmarks were pointed out to me.
I mentioned to you that I would see if there was anything I could add to his biography in the Muster List but this is all I could find so feel free to use as much or as little of it as you wish or have space for in the November Newsletter.
Dennis’s two years on the General Botha ended in December 1941 and in 1942 at the tender age of 16 he joined the British Merchant Service and was apprenticed to Bank Line for three years to the end of 1944, most of that time on ships involved in the Atlantic convoys sailing out of Glasgow and Liverpool to New York and Halifax, Canada.
When I was looking through Dennis’s papers I came across his Ordinary Apprentice’s Indenture, an impressive document which stated that in addition to board and lodging he would be paid six pounds for the first year, eight for the second and twelve for the third, in return for which he would undertake (amongst other things) “not to frequent taverns or alehouses, nor play at unlawful games”. Then on the reverse of this document it was certified that the said Apprentice “served with us and during the period was attentive to his duties, willing and strictly sober” so both sides of the bargain were kept and at the end of his three year apprenticeship Dennis walked away with twenty six pounds plus War Risk Money!
After the war his service with various shipping companies, including Elder Dempster, Mollers and Safmarine, took him to the Far East, India, Ceylon (as it was then) and Australia as well as to South America. Then after some years ashore he joined African Coasters and later Smith’s Coasters based in Durban, but in 1965 he got the job of Assistant Superintendent, and two years later Superintendent, of the Durban Corporation Shark Meshing Operation for Durban and Brighton Beach, and by so doing kept his connection with the sea till he retired in 1980.
As a keen member of the GBOBA he never missed the opportunity of attending a Bothie gathering on our return visits to Durban from Canada and always looked forward to the arrival of the Newsletter, even if as time went on, the only reference to any of his contemporaries was likely to be in Anchors Aweigh!
I’m sorry I couldn’t have come up with more revelations about Dennis’s adventurous life but I did my best and look forward to seeing the final entry in the November Newsletter, after which of course please remove our email address from the mailing list. But I want to say that you do a great job Tony, and thank you for all the pleasure you gave Dennis and continue to give to so many others by keeping the Bothie spirit alive.
With kindest regards
Jennifer Cowley
Also served on Destroyer HMS Scimitar and Corvette HMS Nigella. Demobbed after the war as a lieutenant.
After the war did various jobs including running a pleasure launch in East London for 5 years.
Passed away from cancer in 1972 after seeing his third son complete his time on the Bothie.
Submitted by his son Kieron Cox (2364, 1969):
Delving a bit deeper. He was listed as Sub Lieutentant in 1 October 1944 in the SAN but seconded to the RN (promoted to Sub Lt 25 Sep 1943.
“From what I gather he spent the 1943 onwards in the Indian Ocean.
He was married on the 25 March 1946 in uniform and I guess demobbed shortly afterward. My brothers and I understood that he was promoted to full Lieutenant sometime after October 1944 but before the wedding.”
2015 the National Sea Rescue Institute awarded Keiron their “Alric Simpson Award” for his remarkable contribution over the past 29 years to the training of NSRI crew.
Previously GB Trust Trustee and GBOBA Cape Town Branch secretary.
1964 owned a garage business in Rhodesia.
February 1986 – joined Rennie Murray & Co. Durban as a Marine Surveyor.
December 1995 – transferred to Maritech Services Durban as Marine Surveyor and Branch Manager.
2014 own company Marine Surveyors and Consultants based in Durban.
2016 Master with Grindrod Group.
On the sale of M.V. Stellenbosch in 1983 moved with the vessel to the new owners as master.
Worked as tug master and pilot in East London.
In 1998 moved to Dubai Drydocks as Dock Master/Pilot
In 2008 moved to Marine Superintendent for the Dubai Royal Fleet and thereafter as DPA/CSO for the Abu Dhabi Royal Fleet.
Now owner/partner with Fabyachts, a yacht management company in Dubai, while cruising the English canals and rivers in the summer on his widebeam “Marimba”.
Carnival U.K. Southampton Apr 04 – Jun 20 Manager Cunard and P&O Cruises.
Mitsui O.S.K. Bulk Shipping Europe Ltd. London May 02 – Apr 04 Asst Manager car carrier section.
Inchcape shipping services Southampton Oct 00 – May 02 Port Agent.
Diamond Shipping Durban Apr 98 – Mar 99 Operations manager.
Tucuxi Maritime Richards Bay Jun 97 – Apr 98 Manager.
Tall ships (PTY) Ltd Richards Bay Sep 95 – Jun 97 Port Agent.
Centromar Shipping Durban Apr 95 – Aug 95 Port Agent.
Marcanship Agency Durban Jul 94 – Apr 95 Port Agent.
Rennies Ships Agency Durban Dec 92 – Jul 94 Port Agent.
Centromar Shipping Durban Nov89 – Jul 92 Port Agent.
Unicorn Lines Johannesburg Jul 88 – Nov 89 Freight assistant.
Unicorn Lines Durban Jul 84 – Jul 88 Deck Cadet.
Prizes won: second navigation and seamanship, second non-technical subjects and second in mathematics.
Was apprenticed to Elder Dempster Line and served in s.s. Fantee and Calgary.
Born 13th November 1912. Died at Durban on the 14th April 1933 as a result of a boating accident.
Deceased 20/11/59.
Joined Harrison Line in 1939. In 1942 he entered the South African Naval Forces as Sub-Lieutenant, serving in minesweepers and motor launches until his appointment as Navigating Officer to South Africa’s first frigate, HMSAS Good Hope. In 1954, he became a Lieutenant-Commander, and his last appointment was fleet communications officer to the South African Navy Chief of Staff.
On leaving the General Botha, while waiting for his ship, his father suggested that he take a temporary job at John Dickinson and Company (Croxley). By the time Keith was finally called to sea in March he was firmly established ashore and had met his wife to be,
Vi Behrens and so declined the appointment ‘with thanks’.
In January 1959 he and Vi were married in Fish Hoek and Keith accepted a transfer to Bloemfontein. After a year he joined Spicers ‘The Paper People’ transferring to Johannesburg as a travelling sales representative. Promotion back to Bloemfontein as branch manager followed.
That was a five year stint, followed by a transfer to Pretoria for another two and a half years. Then Cape Town for five years, followed by promotion to Director and transfer to Johannesburg. After five years of the high life, Keith took an easier route in 1999 by returning to the Cape Town branch to sort out its problems and prepare for retirement.
Keith and Vi have a son, Beric, who has a UCT doctorate and practices as a tax advocate in Johannesburg, writing regular perceptive tax guidance articles as a sideline; and a married daughter, Karen with two sons in Cape Town. She runs a bookshop in Long Street, specialising in Africana.
Keith passed away in 21st April 2011 with Vi, the love of his life, following a short while later.
1964 was a Detective Sergeant in the B.S.A. Police Force, Rhodesia.
1971 crewed on the ketch Howard Davis on the first Cape to Rio yacht race.
1971 – 87 – Second Mate, Chief Officer, Master, Superintendent. Safety Officer, Loss Control Manager with Unicorn Lines.
1987 – Partner in Martime Protection Agencies. Primarily involved with Romanian and Polish Shipping and Marine surveying.
1994 – Moved to U.K. Claims executive with Charters P&I Club, London
2001 – Joined Lloyd’s as Insepctor of Agencies.
2007 retired.
Was a POW during WWII.
Deceased 23rd February 2005.
I declined to sign on again as I had always been a keen sportsman and missed my soccer and cricket while I was at sea.
I went to Vereeniging where I had grown up and got a job with John Brown Land Boilers as an apprentice Fitter.
I met up with my wife, Beryl, who was in matric that year and we have been together ever since. We married in 1960 and have 4 lovely children. 1 girl and 3 boys. Our youngest son, Michael, played hockey for South Africa.
In 1959 I secured a position at the Union Steel Corporation as a sales clerk on condition I played soccer for the company team in the local league.
In 1963 I joined Caltex Oil Company as a sales representative.
In 1966 I and 3 of my peers, all Sales Reps from Caltex, started a business building the canopies over petrol pumps for the oil companies.
We built the canopy at a new B P Garage in Germiston and B P asked us if we would like to be the operators.
I jumped in and took up the challenge. Beryl gave up her teaching position and we ran the business together.
Some years later we decided to move to the Natal South Coast where we bought a trading store which we ran for some years.
The trading store we converted to a supermarket and opened an Estate Agency Business from the same premises.
We moved to Durban in 1980 and opened another branch of our Estate Agency in Durban.
I retired at the age of 50 and we spent most of our time following the Natal and South African Hockey Teams around the country and around the world.”
Deceased 22nd May 2020.
All that was due to change however when, as second officer in the City of Durban berthed in Durban, his younger brother Patrick (55/56) boarded in a state of great excitement. He had purchased, for a song, the 49 foot ex-Norwegian rescue ketch, Sandefjord, then 53 years old and with a distinguished history but considered by many in Durban to be ‘a vessel beyond the point of no return’. On keen inspection the following day, Barry agreed with Patrick ‒ the ketch’s frames and planking were in excellent condition. She would require a major refit however, new mast, sails and rigging but the Cullen brothers felt they could successfully complete the work and give the proud old vessel a new lease of life.
It took almost two years hard work but finally, in February 1965, Sandefjord was ready for sea. She was provisioned for 400 days and with her complement of five young men and a girl, sailed from Durban on what proved to be her greatest adventure yet.
Through the West Indies, the Panama Canal and out into the broad Pacific, Sandefjord made her landfalls in the South Seas in much the same way as Cook and other early navigators had done. Without exception she was well met at all her ports of call. She made friends easily … for herself and her crew.
Moments of great satisfaction? Yes! Anchoring off Bermuda at dawn, the Atlantic crossing completed. Transiting the Panama Canal and then, instead of just sailing past the Galapagos Islands as in ‘City Ships’ being able to stand in close and drop anchor in some stunningly beautiful bays.
The South Sea Islands of course, Tahiti, Moorea, Bora-Bora.
On to Australia. After a lengthy passage from Bora-Bora of 50 days, a particularly fine ‘moment of satisfaction’ saw Sande, a cold mid-winter morning chilling her excited crew, beating inwards between North Head and South Head to enter beautiful Sydney Harbour and receive the warmest of welcomes.
Finally, having sailed 30,279 nautical miles in 21 months, a thrilling homecoming to Durban on 8th November 1966.
The Cullen brothers produced a documentary feature of the voyage and it did very well in South Africa and USA. Following a Grand American Premiere in Boston, CBS News bought the television rights for North America and aired the movie nationwide as part of their Great Adventure Series. Soon after, Sandefjord sailed across the North Atlantic to Norway – in the hands of a group of Norwegians with but one objective – a major rebuild to bring her back to original condition, as built in 1913. They succeeded to such good effect that Sandefjord, in pristine condition, recently celebrated her 100 year birthday at Risør in Norway. In the meantime, Barry had returned to the sea as mate with Safmarine.
In 1978 Gold Star Line of Hong Kong (a subsidiary of Zim Israel Navigation Co.) needed ‘a master in a hurry’ and while on leave Barry was offered command of the Gold Pilot for a voyage to the Far East and back. This gave him his first visit to Hong Kong and Japan and led to a permanent position with another little known Zim offshoot, Haverton Shipping of London.
Eleven satisfying and fulfilling years followed, sailing these British-flagged, Israeli-owned container ships in a highly competitive trade on wide ranging ocean voyages between the Far East and West Africa, calling always at Durban, demanding dedicated team effort from the crew and where the master was expected (and very often obliged to anyway because of poor communications in West Africa) to take full responsibility for trade decisions and day-to-day running of the ship ‒ as was customary in the old days! Just what Barry enjoyed. High standards and excellent camaraderie prevailed in the four Haverton ships.
Barry married Wendy in Cape Town, during these years, acquiring an ‘instant family’ of four teenagers, Anton, Ross, Lisa and Astrid (9) – plus the Labrador and the cat. “Best decision of my life!” he asserted.
With Zim’s fine policy towards officer’s wives and families sailing in their ships, Barry wasted no time taking his new family off on a fabulous voyage to Japan. “They got to know me and I them” he laughs. Adventure and laughter aplenty! Barry was able to take them off on exciting shore trips; a fast ride in the Shinkansen bullet train to the magnificent Buddhist temples in the ancient Japanese capital city of Kyoto, yes, fine but what the kids really enjoyed was visiting Tokyo Disney World!
A son, Simon, was added to the family in 1984. As far as the four older kids were concerned he was their brother, end of story. And vica-versa. In due course Simon made many trips to the Far East with Mom and Dad.
Approaching retirement, Barry landed a job with Safmarine Ship Management at ‘E’ berth in Duncan Dock; providing him with five challenging and active years.
The Cullens lived for a while in Betty’s Bay, ‘between Mountains and Roaring Forties’ but returned to Cape Town, where Wendy is able to give wholehearted support to their five children and thirteen grandchildren. Barry keeps himself busy and for relaxation, finds there is nothing to beat a mountain hike at dawn with his dog in the pristine beauty of the Cape Peninsula National Park.
Deceased 11th October 2018.
Semi retired 2018, providing training and coaching services to software development teams moving from traditional to Agile principles and practices.
Previously, specialized for many years in training and consulting of project management in the software development industry, and recently established the mentoring programme which runs today for the Project Management Institute in South Africa.
1970-1974 cadet up to chief officer with Unicorn Lines.
1975-1996 Catholic Minister of Religion.
1997-2006 Third Officer to Master with Pentow Marine, later Smit Marine.
2006-2007 Tug Master with Comarco, Mombasa, Kenya.
2007-2011 Tug Master with Svitzer Africa.
2011-2012 Marine Compliance Officer, Soyo with Svitzer Angola.
2012-2017 Marine Standards Manager with Svitzer Angola.
WWII WO II SAAF.
Assistant Port Captain Walvis Bay, Port Captain there 1978-81.
Port Captain Richards Bay 1981-83 and Cape Town 1983-86.
Retired 1986 and joined SA Navy, Navigation Instructor at Maritime Warfare School, Simon’s Town until retirement.
1971 crewed on the ketch Howard Davis on the first Cape to Rio yacht race.
1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Pacific Star & Victory medal.
Deceased 17th July 2017.
Recently obtained his 2nd Officer’s Certificate and appointed to SARShips “Dalia.”
1970 – 96 Tug Master Botany Bay, Australia.
Retired.
Reportedly died of pneumonia in the late 1940’s.
1964 studied in the Cape Town Academy for his Master’s Certificate. Subsequently rejoined Thesen’s as Master of the m.v. Pondo Coast.
Has joined the ‘Vergelegen’ (Safmarine) as an Apprentice Officer.
1948 – 56 sailed with Safmarine. Then joined Durban Lines, coasting to Mozambique. Obtained Masters Certificate in 1958 and did a short spell as a Stevedore Superintendent for Storm & Co in Durban. Joined Durban Harbour Service December 1958 and retired as assistant Port Captain September 1991.
Appointed shipyard ship Master for Dorbyl Shipbuilders and commanded three mini container vessels for their trails in 1992. 1996 Marine Consultant for Intershore in Durban, building offshore Oil Platforms for Angola. Deceased 02/04/2008.
Deceased 1st June 1998.
Deceased August 1984.
A Captain in the SAAF, he was seconded to the RAF and sailed out of Cape Town on September 2nd 1943 with 60 other SAAF pilots seconded to the RAF on the Rangitata, a New Zealand registered liner that had been converted into a troopship. Edwin Swales was part of that group and they eventually docked in Liverpool on November 7th having sailed in convoy via Tristan da Cunha, Montevideo, Freetown and Gibraltar to avoid German U-Boats.
Captain KNF D`Arcy flew Spitfires with No 93 Squadron and was awarded the DFC.
Captain K.F.N. D’Arcy, who was seconded to the RAF, and served first in 93 Squadron and then in 72 Squadron.
Also sailed around Cape Horn on the sailing vessel ‘Lawhil’.
Farmed in Stellenbosch.
Deceased
1999 left Pentow Marine.
Deceased 16/10/2008.
Sailing in the SARShip ‘Dalia’.
2015 Relocated to New Zealand.
2019 harbour pilot, Wellington.
Dec 1982 – 84 – Cape Town Traffic Department, special operations squad. Then short period with Grand Bazaars as a Trainee Manager,
Oct 1984 Stellenbosch Traffic Department. Accepted by UNISA for BAPOL Degree. Wrote and passed Police Science 1 in November 1986 and Public Administration 1 in November 1990. April 1987 – Milnerton Traffic Department. Commenced Diploma course with Lyceum College. Passed first year of the Institute of Traffic Officers course in 1988. May 1991 joined Grindrod Shipipng as an Operations Superintendent. 2001 relocated to the U.K. and worked for Rolls-Royce head office in their Security Team. 2002 relocated to Dublin and employed as Healthcare Manager in a business defence company. 2004 taken a post in Dublin Harbour.
2006 Relocated to Indonesia and 2008 returned to Ireland.
Apprenticed to Blue Funnel Line.
1964 Senior Assistant Port Captain, Table Bay Harbour.
Deceased October 1989.
Alex Davies was born in Claremont, Cape Town in 1906 and was a cadet in the SATS General Botha 1923/24 draft, his number being 82.
On completion of his training he joined “SAR SHIPS” (South African Railways and Harbours) and served in the SS Aloe. It was here he met his wife Muriel, to whom he was married for 55 years.
He came ashore and worked in the SAR Ships office in Johannesburg for a while and then went back to sea, and on obtaining his Master Certificate joined the Harbour Service in Port Elizabeth. He was promoted to Durban as a tug master and did some sterling work in shifting dead warships during the Second World War. He was later promoted to Pilot at Durban, to Assistant Port Captain, Cape Town in 1960 and Port Captain in 1965 to 1966.
On retiring he built a house at The Boulders, Simon’s Town and after a few years decided to return to Natal (today Kwa-Zulu Natal).
The call of the Cape got strong again and he returned to live in Plumstead. His health deteriorated and it became necessary to remove his right leg.
He died on 2 November 1989. He had formerly given instructions that there was to be a private cremation and his ashes were to be spread in Simon’s Bay by the NSRI. This was done on 2 December over the position where the old ship used to be moored.
During his whole career he was extremely popular with all ranks and was particularly interested and considerate with all his staff.
Completing a boat delivery from Walvis Bay to Mossel Bay, he stayed on, fishing in small trawlers before joining African Coasters running between Durban and Walvis Bay. While in port in Durban he met Helen Wylie from Pretoria, a nurse at Addington Hospital. They were married in 1960 in the Missions to Seamen, Durban.
In 1961 in Cape Town, Mike bought an old boat, the Susanah built in the famous Nieswand Yard in Luderitz. Fixing her up, he went crayfishing in her until it became illegal to dive for crayfish commercially whereupon he moved to Hermanus where he dived for abalone and where his three sons were born.
In 1966/67 Mike worked briefly for De Beers Marine, before emigrating to Montreal in Canada and then on to British Columbia. Unfortunately, at that time, his South African certificates were not valid in Canada but after doing odd jobs, Mike finally managed to get a berth as cook/deckhand on a coastal tug. He re-qualified and then spent some very pleasant years towing log booms and barges off the British Columbia coast. In the process he moved up to the Queen Charlotte Islands, in sight of the south coast of Alaska.
Mike gave up his seafaring life to be with his children while they grew up, ‘pre-empting’ some Crown land and living in a tent while he built a log cabin. He then got involved in beach-combing as part of a sophisticated enterprise salvaging logs which had escaped from log booms or fallen off log barges. The logs were gathered up by heavy mobile machines called ‘skiddies’, dragged below the tide line, barged and towed away by a tug. (The tide in the region could reach 19 feet above chart datum.) He also did some prospecting; claim-staking; carpentry; logging; felling trees and worked in a sawmill.
By 1979 Mike’s marriage was in distress and as living in the wild limited his son’s choices for the future, he took them to Vancouver to finish their schooling. There he worked in the building trade as a finishing carpenter. Soaring interest rates and inflation brought major problems to the construction sector in 1982 so he left Vancouver, securing a berth on a small supply ship in the Western Arctic. At the end of the navigation season the owners asked him to upgrade his South African radar certificate so, with this in mind, he went to Halifax on Canada’s East Coast, finding jobs in supply tugs operating out of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. In 1985 all the crews were laid off following a change in government policy but Mike had acquired the steel hull of a 190 metre Dutch yacht which he refitted and junk-rigged, moving aboard and making her his home.
He then enjoyed the great life by hobo-ing around the Maritime Provinces of Canada. In 1988, Mike found himself in Labrador landing a job on a coastal tanker which worked the East Coast and Great Lakes. While away on this ship he pulled his yacht up onto the beach. On his return he found it under a snowdrift! While cleaning up the cabin his cup of nice hot coffee froze solid, so he hiked into town to find warm winter digs. He found them and he and his landlady, Virginia Moriarty, were happy together for the rest of Mike’s life! Virginia came from Happy Valley in Labrador.
In 1989, Virginia and Mike set sail from Labrador seeking further adventures. 1990 found them in Vancouver with Mike once again a carpenter, pounding nails for a living. Happily, he soon managed to get a permanent job with British Columbia Ferries.
On 23rd April 2014, a few years after his retirement, Mike passed away from a heart attack. As Gerry Stalling wrote; he was in his own bed adorned by the colourful woollen quilt Virginia had made for him; he was in his own house that they had built in Alert Bay on Cormorant Island in Queen Charlotte Passage ‒ the best possible way for Mike, colourful character to the end, to ‘meet his pilot face to face’.
Reported in “Both Watches” 1953, Lieutenant in the S.A. Navy.
His appointments in the S.A. Navy included that of the South African Naval Attache in France. While there he handled the Daphne submarine project in addition to his attache duties. He commanded the S.A. Navy Ships SAS President Steyn and SAS Pietermaritzburg among others. In the late 1970s while holding the appointment of Naval Officer in Command, Durban, he retired from the Navy. After retirement he was the Civil Defence Officer for the City of Durban. Deceased 09/01/2000.
Cadet Draft 1928-9. Alexander Dawbarn was employed as an electrician by Hubert Davies & Co. before the war and on the outbreak of hostilities joined the RAF and became a Pilot Officer. He was posted missing when engaged in operations with a fighter squadron on 10th April 1941.
1999 – Left de Beers and opened a Restaurant. Continues to go to sea on contracts.
1980 to 1984 Safmarine, 1984 to 1986 Oil rigs, 1986 to 1998 – De Beers Marine (Chief Officer)
1998 to 2002 Contract work, reluctant restaurateur, NHD Marine Studies.
2002 – 2009 – Swire Pacific Offshore (Master), 2009 Sen DPO / Bargemaster on oil rigs in Brazil.
2021 serving as Captain/OIM (Offshore Installation Manager) on Seadrill’s rigs and floaters.
1969 – 1972 – UCT B Bus Sc; sailed on the first Cape to Rio on HOWARD DAVIS
1973 – Sub Lt, S.A. Navy (National Service), assistant navigating officer on SAS JAN VAN RIEBEECK
1974 – 1976 – Oxford University (Rhodes Scholar), M.A. (Law)
1976 – 1979 – Hong Kong & Taiwan, working for Jardine Matheson & Co subsidiary Indo-China Navigation Ltd
1979 – 1981 – Montreal, Canada. Operations Manager followed by Marine Manager of Fednav Ltd, the dominant bulk shipping company operating in and out of the Great Lakes, and in the Canadian Arctic.
1981 – 1986 – New York, U.S.A. Executive Vice-President of Navios Corporation. Own and operated 36 bulk carriers trading worldwide as well as terminals in U.S. and South America.
1986 – 1989 – Vice President Citicorp Venture Capital, New York. Acquiring companies for Citicorp in leveraged buyouts (a great learning experience in the financial markets!)
1989 – 1999 – President and CEO of Navios Corporation after leading a leveraged buyout of the company with Citibank’s backing. I was able to buy 30% of the company and so was a part owner. We sold the company in 1999 after a very good 10 years building up the company again after the very demanding 1980’s!
1999 – Chairman of Teekay, A Vancouver based tanker company. During this period also Chairman at various times of Teekay Offshore Partners, Teekay LNG Partners, Teekay Tankers Ltd, Oceanic Bank in the Bahamas, the Compass Group (venture capital and high tech investing), Anholt Ltd (agricultural investments in South America, Eastern Europe and Africa, as well as oil and mining) and Transmarine Navigation in Long Beach.
2017 – Announced that I will be retiring as Chairman of the Teekay Group after 18 years, but remain on its Board as Chairman Emeritus.
2018 Teekay named a LNG Carrier “Sean Spirit”.
Apprenticed to Union Castle Line.
1961 – 66 – Third and Second Officer, British & Commonwealth Clan Line/Spingbok Line and Safmarine.
1964 second officer in the South African Victory.
1966 – 68 – Chief Officer and Master with African Coasters.
1968 – 95 – S.A.T.S. (Now TNPA) Deck Officer. Tug & Dredger Master, Pilot, Assistant Port Captian, Operations Manager Breakbulk Cargo, Marine Operations Manager and 1995 Dry Docks Manager Portnet Cape Town. 1994 Honorary Secretary – Treasurer of the War Memorial Fund Managing Committee. Retired 1998.
THE LEGEND LIVES ONThe item THE LEGEND LIVES ON in the afore-last newsletter has prompted me to comment on the remarkable fact that two Bothie Boys of the years 1958-1959 are in possession of the St. Johns Cross.
Although I received the St. Johns Cross under different circ*mstances than Colin Harwood, I am proud to be in possession of this distinction. The St. Johns Cross, in Dutch the ‘Johanniter Kruis’ is an eight-pointed cross worn around the neck, refer the photo on the website of the 50th Reunion General Botha 1957-1958 Old Boys of March 2008. Photo shows my wife assisting with placing the St. Johns Cross around my neck at a formal occasion. In 1984 I was invited to join the ‘Nederlandse tak van de Aloude Ridderlijke Orde van het Hospitaal van Sint-Jan te Jeruzalem’ (Johanniter Orde in short). In English: Netherlands section of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem. The Order is also to be found in a few other EU countries. This meant that I would become a knight within the Order under a few of the following conditions:
– be of noble birth and titled.
– practise the protestant faith.
– assist in a range of voluntary social activities when and where possible.
– make yearly financial contributions according to one’s own discretion.
Most activities take place in the Netherlands but sometimes we work together with other EU countries. My wife Dorothée (Doke), a Dame within the Order of St. John, is Regional Representative for the Province of Utrecht, in which we live. The actual ceremony of being knighted into the Order is a highly formal and very impressive occasion. The ceremony took place in the Hall of Knights in The Hague, similar to Westminster Abbey in London. The Hall was filled with the nobility of the Netherlands and invited nobility from other EU countries. There were twelve new knights and dames to be installed during this ceremony. We were all individually asked to promise to keep to the required conditions of the Order. Then we were individually called up to approach the Commander-in-Chief (Landcommandeur) of the Order, the late Prince Bernhard – consort of our former Queen Juliana, and kneel before him. He tapped me three times on the shoulders with the ceremonial sword stating my title and name and accepting me into the Order. The St. Johns Cross was then placed around my neck. Dames usually wear the St. Johns Cross on the breast, but also around the neck if preferred. It is difficult to make an exact comparison of my hereditary title of ‘Jonkheer’ with other countries as practically every country has its own rules concerning the status of nobility. We were reinstated into the nobility when the Netherlands became a kingdom. Before that it was in bits and pieces, some sovereign. As family we prefer to use the title of baronet for explanation and comparison to the British. Our family-eldest is Henri Markus baron de Kock, the 6th baron. See also my application forms of 1956 or 1957 for entrance to the Bothie.
During WWII joined the Imperial Light Horse and served in the technical services and as a dispatch rider in Egypt and Italy. 1949 he joined the second battalion of the Transvaal Scottish and served as Company Quarter Master until end of 1966.
Medals: 1939/45 Africa Star and Italy Star.
1939/45 Defence Medal
1939/45 British Defence Medal and Africa Service Medal. Due to failing eyesight he joined the National Association of Blind Bowlers in 1992 and has since played in four Nationals.
Deceased 06/08/2007
April 1980 – resigned from Safmarine as Chief Officer
July 1980 – resigned from Land & Marine & Salvage as Chief Officer.
Sept 1980 – joined Harbour Service as 1st Deck Officer in Walvis Bay.
Nov 1984 – Promoted to Tug Master in Walvis Bay.
Oct 1989 – Moved to Richards Bay as Tug Master.
Nov 1991 – promoted to Pilot in Richards Bay
1998 – joined Jessegaard Marine Surveyors in Richards Bay.
Sept 1998 – relocated to Doha, Qatar, working in the Port of Ras Laffen as Senior Port Supervisor and Harbour Pilot.
2013 retired back to South Africa.
November to March lived on his yacht in South Africa.
Deceased 22/09/2004
Deceased 09/11/2003.
Served his apprenticeship with Shell Tanker’s Far Eastern Fleet and eventually joined SAR Ships where he became Master of the Johan Hugo. When she was sold he joined the harbour service.
1964 was chief officer in Smith’s Coaster Inyala.
Many hangovers later I crossed the great divide from “Sails” to “Sales” in search of that evasive “Pot-of-gold”.
1993, in command of the luxury toy, the motor yacht “Nautilus.”
Resigned from Nautilus in January 1994.
Deceaed 20/08/94.
After G.B. Cadet & 4/O with T&J Harrison. 1962 Chief Officer with Thesens Coasters and joined S.A. Navy in November 1962 as Sub Lt. Served at sea in various S.A. Navy vessels before joining the submarine branch in 1969. Shore appointments included posts at Naval College, SAS Simonsberg and as Flag Officer to Vice Admiral H.H. Biermann. 1969 went to France and commissioned the new submarine SAS Emily Hobhouse in Feburary 1971. Continued to serve in various shore and seagoing posts including Officer Commanding on submarines. 1983 joined Unicorn lines and was Marine Director 1984 – 89, followed as Director Projects & Planning, Director S.A. Liner Services & Director Special Projects. January 1995 became Director of Grincor Shipipng Services and served on various boards which have helped shape the Marine industry. Captain S.A. Navy C.F. 2005 retired. 2009 embarked on a farming venture in the Philippines. 2013 returned to Simon’s Town. 2019 returned to Philppines.
1964 Officer Commanding SAS Haerlem, rank of Lt Cdr.
1972 Commander in the S.A. Navy.
1966 elected Honorary Chief Administrative Officer of South African Inshore Sea Rescue Service (SAISRS) charged with responsibilty for operations, crew enlistment and training. Name changed 22nd June 1967 to NSRI.
Was a marine surveyor in Cape Town.
After Botha joined the four-masted barque Passat. Sometime thereafter he sailed with Northern/Southern Steamships in one of their Liberty ships and then joined the Tristan da Cunha Development Corporation, to sail as Mate in the Francis Repetto and then the Tristania. He joined the staff of the Botha in 1968 and left again in 1969 to join Fox and Eastman as a surveyor. During his time at the Botha he was sailing master of the Howard Davis and station commander of the NSRI’s station #1. He died suddenly of a heart attack in the early seventies.
1947 – two months at E. Geduld
1947 – 1948 – Union Corporation, Tanzania, Base Metal Exploration
1948 – 1954 – Williamson Diamonds, Tanzania, Diamon Exploration
1954 – 1959 – University of Michigan. BSc Geology and Mineralogy
1959 – 1989 – Lakefiled Research, Lakefield, Ontario, Canada. Research Mineralogist and Chief Mineralogist.
1989 – retired.
Deceased 20/12/2008.
1982 – 88 – Joined Department of sea fisheries. Second and Chief Officer on R.S. Africana.
1988 – Four months as Chief Officer and Master with Dawn Diamonds. Retrenched.
1988 – 90 – joined Ocean Offshore as Chief Officer on the tug Deep Salvage 1.
1990 – rejoined the Department of Sea Fisheries as Chief Officer on the S.A. Agulhas. Presently relieving Master for the R.S. Africana and the S.A. Agulhas.
1996 – Marine Surveyor with Calcon based in Cape Town.
1997 – Denmarine c.c. Marine Consultants and surveyors in Cape Town.
1998 – relocated to Cape Town as National Operations Manager of the South Afriacn Maritime Safety Authority.
2005 retired from SAMSA and established a Bed & Breakfast business on the West Coast.
Still consulting for the marine industry.
2020 fully retired.
1961 – Joined Insurance Indust as Junior Clerk and became a surf Lifesaver.
1964 – Joined Thesens Coasters as Second Mate.
1965 – Appointed equal partenr in an Insurance Broking Business ‘Hegestrom and Desmond-Smith.”
1966/67 – Committee Member of G.B.O.B.A. and Secretary
1967/69 – Crew Member of N.S.R.I. Esablished an insusrance programe for NSRI boats, equipment & crew.
1970/82 – various Senior Appointments in the Insurance Industry
1982 – Divisional Director of M.I.B. Cape, International Insurance Brokers & Risk Managers
1989 Awarded NSRI Shield of Appreciation.
2014 reported deceased.
2010 – Assistant Harbour Master & Pilot Esperance, Australia.
1964 was with the Fire Department of Durban Corporation.
Deceased 10/09/95
Subsequently branched out of pure construction equipment and bought out Hill & Howie and Vicopac.
Branches in Jhb & Durban. Also makes retro-reflective traffic signs.
When semi-retired followed an interest of swimming and cycling as well as marine biology and natural history. Deceased 26/06/2011
1964 Assistant Port Captain, Durban.
Awarded the Royal Lifesaving Society Medal July 1935.
Awarded the Royal Lifesaving Society Medal December 1951.
After leaving Bothie, he joined S.A.Lines ship Damaraland. Then followed a spell with Thesens Coasters and finally fishing for anchovies at Veldrift. Then left the sea and took up steel construction rigging ashore with various companies including finally, Consani Engineering for many years. Sadly passed away on the 8th October, 1999.
Deceased 26th April 2002.
Deceased.
Deceased 31/03/2008.
2003 – Marketing & Shipping Director of Keeley Granite.
2007 – left Keeley.
Deceased.
Previously of the ‘Training Centre for Seamen’, Cape Town.
1994 moved to New York, U.S.A.
1999 Director of the Paducah Centre for Maritime Education, a simulating training facility. This caters for the needs of continuing education of the Pilots and Captains in the tow boat industry on the Western Waterways of the United States.
2006 Director of the Centre for Maritime Education, Houston, Texas.
1997 – Tug Master with Portnet, Richard’s Bay. Received a bravery award whilst in Richard’s Bay. 1998 – joined Pentow Marine, Durban. 1999 – Master on a Dive Support Vessel operating out of the Bonny River, Nigeria, for an American Company, Stolt Comex Seawan. 2005 Sub LT in S.A. Navy, completed FTO 1 Officer’s course and served on a missile strike craft. 2006 to 2007 lecturer at Durban University of Technology before joining Svitzer. Thereafter with various tug and salvage companies before joining Alan Brink & Associates Durban in 2012.
On Thursday, Apr 13, 2017 at 5:18 PM, Graham Martin Douglass wrote:
I was working for Portnet in Richards Bay as Tug Master on the Marshall Clark..one of the older Voith tugs.
We were on Night shift and Port Control requested we sail a New Korean Wood Chip vessel which had just completed loading.
While enroute to the berth, the attending Pilot (also a Bothie boy – Dave Teague GB Cadet 2510 Term 1975) requested me to contact Port Control and request the urgent despatch of the Pilot helicopter,,,then a bell 212 Huey for medical evacuation.
I was then asked by the pilot if we had an operative CABA set available immediately, and that there was a situation on board which required a CABA extraction from the hold which had gas in…!!!!
I responded with the affirmative and was told the ships CABA sets where still in their new plastic wrapping..no masks fitted and so they were not able to do the extraction.
Port Paramedics were on their way to assist.
Once alongside the vessel the pilot instructed me to assist and report on board the vessel at no 2 hatch with my CABA set.Port Paramedics had arrived but seemed reluctant to do the extraction.
Once on board it was evident that no one was keen to enter the hatch because of the gas threat and a ferocious Alsation dog guarding the hatch access way .The dog belonged to a security officer who was conducting a stowaway search and he had entered the hatch and did not return, so crew working with him sounded the alarm.
I donned the CABA set and shouted to the crew to distract the dog so I could get access. At the same time a Port Paramedic decided to follow and assist me.
We had only 4 minutes to rescue the security officer before he would be brain dead from oxygen starvation..we were well beyond that but had to proceed with the extraction.
The hold was 3/4 full with green wood chip…stepping onto it, you got sucked down like quick sand,so lying on my stomach I conducted several investigatory sweeps with my hands in the blackened hold. On the second sweep I detected a 9 mm pistol and handed it to the paramedic behind me who would not leave the access ladder.The dog was attacking anyone near the access hatch.
On my third sweep I felt a boot then the rest of the body which was limp.
I was able to pull the body slowly towards the access ladder and by sheer luck
got him upright and close to the ladder.A rope was slung under his arms and we finally hoisted him out the hold going backwards up the ladder.He was bleeding from sever head wounds..once upright and pumping his chest while ascending the ladder he started to breath.
Paramedics took over once he was on deck and the helicopter evacuated him to hospital, he was alive but still unconscious.
I returned to my tug and continued with Port duties.
The situation was as follows.
1. The security officer was in fact a police man in the SAPS dog unit and he was moonlighting with the security company to earn extra money.
2. He had limited knowledge of ships and the dangers associated with cargo’s.
3.His father was the Regional Provincial Commander.
4.The Filipino crew had warned him not to go into the hatch but language was a barrier.
5.The ships CABA sets had never been used or even tested and they could not get the masks to screw into the oxygen bottles…. a safety violation for sure.
6.Brain Death occurs at about 4 minutes due to oxygen starvation.
7.Green wood chip was declared a hazardous cargo after this accident.Green wood chip continues to LIVE in the chip form , the ..osmosis action continues and it sucks the oxygen out the air in the hatch then releases it back as carbon di oxide gas, making the hatch atmosphere lethal, once the hatch covers are closed.
8.The young 21 year old policeman was declared brain dead on arrival at hospital and after 4 days, his parents , pulled the plug as he would never recover.Severe head injuries was also a mitigating factor.
There were many lessons learned and Captain D.W. Brink (GB Cadet 2036 Term 1957/58) then Port Captain awarded me for bravery.
I understand the incident was forwarded to IMO by SAMSA.
Became a learner Miner in 1961 and after working through various mining positions was appointed General Manager of cementation Mining in 1988.
Author of several technical papers on Shaft sinking and awarded a Gold Medal by the Association of Mine Managers of S.A. for one.
2005 retired. Deceased April 2006.
On completion of his time on the Botha Clive returned home to the Copper Belt in Northern Rhodesia where he took up mining. With the collapse of the copper industry, he moved down to Somerset West and finally went to sea in the Department of Transport’s RSA. He was in the process of slowly working his way up the nautical ladder when he was struck down by illness and passed away 8th December 1998. A number of his old Botha mates attended his memorial service in Cape Town.
Deceased 02/09/2002
1999 retired. 2004 moved to London and working in the IT industry.
2013 relocated to Australia.
2003 working for NYK Line as a Ship Planner/Logistics Officer.
2007 moved to Sydney as National Operations Manager, Hanjin Shipping Line.
Later joined Patrick Stevedores as an Operations Planner at their Melbourne head office and thereafter National Marine Operations Manager for Maersk & Hamburg Sud Shipping Lines.
202O relocated to Canada. Deceased 2nd October 2020.
had attended Hottentots-Holland High School at Somerset West. At the Botha he was an enthusiastic fisherman and swimmer, finishing as runner-up in the junior mile open sea race in the Gordon’s Bay Regatta. He also played a sterling game of rugby for the under-19As.
Of all the class, Barry was the first away to sea when he joined Safmarine, a shipping company he remained with for almost the rest of his life, except for a short trip with MacAndrews of Liverpool. Obtaining his first command, the SA Tzaneen in 1972, he was promoted to Safmarine’s cargo superintendent in 1976 and to cargo manager in 1992.
Barry became a well-known and highly-respected personality on the waterfront, both in South Africa and in the USA, where he was seconded for long periods of time. In late 1992 Barry transferred to SA Stevedores as operations manager, until his retirement in 1996. He also served for many years on the General Botha OBA Committee.
Barry passed away 25th July 2003 survived by his wife Gaynor, a son and two daughters. His memorial service was attended by a large number of his old shipmates.
1999 sailing as Master for Safmarine/Maersk.
2007 sailing own yacht around the world.
2014 – We continue life as gypsies on our boat ‘Obsession’. Presently we are based in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo. It is a convenient safe port located just outside the typhoon belt which allows us to cruise the Philippines and nearby Pacific islands and then leave the boat and family in a safe place when I work. I still work as a Master with Maersk (my current vessel is the Maersk Laberinto on the Europe / South America trade) so our sailing is in 3 month sections as I work a 3 months on 3 months off rotation.
Previously at sea with Safmarine. “My lungs collapsed at sea in 1975 and was told to go to Cable Restorer for a year before I could go back to sea , but decided I did not want to waste my time there , so went to university for a year to see if I would get into veterinary school .
I was fortunate enough to get into veterinary school and graduated from Onderstepoort in 1981.Was in practice for 4 years in Port Elizabeth , joined a partnership in Durban , then opened my own practice in Pietermaritzburg. After some harrowing experiences which affected my daughters we decided to leave SA , I sold my practice and emigrated to New Zealand in 1997. Been practicing in private practice here in Kerikeri and then Auckland , and currently doing welfare veterinary work at the SPCA .
1970 – took over late father’s photo studios, Stella Nova Studios, Benoni
April 1971 – joined police reserve rising to Major. Ten year long service award and the police 75th anniversary medal.
1950 received command of HMS Wessex from his Bothie shipmate, A.S. Pomeroy (373), under whom she became HMSAS Jan van Riebeeck in the South African Navy.
Reported in “Both Watches” 1952 – December 1952 promoted to Captain, S.A. Navy.
Reported in “Both Watches” 1953 – Officer Commanding (Captain) Salisbury Island Naval Base, Durban.
2nd April 1957 handing over of Simon’s Town to the South African Navy. Captain H.F. Bone RN, handed the original key of the naval dockyard to Captain R.P.D. Dymond – the new commander of the dockyard.
1964 a Dental Specialist, England.
1986 retired but an excellent water colour artist.
Midshipman RN, Middle East then took up Dentistry practised in Farringdon, Overseas League Rugby player. Deceased February 2013.
1964 was Chief Officer of the “South African Pioneer”.
1964/70 – joined Safmarine as Radio Officer and sailed on various ships including the S.A. Venture, Vanguard, Statesman, Shipper, Sugela, Letaba and Drakenstein.
1970/71 – came ashore and worked at Caltex refinery
1971/92 – joined Ozalid as a service engineer installing and maintaining drawing office equipment. Have been service manager for a number of years.
2009 retired.
On the Morgenster’s return to Cape Town, Bill was landed to hospital with acute appendicitis and though he sailed in all of Safmarine’s ships after that, he never again sailed with the inimitable Barry Downing! Concluding his three years apprenticeship in 1958, Bill went on to study for his second mates in Warsash, meeting up with Gerry Stalling, Ronnie Wege and ‘Mozwate’ Briant. Returning to Safmarine, he sat for his mates examination in Durban, 1960, at the nautical college then situated within the Merchant Navy Officers’ Club.
Bill was then transferred by Safmarine to their Cape Ocean Transport ships, sailing in the Cape Agulhas and the Cape of Good Hope on the Far East to Europe run. Owned and chartered by New York based States Marine, these ships were registered in Cape Town and manned by Safmarine.
As second mate in April 1961 Bill left Safmarine and moved across to Durban Lines on the Mozambique run, being appointed to the Congella under the command of the legendary ex- Botha boy, George Foulis. This was followed, until 1963, by a spell in C G Smith’s Inkosi and Intaba on the Durban to Cape Town sugar run. During this period, Bill met Gloria Wiehahn in Cape Town and they were married in December 1961.
Bill then packed up the sea and went farming in the Northern Transvaal! This lasted for six years at which point, in 1970, his farm was expropriated by the Department of Water Affairs. Bill then decided to go for his masters certificate in Granger Bay and then Durban Tech.Like so many other Botha boys, Bill then joined the Harbour Service, in Durban. During this period he was severely injured by a steel bar raised and thrown by his ship’s anchor cable. After a period of recovery, he joined Durban Lines once again, this time as master, taking command of all their ships during his time with them.
In 1973 he came ashore again and joined Consolidated Stevedores as superintendent, This firm was later taken over by Rennies and Bill moved up to assistant manager. In 1981 he crossed to Packard Shipping as an assistant ships agent manager but at the end of 1982 the company downsized retrenching staff. Bill then went into business for himself, doing home repairs to houses; hard and demanding work.
In 1984 he was offered a post as port captain/superintendent for SANKO Lines in South Africa. This kept him busy until 1986 when SANKO closed at which point Bill moved to P&I Associates as a marine surveyor.
At the end of 1988 he was diagnosed as suffering from an acoustic neuroma (brain tumour), which affected his face and acoustic nerves, resulting in partial deafness and paralysis of the left side of his face. After surgery and a six-month period of recuperation, Bill was announced fit for light duty but advised that he would probably have to be boarded. Bill and Gloria then sold their Durban home and moved up the Natal North Coast to Ballito.
Bill and Gloria have four children; three sons and a daughter. All are married. One son lives in Australia, two in Johannesburg and their daughter lives in Botswana. From this lot they have three grandchildren. They keep themselves busy in their retirement by travelling often between the three countries.
Deceased 08/10/2004
Served his time with Bank Line [Andrew Weirs] and was one of the few survivors from the Tinhow when torpedeod off Lourenco Marques [now Maputo]. Joined East African Stevedoring and Lighterage in Dar es Salaam before moving to Durban where he joined S.A. Stevedores.
1966 – 1969 Blandford Shipping Company, Marine Engineer
1969 – 1994 Emigrated to Canada, Vancouver B.C. Career development has been in the design and manufacture of machinery with an emphasis on marine steering gear and hydraulics.
1995 self employed and president of Hydra-tech Manufacturing Ltd. Designers and manufacturers of industrial and marine fluid power systems.
1995 Completed the design and installation of the No. 5 Ferry Terminal at Tsawassen which is the main ferry port for Vancouver.
Has joined the ‘President Steyn’ as an Apprentice Officer. Reported deceased 2013.
Deceased 01/08/1993.
I was heavy weight sparring partner to Chief Cadet Captain John Garden and CCC K. Turner. Also Captain of the Bothie rugby team and bass drummer in the Bothie band in 1943.
2003 Divisional General Manager at EnviroServ, Johannesburg.
2007 relocated to UK as Manager of Technology Projects for Shaw Stone & Webster.
2013 left Shaw Group, joined Technip France based in Paris as Vice President Downstream Onshore Business Unit.
2018 Lives in the Netherlands in Bergen op Zoom working for Cargill.
WWII OS SDF / Private Youths’ Training Battalion.
1960 – 68 Service with British & Commonwealth and Safmarine: obtained Masters FG.
1969 – 85 Various shore jobs – auditing, accounting, financial management etc. Including a number of years abroad as financial controller of Drew Ameroid International, a major supplier to the Marine Industry. (133 ports worldwide)
1974 – Associate Member – Chartered Institute of Secretaries and administrators. 1981 – Fellow of the above Institute.
1985 – 90 More shore jobs of a consultative nature. Mainly management systems, including computer systems. 1990 – Established Cape Bunkers (Pty) Ltd, a supplier of Marine Bunker Fuels and Lubricants.
2003 – 11 Senior Bunker trader with TRT Bunkers.
Worked for over 50 years of which at least 40 were in the Maritime Industry.
” After retirement enjoying my hobbies – Philately & online share trading.”
Deceased 18th September 2018.
Possibly same R. Dunham who sailed on the s.v. ‘Lawhill’ as apprentice in 1945.
Reported deceased.
1997 married to Patrick Doyle, G.B. Cadet #2879 1986.
2007 sailing own yacht around the world.
Reported in S.A.T.S. Magazine No.3 1937: with Lago Shipping Co.
2012 retired.
2018 He is now retired, but worked many years as a marine surveyor after coming ashore following employment with P&O. He wrote a book on marine surveying.
2005 manager of the Port Elizabeth branch of Independent Surveyors. Later joined the Transnet National Port Authority, initially on harbour tugs and 2008 on the harbour pilot tarining program.
1948 – 1949 – Ordinary Seman on the Dalia.
1949 – 1954 – Salied on the Foc’sle on numerous Australian owned ships.
1965 – 1972 – Third, second and Chief Officer with Broken Hill (Pty) Ltd Transport.
1972 – 1973 – Master with Malay States Shipping
1973 – 1974 – Marine Superintendent with SIMS Consolidated shipping in Sydney.
1974 – 1992 – Second and Chief Officer and Master with Broken Hill (Pty) LTd Transport. Sailed mainly on large bulk carriers in the coal and iron ore trades. Coastwise and Far East ports.
Frebruary 1992 – retired to enjoy a quite lfie in Newcastle NSW.
1970 Ships Officer, BHP Co., Ltd, Newcastle, Australia.
Sailed as Deck Cadet and Radio Officer with Safmarine having earned a diploma from General Botha and a Telecommunications and Marine Telegraphy Certificate from the Cape College for Advanced Technical Education. Having the technology bug, bite me, I later joining the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), in Johannesburg, where I was involved in building out the new national television station and studios headquartered in Johannesburg. During this time I was awarded a bursary by the SABC and attended the Witwatersrand College for Advanced Technical Education (WCATE),(now known as the University of Johannesburg, where I earned an Higher National Technical Diploma HND), in Light Current Engineering.
While being shore bound in Johannesburg, I joined the SA Navy Reserve where I was assigned to the SA Navy Training Ship, SAS Rand teaching celestial and marine navigation. Through this work, I was sent to study Naval Systems (SONAR, TAS, ASDIC, SA Navy doctrine), at the SA Navy College in Simonstown and then promoted to Lieutenant and assigned as Officer Commanding (OC) of the SAS Nautilus, a Navy Seaward Defence Boat, based at the Naval command in Durban. The role of the SAS Nautilus was focused on coastal patrol chasing Russian Fishing boats off of the coast of South Africa, Namibia and eventually Angola. The roles in Angola were more focused on Cuban infiltration under Russian control and influence.
For personal reasons, I later relocated to USA and worked for several organizations supporting US DOD and Intelligency Agencies as follows:
1. Sun Microsystems: Chief Technology Officer, at Sun Microsystems Federal, driving the strategic vision for developing Network Centric Warfare (NCW) vision for the US Navy. During this time I created a data distribution service (DDS) and led an international team of engineers and architects to enable that technology to be an international standard for military and commercial systems. This work was completed under the Object Management Group (OMG) and emerged as the OMG-DDS, an open international standard technology now employed by over 50 Navies, 250 ship classes, UAV systems and many commercial applications around the world.
2. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NGC): Director of Strategic Technology at NGC Defense Mission Systems. Developed strategic plans for USN AEGIS Guided Missile Systems using DDS. Developed outline and vision for USN Consolidated Afloat Networks Enterprise Services (CANES), awarded to NGC, for future Aircraft Carriers instantiations. Supported research for NASA deploying internet to the planets to ensure constant communications for future launches and planetary exploration.
3. Science Applications International (SAIC). Support Space and War Command (SPAWAR), in Charleston, South Carolina and develop advance weather systems and models for USN Fleet Numeric Weather Forecasting office.
4. SIERRA NEVADA CORPORATION
Lead research and provisioning of complex model based development systems. These included:
a. Delivery of automated systems to enable dynamic cartographic updates for International Notices To Mariners for the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency (NGA). Successful implementation here extended to Her Majesty’s Stationary Office ( HMSO), in London. These are the two largest cartographic organizations in the world deploying updates to charts and cartography for the entire planet.
b. Delivered a complex autonomous robotic system for the US Marine Corps research center at Quantico, VA, that would work collaboratively with humans to assess, plan, deploy and engage competitors, autonomously on the battlefield. This demonstration made history for the USN, and was recorded as the first time true autonomous engagement was automated, moving man from in-the-loop to on-the-loop. This demonstration was announced to and attended by members of the US Congress, as well as recorded and aired on CBS News – 60 Minutes.
5. Eaglestone Consulting LLC
Work with the US Naval Post Graduate School (NOS), to assistances students with Post Graduate studies and theses concepts. Work closely with Chair and staff of the IT Faculty on Consulting for US Army General Command.
After G.B. joined the family Motor Business in Eshowe, Zuzuland. At the outbreak of the 2nd world war he joined the Umvoti Mounted Rifles and saw service in East Africa and Libya. He was captured at Tobruk and spent 3 years as P.O.W.
1964 proprietor of a Natal garage called the East Service Station, Eshowe, Natal.
Deceased 14/01/89
During WWII was a Lieutenant in the South African Air Force Motor Boat Wing. Was awarded the King’s Commendation for his valuable war services. This was a South African award denoted by a Protea emblem worn on the ribbon of the Africa Service Medal.
Served 4 year apprenticeship with Andrew Weir on their Luxmi and after obtaining qualifications, two years on the Tinhow followed by two years sailing with William Cotts of London. On declaration of WWII joined Elder Dempster sailing on the Cochrane which survived the war convoy duties. Late 1942 spent six months with the S.A. Air Force and then joined the S.A. Harbour Service. Here served in all ranks in all ports and retired as Port Captain of Durban in 1976. Later continued with contract work as master of harbour dredgers until final retirement in 1982. Deceased 08/05/2009.
2017 harbour pilot in Sohar, Oman.
1964 harbour pilot in Durban.
Interesting letter describing harbour life and how it changed through the years. Also expands on war-time service and describes how Botha Boys were always well received by shipping companies. 39-45 Africa, Italy, Atlantic Stars. War Medal. Deceased 24/09/2010.
2003 Returned to sea with Swire Salvage, promoted to Master.
2008 shore appointment with Swire Salvage in Singapore.
2016 General Manager with Solis Marine Consultants in Singapore and appointed to the Lloyds panel of SCR’s [Special Casualty Representatives].
He was on a Merchantman ” Scientist” which was the first ship taken and sunk, by the German Raider “Atlantis”, eventually rescued from a POW Camp in Somalia by the 8th Army. Was later commissioned into the Royal Navy, where he became a Beachmaster and ended up doing the beach assaults in Sicily and Salerno. He ended up commanding HMSY Virginia, in Burma.
After the war he went to Northern Rhodesia, to the copper mines. On retirement he settled in Port Alfred, where he had a wonderful life, painting and playing golf. Deceased about 1990.
Deceased 17th August 2012.
1996 – Transferred to Cape Town as Branch Manager of National Stevedores (previosuly Keeleys Stevedores), later became P&O Ports.
2008 established KV&B Consulting Services.
He left Safmarine and joined the SAR & H in 1957 where he was ‘spare’ mate in Walvis Bay for 3 yrs. Transferred to Durban and was Mate, Master and Pilot. Off to Richards Bay as Harbour Master/Pilot when the port was in its infancy and was involved in the opening of the port in August 1976.
Transferred to PE as Assistant Port Captain in 1984. and then returned to Richards Bay as Port Captain in 1988, retiring in April 1992. He remained in Richards Bay and worked for SAMSA for a short period, finally moving to Port Elizabeth in 2005. Deceased 02/03/2010.
Deceased.
01/84 – 04/84 – Basic training with S.A. Navy at Saldanha.
07/84 – 07/86 – Ships Agent with African Coaling.
07/86 – 10/86 – Travelling in Europe.
02/87 – 06/90 – Marine Surveyor with M&L Inspection.
07/90 – 01/96 – Marine Surveyor with A.R. Brink & Associates.
01/96 – present (1996) Cargo Surveyor with Patterson & Associates in Zimbabwe.
October 2002 transferred to Safmarine H.O. Antwerp as Global Reefer Development Manager.
2004 transferred to Cape Town in similar capacity. 2012 joined MSC Cape Town as Commercial Manager Western Cape.
Later joined Shell in Johannesburg. Deceased 23/02/2009.
I still sail a lot, on my own yacht, a Charger 33, which is based at Royal Cape Yacht Club. Do a lot of racing there, as well as the offshore races such as Vasco. Plan to do Rio race in 2020, as well as Vasco again next year to defend our title.
Did not go to sea, was employed by a firm of artists designers.
Born 24th May 1914. Died at False Bay on 24th November 1933 as the result of a boating accident.
1983 went to Trident Marine as Operations Manager. Retrenched and started own building business, contracting in Durban until 1992.
Went to Richards Bay to join Captain Chettle & Associates as surveyor.
Started own surveying company in 1994.
Built Marrob Lodge, an eight bedroom guesthouse in Kwambonambi.
1964 Officer Commanding SAS Natal, rank of Lt Cdr.
1972 Captain in the S.A. Navy.
23rd May 1972 commissioned South Africa’s new survey ship SAS Protea.
1994 held the rank of Tug Master with a license to Pilot in Table Bay. Later promoted to pilot and retired 2007.
2020 owns B&B in Hermanus.
“I retired from Portnet (Containers) as the MIS Manager (Management Information Services) on 31 March 2003 after 41 years service with Transnet. They actually sent me to the General Botha in 1960-61 to be trained as a Chief Engineer on the tugs.” Deceased 30/05/2013.
Completed his merchant training in the UK, and now holds an MCA Master Unlimited certificate.
2001 to present, Captain on various different motor yachts ranging in size from 50m to 90m.
1972 Captain in the S.A. Navy.
Retired with the rank of Commodore.
Unable to go to sea because of eyesight failure. 1952 working in Cape Town as a Cashier with the Natal Building Society. Subsequently returned to Rhodesia [now Zimbabwe] and later back to South Africa where he worked for Permanent Building Society until retirement. Deceased January 2013.
1. R.N.R. Midshipman
2. Apprentice Officer, Ellerman & Bucknall
3. Second mates certificate
4. R.N.V.R. Lieutenant
5. S.A. Naval Forces, Lieutenant Commander. War Service
6. United Tobacco Co
7. Post Graduate studies, London University (pre war)
8. O.K. Bazaars Director, Personel.
Botha: 1st Class P.O. (Cadet Captain) foretop division.
Pass mark 91% & 4 prizes
Nominated for Kings Gold Medal with 4 others.
Deceased 22/06/97
2003 returned to South Africa and remained active with Greenpeace.
2006 promoted to Master with Greenpeace.
2011 still sailing with Greenpeace and after five years on the old Rainbow Warrior, took command of the next oldest in the fleet – the Arctic Sunrise, an icebreaker.
2015 Master on Greenpeace flagship, Rainbow Warrior III.
He obtained a First Class pass in Navigation and Seamanship.
He was placed with the Ellerman & Bucknall Steamship Company as a Officer Apprentice in City of Hereford from March 1945.
In 1947 he was repatriated to South Africa by Ellerman & Bucknall due to ill-health.
Deceased 16/07/2008.
Leaving the Botha he went off to sea with Union Castle Line, joining the Roxburgh Castle in January 1956. Ted served in eight of the company vessels, sailing round Africa, Europe and Scandinavia, dropping into the School of Navigation at Warsash along the way for his second mates and mates. Back to sea with Houlder Brothers, iron ore to Barry Docks in Wales. Then, Elders & Fyffes (bananas) as third and second mate. Failing his eyesight test became an issue prior to writing his masters and Ted was forced to leave the sea. He is adamant that his Botha training and time at sea served him very well for his subsequent business career ashore.
Now retired, Ted and Barbara are living happily in Storrington, West Sussex. Ted has taken good care of the UK branch of the General Botha for many years and enjoys numerous other absorbing interests.
1945 after two years on the General Botha I sailed to England with three others to join Blue Funnel (Alfred Holt) as a midshipman.
After six years I sailed to Sydney and joined a company called Burns Philp which sailed between Australia and Papua New Guinea.
My first job with them was 3rd Mate on their passenger cargo ship “Bulolo”.
After four years I took the Masters exam in Sydney.
Once established as a Sea Captain and four years later, I was eligible to apply to become a Port Phillip Sea Pilot and was successful in 1962.
The Port Phillip Sea Pilots operate out of Melbourne and are a well known and well run private Pilot Service with about 40 Pilots.
The entrance to Port Phillip Bay is notoriously difficult. I enjoyed my 26 years with the Service.
On retirement my holiday house in the warmer climate of NSW seemed a very attractive proposition, and after buying some extra land my wife and I planted 1200 protea plants. 10 years later we decided enough was enough and we officially retired.
We live in a beautiful area with many beaches, a beautiful lake and the Great Dividing range close by.
Our family is scattered all over Australia and they all love joining us for holidays here in Forster/Tuncurry.
2011 founding committee member of GBOBA Bursary Fund.
Previously sailed with Shell and Safmarine followed by a period in the S.A. Navy and then with Rennies. Owned the Maritime Institute which focused on Training, Development & Projects in International Trade, Logistics and Shipping.
2001 relocated to Canada. 2015 Returned to South Africa.
At the end of his time at the Botha, he went away to sea in Union Castle. Unsubstantiated rumour has it that he then left to serve in Thesens Coasters. However, what is known is that somewhere along the line he joined the Royal Air Force and made his career in its photographic section.
On retirement he may (or may not) have worked in the photographic section of one of the large libraries in Cape Town, before returning to the UK.
Robert is now living in retirement in London, from where he is maintaining a stony silence.
1988: Joined Pentow Marine, Durban, spent 4 years on the tugs servicing the SBM.
1992 – 2000: Loading Master and then Terminal Manager for Pentow Marine at Mossel Bay SPM.
2000 – 2001: Mooring Master at Durban SBM, EBT Field and Takoradi, Ghana.
2001 – 2005: Working for Smit in Novorossyisk, Black Sea, Russia as Mooring Master for two SPMs there.
2006: Smit Operations Manager based in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russian Far East. Client Shell
2007 – 2010: Operations Manager for Smit in De Kastri, Russian Far East for Client Exxon.
2011 – 2016: Smit Lamnalco Contract Manager, working in Rotterdam, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon.
2016 – Present: Contract Manager for Smit Lamnalco on an Exxon LNG contact in Papua New Guinea. Stationed in Port Moresby.
2020 working n Douala, Cameroon for Smit Lamnalco.
Deceased 17/08/1994.
1964 a traveller in the motor sales business.
Joined Safmarine as Cadet and rose to Second Officer. Resigned after obtaining Chief Officer’s Certificate. Joined IBM as Trainee Field Engineer.
Progressed through the field support ranks, country support group, Product Development Group, Engineering and Scientic Group, and after 23 and a half years was retrenched. Subsequently self employed for a few years with Unix application support for BMW.
Thereafter involved in industrial design projects across a broad spectrum of products for customers as well as projects of my own.
2011 unofficially retired and keep occassionally busy with consulting on product design to a engineering company.
Involved with Sea Scouts and currently look after Sea Scouting in Gauteng Province.
GBOBA Gauteng Branch chairman.
Deceased 18/08/2009.
War Service History:
SAAF Number 103076V
Attested into SAAF 8-1-40
Pupil Pilot Course 8-1-40 to 30-10-41. Earned wings.
Link Trainer Instructor course 30-10-41 to 15-11-41
Baragwanath Flight Training School 3-5-40 to 4-8-40
No1 Service Training Flying School Kimberly 4-8-40 to 20-10-41
62 Air school Bloemfontein 22-10-41 to 7-11-41
22 air school Vereeninging 10-11-41 to 24-10-42
Serious motorbike accident 8-1-42. Grounded due to extensive cranial and leg injuries
24 Air School Nigel 26-10-42 to 8-3-43
62 Air School Bloemfontein 8-3-43 to 9-7-43
26 Air School Pietersburg 9-7-43 to 13-9-44SAAF 31 Squadron, Celone Airfield, Foggia Italy.
Flying B24 Liberator heavy bombers 19-12-1944
1st Liberator log entry 26-12-44
Last liberator log entry 29-6-45 (total 65 Sorties)
Last day in 31 Squadron 7-7-45
Return to SAAF Airbase Swartkops 20-7-45
Transferred from Full Time Service to General Reserve 18-2-46
Discharged from General Reserve 14-12-65
Aircraft types certified to fly:-
DH Tiger Moth, Gypsy Moth, DH Hornet, Hawker Hart, Hawker Hind , Airspeed Oxford, Consolidated B24 Liberator.
Medals
1939-45 Star
Italy Star
The War Medal
Africa Service Medal
1998 resigned from the S.A. Air Force and flying as First Officer with Safair.
May 2000 retired. Deceased 29th April 2014.
After Bothie to August 1929 – Midshipman R.N.R. HMS Wallflower. Aug 1929 to Aug 1937 – Blue Funnel Line.
Then joined a stevedoring firm in Cape Town. On outbreak of WWII appointed to HMS Cumberland, LT RNR. Until Nov 1941. Then in command of HMLST 386 until end of war. War service included three years in naval commandos. Then returned to stevedoring, joined G.B. At Gordons Bay as Chief Officer in 1951, and returned to stevedoring. Retired Jan 1976. Hobbies; Fishing & gardening.
Deceased 31/10/99
2005 joined Austral Asia Line as Trade Manager based in Brisbane.
Previously GBOBA Cape Town branch secretary. GBOBA Australia vice chairman.
May 1956 – Nothern Rhodesia, mining underground. Obtained a diploma in metalliferous mining and a government blasting licence.
Jan 1959 – joined the British South African Police, Souther Rhodesia, rose to Section Officer.
1964 – Ford Motor Company, S.A. Security, Safety, Fire Protection, Area Manager for an international safety equipment manufacturer.
1974 – Durban, Management positions with a major typre manufacturer and joined Putco.
1987 – Cape Town, partner in Stevedoring Company and later Warehouse Manager, Trisa, involved in the transport and international removal business.
Deceased 21/09/2004.
Previously with Marine Diamond Corporation and then on the Durban harbour bunker barges.
After G.B. appointed as Probationary Midshipman Royal Navy Reserve.
Was in command as a Lieutenant of HMS Kos 22 during WWII.
1952 – Master of the Harbour Tug Sir William Hoy.
1964 a dredger Master in Durban Harbour.
His original cadet file from the ship is missing.
1972 – 76 – Cape Continent Shipping Company, Third and Second Officer.
1976 – Obtained Masters Certificate
1977 – Lecturer, Training Centre for Seamen, Kasselsvlie.
1978 – 81 – S.A.R. & H Cape Town and Saldanha Bay, First Deck Officer, Harbour Tugs.
1982 – 93 – S.A.T.S. Port Elizabeth, Master Harbour Tugs.
1993 – Portnet Port Elizabeth, Harbour Pilot.
2008 retired from Transnet National Port Authority and remains involved in marine consultancy / survey projects.
During the E-boat attack he manned one of the Oerlikon guns, and found that it had been damaged by enemy fire; so he abandoned it and made his way to the Vickers gun whose crew of four has been wounded. He then opened fire on the enemy until a shell exploded in the vicinity and blew him down a hatch opening. He was seriously injured in both legs. Despite great pain he again clambered aloft and fired the Vickers until it ran out of ammunition. Awarded the Distinguished Service Order. Many thought that his coolness and fortitude while seriously wounded qualified him for the supreme award of the Victoria Cross.
As a result of the grievous injuries that he had suffered, one leg was amputated. In April 1944 he was promoted Full Lieutenant.
Is going to Australia where he has been offered a Commission in the Royal Australian Navy. Served as a Sub-Lieutenant with the Royal Navy during World War II.
Was a colonel in the Royal Australian Army.
Deceased 2002.
Previous Port Captian of Table Bay Harbour.
Primary School: Sea Point Boys Junior School
High School: Worcester High School (Now the Worcester Gymnasium)
Matriculated: 1975
MILITARY CAREER: 1976 to- 1993: 17 years of Service in the South African National Defence Force as a Citizen Force officer in the South African Medical Services. At the time of my retiring from active citizen force duty I held the substantive rank of Major (Lieutenant Commander – Navy equivalent). DECORATIONS: I was awarded 5 times during my military career; 3 medals and 2 commendations, noting that my military career ran in parallel to my corporate / business career. (1) Chief of the SADF Commendation Medal. Today this medal is known as the Military Merit Medal (MMM).(2) John Chard Service Medal (JCM)and (3)SADF General Service Medal. I was also awarded two commendations being; (1) Surgeon General Commendation Certificate and (2). Officer Commanding 3 Medical Battalion Group Commendation Certificate. I retired from my active citizen force military involvement in 1993 when I relocated to Johannesburg from Cape Town. GENERAL BOTHA OLD BOYS ASSOCIATION – COMMITTEE MEMBER: I served on the GBOBA Committee in Cape Town for several years in the 90’s, in the time of the late Admiral Glen Syndercombe and when Tony Nicholas was the scribe.I am currently again a committee member as was nominated and seconded at the 2019 AGM in Cape Town. During the period 1978 to 1983 I sailed with Safmarine and Unicorn Shipping Lines as a cadet and 3rd Officer. I attended General Botha in 1979. Between Safmarine and Unicorn I sailed on various ships to many interesting places including The United Kingdom, Europe, The Far East, Indian Ocean Islands, West and East Coasts of Africa and South America. Today some 40 years later I have remained friends with several of my previous ship mates and fellow cadets, officers and academic staff of the academy. CORPORATE BUSINESS CAREER: Upon leaving the sea I entered a long and most successful and rewarding career in business. In 1983 I started out as a trainee, then general manager with the OK Bazaars, which was in its heyday at the time. In 1985 I was head hunted by the PG Group (PG GLASS/PG Wood) (Listed on the JSE AS PGSI). I was appointed as Group Marketing Executive and was instrumental in leading the brand Identity change of PG Wood to the newPG Bison identity and the development of the fledgling Timbercity brand, which was based on a franchise model. I had completed anIMM Diploma in Marketing Management and by 1988, has completed the 2-yearUnisa Graduate School of Business – Advanced Executive Program (Compressed MBA), passing this with a Cum Laude on my Thesis titled “A Holistic Approach to Organisational Planning. During these years I was a part time guest lecturer at the University of South Africa and the WITS Graduate Schools of business, with a focus on leadership, strategy and marketing. During this time,I also served as a non-executive director of African Builders (Pty) Ltd for 6 years.1997– 1999. Also, during my PG Bison time, I hosted the GBOBA JHB branch in one of the PG Bison executive boardrooms in Johannesburg, which was a great pleasure.In 1999 I was headhuntedout of the United States by Wilsonart International, a Texas, USA based global company. After spending time in the USA, I was appointed as Executive – Africa International Operations, based in Johannesburg.Two years later in 1999 I was again headhunted by JSE Listed Murray & Roberts Holdings. I had to make a hard decision. I decided to join this great South African heritage brand and company in its role as Africa’s largest engineering/contracting group. I was initially appointed as Group Marketing and Export Director) in a subsidiary company; Harvey Roofing Products, In 2001 I was appointed as Group Executive Brand & Communications and relocate to the group’s global headquarters in Bedfordview, Johannesburg. I held this position until 2010. I had group executive oversight over all operating company strategy developments, brands and communications and the mother/corporate brand. This was across some 40 group companies round the world, employing some 30,000 full-time employees. After 11 yearsin 2010, I was once again head hunted out of London and appointed to an Italian based leading global engineering and contracting group;Multi-EURO Billion group Tenova, based in Milano, Italy. I was appointed Group Head/Executive, Brand & Communications, of their new global Mining & Minerals division. Part of my brief with the board and executive team was to set up a new globalMining & Minerals company via significant industry acquisitions across some 25 countries across all continents, trading with 5 industry leading mining and materials handling brands.In 2013 I unexpectantly had 4-artery open heart by-pass surgery and was told by doctors to slow down my pace completely. Notwithstanding this, we (Tenova) successfully completed setting up the new global Mining & Minerals company per plan. Once of the sub-brands, Tenova TAKRAF, based in Leipzig, Eastern Germany, manufactures and commissions the largest crawling machines you will find on earth and in the mining sector, we designed and installed high-technology port ship-loading systems for coal and iron-ore terminals. Some Tenova TAKRAF machines are so large that they are visible from the moon. In July 2014I was offered a permanent relocation to Europe (Italy), which I declined. At the age of 57 I felt that I had travelled the world enough, that I had lived in various countries, that after many international flights over the years and after many nights in hotel rooms, that I had had enough. I decided that my preference would be to stay and relax at home in beautiful South Africa. I decided to get out of the corporate world and to privately and professionally, consulting in the areas of Leadership, Strategy and Communications. GOING SOLO AS A PROFESSIONAL CONSULTANT: I left the corporate world in July 2014 and in September 2014, went live with my company, TWF Consulting Group. I love and enjoy what I do with clients worldwide. This was a dream of mine for many years and I am living it.SPORTS AND INTEREST:Ocean Yachting, Flying and Football. On the sporting front, I was a member of the Royal Cape Yacht Club for many years and in the period 1983 to 1993 was one of the appointed sailing instructors who taught wealthy people who purchased beautiful and very expensive yachts to sail. This ended when I moved to Johannesburg in 1993. In 1988 I trained and qualified as a Private Pilot in and eventually has seven different aircraft ratings on my license. I loved my flying and stopped in 2004 with just over 1,000 flying hours in my log book. I loved every moment of my flying. From 1997 onwards, I became deeply involved in football (Soccer) as a referee. I retired from SAFA as a national referee in 2000 at the FIFA mandatory age at that time of 43. I gave back to the beautiful game as a referee assessor for two years, before getting out completely in 2002. I had started playing football with a passion at the age 8 for the Green Point Football Club in Cape Town. When I decided to play again in 1987 (now much older), I found that I could not keep up with the younger players. Always fascinated by referees, I applied in those days to the Western Province Football Association to be a referee, which they welcomed from any ex player. I did well and went through various provisional and nation training programs. I had lot of fun and sometimes in crux matches, some highly stressed moments on the field. TWIGHLIGHT ERA: As I enter the twilight years of my life, all that is left for me to do is to enjoy life with my beautiful partner Pat, and to write a book or two, which I wanted to start about 2 years ago. One day it will happen. In the mean-time, I strive to live and fulfil my life mission;Whereever I am, to be useful, to be kind and to make a difference.
2019 GBOBA Cape Town Branch committee member.
Went to sea as a Cadet on the s.s. President Steyn of the Southern Steamship Line for 2 years. Joined AM International in 1963 as a printing technician, being stationed in East London, Salisbury, Bloemfontein and Johannesburg, and retired as General Manager 30 years later. Has been an active member of Round Table 158 for 7 years. Also built a 28′ cruising boat and sailed her for 5 years. Later owned a Kwik Kopy franchise in Pretoria and thereafter joined Minolta Company in 1995, retired in 1998. Deceased 25/04/2008.
b. Pretoria, Transvaal, 25 November 1923, son of Natalie Mary Frisby; ed. Boys’ High School, Pretoria; SATS General Botha Cadet No 1035 [1939-1940 term].
Albert Garrett Frisby joined the Bank Line [Alfred Holt & Co.] in the ship Incomati on 14 December 1940. He later joined the South African Air Force [SAAF] and subsequently served with No 2 Squadron “The Flying Cheetahs” flying North American F-51 Mustang aircraft in Korea.
Flying in North American F-51 Mustang #337, Lieutenant A.G. Frisby was leading a flight of four Mustangs on an armed reconnaissance just north of Hanpo-ri in North Korea. The flight had reached a position roughly four miles North-West of Sibyon-ni, when Lieutenant Frisby reported that his aircraft had been damaged by anti-aircraft fire and that he was abandoning his aircraft at an altitude of 1000 feet. His aircraft’s canopy was seen to fly off and an object, probably the pilot, was seen to fall from the crippled aircraft. However, no parachute was seen and it would appear that Lieutenant Frisby’s parachute failed to open. His pilotless aircraft, turning to the left, continued to lose height. It struck the ground near a river and was destroyed.
An intensive search by two members of his flight failed to find Lieutenant Frisby and a search conducted by four aircraft later that day also failed to find any sign of him.
Lieutenant Albert Frisby is commemorated on the United Nations Pusan Memorial.
Remained with them since, later in Portnet division, except for a year of living in Europe.
Had a promotion to an examiner in artisan’s special duties.
2004 retired. Deceased 21st February 2017.
2009 moved to Melbourne Australia and appionted as the Deputy Training Manager for Ansett Aviation. Ansett has 12 Aircraft Simulators ranging from Boeing 767 to B737 as well as Airbus A320 to name a few. They do quiet a lot of training for the low cost and reigonal airlines in Australia.
Deceased 21/11/2003.
In 1970 he was transferred to Ladysmith and his love of fishing and outdoors saw him achieve Natal colours for fresh water fishing. Was also a member of the N.C.A.A. Rock and Surf fishing club from middle 1950’s.
Deceased 1995.
2010 promoted within the Grindrod Group to General Manager for Africa.
2013 Transferred to Cape Town as GM Oil & Gas Sturrock Shipping.
2018 Transferred to Grindrod Freight Services as Executive Business Developement.
GBOBA Bursary Fund board member.
1942 joined SANF as Sub Lieutenant and 1944 Lieutenant.
Circa June 1944 navigating officer on the new Frigate HMSAS Good Hope when she came out from England in July 1948 to join SANF.
1952 Assistant to Nautical Examiner and Surveyor of Ships, Cape Town.
1964 Principal Officer Marine Division of Transport, Durban.
Had issued the safety equipment certificate for the S.A. Seafarer before her grounding off Cape Town.
From a farming family in the Northern Transvaal. Was tragically shot and killed in a hunting accident in 1945.
1997 – On the tug “Rupe” working for West Gate Transport out of New Plymouth, New Zealand.
Retired.
1950 – 51 sailed as Third Officer with Cagurnay Terminals and Furness Withy.
1951 – 74 served in the Royal Canadian Navy/unified Canadian Forces
1974 -96 joined the Federal Department of Transport / Canadian Coast Guard. Served in various positions including Director of International Affairs.
Retired 13/11/74 with rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Held extensive academic, merchant and military qualifications. Deceased 18/03/2014.
Born Andre Jourdan to Arthur and Isabella Jourdan in Pilgrim’s Rest, South Africa on November 13, 1929. Changed his surname to Geddes when his mother remarried. Graduated from South Africa Training Ship (SATS) General Botha in 1946. Served on various merchant service vessels as an officer cadet and third officer from 1947-51. Commissioned with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in 1951 and retired in 1975 as a Lieutenant Commander. Joined the Canadian Coast Guard and retired in 1996 after extensive service as an advisor with the Canadian government delegation to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Deceased 2nd October 2019.
After Bothie served as Leading Seaman on HMSAS Protea which was fitted out as hydrographic survey vessel and after the vessel was decommsioned and sold he remained in service to carry out hydrographic survey duties together with two other officers. Later achieved the rank of Commander.
1964 Officer Commanding SAS Somerset.
1999 relocated to Scotland and joined Acrmarit Ship Management, managing in excess of 130 vessels world wide.
2003 Operations Manager with Kanoo Agency in Dubai.
Deceased 2005.
Daryl had a furniture business in Knysna for many years.
They then relocated to Cape Town also in the furniture business but returned to Knysna after a few years still in the furniture business.
HMS Regent was mined in the Straits of Otranto in the Adriatic.
I did 4 years with Safmarine and came ashore to work in ship’ agency, marine surveying, offshore launch services and started a marine services company called BOSSS.
We did offshore launch services, marine security, crew transport, lifeboat servicing and certification, liferafts and equipment in Durban, Cape Town and Richards Bay. We also started a branch in Ghana. At present [2010] I have sold my interest in the company and am working as a freelance maine consultant.
Deceased late 1994.
Previously with Pentow Marine, Master of the Causeway Salvor and was involved with the Single Buoy Mooring in Durban and Mossel Bay. Deceased 1st August 2020.
Charles has been a consultant for several UN agencies and International Non-Governmental Organisations. He has served on the editorial boards of various magazines and on the Board of Directors of Inter Press Service. He is also director of the University of Washington’s Communication Department’s Study Abroad Programme in Rome.
He is now retired and a Professor Emeritus of the University of Washington, resident in Seattle.
Served with the Port Elizabeth Fire Brigade.
Safmarine – 3/0, 2/0, C/0 & Master. Assistant Superintendent, Superintendent, Marine Manager, Ship Manager Executive. Also acted for Saftug as Salvage Master.
Deceased 30/09/1993.
Previosuly Committee Member of Old Boys’ Association Cape Town Branch.
Stan passed away on 30 July 2019, aged 93 yrs. He was one of the survivors from the Tanker MV Doryssa which was torpedoed south south west of PE on 25 April 1943 by the Leonardo da Vinci. Only 11 survivors were found after 6 days at sea by the HMSAS Roodepoort and HMSAS Southern Barrier. He celebrated his 17th birthday in the lifeboat. On coming ashore he joined the printing industry and remained in the industry until retirement. Stan also loved bowls, which he started playing after retirement and went on to play until he was about 90.
1964 Mate in Smith’s oaster “Inkosi”.
1965-1988 joined S.A. Stevedores where Jack Clark was manager, not only mentor but friend.
Due to containerisation staff were reduced, I resigned.
1988-1998 joined Cape Dairy Co-op ( Bonita Dairies) Bellville as Area Manager in charge of 120 vehicles. Later reduced to 40 due to the rise of Supermarkets selling our products at reduced price. Resigned.
1998-2010 joined Elzet clothing ( Wynberg ) as Wharehouse and Despatch manager.
2010 Re-tired.
Feb. 2013 moved to the U.K.
1955 Acting 3rd Mate (Shell obviously had a shortage of Deck Officers)
1956 Passed 2nd Mates exam [classes held at the Mission to Seafarers building and I am sure that Capt Phil Nankin was a lecturer at the time) then sailed as 2nd Mate on what was the oldest tanker in the Fleet. No Gyro/No Radar and Echo Sounder did not work as the bridge was of timber construction and leaked above the echo sounder.
1958 Passed 1st Mates exam, swallowed the anchor and got married !!!. Quite a come down for me from 2nd Mate to Foreman Grade “B” with Caltex Oil unloading tankers and load & dispatch all rail tank cars. This from the old quarry which is now part of V & A Waterfront in Cape Town.
1962 Transferred to Johannesburg to be the first Aircraft Refueling Manager for Caltex in South Africa. To begin with two flights a week to be refuelled. Sabena and Pan Am.
1967 Left Caltex and went into sales, mainly related to filtration and thermal insulation with a number of companies.
2008 Formed my own export business and also into partnership with others in the polyurethane business, blending chemicals and manufacturing thermal insulation products.
2013 Shut down export business due the inefficiency of South African labour resulting in being uncompetitive.
2018 retired but still involved in the polyurethanes business as a director and shareholder but not involved in the day to day business but as a consultant on and when required basis.
Deceased May 2019.
Sailed with Safmarine until March 1981.
For the first four years after leaving Safmarine I skippered patrol boats on the Namibian coast operating out of Walvis Bay. The basic task was to enforce the international laws of pelagic fishing under which all the major fishing nations operated. There were over a hundred Russian factory ships fishing 24/7 and all around the year – even dry-docking at sea on the move while decimating the hake stocks. Not to mention the E. Germans, Poles, and of course the Spanish bottom trawlers and Japanese crab and tunny boats. We also doubled as research vessels for marine biologists – catching, tagging and replacing deep water crab , rescue vessels for local fisherman and yachts and also hosting TV crews documenting the fishing industry. I ran a little school on the bridge every evening where I taught basic navigation and radio procedure etc in an endeavour to train a number of the fisherman crew to the point where they could get a fishing skipper’s ticket and so improve their lot. Apart from the chief engineer and myself there were no trained or qualified people on board. This led to very interesting situations.
During a stint at university (UCT), I had my first real encounter with mentally handicapped people which led to me working at a Camphill farming community near Atlantis as a volunteer. The work involved building, Bio-dynamic agriculture, and caring for some very fragile people. This in turn led to me to Switzerland where I spent four years working with extremely challenged and fragile little children. This work was immensely intense – like an initiation of fire and a crash course in self-knowledge and the complexities of human life and human destiny. Faced with these children you either run away or you are forced to pursue very difficult questions about reality. I chose to question and I’m still at it.
In the mid-nineties, I returned to SA and to Camphill Village at their request and for the next four years became immersed in bio-dynamic agriculture. All of this work was based on the ground-breaking insights and initiatives of the Austrian philosopher and scientist Rudolf Steiner. It led me to totally new and fathomable perspectives on almost every aspect of life and human endeavour. I have been studying ever since. After getting married in 1989 to Christina with whom I had worked in Switzerland, we returned to Europe to study further. I studied in Stuttgart (S. Germany) before becoming ordained as a priest in the Christian Community – a movement for religious renewal. I worked for one year in Germany before being asked to return to Cape Town where I have been for the last 23 years.
1943 – 47 Chief Officer with S.A.R. & H. 1947 – 1948 Master with S.A.R.& H. 1949-50 Chief Officer with Australian Commonwealth Lighthouse Service. 1952 Chief Officer with Newcastle Hunter ss Co. 1953-55 Second & Chief Officer and Master with McIIWraith McEacharn. In Mid 1955 joined Maritime Services Board (Ex Sydney Harbour Trust) as Pilot on Newcastle, Botany Bay, Sydney and Port Kembla Pilotages. From 1965 permantly at latter until retirement in December 1978. Decorations: 1939 – 45 Star Atlantic and Pacific Stars, Burma Clasp and 1939 – 45 War Medal. Deceased 25/03/94.
Next HMS Chakla of the Inshore Squadron, sunk at Salum 29th April 1941, mentioned in disptaches and awarded the DSC. Being without a ship he fought ashore with the British Army until returning to the U.K. and later appointed gunnery officer on HMS Duke of York, which included 3 years on the Russian Convoys. December 1943 appointed to convoy control in Cardiff. 1945 returned to S.A. and went farming at Groblersdal but later returned to the S.A. Navy.
1964 Executive Officer SAS Wingfield, rank of Lt Cdr.
Served at various bases, being promtoed to Commander before passing away in 1973.
When questioned on the precise reason for his DSC award his reply was always: “For regular attendance at breakfast.”
Deceased 24/03/2004
April 2021 joined Wilhelmsen, Cape Town, as Ships Agency Operations Manager Western Cape.
He went to sea after leaving SATS General Botha and then came ashore and went farming in the Hermanus district.
Received from Sandy Myers:
“Patrick Gourley was my cousin, sadly however, I am not able to tell you much about him as I was much younger. I know that he went travelling the world after leaving the General Botha but apart from that I do not knew very much. He lived in Canada for some years and came back to South Africa in the ’60’s. He had four children, two boys and two girls but I am afraid that is about all I can tell you other than he died on his farm which was somewhere just beyond Stanford.”
Retired Safmarine Master.
2017 Director & Marine Risk Manager of Admiralty Maritime Consultants.
Decesaed on bronchial pneumonia 31/08/1998.
Reported in “Old Salts” 1947/48: was Navigating Officer (Lieutenant) on H.M.S. ‘Wessex’ (Later became SAS Jan van Riebeeck) when she was delivered to Simon’s Town for refitting. 1947 resigned from the Royal Navy and until 1956 he farmed in the Westminster and Ficksburg areas of the Orange Free State before returning to sea on being commissioned into the S.A. Navy.
1964 Naval Intelligence Officer, rank of Commander.
In 1979 he retired as Chief of Naval Staff (Intelligence) with the Rank of Captian and holder of the Southern Cross Medal.
Goodwin Felton “Joe” Gower (979) excellent final examination results in SATS General Botha earned him the Max Sonnenberg Scholarship and a cadetship in the Royal Navy in 1940. The outbreak of war resulted in the course being shortened and in September 1940 he was appointed a midshipman in the battleship HMS Malaya.
He served in HMS Malaya when she bombarded Genoa and escorted convoys between Freetown and Gibraltar. When the battleship was damaged in a u-boat attack and had to undergo a refit in New York all the midshipmen joined the light cruiser HMS Diomede in Bermuda. Four months later they rejoined HMS Malaya in Force H escorting convoys to Malta.
Promoted to Acting Sub-Lieutenant in 1941 he returned to England where he passed the Lieutenant’s qualifying course and was appointed to another battleship HMS Revenge.
He then volunteered for service in submarines. After passing the four month qualifying course he was appointed Fourth Hand in HMS Tactician operating out of Gibraltar, Algiers and Malta.
After the Italian surrender HMS Tactician sailed for Colombo and was employed examining junks and sinking them because they were transporting ammunition hidden beneath their cargoes.
In 1944 he was appointed First Lieutenant of HMS Rover. This submarine had been badly damaged when HMS York was sunk in Crete and the repair work took a long time and was initially unsatisfactory. From 27 August until 6 September 1944 Lieutenant Gower was Commanding Officer of HMS Rover.
He returned to England in HMS Tantivy. After the German capitulation he commanded a surrendered u-boat in a fifteen mile voyage up the River Foyle to Londonderry. The engine room was manned by members of her German crew while the deck crew were RN personnel and the Irish pilot was a civilian. Fortunately all went well despite language problems.
Lieutenant Gower remained in the RN until 1948 and joined the SAN in 1956. He retired as a Captain and recipient of the Southern Cross Medal in 1979.
In 1943 he joined the Motor Boat Wing of the South African Air Force [SAAF] at Gordons Bay as an Air Mechanic. [Info from former Cadet Loxton]
Joined the RAF in 1931 and served as a bomber pilot during WWII being awarded the DSO and DFC – the latter for his part in the attacks on the German pocket battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau in December 1941. The Czech War Cross was announced January 23rd 1941.
Air Vice Marshal RAF, CBE [Commander of the British Empire], KCB [Knight Commander of the Bath]. Promoted to Marshal.Air Vice Marshal Henry Rudolph Graham, CB, CBE, DSO, DFC (28 March 1910 – 14 February 1987) was a senior Royal Air Force officer.
RAF career
Graham was commissioned into the Royal Air Force on 10 April 1931. He served in the Second World War as officer commanding, No. 7 Squadron from April 1941, Command Navigation Officer at Headquarters RAF Bomber Command from July 1942 and as officer commanding, RAF Wyton from June 1943 before becoming officer commanding, RAF Kirmington from October 1943.
After the war he became Head of Flying Control, Headquarters RAF Transport Command in July 1945, Director of Operations in April 1952 and Air Officer Commanding, No. 23 Group in January 1956. His last appointment was as Air Officer Administration at RAF Flying Training Command in January 1958 before retiring in April 1962.
A South African, he originally intended to make a career at sea having been educated on the Training Ship ”General Botha” followed by five years (1926 -31) with the Union Castle Line.
In 1940 he was seconded to assist in the formation of the Czechoslovakia manned No 311 Squadron, flying at least one sortie with the unit in Wellington L7778/KX-U attacking Boulogne-sur-Mer harbour on 26 September. In 1941, he was involved in talks with fellow South African, A G “Sailor” Malan at HQ Fighter Command which eventually led to the establishment of joint bomber/fighter operations, to be known by the name “Circus”. Selected to command the first four-engined bomber squadron in Bomber Command, No 7, when it re-equipped with the Short Stirling, it was not long before he was attempting to prove the type in battle. During a daylight raid in 1941, he led three Stirlings which were promptly attacked by 12 Bf 109’s, for a while he was able to hold off the German attack but the three bombers were eventually separated. However, he managed to hold his aircraft steady thereby giving his gunners a steady platform, a tactic which resulted in a 109 being seen to go down having attempted a head on attack and narrowly missed his Stirling. On 15 August 1941, he was returning from an operation to Magdenburg in N6041 when it overshot the runway at Oakington and crashed, although all the crew were uninjured.
He retired from the RAF and returned to his native South Africa to take up farming and from 1966 to 1969, was a member of the National Trust.
Citation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross
“Wing Commander Henry Rudolph GRAHAM, D.S.O. (32009), No.7 Squadron.
One day in December 1941, a strong force of bomber aircraft carried out a determined attack on the German warships Gneisenau and Scharnhorst at Brest. The operation was carried out in the face of extremely heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire and determined attacks by enemy fighters. Nevertheless the air crews engaged pressed home their attacks to the utmost and succeeded in scoring hits on their objectives. Several enemy aircraft were shot down. The success of the operation, which demanded the highest degree of skill and courage, reflects the greatest credit on the efforts of the following officers and airmen who participated in various capacities as leaders and members of aircraft crews.”
This was a general citation for a number of awards
(London Gazette – 9 Jan 1942)
As a cadet at the General Botha Okke soon demonstrated an independent nature along with abiding interests in navigation, seamanship and sailing ‒ that same serious demeanour is still present today hiding a perceptive wit brandished often as appropriate. Okke served his time in Greek, British and German vessels; obtaining his Extra Masters in London, September 1964.
From salvage tugmaster to superintendent in the Marine Diamond Corp, to managing a whaling company in Angola, to marine management with South African Lines (SAL), Okke was active! In 1968/69 he represented the Master Mariners of South Africa on the Board of the SAMNA General Botha, the first ex-cadet to do so. Along the way, he became proficient in several languages.
Arriving in Safmarine through their amalgamation with SAL, Okke developed the Special Ships Division, part of the team that designed and supervised the building of the Kuswag patrol vessels and the two biggest salvage tugs the world had then seen. Successful operations were to make the John Ross and Wolraad Woltemade internationally famous and household names in South Africa, numerous worldwide towage and salvage ‘firsts’ being achieved with these magnificent vessels.
Simultaneously Okke and the Special Ships Division became highly involved in the marine side of developing the new harbour at Saldanha Bay. This intensive project developed as a direct consequence of the government having withdrawn any kind of assistance to Iscor, their para-statal, for the simple reason that the South African Railways and Harbours (SAR&H), who then controlled all major ports in South Africa, had initially scotched the idea of a port at Saldanha, maintaining that the new iron ore port should have been built at Port Elizabeth, irrespective of any long term adverse consequences to the Sishen scheme.
Heady times; Okke was busy. He recalls how tremendous it had been working on the challenging marine side and to being part of the larger team with his Iscor project colleagues. Contracting, specifications, finance, writing of port regulations and conditions and last but not least (coupled with intensive training for their crews at Europort) supervising in France the construction of the two original Voith harbour tugs and pilot boat along with arrangements for their delivery and introduction at Saldanha.
Critical deadlines; all needing to come together for the projected opening date. The first ships were mobilising, the mine needed to have stock, the crusher had to guarantee quality, the dump truck needed to be ready. The final ‘small jobs’ list was endless as it was fascinating: Channel markers, buoys, line haulers on the jetty, fenders, line boats & crews.
Safmarine’s tug division had had a fifteen year contract from Iscor to run the port but suddenly and precariously, after a relatively short period ‒ but with the new port up and running smoothly, the SAR&H, (through the government), in a dramatic about-face, nationalised the port. Okke and his team, along with other subcontractors were summarily turfed out ‒ and others were quick to claim the credit for the new port. Intensive development plans and projects came to an abrupt halt; a far reaching economic debacle which Okke recalls today with the utmost anguish. Nevertheless, the solid relationship Okke had built up with Iscor paid benefits when he was appointed Director of the Safmarine/Iscor subsidiary Safore and for many years afterwards joined the annual iron ore price negotiating team to Japan and Korea.
Back in Cape Town with the Special Ships Division found Okke continuing apace with numerous world-wide towage and salvage operations. He made the tug’s towage and salvage systems work ‒ then was actively involved in the formation of Pentow Marine, becoming Chairman in 1986 and remaining a director until his retirement. A well remembered interlude even involved the recovery of treasure from HMS Birkenhead.
As Executive Director at Safmarine’s Marine Division from 1986, Okke supervised the construction and commissioning of their new passenger ship Astor I, along with numerous other shipbuilding and conversion contracts, including a new-building during the 1992 war in Yugoslavia. As recreational diversion he was involved with the operation of a hush-hush VLCC; and twice managed to salvage his ‘own’ ships, while modernising the marine organisation within Safmarine.
Later, as Director of Safmarine’s Bulk Division, he was party to the development and completion of a substantial and unique ‘counter-trade’ deal between South Africa and Romania, the building of two Capesize ships against iron ore. From there he initiated the groundbreaking business of shipping iron-ore via the Black Sea and up the River Danube as far as Linz in Austria ‒ a first. Then, the development of Iscor’s successful iron ore stockpile in the new port of Qianwan in China, an imaginative operation. As light diversion he had a hand in drafting the RSA Salvage Act and the SAMSA Act, becoming a founding director in SAMSA (the South African Maritime Safety Authority).
It was a huge accomplishment, an honour, for Okke to become President of the International Salvage Union in 1994, the first person from outside Europe ever to fill this post. Here, he actively participated in modernising the International Salvage Convention.
Having been appointed to the newly-formed panel of special casualty representatives at Lloyds of London in 1998, he found himself in regular demand at local and international maritime salvage cases ‒ quite often necessitating helicopter trips out to stranded ships heaving and lurching in heavy seas or breakers! He was one of the South African pioneers in this field, leading the way for other mariners in this country who have recently come to prominence in this area.
But what of the man? With all this energy devoted to shipping was there ever time for recreation or hobbies? Well, he learnt to fly in 1966 ‒ one adventure being in 1994 when he ‘took the stick’ of a huge Russian Mil8 chopper and flew 300 k’s from Constanta to Bucharest, much to the astonishment of the locals. In Namibia, Okke continues to experience the keen pleasure of travelling in those beautiful wide open spaces. Closer to home, he part owned and skippered a traditional wooden boat, the beautiful Elegance for ten years out of the surrounds of Cape Town. And he owns a number of impressive sailing ship models in his home in the City Bowl.
In early 2002 Okke and his wife Gudrun hosted a General Botha ‘A’ Whaler Crew reunion at their home in Vriende street, Gardens. Gudrun was a delightful hostess preparing a fine meal. Later in the evening, the crew enjoyed a screening of the Bothie 1954 movie with, for this particular viewing, the sequence featuring a one mile training race between GB ‘A’ and ‘B’ crews.
Present, with their wives, were ‘Sandy’ Sanderoff, chief officer at the Botha (later rear-admiral in the navy), Coxs’n Derek Smit, Frikkie Bester stroke, Barry Cullen midships oar, Okke 2nd bow oar and Bill Cope bow oar. Sadly, highly revered coxs’n and trainer, Instructor Jim Davis, RN, Rtrd (of “Up for a Dozen!! ‒ Heave!! And Heave!!” fame) had passed away, along with shipmate 2nd stroke oar, Clive Douglas.
There is no ‘retirement’ for Okke when it comes to marine matters! At the time of writing, he’s been a senior specialist maritime projects to SAMSA for three years, setting up far reaching maritime training programmes for SA youngsters.
In conjunction with these efforts, a highly satisfying project developed where, following a major refit and conversion to a training ship, the veteran SA Agulhas (acquiring this new lease of life) sailed on a remarkable voyage to London with 46 South African trainee cadets aboard. She called also at Tema and Abidjan en route to embark a further 16 local trainees.
Ship and crew received a huge welcome on the Thames in London, passing under Tower Bridge to berth alongside HMS Belfast in early December 2012. Paying a visit, HRH the Prince of Wales gave special attention to the cadets, chatting amiably and shaking each by the hand. On her return to Cape Town, SA Agulhas (cadets still aboard) embarked a British Polar Exploration team and then headed south to familiar polar waters, delivering them and their equipment to a sheltered inlet in Antarctica. One guess as to who, age 77, was the moving spirit and organiser behind all this!? And these two voyages were just the beginning. A man of vision, Okke has further far reaching plans to enhance the South African maritime sphere.
In recognition of his huge contribution to Maritime South Africa; at a glittering ceremony in the ‘Lookout’ at the V&A Waterfront, April 2014, SAMSA honoured Okke with their top award, ‘Maritime Maestro of the Year’. He got a standing ovation. I can tell you this: He was thrilled. Heartiest congratulations Okke.
Concurrently with these dramatic events, Okke still found time to complete a major personal goal, that of writing a book focussing on the exploits of South Africa’s two super tugs, John Ross and Wolraad Woltemade! ‘A Tug at my Heart’ was an instant success. It makes compelling reading and was recently nominated for the Mountbatten Prize.
Okke married Gudrun in 1961. They have a son, a daughter and three grandchildren. His son, Toralf, is a third generation master mariner and ship’s captain. A family distinction of which Okke is justly proud.
Master since 2000, after taking a break from tugs to be Master on a research vessel for 8 years, back on tugs again since 2013.
2018 Master of AHTS “Lombok”, living in the Cape Winelands area.
“My grandfather Robert McKie Thomson purchased a small farm outside Stellenbosh before he retired. A large family house was built that could also serve a guest house. The intention being that my father William Thomson would run the farm. All went well until February of 1941 when William was killed while serving with the SAA as an aircraft mechanic in Egypt. I was adopted by my fathers sister and her husband during 1945 and took their name Gratjios.
Robin (Robert Thomson) Gratjios, GB cadet number 1998; 1956 and 1957.”
1956 joined the S.A. Harbour Service in East London as Chief Officer on a Dredger. Later joiend the crash boat squadron at Langebaan where he served as Office in Command from 1959 to 1973 and then served as Executive Officer at SAS Wingfield. He also served on the SAS Tafelberg before being appointed Officer Commanding SAS Wingfield. His last years of service were spent in Simon’s Town as NOIC until he retired in 1984. Passed away from an aneurysm on 24/03/1990.
On leaving the Botha Les became a draughtsman with the South African Railways and was posted to Oudtshoorn. Some years later he resigned to train for the Ministry at the Bible Institute in Kalk Bay, eventually becoming Pastor of the Russell Street Baptist Church in Durban.
In 1974, while at Russell Street, Les lost his wife Mary to cancer and was left a widower with three young children. In 1975 he married Fey Simpson and subsequently, a further two children were born into the world from this second marriage.
In 2002 Les, Fey and family moved to Amberglen in Howick where they are extremely active in the local Baptist Church and at nearby Underberg where, on a part-time basis, Les serves as one of the two pastors of the Baptist Church there. Their five children have grown up and moved out into the world and Les is now the proud paterfamilias of six grandchildren.
While continuing as a Baptist minister and military chaplain, Les also worked as a radio journalist for the SABC in Durban, a career which he followed for 15 years.
“1947 Made Honourary Life Member of the Royal Cape Yacht Club Table Bay Harbour. At the time the RCYC committee wanted to honour all those members who lost their lives in the Second World War. It was decided to make members of any sons of the above who were keen on sailing. I was the only one.
My father JH Greenacre (ex Cadet 198 Term 1925/26) was lost on the HMSAS Southern Floe in February 1941.”
S.A. Harbour Service in East London.
1987 Served as Chief Officer and Master in North Sea Supply/Stand-by rescue vessels.
1988 Senior Sea Survival Instructor and Senior Research Officer for RGIT Offshore Survival centre in Aberdeen.
1992 Awarded fellowship of the Nautical Institute in for his work in rigid inflatable boat operations.
1993 Joined the Staff of the Nautical College in Fraserburgh “Driving” the Radar Simulator, teaching Class 1 + 2 Deck Officer (Fishing) and Officer of the Watch and Chief Mate Candidates
1994 retained as visiting tutor to Brunel University and Imperial College, both of London, as Marine Design Consultant tutor to post-graduate industrial design students.
1998 Appointed as author for Lloyds of London Diploma in Marine Surveying.
2003 Curriculm Leader of Maritime Studies at Banff & Buchan College Fraserburgh Scotland
2005 Sector Manager Nautical Studies at Banff & Buchan College Fraserburgh Scotland.
2010 Retired (Semi)- 2012 retained as supply lecturer in Health & Safety course delivery (including NEBOSH and IOSH)
2013 appointed by Lloyd’s Maritime Academy as Course Director for their new Course – certificate in Marine Cargo Surveying. Retired August 2014.
2000 sailed for England on his own built yacht, Spray, first leg of his round the world cruise.
Since leaving Knysna in 1999 I have sailed over 50 000 miles in my boat including several single-handed Atlantic crossings. I also delivered a fair number of other yachts usually on the East West Atlantic crossing. The planned circumnavigation did not come about due to lack of funds.
I have passed my boat on to a younger man and have moved ashore now living in a fairly remote village near the North Cornwall coast. Keeping in touch by volunteering at a nearby coast watch station and finally finishing the novel I’ve been writing.
Deceased 03/03/1995
4/78 – Invited to join the Corporation of Trinity House.
5/82 – made Freeman of the City Newcastle Upon Tyne and Freeman of England.
11/82 – The Guild of Mariners, Newcastle Upon Tyne.
1/83 – Promoted to Younger Brother Corporation of Trinity House
1/90 – Promoted to Elder Brother Corporation of Trinity House.
Member of the General and Financial Board Corporation of Trinity House, Newcastle Upon Tyne.
Member Honourable Company of Master Mariners.
1996 – returned to sea-going employment as Master with Swire Pacific Offshore.
20th August 1940 appointed second officer on the Bothie.
1946 Commanding Officer of HMSAS Bonaventure I.
Ex – S.A. Navy. Deceased 28/08/1990.
Reported in “Old Salts” 1947/48.
Was in charge (Lieutenant) of the occupation party of the H.M.S.A.S. ‘Transvaal’ on Marion Island.
Reported in “Both watcehs” 1953:
Lieutenant-Commander in S.A. Navy.
Reported in “Both Watches” 1968:
Commander in S.A. Navy.
2004 relocated to Qatar.
WWII Trooper SA Tank Corps / Gunner 11 Anti Tank Regiment SA Artillery.
1964 a carpenter in South African Railways, Pitermaritzberg, Natal.
1969 – Mate’s Certificate in Cape Town.
1969 – 72 – At U.C.T. studying Building Science (full time) – no degree.
1973 – 76 – Worked as a quantity surveyor for Groustra & Beele Construction Company in Cape Town.
1977 – 80 – Safmarine, B.O. Centre in SAECS, Container Ship Stowage Coordinating Centre.
1980 – Moved to New York and joined the National Cargo Bureau inc as a Marine Surveyor.
1981 – 83 – Marine Surveyor for “NCB” in Philadelphia, P.A.
1984 – 95 – Marine Surveyor for “NCB” in Los Angeles, Long Beach, California.
1995 – Zim Line Representative in Lond Beach California, U.S.A.
Deceased 19/08/01
Sub-Lieutenant in S.A. Navy
2005 – Master at sea with NYK.
2003 – relocated to Namibia with DBM Namibia.
2018 retired.
1958 he was commended for bravery in an attempt to save two boys from drowning.
1967 – settled ashore in Port Shepstone and joined a Furniture and Applicance Retail Business.
1971 – moved to Durban, joined the Greatermans Group.
1978 – joined game Discount World as a Store Manager in Durban.
1994 – Group Planning and Development Executive and Alternate Director with Game Discount World.
1998 retired from Game and started own business as Proejct Management of the construction of Game stores through sub-Saharan Africa. Also a property portfolio manager.
Passed away in 19th September 1958 and buried at sea on the wreck of the S.A.T.S. General Botha.
He had distinguished himself while in command of a/s (anti submarine) vessels in the Mediterranean, and his DSC had been awarded for gallantry as CO of HMSAS Southern Maid. In this tiny vessel, a converted whalecatcher, he had shielded merchantmen in convoy on the Alexandria-Tobruk run by drawing the fire of attacking enemy aircraft to his own ship.In command of HMSAS Natal:
Handed over to South African Navy on 1 March 1945 and completed on 9 March 1945 as HMSAS Natal.
Decommissioned on 1 September 1965.
Her trials completed, HMSAS Natal – launched in 1944 as HMS Loch Cree – was granted a two-day postponement of her scheduled sailing-date. Her commanding officer, (Lt.Cdr. David Alfred Hall, DSC, SANF(V)) – had asked for this on grounds that his crew needed more time to familiarise themselves with this class of vessel. Most crew members – all volunteers – had not served in purpose-built warships before. They had come off tiny whalecatchers and trawlers, converted in South African ports to serve as a/s vessels or minesweepers.
About 0900 on March 14, 1945, HMSAS Natal sailed from the Tyne, bound for Scapa Flow in the Orkneys and then for the anti-submarine training base at Tobermory, Isle of Mull. Four hours later, with the crew still shaking-down and finding their way around their new ship, a southbound vessel, Sheaf Crown, signaled urgently that a merchantman had just been torpedoed and sunk in her vicinity. This was off the east coast of Scotland, and the position given by Sheaf Crown showed that the sinking had occurred just five miles to the north of HMSAS Natal, off the fishing harbour of St Abbs near the Firth of Forth. The frigate arrived there to find survivors of the sunken vessel – later identified as the Danish cargo vessel Magne – bobbing about in a lifeboat and several life rafts.
A veteran Royal Navy V & W destroyer, HMS Wivern, was on the scene, and while Lt-Cdr Hall was offering the assistance of his newly-commissioned vessel, the frigate made a positive submarine contact off the port beam, using her new-type `sword’ Asdic scanning equipment (Set 147B) which allowed for a vertical as well as a lateral fix to be made. Loch-class frigates had also been fitted with `Squid’ – a top secret ahead-firing weapon using depth-charge mortars – and this was now used with devastating effect, with the firing of two salvos of six mortars each. These brought up a quantity of light diesel oil and pieces of wreckage. HMSAS Natal suddenly lost Asdic contact after the second attack – in which more oil and a metal tank surfaced – and it was assumed the U-boat had gone straight to the bottom.
This was later confirmed when a hunter-killer group, sent from the Tyne and led by HMS Ascension, depth-charge blasted the sea-bed at the exact position of the attack – 55.57N, 01.57W – and brought a considerable quantity of U-boat flotsam to the surface. This included a hand-carved shield depicting a diving U-boat – a memento that was sent to `Natal’ by C-in-C Rosyth who, with a Board of Admiralty headed by Admiral of the Fleet Sir Andrew Cunningham, sent signals to the frigate congratulating her on her early `kill’.
HMS Wivern claimed a share in the kill, on the basis of a depth-charge `attack’ she made later that day on an oil-slick 10 miles south of Natal’s encounter with U-714. But this was discounted by naval authorities. It was later learned that the destroyer, with her outdated equipment, had at no stage been able to make Asdic contact with the submerged U-boat and that her depth-charge `attack’ on an oil-slick later in the day had produced no wreckage. All the recognised authorities have credited HMSAS Natal solely with this successful attack. HMSAS Natal’s feat so soon after commissioning was described at the time as “unique in the annals of the Royal Navy”.
The ship received an RN battle honour (`North Sea 1945′), and a number of individual decorations were awarded, including a Bar to Lt-Cdr Hall’s DSC, won for gallantry in the Mediterranean.
HMSAS Natal had an active role in the closing stages of the Battle of the Atlantic, as part of the RN’s 8th Escort Group, after which she was sent to the Far East where in mid-1945 she took part in Operation Zipper – the Allied reoccupation of Malaya, Singapore and the Dutch East Indies. After a long and distinguished career – the latter part of it as the SA Navy’s hydrographic survey vessel – the 27-year-old `Natal’ was finally towed south of Cape Point in 1972, and sunk as a gunnery target.
See page 220 of War at Sea, author C.J. Harris.
2009 joined Svitzer harbour tugs in Milford Haven. 2013 with UKHO as Editor of Sailing Directions.
During the Rhodesia war joined the British South Africa Police Reserve anit-terrorist unit as a tracker and was awarded the silver baton decoration. Deceased 02/10/2006.
1945 was in command as Lieutenant of HMS Cumbrae, an Isles class trawler.
Photograph in album in air force uniform dated 19th November 1943.
1964 a Sergeant in the S.A. Railways & Harbours Water Police, Natal.
1981 – 84 – University of Cape Town, obtained B.Soc.Sc then B.S. (Hons) Clinical Psychology.
1985 – 87 – Travelled of which one year spent on a four masted Barrque ‘Sea Cloud’ in Mediterranean and Carribean.
1987 – 89 – at sea with Unicorn Coasters
1989 – joined Portnet.
1992 – promoted to Tug Master, Port of Cape Town.
1998 promoted to harbour Pilot in Cape Town.
1981 – 82 – Medical Sales Representative with Fisons.
1982 – 86 – Property Sales, own business.
1986 – 91 – J.V.I. Sales Manager
1992 – present (1994) – National Sales Manager, Stocks Leisure Resorts.
Deceased November 1994.
1998 – Relocated to Cape Town as Marine Surveyor with Maritech. Joined Safmarine and obtained Chief Officer Foreign Going in 1984. Came ashore and worked in Walvis Bay for a year. Studeid comptuer programming and then worked for Nedlloyd Lines for 10 years. Moved to Durban for 3 years before returning to Cape Town. Moved to Langebaan 2002 and continues as a P&I surveyor.
Chief Officer’s certificate 1974. Sailed 2nd Officer 74-78. Masters FG 1978.
Sailed as Training Officer then Chief Officer 79-80.
Joined Harbour Service end of 1980 as First Deck Officer. Spent three years in Port Control, then on various tugs in Cape Town as First Deck Officer.
Resigned from the Harbour Service March 1990 and rejoined Safmarine as Chief officer.
Final voyage Maersk Constantia as Chief Officer 05-19th April 2004.
Deceased 24/04/2004 following brief illness from 20th April 2004.
1964 was Mater of “Clan Ferguson”.
Deceased mid 2002.
Chief Officer of the tug ‘John X. Merriman’, rescued a fireman of the ‘Fort Carillon’ from drowning when he attempted to swim ashore in boisterous weather and got into difficulties.After G.B. sailed with Baron Line before joining the S.A. Harbour service. Retired as Port Captain of Cape Town Harbour.
Deceased 07/11/96
1964 First Lieutenant Naval College, rank of Lt.
1972 Commander in the S.A. Navy. Deceased 3rd July 2010.
2001 – left A.R. Brink & Associates.
1970 – Unicorn Uncertified 3rd Officer Nahoon and others
1970 – November achieved 2 NO Foreign Going
1971 – 1975 University of Cape Town Bachelor of Building Science
1974 – 1990 Brice Bros (Pty) Ltd Contractors Surveyor, Estimator, Director
1990 – 1992 Will G Hare CC Managing Forest Hill in Mowbray
1991 – 2014 Hare & Liddell Construction (Pty) Ltd Estimator, Contracts Surveyor, Contracts Director
2014 – Present (June 2020) Swartz and Umvundla Construction (Pty) Ltd Director
2003 semi retired doing occasional rig moves.
1991 – 1992 Sea Harvest – Safety office
1992 – 2008 De Beers Marine 2nd Mate – Master
2008 – Present Transocean – Present Master / OIM
1934 promoted to Junior Cadet Captain.
At Bothie: JCC, 1st Class Extra for Seamanship good conduct binoculars.
1935 apprentice Clan Line, Clan Macdougall – Commodore Ship. 2nd Mates 1938. Served as 4th Mate. April 1939, Bullard King as 4/0, 3/0, & 2/0. Aug 1940 joined SDF as Sub Lt. Command of Minesweeper April 1941, promoted Lt Oct 1942. Special duty USA 42/43. 1946 transferred to SANF (PF). 2nd Officer of Royal Guard of honour when King George VI visited SA. Steamed HMSAS Bloemfontein from UK as 1st LT. May ’52 joined Lake Marine Service on Victoria Nyanza. Then Master EaCoast. 1955 returned deep sea, Far East run and then coasters to 1959. 1960-63 Standard Vacuum Far Eastern Fleet. 1963-1971 Marine Diamond Corporation.
1971-1975 Coasters and Fishery vessels. 1975 – 1982 Marine Diamond finishing as Marine Supterintendent. Wrote & Published “War at Sea” 1991. Shipping Journalist. Deceased 07/09/93.
June 1986 – transferred to Saftug, Wolrade Woltamade, 3/O & 2/O
February 1988 – joined Sea Fisheries. 2/O on Africana.
June 1989 – Chief Officer on Africana
May 1994 – Appointed releiving Master on Africana and S.A. Agulhas.
August 1995 – joined Safmarine container vessel planning Department (MARSCC).
Later returned to sea as Master with Maersk.
Died of heart failure 16/02/97
He served in S.A.R.& H. ships originally, moving to a Norwegian Company and eventually Safmarine. He also worked as a Rigger and in Stevedoring in Durban. He subsequently joined African Coasters and after gaining his Master’s Certificate joined the Harbour Service as Pilot until his retirement on 1st May 1988.
1964 Manager of an insurance company, Krugersdorp, Transvaal.
Deceased 20/04/2010.
1961 joined Safmarine until 1964 followed by five years with MacAndrews & Co, of London. After obtaining Masters Certificate was Cargo Handling Superintendent of Mersey Docks & Harbour Co, Liverpool, 1969 – 82
1982 – 87 worked in various ports in Saudi Arabia as a Cargo Superintendent and Training Consultant to the Port Management.
1987 returned to England and worked for St Martins Prop. Corp, London Bridge City, before returning to Liverpool with a Security Company, Littlewoods Pools. 1995 security, Sefton Council Liverpool .
After Bothie joined Shaw, Savill & Albion Co. Ltd – The Shaw Savill Line and achieved Chief Officer rank. 1963 was second officer on the Department of Sea Fisheries vessel Sardinops.
Thereafter and up to 1967, Bob was working for an entrepreneur named Ernie Bisogno who owned Maritime Fisheries. Ernie bought the corvette HMS Rockrose (see http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5547.html) It was reclassified as a merchant ship renamed Justin. Bob had the job of managing the conversion of the ship into a tuna fishing vessel equipped with refrigeration holds and apparatus to use longline fishing methods to catch the tuna. From early 1964 the Justin was successfully being used in Cape deep waters catching tuna. In 1965, he continued to work for Ernie Bisogno on land in Paarden Island, Cape Town where Bob set up a factory to process and dry freeze the tuna for local and export sales. In 1967, Bob became a sales representative selling wholesale top line imported toys such as Dinky, Scalextric, Fischer Technix, Marklin trains, etc. In 1970, Bob started his own business in a historic building on the corner of Adderley Street and Long Market Street, Cape Town selling Art Posters retail and imported art quality from prints from museums in Amsterdam and prints in Milan to art shops in the main cities in South Africa. The following year he started up an additional arm of the business in Buitengracht Street Cape Town. Deceased 18/11/1974.
I was introduced by a family friend to Manley Kapelus who was then senior partner at Deneys Reitz, one of the big four law firms in South Africa with a large shipping department. I went to ask for his advice on what shoreside prospects there were other than becoming a stevedore foreman or surveyor. As Manley recounted years later, he thought I was an interesting young man and he told me that I needed to get a law degree and then come and see him. He never expected to hear from me again. I read for a BA with majors in English and law and then for an LLB at the University of Witwatersrand from 1989 to 1993. I contacted Manley again and asked him what I needed to do next and his reply was; “Well, I suppose you better join us in Durban.” I served my articles in the Durban shipping team and have been with the firm ever since. On admission, I was made partner, due to my advanced age and experience.
Most of my practice revolves around casualty work. I have been involved in most of the casualties off the South African coast and the Indian Ocean over the last 25 odd years. We generally act for the insurers of the cargo or the Hull & Machinery insurers of the ship and the P&I Clubs that carry the ship’s liability.
My practice has taken me to arbitrations in New York, London and Singapore and to litigation in many other jurisdictions.
Deneys Reitz morphed into Norton Rose Fulbright which is a global firm consisting of about 4,000 lawyers in 51 different countries. I currently head up the transport team and shipping team of Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa Inc.
During my time at what is now Norton Rose Fulbright, I was admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa and as a solicitor of the Courts of England and Wales. I served as President of the Maritime Law Association and am currently on a number of its technical sub-committees. I am proud that our shipping team is consistently ranked in Legal500 and Chambers as a leading team and was pleasantly surprised last year to be listed by Legal500 as one of the leading shipping lawyers in South Africa.
After G.B. decided to become an Accountant. 1976, achieved B.Compt. Financial Manager of Deneys Reitz Attornies, 2015 company change to NORTON ROSE FULBRIGHT.
M.S. HARVEY 1958/59 #2106. Chris Miles’ [class of 1959/60] neighbour happens to be the widow of Mark Harvey. Realising that our historical records did not have any detail of Mark, Chris asked Sandy to write this for us. “After leaving the General Botha Mark spent several years at sea but had already met Christine Dabrowska whom he married and together had 4 children (Anne, Susan, David and Lisa). Due to the demands of family life Mark then came ashore and pursued a career as a Marine Surveyor working in the early days with Peter Stacy and later became an associate of Barry Borland. Sadly Christine became very ill with cancer and leaving Mark with a young family, died in the early 1980’s. In 1983 Mark reunited with a childhood friend, Sandra Mise (nee’ Nicholls) with whom he had grown up in Cape Town. A strong bond developed and they spent 17 loving years together ultimately getting married. During this period Mark was offered a position with Polaris Shipping Company, where he worked until his death. In 1977 Mark had a setback with his health when he was diagnosed with a malignant tumor of the jaw. After major surgery he made a remarkable recovery but 18 months later was once again plagued with further cancer. He tragically passed away at home at the age of 58 years on Easter Saturday. 22nd April 2000. Mark leaves behind his second wife Sandy, four children of his own, one stepdaughter, 7 grandchildren and brothers Peter and Michael and treasured friends.” R.E. YEO 1930/31 #504.
1958 – 1959 – Durban Lines, Chief Officer
1959 – 1992 – Harbour Service (Portnet), Tug Mate & Master, Pilot, Assistant Port Captain & Port Captain. Transferred to Johannesburg in 1988 as Manager, Marine Operations. Promoted to Senior Manager, Marine Services, in 1991. This is the top job in Portnet’s Marine hierarchy.
Reported retired end 1996 from Portnet.
“Details of my time at Portnet head office in JHB.I took over from Ted Pagè as Director and Marine Services in 1991,about and a year later Transnet was split into separate business units, we became Portnet,and I then became Executive Manager Marine Services. About a year later I took over the management of the lighthouse department which had been managed by our head office engineering office. When I retired in November 1996, I retired as Executive Manager Marine Services/Lighthouse Services.”
First joined Union Castle as cadet and later sailed on Mobil tankers. Finally swallowed the anchor in 1979 after 4 years as master on tramp ships out of Hong Kong, and after a spell as MD of various companies within Leo Raphaely and Sons, wandered off into the realms of various so-called entrepreneurial ventures, mainly in the project management field. 2015 retired in Bathurst and have an acupuncture/healing practice, and teach art. Deceased 1st June 2016.
1978 – 79 commanded military medical personnel in Namibia.
1980 – 81 Staff Officer to the surgeon General in Pretoria, to OC Witwatersrand Medical Command.
1982 – 86 Officer Commanding Natal Medical Command. 1986 relocated to Ontario, Canada. Teaching medicine, drafting policies and serving on medical boards for the Government of Canada. In 1994 served with a field hospital in war torn Rwanda. Treated 22 000 patients in 3 months and 1996 in medical research.
1999 working for Health Canada. 2007 retired.
Colin Harwood – ORDER and MEDALS in sequence:
International and Canadian
1. Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, Commander Grade (worn around the neck). Awarded ± 1999, for 23 years of dedicated volunteer service to the St John Ambulance Brigade.
2. Special Service Medal with Humanitas Bar, for service with the Canadian Forces in Rwanda, 1994.
3. Queens 50th Jubilee Medal for volunteer service as National Medical Officer and National Commissioner, St John Ambulance, awarded 2003.
South African
4. Southern Cross Medal for exceptionally meritorious service and particular devotion to duty in Angola (Oct 1976).
5. Pro Patria Medal with Cunene Bar for service in defence of the republic or the suppression of terrorism (Apr 1977). Cunene bar for Angola service against the communist forces.
6. SADF Good Service Medal (Silver) for 20 years good service in the SADF.
7. SADF Good Service Medal (Bronze) for 10 years good service in the SADF.
8. Chief of the SADF Medal for ‘service above and beyond ….’ during the 1980-1981 cholera epidemic in Zululand.
9. St John Ambulance Service Medal with 2 bars for 22 years of service in St John Ambulance Brigade (last bar 2009).
Serving in the South African Marine Corporation’s ship Constantia.
1984 – 1990 Portnet Richards Bay on tugs and dredgers.
1991- Iscor/ArcelorMittal Port Operations & Logistics.
2015 retired.
November 1999 to February 2016. Worked for Pentow Marine, Smit Pentow Marine, Smit and Smit Mozambique.
I was Mooring Master / Marine Advisor / STS Superintendent / Marine Operations Manager with them. Worked in Cape Town, Mosselbay, Coega, Durban, Saldanha Bay, EBT Oil field, Sudan, Ghana and Beira. Interesting jobs ranging from the Alina 2 cargo salvage, Drillship bunkering, STS work and general SBM operations at various oil tanker terminals. Probably the most interesting was planning, refurbishing, installing and commissioning the old Durban SBM offshore Beira for coal operations. Interesting and challenging.
April 2016. Working for Safe STS, a Diss, UK based company as Mooring Master / POAC / STS Superintendent. Was sent to Trondheim Norway for a simulator course to learn the finer points in STS operations and ship handling before being let loose on the real thing. This was after a period of training under an experienced Mooring Master. Also another very interesting job and very satisfying. In “land lubbers terms” parallel parking two vessels next to each other at sea and transferring cargo from one to the other. The cargo includes LPG, gasoil and crude oil.
Hopefully this job will take me through to retirement. Whenever that might be.
Rejoined Unicorn Lines in 1981 and served in various senior operational and commercial management capacities until resigned in 1997 to establish Diamond Shipping Ships Agency Company in South Africa. Sold shareholding in Diamond Shipping in 2001 and bought into Spanfreight Shipping [ships agency]. Name subsequently changed to Mainport Africa Shipping.
As shareholder/managing director developed the company into niche market specialising in predominantly break bulk, project , heavy lift and IMO cargoes. Mainport Africa Shipping represents a number of European heavy lift, project, break bulk carriers in Southern Africa.
Similarly during this period also established Kestrel Maritime PTY LTD as commercial agents/cargo brokers , and 3pl project logistics providers dealing mainly with heavy lift , project, abnormal and break bulk cargoes. Also shareholder/managing director in this company based in Durban.
2014 formed Africahawk Maritime providing similar shipping services.
1964 an accountant in Natal.
2014 moved to Grahamstown as Dealer Principal of Market Square VW.
His death was presumed on 18th August 1944, when reported as missing after air operations.
Award promulgated in the ‘London Gazette’ dated 23rd June 1942. Distinguished Flying Cross.
On finishing at the Botha Peter returned to Port Elizabeth, where he went straight into the family painting and decorating business (Hayes Decorators). He eventually took over the business and ran it until his (semi)-retirement, leaving his son John to carry on the family tradition.
Peter married Marion Fuller of Port Elizabeth in 1963 and in addition to John they have a daughter, also living in Port Elizabeth.
Deceased 18th June 2021.
Apprenticed to Hall Line.
1964 Senior Harbour Pilot in Walvis Bay.
Reported deceased.
2005 Marine pilot at Nelson, New Zealand.
2007 Harbour pilot for Flinders Ports, Australia, based in Port Pirie.
Cape Town Harbour Pilot March 1994.
Retired.
Sailed with Union Castle and Smith’s Coasters.
Deceased 26/08/2001.
Between May1979 and December 1983 I was with the SAR&H in Cape Town, and from January 1984 to June 1987 I was a land lord working for Charrington Breweries in the UK.
I was appointed as Master in September 94 in my second spell at sea.
Came back to SA as a ‘learner official mining’ – Venterspost.
After a few other jobs, joined Burroughs Machines as a computer technician.
Became Director Customer Service, first for Switzerland, and then for SA.
Moved to Sales and was GM for Public Sector.
Left after 28 years due to dis-investment and reinvestment trauma with Unisys (the old Burroughs). Various other jobs, till retired in February 2007.
“I had finished normal schooling in Paarl Boys High with Junior Certificate.
My family lived in Saldanha Bay and were friendly with most of the military officers up there, Cdr ‘Chips’ Biermann included.
I was in the first Bothie intake of engineering cadets (E9) under Lt Guy.
Bothie was a magnet for me as I wanted to follow in my brothers footsteps. When my father (BoB RAF pilot) asked me what I wanted to ‘do’, I had no idea. He thought I was suited to engineering. I had seen the Bothie discipline and the less attractive side of my brother’s experience at Bothie. But I was still determined to follow him. I was assigned to Foc’sle? and was ‘selected’ as batman (chum) to the now ‘Old Salt’ Hannes Smit (Smitty) who had been my brother’s batman, and who certainly assisted me to have a better time of it at Bothie. We were in the perhaps unfortunate change-over years from Captain Leggassick to Cdr. Biermann and the arrival of the first SANDF intake on the Gordons Bay campus.
We had many great times pulling cutters and whalers and I seem to recall pulling against the SA Navy at Simon’s Town. I hated the cutters because I was always ‘bows’ with the shortest space to the gunwale and hence the heaviest oars! Climbing up the GB anchor to clean and paint it on the mountain side. And one of our number catching a fairly large shark while fishing from a whaler. Many good times at Bothie. Morning PT with PTI ‘slimey eye’ Smith, lots of press-ups and Bothie hops.
As an Engineering Cadet my ship visits consisted of one visit to a coal fired coaster and it’s boiler room, as well as one visit to the Salt River Railway Works, both of which put me off the whole thought of going to sea. Despite our Bothie training, we would have had to do a five year apprenticeship with a remission of six months at some workshop concern like Salt River Railway Works. No chance. It would have been better to offer us a Midshipman apprenticeship at sea or further training at some sea-going establishment, even the SA Navy. But it wasn’t to be, probably because of being the first intake to a new discipline.
My folks departed for the UK at about my time of leaving Bothie so I tagged along. My dad having been a Battle of Britain fighter pilot, I determined to join the RAF. Unfortunately, due to only obtaining Senior Certificate from Bothie, I did not qualify for a Commission in the RAF. So I joined in the Ranks as an ‘Erk’. However, having some aptitude I got a full choice of trades so went for the top trades of Airborne Radar and Radio. After the usual square-bashing camp, where I was told I marched like camel, (and I thought I was so smart at Bothie!!). Eventually I was sent off to technical training. Having signed up for 20 years, I spent almost five years in that trade in the RAF, always trying to get that illusive Commission, finishing up as a Junior Tech (one inverted chevron/lance corporal). Despite have written two GCE’s in that time in English and Maths there was still no chance of a Commission. I bought myself out.
Marrying in the UK I gravitated back to South Africa as a learner official mining for Gold Fields in Ventersdorp. That was the time of the sink-holes, so decided against that idea and instead returned to my ‘trade’ of airborne radio and any other engineering job on aircraft at Youngsfield in Wynberg Cape Town.
After a couple of years it soon became too repetitive with no higher prospects, so tried household radio repairs in Stellenbosch. However, I was soon kicked out by the Post Office who said I was not qualified for their type of radios! RAF/military certificates did not count in the SAPO Civvy street.
I then found a job with Burroughs Machines (a US Corporate) in Cape Town fixing mechanical adding machines, but always with an eye to getting into electronic computers. My RAF electronics helped in this regard. Most of the balance of my career (over 25 years) was with that Company or as it was known by its other names, Unisys which changed to Unidata after disinvestment. I stayed with Unidata and went back to Unisys again, after they eventually reinvested when they found out that there was not going to be a ‘bloodbath’ here in SA. In the process our Company had absorbed Memorex and Sperry-Univac Corporations as we tried to rise above the other small IT Companies, with only IBM bigger than ourselves.
I rose through the technical ranks to Technical Manager for SA on the computer side rather than mechanical accounting machines. At a point I was Engineering Branch Manager in Pretoria and bumped into my Old Salt and now friend, Hannes Smit (Smitty) who was one of my many customers. He was the then Chief Director and manager of the large government computer facility, Numerus. Small World. Thereafter, I did a few overseas postings, one managing Yugoslavia out of Vienna Austria managing a huge computer installation (64 systems) in that country, fortunately long before both country and computer installations disintegrated. From there I took charge of the Unisys whole of Eastern Europe (behind the Iron Curtain) including Russia. My other ‘overseas’ posting was to Switzerland as that Country Engineering Director, after which I returned to SA as GM Engineering and eventually Director of Customer Services for Unisys (old Burroughs) South Africa. In the process I had travelled the world and visited most Continents and many Countries all of which had been by air. So, I had managed to travel the World as much as I would have had I gone to sea.
At that point I had been successful enough in engineering and wished to move on. I tried sales in Pretoria, but eventually left (after reinvestment by Unisys) and took a retrenchment package. Thereafter I had short spells in other IT Companies such a Olivetti, Infotech and National Data Systems (NDS/NCR).
I did some management consulting and had a hand in the merger between Commercial Union Insurance and Protea Insurance reverse takeover in Cape Town. I finished my career in a start-up company installing IT networks in office blocks and parks called Building Intelligence as GM and Admin Manager in Westlake, Cape Town.”
1998 Constultant in the Freight Container Transport Business.
2001 with Logical Solutions – Shipping Consultancy.
1930 Recipient of presentation by British Tanker Co., Ltd, for gallant behaviour on occasion of violent explosion in M.V. Britich Chemist, in which he was serving as apprentice.
John was born in 1926 in West Ham, London. Since his father was at sea with Ellerman & Bucknall (on the Durban to India and Burma voyages), his family were seeing very little of him. Consequently, they solved this problem by moving from England to Durban when John was 8yrs old!
At the age of fourteen John attended the General Botha training ship, Simonstown, between 1940 and 1942 (at that time the usual period of attendance was 2 – 2 1/2yrs). Whilst on the ship he remembers seeing the QUEEN MARY and the old QUEEN ELIZABETH 1 bunkering in Simon’s Bay, en route from the UK to Suez, with thousands of troops on board bound for Egypt. Twenty years later he was piloting both of these ships in the Solent Waters!
He went to sea as a cadet, his first ship being THE CITY OF LINCOLN (Apr 1943 -May 1944 ) an Ellerman & Bucknall’s new build, trading on the South African coast, then back to the UK.
In May 1944 he joined FORT TADOUSAC as a cadet and remained on board until March 1945 (not much leave!) She traded between Liverpool, South Africa and the USA. Then a couple of months on the EMPIRE PENDENNIS, before studying for his Second Mate’s Certificate (no 54146 ). In Sept 1945 John joined the CITY OF LINCOLN again and served on her as fourth officer for 3 months. He was NOT on board when she ran aground at Quoin Point, C.P and was a total constructive loss!
After a whole 10 days leave (!), he joined the DURBAN CASTLE in Dec 1945 at Southampton, as fourth officer, hoping he would get to see more of his parents in South Africa (who were by then managing the Rotunda Hotel in Camps Bay). However, when John arrived at Southampton, he was immediately sent to the upper deck to conduct sailing day boat drill, only to be confronted by over 800 war brides bound for Australia and New Zealand! His trip to see his parents back in S.A was scuppered! John recalls that sadly there were several women who were not met on arrival. They were given three options: to return with the ship back to England, to stay there permanently as a citizen of Australia (or New Zealand) or to be given 3 months stay (at Government expense) to search for the husbands who failed to turn up to meet them.
In February 1946 John joined SAMTRENT at Bombay (mainly trading in the Far East) and remained on board until Jan 1947 when he disembarked at Avonmouth. After some (well earned!) leave he joined WARWICK CASTLE (a new build) at Belfast, signing on as fourth officer and after a round trip, signed off at Southampton. In July 1947 he joined SAMSTEEL, a lease lend ship (Liberty ship, built in the US) as third officer. Seven weeks later he left at Mobile, having returned her to the US Government. This meant a four day journey from south to north of the USA, from Mobile to Halifax, Canada by train, returning to the UK via a passage on passenger ship AQUITANIA as a DBS (Distressed British Seaman).
Once back in the UK, John joined ATHLONE CASTLE at Southampton in Dec 1947 as fourth officer. He then studied for his First Mate’s Ticket (chief officer’s cert), qualifying in Aug 1948.
In Nov 1948 John joined RUSTENBURG CASTLE at Glasgow serving as second officer thereafter, until Apr 1950. She was a fruit ship trading between South africa and the UK, and sometimes to the USA.
June 1950 saw him join EDINBURGH CASTLE and then later that year,after a month’s leave, he joined CAPE TOWN CASTLE as fourth officer, disembarking in Feb 1951. After 11 days leave, second officer Henderson joined RIEBEECK CASTLE at Victoria Docks, London and, after 5 months,disembarked at Rotterdam in July 1951. Another short spell of leave and John joined the RUSTENBURG CASTLE at Hull as second officer, for coastal voyage experience whist studying and taking written and oral exams for his Master’s Certificate.
His next trip was on ARUNDAL CASTLE, sailing from Southampton in Dec 1951. After one round trip to South Africa he left the vessel at Southamton in Jan 1952 and travelled to Belfast to join a brand new ship, KENYA CASTLE, as she came out of Harland and Wolff Shipyard on Feb 15th 1952 John recalls that there was a fair amount of work involved in getting the charts in order and checking instruments such as the gyro compass. Thereafter, he served as second officer for over a year,before leaving her in Mar 1953.
After a whole 8 days leave, he then joined ROXBURGH CASTLE at Victoria Docks, London as chief officer (promotion!) and remained on board until Sept 1953. Within this period he was promoted to Master after the previous Captain crushed his hand and had to be hospitalised ashore in Trinidad.This led to John’s first command.
In Nov 1953 he joined WINCHESTER CASTLE as second officer for one round trip. Between Jan 1954 and Apr 1955 he was second officer on several more of the Union Castle ships: STIRLING CASTLE, PRETORIA CASTLE, and ATHLONE CASTLE.
In Nov 1955 John joined EDINBURGH CASTLE as first officer. This was a memorable voyage since it was here that he met his wife to be, Joan. Joan Lister was serving on board as Children’s Hostess, a new appointment for the company. They first set eyes on each other during the crew life boat drill, which John was conducting. He stopped in front of Joan and tugged firmly at her lifejacket, saying “Too loose – tighten that up!” Not the most subtle chat up line – and not very well received! However, they did become ‘an item’ during the voyage, and it wasn’t long before news of their romance reached the Captain. John was called to the bridge whereupon he was asked as to whether a “close friendship” had developed between himself and Miss Lister. Consequently, due to company policy, he found himself leaving Union Castle’s most prestigious ship (Commodore ship) and being given ‘promotion’ as chief officer on board KENILWORTH CASTLE, whilst Joan remained in the lap of luxury aboard EDINBURGH CASTLE!
Both John and Joan signed off their respective ships in July 1956, were married at Lytham St Annes, Lancashire in Sept 1956, and have recently celebrated their 56th Wedding Anniversary. Whoever said that shipboard romances never last!
Having been on the waiting list for a vacancy in the UK Pilot service, with perfect timing, he was offered a place with the Isle of Wight and Southampton Trinity House Pilotage Service. He and Joan moved to Bembridge on the Isle of Wight and John remained in pilotage until he retired in 1989.
During this time 22 years were as a Choice pilot for Cunard, piloting all the ‘Queens,’ starting with the old QUEEN MARY. On one occasion having to be flown out by helicopter to the QE2 (en route to Southampton) during very bad weather conditions in the English Channel.
The liner had met a south-westerly gale in the North Atlantic, almost all the way across from New York and was delayed by four hours. In order to reach Southampton in time to catch the tides, and minimise the delay, a short cut was taken through the Western Solent via The Needles(as opposed to round the Isle of Wight), a narrower, shallower channel and a route that the liner had only ever used once before. When she arrived off The Needles the wind and sea conditions were such that it would have been impossible for the pilot launch to put to sea, let alone for the pilot to make a sea transfer on to the ship. The Cunard company requested help from the search and rescue helicopter service at HMS DAEDALUS, Lee-onSolent, since, with a steep sea due to the ebbing tide and a south-westerly gale of 30 knots, any other means of boarding the ship would have been impossible. John was airlifted by the helicopter from the beach at Bembridge, Isle of Wight, flown out to the liner and winched down onto the after deck. An experience that he found very interesting!
After retiring in 1989, John filled his well-earned leisure time with several pastimes: he pursued a PPL after taking up flying lessons in a Cessna and devoted more time toward his existing interest in collecting cigarette cards, stamps and postcards that featured merchant ships only and became a prominent breeder of the Australian Gouldian finch.
John returned to South Africa with Joan in the late eighties for a holiday (and trip down memory lane!), visiting Durban and Cape Town. Whilst there they visited the shore-based General Botha College, which replaced the ship that was sadly taken out to sea and sunk after being used by the S.A Navy as target practise.
He remembers several of the instructors from his time on GENERAL BOTHA: Mr.’Chick’ Chapman, P.T.I (given this nickname because of the two Bantams tatooed on his feet, having been Bantam weight champion boxer of the Royal Navy), Mr. Flack, Seamanship /Signals and Captain-Superintendent J. Pennington.
John enjoyed his life at sea and his shore-based pilotage career, and felt that he was lucky enough to have the best of both worlds.
1964 a director of a etsate agency, Johannesburg.
Deceased 21/09/1971.
Shortly after “Katrina” in 2005 ISC relocated headquarters to Mobile Alabama, transferred within the company again as Director of Operations – CG Railway a company that runs a rail ferry service carrying approx. 115 rail cars between Mobile and Coatzacoalcos Mexico. (cgrailway.com) 2016 retired.
75 – 76 – 3rd Officer
77 – 79 – 2nd Officer,
79 – 82 – Commanding Officer
1982 – 86 – Cargo Superintendent with SAECS/Transatlantic RORO Service
1987 – Chief Officer on Safmarine Container Vessels
1988 – Cargo Superintendent with SAECS RORO Service
1988 – 99 – Bunker Purchasing Manager & Dry Bulk Operations. Safmarine.
December 1999 to June 2001 – FFS Refiners, Cape Town Branch, Administration Manager and Operations Manager to April 2003. Thereafter Independent Marine Consultant, training, assessment and certification.
Vice Chairman GBOBA Cape Town Branch and GBOBA Bursary Fund board member.
Deceased 11th September 2002.
2007 CEO of MPDC = Maputo Port Development Company , the port authority for Maputo.
2013 based in Maputo heading a company exporting Iron Ore out of Swaziland.
2013 Opened consulting company Port Consult Lda based in Maputo, focusing on Port and Maritime Logistics in Africa.
Set up and then ran the Rail and Port operations for the export of Iron Ore from Swaziland for King Mswati, through Maputo and Richards Bay.
2016 Semi retired, moved to Eastbourne UK.
2021 Still doing occasional consulting work.
After Bothie joined Shell tankers as Cadet.
1965 joined Safmarine as Third Officer on the South African Victory.
Deceased 30th June 2020.
“I joined a South African subsidiary, of Royal Interocean Line, the cargo ship Jupiter Sun, ex Straat Cook, on the S. Africa to S. America cargo run.
We returned home where I joined the S.A.R & H. i.e. the harbour service, driving a 1936 built coal fired, twin screw triple expansion steam tug called the TS Ericksen.
1975-76 joined Rennies Stevedoring in Durban. Thereafter joined S.A. Container Depots as Operations Manager at their Johannesburg depot.
At the end of the contract with SACD I was offered a job running a couple of Liquor stores in the city of East London, in the Eastern Cape.
I did this for a couple of years, when I was approached by the South African Breweries, who enabled me to establish my own liquor business.
To cut a long story short, I ended up owning an hotel, 4 liquor stores in various locations, and a restaurant, a take away and a plant nursery. 2001 emigrated to Australia and opened businesses there and eventually a compass adjuster after selling the businesses.”
December 1968 joined Rennies Coasters/Green “R” Line as Second Officer. Was Second Officer on the m.v. Griqualand when she was sunk by gunfire from HMS Didp in 1970 after an explosion and fire in the cargo. My sextant is still in her chartroom.
1973 – Swallowed the anchor and joined the SABC. Finished up in their TV Outside Broadcast Departmetn as a lighting engineer and otuside production planner.
1993 – returned to sea with Marine Diamond. Sailed on the ‘Louis G. Murray.’
2000 teaching computers in New Zealand.
Due to his colour blindness Rodney became a marine engineer. After completing his apprenticeship with James, Brown & Hamer he eventually became the youngest Chief Engineer with Safmarine. Later did two years marine surveying before joining S.A.R. & H. Harbour Service retiring in 1988 as Senior Marine Superintendent Engineer in Richards Bay harbour.
1988 – 91 – Portnet Durban Marine Deck Officer
1991 – Portnet Saldanha Tug Master
1994 – Portnet Durban, Tug Master
1996 promoted to harbour pilot.
1964 Tug Master in Durban Harbour.
Previously Port Captain of East London and Cape Town. Retired in 1982. Deceased 13/01/2004.
Reported in S.A.T.S. Magazine No.3 1937: with Royal Fleet Auxiliary.
After passing his masters, he worked in the Safmarine head office as assistant to their cargo superintendent before returning to sea as mate in the South African Venture, followed in quick succession by the SA Hexrivier, SA Zebedelia, SA Trader and SA Alphen.
Such dedicated service led to command of the SA Merchant, followed by the SA Letaba, SA Sugela, SA Nederburg and finally the SA Huguenot. After six years as master, Ernie called it a day in 1978 leaving Safmarine to join the Harbour Service where he was appointed to Cape Town as chief officer in the tugs, before spending two years as port liaison officer, finally being promoted tug master.
He officially retired in 1997 but returned to work the following day as a casual tug master, before finally retiring in 2001. During all this time, Ernie ran aground only once and experienced one collision, both times while a cadet in the President Brand. A truly remarkable record, which he attributes to bearing in mind the old nautical saying that ‘A collision at sea can ruin your entire day!’
Deceased August 2015.
Bishop Christopher Gregorowski: Arnold gave the commercial world his best efforts; clearly not to his satisfaction for in 1958, surprising family and friends, he enrolled at St. Paul’s Theological College in Grahamstown and entered his new calling with enthusiasm and dedication! He was ordained deacon in Cape Town in 1960, priest in 1961.
Arnold married Jill in 1960. Friends praise Jill’s great influence on the previously ‘wild’ Arnold! In due course they became proud parents to Catherine, Stephen and Judith-Anne.
He was rector at St. Martins-in-the-Fields, Durban North, before transferring to St. Georges, Parktown, Johannesburg. Arnold found his niche in the Ministry; he possessed an extraordinary personal dynamism, always full of energy, larger than life, a debonair and dashing personality with unbounded reserves of compassion. Not surprisingly, in every parish in which he ministered, Arnold drew people in and his congregations always increased!
It was through his efforts that Bryanston was declared a new parish, with Arnold being appointed rector of the beautiful St. Michael and All Angels in 1970.
In 1989 Arnold and Jill emigrated to England where Arnold became rector of St. Nicholas Church, Wickham, in the Diocese of Portsmouth. On lighter note, a request came for Arnold to lead the memorial service for the late Sir Harry Oppenheimer, a devout parishioner of his in Parktown, Johannesburg. It was to be at St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square. He readily agreed and asked Nicky Oppenheimer: “I would like Jill to be with me please ‒ as you know, she knew Sir Harry well.” But a last-minute delay arose in Wickham on the day they were due to catch the train up to London ‒ and the next train would not have got them there in time. Not a problem for Nicky Oppenheimer! A helicopter was dispatched and then, following the course of the Thames, Arnold and Jill were whisked up to London, landing on Anglo-American’s corporate tower block! Johnny Hirst was clearly considered to be just the right man to conduct the service. They were booked into the Savoy that evening and when he happened to mention that the following day was their wedding anniversary, the immediate reaction was to book them in for a second night! Arnold described this as his most exciting visit to London. Faithful colleague, exuberant raconteur, wonderful human being. Deceased 22nd May 2007.
Prizes won: second prize in non-technical subjects and geogrpahy.
Was apprenticed to Anglo Saxon Petroleum Company, m.v. Cardita.
Born 13th February 1913. Died at Curacao, Dutch West Indies, on 6th January 1933.
Reported in S.A.T.S. Magazine No.3 1937: had the harrowing experience of falling overboard unseen and of being rescued an hour later, when he was found to be missing and the ship turned back in its tracks. To our regret this promising youth shortly afterwards succumbed to severe appendicitis after an operation in Curacao.
1944- 1948 – Bank Line (S.A. – India – Far East)
1948 – 1950 – Jardine Matheson & Co (China Coast)
1950 – 1951 – Bank Line (SA – Far East)
1952 – Obtained Masters Certificate in U.K. settled in Australia.
1953 – 1964 – Howard Smith Ltd (Australian Coast & 6 years as Wharf Superintendent)
1964 – 1987 – Training Division of Shipowners and Stevedoring Employers Association of Australia.
Retired 1987. During Late 1960’s was instrumental in forming the Australian branch of G.B.O.B.A. & was Secretary until 1987.
Deceased 17th September 2019.
1970 came ashore in various maintenance fitter jobs and did a stint on Tristan du Cunha as Factory Manager of the Island’s Lobster Fishery.
1979 immigrated to Australia and worked in various fitter jobs until requalified with an Australian certificate. Joined BHP Transport in 1988 and served on various ship types including a hot pitch carrier.
1998 serving as first engineer on an LNG Tanker.
Australia did not recognise my SA certificates so started all over again. I finished with a Combined Ist Class Steam and Motor, endorsed for Chemical and LNG tankers. After ’98 I continued serving on the NWS LNG tankers until retirement 2001. I joined the Sydney Heritage Fleet 1991 as a volunteer and since I was still seafaring, my volunteering, was crewing on a restored steam tug and steam yacht that were hired out for functions. I wanted to qualify as a stoker, but as they were very short of certificated engineers so I spent more time at the controls than wielding a shovel and slice. Once retired, volunteering at SHF shipyard became my principle interest, I was shown the engine room of a 1913 steam harbour ferry (1000 passengers). (During 1958/9 the steam plant was removed and a 8cyl, two stroke, Crossely diesel was installed.) The restoration work is ongoing. When not volunteering other interests are surfing and motor cycling.
Passed away in Finland mid 1980s.
1964 a mine surveyor, lived in Orange Free State.
SA Lines Third Mate m.v. Aelo renamed “Kaapland” 1948 – 1950.
2nd Mate s.s. Damaraland, S.A. Lines, 1950 – 1951
2nd Mate m.v. Inchanga Bank Line 1952.
Mate Thesens Coasters 1953 – 1954.
February 1955 obtained masters F.G. at Cape Town. Promoted Master Thesens Coasters.
November 1955 joined Harbour Service. Luderitz and Port Elizabeth, Tug Mate.
1963 – 1967 – East London, Master bucket dedger Sir Thomas Pricey, Tug F. Schermbrucker and Acting Pilot.
1967 – 1977 – Cape Town Harbour Pilot
1977 – 1987 – Assistant Port Captain. Then retired.
Deceased end of 2015.
Went to sea with Blue Star Line. Came ashore for second mate’s 1959.
Whilst on study leave he had the misfortune to be the victim of a random act of violence, whilst driving along Buitensingle. He had the driver’s window of his car open when an unknown person lobbed a half-brick at his car. This entered through the open window and struck Neville on the head, injuring him for life and putting an end to his sea career.
Thereafter employed for 10 years at the Training Centre for Seamen, Cape Town. Deceased 26th March 2015.
During WWII as a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy he commanded the minesweeper T23 (a converted antartic whaler) based in Cape Town. Sailed it under jury rig around the Cape when the engines failed. Eventually became Managing Director of his own real estate agency in Cape Town, Steer and Company. Deceased 1989.
Quote from the book “A name among seafaring men”, page 52:
“I was in the Cambrian Line, the one which was out to break the Conference Lines. Of course, the depression broke them. I was in the Cambrian Princess when we went into mothballs at Antwerp. A job as quartermaster with Hall Line was as much as I could hope for, and finally we were steering ships from Liverpool to Grareloch for laying up.
Then I was employed in shuttling their Lascar crews about. They had to be returned home every two years. If a ship was leaving for America with a crew due to go home, it had to be exchnaged for one that had still more time to serve. I got to know train schedules and station masters pretty well in those days. Later I became fourth mate on the City of Baroda, where we had five quartermasters, four of them with master’s tickets!”
April 1937, joined Ellerman & Bucknall Line as an apprentice. September 1939 called up for war service as midshipman R.N.R. August 1942 Mentioned in Despatches for his part in the rescue, in below freezing weather, of survivors of the torpedoed Royal Navy cruiser HMS Edinburgh, in the Barents Sea in May 1942. June 1946 released from war service with the rank of lieutenant. October 1946, joined S.A. Navy (P.F) with rank of lieutenant. October 1970 promoted commodore S.A.N. January 1980, retired.
During service in the S.A.N. Held the following commands:
S.A.S. Transvaal, March 1962 to August 1964.
S.A.S. President Pretorius, December 1969 to October 1970.
Senior Officer (afloat) Tenth Frigate Squadron, October 1970 to February 1972.
Commander Maritime Defence, June 1977 to June 1978.
Deceased 01/12/2005.
1960 – 1989 – S.A. Navy, retired as Rear Admiral (JG).
R Adm(JG) Victor Frederick Holderness SM MMM joined the SA Navy 1960/08/01 and qualified as a Submariner 1970/07/24 badge #9.
Deceased 3rd June 2021 at the age of 81.
Previously Assistant Port Captain, Durban.
Deceased 28th September 2020.
Retired since 1993.
Died of a stroke 20/12/96.
1964 manages a liquor store, Umbilo Road, Durban.
2015 – MD of Lightstone Explore – a research company in the retail and business fields with a focus on GIS
Retired in 1992 and moved to Knysna. Enjoyed deep sea fishing and became involved with the Ratepayers Association. Also started to reactivate his hobby as a radio ham. Had a well equipped workshop and enjoyed woodwork. Deceased 12/03/2013.
1945 all the deck officers of ss Dalia were Bothie Boys:
W.E. Jenkins (104) Master.
E. Holmes (253) chief officer.
V. Canning (740) second officer.
F.J.V. Brand (674) third officer.
J. Butler (1281) cadet.
1964 employed in the Marine Division of African Coasters, Durban.
From 1964 to 1970 I was at the University of Cape Town where I completed by B. Sc, B. Sc (Hons) and M. Sc. in physics. From 1971 onwards I have mainly been working in the computer field as a programmer and systems analyst. I worked for Leo Computer Bureau for many years and subsequently for Hosken Insurance Brokers for many years (They are now called Indwe Risk services). For the past five years I have been on my own doing computer work for various companies.
Did not go to sea as failed eyesight test. Ran his own business. Deceased 1982.
2013 advisor for NYK-Hinode Line. 2014 retired. Deceased 29/09/2015.
2012 Board Member of GBOBA Bursary Fund.
August 1998 joined Pentow Marine, Cape Town, as their Group Legal Consultant.
May 2002 relocated to Smit Tak, Rotterdam.
2008 Sailing his yacht around Madagascar.
2009 – 2016 Marine Consultant
December 2016 Set sail in his catamaran LALAMANZI across the Atlantic, hoping to sail on through the Pacific.
Deceased 13/11/2003
2003 Manager of Crown Air, air conditioning, ventilation, skylights and heating company in Kwa-Zulu Natal. Subsequently retired.
DOB 04-05-1936. Deceased 10-01-2018
Bernard was “a true sailor at heart”, so his family members say. During his Old Salt Year in 1950, his father died in a motorcar accident shortly after they bought the Kloof Hotel in Joubertina. The family and friends who attended Bernard’s funeral 60 years after his Dad’s funeral, today still remember how stunningly handsome Bernard looked, dressed up in Bothie’s No.1’s.
Bernard finished his Bothie course, but Honour & Duty called to help his Mother to run the new Hotel … which he faithfully did for the next 53 years. During his lifetime in the Langkloof, he was always 100% involved in the community, was Mayor of Joubertina; served in the SWD Rugby Union Management; was Chairman of the Round Table and Lions; owned an aeroplane; was very fond of steam trains and circuses (at one time he even wanted to become a Lion Tamer); had Tickey the Clown visiting him in Victoria Bay, his favourite home away from home; Bernard passed his love for the sea on to his children (sailing, fishing, diving); had a remarkable knowledge of nature and especially of the sea (fondly referred to Bothie as his General Knowledge College); was known to his intimate family as Capt Cook. No wonder that he wanted his ash to be strewn over the sea.
He retired to George during 2003 and became a Parish Member of the St Mark’s Cathedral; he joined the Friends of the Cathedral, served as a Sides Person and was a Double Bass choir member (he took special singing lessons to find the exact pitch).
As a person Bernard is remembered as a true gentleman with a cheeky smile, who never spoke an unkindly word about anybody in his whole life, with a lovely sense of humour, and an enjoyment of everything he did. He loved life; he loved his family and often spoke about them.
1968 – with Mitchell Cotts Limited as an accountant.
Deceased 1978.
Reported in “Both Watches” 1953
E.R.M. in S.A. Navy but possibly retired by 1964.
Reported in S.A.T.S. Magazine No.3 1937: with Union Government Steamers.
Sailed as an AB on the meat run between Argentine and UK during the great depression, thereafter as 3rd and 2nd mate on the Dahlia running between Bunbury, Australia and South Africa.
Joined harbour service in Durban about 1940, became captain on the tug T. Eriksen and dredger Blesbok, then promoted to pilot in Durban.
Spent about two months in Sidon studying mooring of tankers and became pilot/harbour master Mossel Bay and brought the first tankers into that port, the first tanker being the British Hero.
Died 24th December 1965.
Reported 1964 – served as Second Officer in the “R.S.A.”.
Dave served his apprenticeship at sea with Ellerman’s Hall Line, did his certificates in Cape Town and served at various times with Safmarine and Durban Lines. On achieving his Master’s he came ashore and after a spell as a wattle farmer in George he took over the family estate agency of Howard and Currie in Johannesburg.
He was a keen amateur yachtsman and enjoyed ocean sailing amongst the islands of the Indian Ocean. His ashes were scattered at sea and he is survived by a son in the USA.
Henry commenced his apprenticeship on the SAR&H ship Dalia. Before completion he joined Thesens as 2nd Mate on the Griqua Coast. He then went to Safmarine. He also sailed on the Fisheries Research vessel for several years. Then joined the Bothie at Granger Bay as a lecturer and later served with Andy Morris’s Seamanship School. During this time Henry was also, for a lengthy period, the Treasurer of the Society of Master Mariners. Henry eventually left the nautical world to go into business, he founded his own solar heating company.
Reported deceased.
Deceased 10/11/99.
1964 Pilot in Durban Harbour.
Retired as Durban Port Captain.
Served as probationary Midshipman R.N.R. and was later apprenticed to the Elder Dempster Line, s.s. New Mexico. Subsequently joined the staff of the United Tobacco Company, Cape Town, and finally entered the B.S.A. Police, Rhodesia.
Born 19th December 1906. Died of typhoid fever at Lusaka, Nothern Rhodesia, on 2nd June 1935.
1999 – Retired.
Deceased 01/10/2013.
1982 Joined S.A. Navy Strike Craft Flotilla.
1984 a Marine Surveyor for SGS based in Durban.
1989 transferred to Cape Town as SGS branch manager.
1993 returned to sea as Chief Officer on a Moss-Gas stand by vessel.
1994 – A stowage coordinator with Safmarine’s Cargo Department.
1998 – left Safmarine and moved to England and went to sea as Chief Officer with Ramsey Steam Ship.
2000 joined Borchard Line as ship planner.
2013 senior planner in London for Borchard Lines, a family owned shipping line operating 14 container vessels which run around the Med and UK/continent.
Deceased 12/11/2008.
Dave was born in Rustenburg in 1932, which made him 76 when he passed away. He went to school in Rustenburg, Pretoria and Vryburg before joining the General Botha in the 48/49 draft. On leaving the ship he took up motor racing, specifically Formula 1, before retiring in the 1960s and opening a radiator and engineering business in Rustenburg.
He was still involved in this business with his son Doug at the time of his death.
Reported in S.A.T.S. Magazine No.3 1937: with Union Government Steamers.
Deceased 03/06/2000.
In 1957 Tony decided to come ashore, joining John Brown Land Boilers, doing boiler installations at various sites until 1960. Having broken into the engineering business, he then moved to Babco*ck and Wilcox, where he was ‘thrown into the deep end’ with general machining, lathes and milling machines. In 1961 Tony decided it was time to branch out on his own, establishing A S Hunter Steel Construction, engaged in various projects including military and mining work but specialising in elevated water tanks. This kept him busy for twenty years until 1981.
During this time Tony met Margot Allan of Fish Hoek, a primary school teacher specialising in remedial education. They were married in 1965 bringing three sons into the world, with one of them, Michael, dying very sadly at only one month old. In 1978, at the tragically young age of 34, Margot passed away from cancer.
In 1980 Tony founded Hunter Transport and commenced a five-year legal battle to secure an Inter-City passenger transport permit to operate long distance buses between Johannesburg and Durban. He was ultimately successful and in 1985, Citi Line was established in partnership with Safmarine and Main Line Carriers.
In 1987 Tony sold his interest in the bus line to Safmarine and purchased a share in Pennybridge Duck Farm, selling that in 1990 when, in a complete change of direction, he qualified as an estate agent and entered the fast track world of real estate.
However, Tony could not break away completely from his interest in engineering. In 1990, he went into production line maintenance with a firm called Main Tin, a member of the Barlow Group. Then, his real estate interest gained the upper hand again! In 1993 he established a partnership known as Endeavour Estates and ran this until 1999. Then, back to engineering it was for Tony and until 2003 he was with Bakker and Griffioen, engaged in construction work on various sites, including SASOL.
In August 2005, Tony registered Cresta Construction, doing repair and maintenance to residential properties. This was a success until the recession in 2009, whereupon he de-registered the company but continued in the same business but now as a ‘one-man show’.
Tony did not remarry after Margot’s death, putting his two surviving sons, James and Gavin, through St Stithians College in Johannesburg. Tony lived in Linden and after rejoining Endeavour Estates, continued keeping himself busy as an estate agent! He had four grandsons, three in South Africa and one in UK – Gavin’s boy, going on 7, who started
school there in 2013. Deceased 13th April 2018.
Joined American Bureau of Shipping 1973 after short spells with Durban lines, Union Whaling and Caltex.
1993 posted at Ulsan, Korea in worlds largest shipping – Hyundai Heavy Industries. Title: Senior Surveyor. Then chairman of Korea joint branch of Royal Institution of Naval Architects and Institute of Marine Engineers. 1995 transferred to Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kobe, Japan, ABS surveyor of 4950 Teu new building container vessels.
1997 transferred to ABS Pacific, based in Sydney, Australia.
1999 returned to Korea as senior surveyor. 2008 RETIRED.
After retiring worked for US Shipping San Deigo for construction of a series of product carriers. Then Shell in Shanghai building tankers and then LNG’s. After retiring again joined OSG’s new construction team in Shanghai (tankers). Upon completion again retired.
OSG then started building of two VLCC’c in Dalian, northern China where I went with the team at OSG’s request and finally retired in November 2011 and returned to my farm in Victoria, Australia.
Later moved to Alice Springs in the centre of Australia where his younger daughter and her husband are converting their big shed into a grandpa flat.
“I left Safmarine at the end of 1973 and returned to university in Cape Town, at the same time starting a riding school, which I ran for two years.
In 1976 I left South Africa for Switzerland, where I worked as stage hand and set painter at the Goetheanum in Switzerland, then did a two-year training in Waldorf Education in Witten, Germany, returned to my old job at the Goetheanum, went to the United States for six months and, after five years away, returned to South Africa to work as a teacher at the Michael Mount Waldorf School in Johannesburg. After nine years there, I joined an initiative to start a Waldorf training program for Black teachers at the new Waldorf schools in the Black communities, where I worked for a further eight years.
Finally, after another two years helping found the high school at the Roseway Waldorf School in Hillcrest, Durban, I left for Europe, where I worked for ten years in the NGO already mentioned.
For the last few years I have been writing and am busy researching my fourth book, this time on the history of the Waldorf schools and anthroposophical work in South Africa.” Received September 2016.
Deceased 25th September 1929 whilst serving in HMS Vivid (Devonport Barracks).
Eds Note: See newspaper reports in scrap book.1956-57 General Botha
1958 Joined Shell Oil Tankers trading from the Persian Gulf initially then for 3 years all over the world, carrying white oil, refined products, bitumen and crude oil.
2nd Mates Certificate in Durban.
1961 Joined Shell’s Eastern fleet based in Singapore, trading In Indonesia, Hong Kong, India and Singapore.
Often met up with Robin Gratjios (1956/57) and Brian Gunn (1956/57). Sadly Brian lost his life in a plane crash while flying home on leave. Robin & I played water polo in Indonesia.
1962 1st Mates Foreign Going Certificate in Durban
1963 Joined Mobil – Mobil Mariner in Durban
1964-65 Sasebo in Japan as part of the deck crew overseeing the building of the Mobil Astral, 100,000 ton crude oil carrier.
1965-66 Mobil Enterprise. 1st January1966 – rescued Cadet Porter in the Bay of Biscay
June 1966 Foreign Going Masters in Cape Town/Durban.
July 1966 Mobil Transporter. Discharged 25th January 1967.
1967 Studying Commerce at Pietermarizburg University but a badly broken leg prevented him continuing.
1967 July – Joined the South African Harbour Service in Cape Town. He was working in the Harbour Master’s Office when the Safmarine ship, SA Seafarer, went aground outside Cape Town harbour.
1968 Moved to Durban working in the Harbour Service and worked up to being Master on tug boats.
1971 Emigrated to Australia to take up position as pilot for the Mobil Oil Refinery at Port Stanvac near Adelaide. The crude oil vessels, up to 150,000 tons dead weight berthed at a multi-buoy mooring. This was changed to a SBM taking up to 250,000 ton DW. The product berth could take ships up to 600 feet and distributed the refined products all around Australia.
1997 Retired from piloting and moved to Port Lincoln, South Australia.
John’s interest in seafaring also encompassed assisting in building a timber yacht, Sebenza, which he sailed in Durban.
He once took Michael Carrington 1976 and his brother Chris Carrington 1977, sailing in Sebenza around Durban Harbour. His father, Norman, was piloting in Durban at the time.
In Australia he fitted out a 42 foot ferro-cement yacht which he raced but mainly cruised in the Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf. He subsequently built a house on Thistle Island at the southern end of the Spencer Gulf where he was a keen fisherman and scuba dived for crayfish.
2004 John spent 3 -4 months in Cuxhaven, Germany overseeing getting Sarsen, a 70 metre ex Norwegian Fisheries research vessel, back in survey with all the latest navigation equipment.
He was on board for initial sea trials through to the Mediterranean. Sarsen subsequently underwent a refit/conversion into a cruising /adventure vessel in Bangkok. John and his wife, Jinny, were fortunate enough in joining the owner on many cruises including dive trips to the Barrier Reef and Coral Sea, trips to New Caledonia, Lord Howe Island , Vanuatu and Noumea. John dived the wreck of the President Coolidge off Espirito Santo, Vanuatu to a depth of 150 foot where he kissed ‘The Lady’, a marble statue on the grand staircase! The final cruise was crossing the Pacific on Sarsen from Cairns via American Samoa, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, Pitcairn Island, and Easter Island.
Returned to South Africa and joined S.A. Harbour Service (now TNPA). Served in Durban and Richards Bay as Tugmaster and relieving Harbour Pilot and later Marine Operations Manager for Inchcape Testing services (Caleb Brett) based in Durban.
1995 joined Pentow Marine in Durban as SBM Pilot.
Retired from Smit Pentow Marine (subsequently Smit Amandla Marine & currently AMSOL) in 2011 after 17 years as a Mooring Master/Pilot at the Durban (Sapref) SBM. Thence two further years as a self employed OCIMF accredited SIRE vetting inspector. Retired 2013.
During WWII was a Corporal SAAF Motor Boat Wing.
1964 – 65 – Working in Nyasaland/Malawi with Lake Service as Master.
1965 – 66 – African Coasters
1966 – 67 – Durban Lines
1967 – S.A.R. & H, S.A. Harbours and now Portnet. Have served in Durban, Luderitz and Richards Bay. 1995 Assistant Port Captain, Port of Richards Bay. 1999 Retired.
Deceased 26/11/2010.
Was Senior Cadet Captain while at Bothie. Joined British India Shipping Company. Eventually moved back to Rhodesia and had a life of achievements – becoming the Managing Director of Rhodesia Leaf, a large Anglo-American-owned tobacco manufacturing company in Harare. He was a Board Member of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, and a man of many civic achievements. Richard (‘Tikki’) also founded a Wildlife Trust, which is now run by their daughter, Lisa.
Deceased January 2011.
Deceased 18/03/2008.
2021 left JLT and joined a underwriting firm.
Dudley sailed in 3 yacht races from Cape to Rio and the Uruguay Yacht Race. The sea was his love and he delivered 11 yachts for the owners overseas.
Deceased 17/11/1992.
Born Gordon’s Bay, 15th November 1917. Son of Edgar Francis Jackson. Ed, Central School, Potchefstroom. Cadet Draft 1933 – 34. After completing his course in General Botha, Gerald Michael Jackson joined the British Tanker Company as an Apprentice and served there years with the Company as Third Officer, from 28 November 1938 until 29 December 1941, when he was promoted to Second Officer. He lost his life in MV British Dominion when she was sunk by enemy action on 10 January 1943, and his name was gazetted (London Gazette) for bravery and courage; a certificate to this effect, signed by the Rt. Hon. Winston S. Churchill, was sent to his mother.
10 Jan 1943: N/N Second Officer Gerald Michael Jackson (Kings Commendation for Brave Conduct), a South African National serving in the Merchant Navy, was Reported Missing when the British Motor Tanker M.V. British Dominion, on route from Curacao to Gibralter via Trinidad carrying 9000 tons of aviation fuel, was torpedoed and damaged by U-552 (Korvettenkapitän Erich Topp). The abandoned and blazing hulk was later sunk by U-620 (Kapitänleutnant Heinz Stein) West-North-West of the Canary Islands. Thirty three Officers and Ratings plus four DEMS Gunners were lost. The Master, ten Officers and Ratings and five DEMS Gunners were later picked up by the Royal Navy Corvette HMS Godetia (K226) and landed at Gibralter. He has no known grave and remains unaccounted for. His name is perpetuated on Panel 19 on the Tower Hill Memorial in the United Kingdom. He was 25.
Reported in S.A.T.S. Magazine No.3 1937: with Lago Shipping Co.
1966 – 1974 joined S.A. Harbours and Railways as Chief Officer and later Master on a dredger based in East London. Promoted to Harbour Pilot in 1971. 1975 went to Johannesburg and opened own business until joining Ellerman & Bucknall later that year as Sales Representative. 1976 Operations Supervisor and in 1978 Liner services Manager. 1981 joined Mitchell Cotts Maritime as their Commerical Manager and in 1982 National Sales and Marketing Manager. 1985 – 1988 moved to Durban as the Regional Director of Mitchell Cotts Freight. In 1988 set up Safert Keeley Shipping as General Manager and in 1995 promoted Executive Director.
1998 Chairman/CEO and retired in 2001. Thereafter joined Sturrock Shipping Durban as Regional Director. 2007 retired.
GBOBA Durban branch secretary & treasurer.
1931 Appointed Midshipman Royal Naval Reserve.
Served in the Royal Navy and later took command of the reserve fleet in Simon’s Town.
1941 was First Lieutenant on the destroyer HMS Jason.
1964 Cadet in the “South African Victory”.
Was sailing as Third Officer on the S.A. Huguenot (or S.A. Stateman) when he died on the 16th February 1968 after a severe asthmatic attach in Japan.
1961/63 salesmand and fireman wiith Hull Fire Brigade.
1964/67 Cape Town Fire Brigade and stevedore foreman.
1968/71 life insurance representative.
1972/74 stevedore foreman.
1974/1984 container terminal superintendent.
1984/2005 own business, house painting and maintenance.
2005 retired.
From 2006: GBOBA Cape Town Branch committee secretary.
From 2007: Cape Town Sailors Home committee – chairman from 2012.
2011 to 2018: Assisted one day a week at Lawhill Maritime Centre with extra science for the Grade 12s as well as for the bursars of the GBOBA Bursary Fund from 2015 to 2018.
2017 to 2020: Facilitated the Applied Marine Science component of the Officer of the Watch course at TRU4 (previously Sea Safety Training Group).
1983 – 89 studied at University of Cape Town and Rhodes University B Sc (Zoology) Distinction in Marine Ecology & Oceanography. BDc Honours Ichthyology and fisheries science. MSc Ichthyology & Fisheries Science. Chief Scientist on R.S. ‘Africana’ , conducted various surveys. 1992 appointed Senionr Oceanographer, Biological Research (offshores)
1993 promoted to Principle Oceanographer.
2000 – has own fisheries consultancy, CapFish & FOSS (Fisheries & Oceanic Support Services).
Projects are mostly in Africa with some work globally. Also deploy Marine Observers throughout the world on specific environmental projects.
Reported in “Both Watches” 1952
Appointed Honorary Aide-de-Camp to H.E. The Governor-Genearl.
Reported in “Both Watches” 1953
Lieutenant in S.A. Navy
deceased 26/10/2005.
Shared accommodation in London with A.S. Pomeroy whilst studying for Second Mate’s Certificate.
The first Botha Boy to command a seagoing merchant vessel when he became captain of the ex-German Hagen in September 1939, taken as a prize and renamed the Ixia.
Reported in “Old Salts” 1947:48,
Has resigned from the command of the Government Steamer ‘Dalia’ to take up an appointment ashore with the Delagoa Bay Company at Lourenco Marques (now Maputo).
1945 all the deck officers of ss Dalia were Bothie Boys:
W.E. Jenkins (104) Master.
E. Holmes (253) chief officer.
V. Canning (740) second officer.
F.J.V. Brand (674) third officer.
J. Butler (1281) cadet.
1964 Branch Manager of Mitchell Cotts in East London.
Lieutenant in S.A. Navy
After Bothie joined the South African Naval Service as a seaman.
Senior Cadet Jevon was placed with SAR Ships [SA Railway’s Ships] as a Cadet.
He joined SAR Ship’s s.s. ERICA on 22 February 1940.
He left SAR Ships for reasons unknown.
Later he was reported to be a Rigger on the mines.
After a brief period at sea he worked in the Simon’s Town Navel Dockyard as a Millwright and later went into business in the engineering field before joining Caltex to take up a posting to Australia. After a couple of years there, he returned to S.A. and resumed his engineering business endeavours.
July 2016 taking up a lecturing post at the Maritime College in Oman.
2018 returned to Durban and joined Durban University of Technology as a lecturer.
Reported deceased 12th December 2002.
2007 Commutes between S.A. and cruising on his yacht.
After Bothie joined P&O Line. Served in the Royal Navy during World War II and was awarded the DSC for gallantry. Transferred to the S.A. Navy in 1946 as a Lieutenant Commander.
1969 was promoted to flag rank and appointed Chief of Naval Staff. Appointed Chief of the S.A. Navy in 1972 and was the last chief to occupy Admiralty House before Naval Headquarters moved to Pretoria. Admiral Johnson, as a Captain, commanded the Frigate SAS President Pretorius when she was delivered from Britain in 1964. She was his last command at sea. After his retirement in 1977, Admiral Johnson entered the business world and was a Director of Marconi Marine and Management Placements. He was elected to the Cape Town City Council in 1982. He was President of St John Ambulance and Honorary Colonel of the Cape Town Highlanders. Nickname “Flam” (Vlambaard).
1990 Appointed Knight of the Order of St John by the Order of the Hospital of St John.
Deceased 02/10/1990.
1983 to 2001 Established own business, sold out in 2001 and retired to Gansbaai. Returned to formal employment as branch manager [engineering sales] in Cape Town for a short time.
2010 running a small sea front restaurant. Deceased 18th February 2017.
2005 moved to Cape Town as General Manager for Edgin.
2015 continues as General & Marine Surveyors and Assessors.
He went on to serve in the Western Desert (Signaller SA Corps of Signals) and after the war returned to Cape Town, working for Wakefields which became Castrol for most of his life. He was transferred to Durban in late 1960 where he became the manager of the Castrol refinery at Island View on the Bluff and then in 1967 was transferred to Castrol head office at Isando on the East Rand. He passed away in 1989 after a short retirement.
14/03/2007 deceased.
1948 – Learner Surveyor in Cape Town City Council. Attended UCT part time studying to be a Land Surveyor.
1952 – 1963 – to Salisbury, Rhodesia, Land Surveying throughout Rhodesia in private practice.
1963 – to Johannesburg, worked in N.C.R. Computers in the selling side.
1964 – 1992 – started own land survey practice in Johannesburg
1966 – Qualified as a Town Planner at Wits.
1992 – Left survey practice in Johannesburg to start in Simons Town as a Land Surveyor, semi retired. Finally retired in Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Deceased 06/09/2013
1964 Harbour Pilot in Port Elizabeth.
1972 – Assistant Port Captain of Port Elizabeth
1996 – Reported Deceased.
1964 harbour pilot in Port Elizabeth but had to discontinue due to arthritis. Reverted to Tug Master.
Reported deceased.
1964 employed by Thomas Cook and Sons, Durban.
1974 – Employed by Nedlloyd/Royal Interocean Lines Durban in the ships agency office.
Previous Durban Branch chairman for 30 years.
Deceased 26/06/1992.
1984 – 86 – container stowage coordinator for SAECS in Safmarine Head Office.
1986 – 88 – Cargo Superintendent for SAECS/Transatlantic joint RORO Service (seconded from Safmarine based in Cape Town).
1988 – 1991 – appointed Port Coordinator in Durban for the A/M service (seconded form Safmarine).
1991 – appointed Cargo Manager for Safmarine, Durban office, and seconded to MACS Maritime Carrier Shipping whom he later joined. Attained the position of Operations Manager and later Operations Director.
September 2019 retired.
Competitive in Latin American dancing and also joined a Rock/Blues band for six years.
Blue Funnel’s home port was Liverpool. While on their UK/Australia run Dennis met and later married, in October 1959, Myra Kirby of Liverpool in St. Aidan’s Church, Walton.
In January 1961, after obtaining his mates certificate, Dennis resigned from Blue Funnel for personal reasons, joining the Liverpool City Police in March 1961. He remained with the force until April 1991 when, receiving a spinal injury at work he was medically retired. Dennis had attained the rank of sergeant, serving in various departments and divisions and finally with the Dog Section, who specialised in handling drug detection dogs.
Dennis and Myra have a son, four daughters and several grandchildren and are living happily in retirement in Widnes, Cheshire, England.
2008 with Grindrod.
1995 – published two books by Penguin namely, ‘South African Rugy Teams 1949 – 1995’ and ‘Rugby Trivia’. 1995 busy with three other publications.
2011 moved to the Eastern Cape.
2019 published the book “Sailor In The Sky”, the story of A.G. “Sailor” Malan GB cadet 168 Term 1924/25.
1946 to 1950 South African Naval Forces.
1950 to 1969 gold mines.
1969 to 1986 University of Natal.
“In 1963 I was privileged to gain a position as 3rd Navigating officer on the Royal Research Ship “John Biscoe”. I spent four years aboard this ship which were some of the most exciting and worthwhile years of my life.
The RRS John Biscoe was owned by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth 2, she was an ice strengthened ship operated by the British Antarctic Survey to carry out Research and Discovery in the British Antarctic Territories. She was registered in Port Stanley in the Falkland islands.
In a nutshell she supplied the British Research and Discovery bases in the Graham Land Peninsular and Weddell Sea areas of Antarctica and conducted hydrographic surveys of those largely uncharted seas.
The ship spent seven month during the Antarctic summer in the Antarctic doing research and discovery work. The first four months was spent supplying the eight Research bases , followed by three months of Hydrographic surveying of the uncharted seas.
The discovery of what later became Known as Joubert Rock occurred on a day in February 1966 while the ship was carrying out hydrograph survey work in the uncharted Marguarite Bay, south of Adelaide Island off the Graham Land Peninsular in Antarctica.
We had just completed the survey of one block of ocean and it was lunch time, the Captain set a course for the next block to be surveyed and asked me to take over command of the bridge while the rest of the team went for lunch.
Heading on a course of about 345° True and with one man assisting me as helmsman we were travelling at full speed, while keeping a sharp look out to the depth on the echo sounder and for broken pieces of icebergs, ‘bergy bits’ & ‘growlers’. The sounder was indicating a depth of some 250 Fathoms below the ship. After about fifteen un-eventful minutes I noticed that the echo sounder began suddenly to indicate a decrease of the sea depth to 225 fathoms, this decrease in depth then continued to 200 fathoms, 175 fathoms at which I, used the engine room telegraph to stop the engines. The bottom continued to come up to 100 fathoms and then to 60 fathoms at which I signalled to the engine room to put the engines to slow astern. The bottom continued to come up to 50 fathoms followed by 35 fathoms at which I put the engines to half astern while anxiously peering ahead!
The engine room telegraph can be heard all over the ship and this coupled with the reduction in speed and the change to astern thrust created considerable vibration. Needless to say the captain was soon on the bridge wanting to know ‘what the Hell was going on!’ All I could do was indicate to him a depth of 20 fathoms on the echo sounder and a pale green colour indicating shallow water ahead! All is well that ends well, we stopped in time and I am pleased to say that the Royal Navy hydrographer on board, Barry Dickson and our Captain Tom Woodfield decided that they would name the rock “Joubert Rock”. Thank the Good Lord, it could so easily have been “Joubert’s Folley”.
We spend another month in and around this rock charting the ocean bed using the ship as well as the survey launch to record the least depths and extent of the rocky area. For interest sake the particulars of the rock are as follows:
Position: Latitude 68° 12‘ 00’’ South Longitude 67° 41’ 00’’ West Least depth: 12,5 m
5 nautical miles SW of Pod Rocks and 9 nautical miles WSW of Millerand Island in Marguarite Bay.
As far as I am able to determine the chart of Marguerite Bay was completed in 1972 when the rock was officially christened and recorded by the National Geospacial-Intelligence Agency which is a member of the Intelligence Community of the Antarctic.
For further information go onto GOOGLE and type in: “Joubert Rock Antarctica”.
Deceased 6th December 2020.
1964 Senior Pilot in Table Bay Harbour.
1972 – Port Captain of Port Elizabeth.
Was in command of H.M.S.A.S. Sprindrift During the War.
1979 – 1983 Various Companies, including Unicorn as Chief and 2nd Mate
1984 – 1990 Ellerman & Bucknall as Container Manager
1990 – 1992 Own transport business
1992 – 1997 Moved to Jhb, joined Marcol (Afris Line) as Operations Manager
1997 – Moved to England.
1997 – 2007 – Worked as an IT contractor
2007 – Present (2021) – Cyber Security Manager
1972 Lieutenant-Commander in the S.A. Navy.
Achieved the rank of Captain S.A. Navy. Reported deceased.
Deceased 1973.
He worked at the offshore oil terminal in Durban from 1970 for the company that is now Smit Marine.
He was master on one of the service tugs, spent a while setting up the new bunker barge operation and was shore side as Marine Superintendent until he retired in 2000.
He then did contract work for Smit on salvage jobs and the Single Buoy mooring change outs.
Emigrated to New Zealand in 2006 .
Previous committee member and treasurer of the association’s Cape Town branch.
Deceased 17th February 2019.
Joined the air force.
6/1/1943 – Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co, M.T. “Miralda”. Converted to Macship for N. Atlantic convoy duty. Thereafter M.T. “Goldmouth”, involved in “D Day” Normandy invasion.
March 1945 – obtained 2nd Mates Certificate in London. Then two years as 3/0 and 2/0 of M.T. “Tancred” attached to British Pacific Fleet.
Then ss “Umtali” & “Umgena”, Bullard King.
1948 – Mates Certificate, Cardiff. Returned to S.A. Joined Mitchell Cotts Ships Agency. Spent next 40 years in ships agency in Cape Town. Retired 1988 as Regional Manager Freightmarine/Rennies Ships Agency.
Previous committee member Cape Town Branch and the War Memorial Fund.
1973-1976 Safmarine and General Botha
1976-1978 UCT
1979-1995 Construction Industry
1995-1998 Various interests
1998-Present Financial Services – CEO of Consolidated Debt Solutions
2021 Retired.
Deceased 24/04/2000.
Now mostly active in S.A. Hardware Tool industry. Currently active in export markets covering East and West Africa.
02/1959 Joined Ellerman & Hall as Cadet.
06/1962 Joined Safmarine, First Ship S.A. Vergelegen. Promoted Master 20/05/73.
1980 Joined the Container Fleet (Safmarine) until requested to join the passnger vessel ‘Aster’ under construction at Kiel, Germany. Sailed on the maiden voyage as Staff Captian, taking command in July 1986. When Aster was sold joined ‘Ocean Pearl’ of Ocean Cruise Lines.
07/1993 joined the Expedition vessel ‘Caledonain Star’ run by Nobel Coledonia travel, sailing the Indian Ocean, Indonesia, Vietnam, China and Russia.
1998 joined Renaissance Cruises Inc. of Fort Lauderdale, U.S.A. in command of the m.v. R One of 777 passegners. Retired May 2011.
“On the 12 th November I received news that I had been presented with the Merchant Navy Medal for Meritorious Service 2020.
A complete surprise, I feel greatly honoured and humbled to receive this award.
I know I was at sea for 52 years but that is what I wanted, I enjoyed every day of my career.
When I retired I joined various Merchant Navy organisations, the Honourable Company of Master Mariners and have been Chairman of the
North West Outport for 6 years, I took Livery in 2018. The Merseyside master Mariners, Liverpool Anchorage Club,
Chairman of the Liverpool Merchant Navy Day Committee., Chairman of the Friends of HMS Conway and became attached to two
Sea cadets Units in Liverpool, TS Starling and TS Conway, I am also a volunteer at the Liverpool Seafarers Centre.
You need something to do when retired.
The award came out of the blue, most unexpected but a fantastic award for a Bothie Boy.”
June 1951 left the sea and went farming and playing cricket in Scotland. 1961 returned to sea with Lyle Shipping Co. of Glasgow, sailed on their Cape Nelson as 3rd & 2nd Officer.
1966 joined Safmarine as Chief Officer on the S.A. Statesman. Early 1971 joined Unicorn as Chief Officer and in August promoted Master on the car carrier Swartkops, subsequently serving on various Unicorn vessels as Master.
1976 joined S.A.R.&H. Harbour service in Walvis Bay before retiring 1990 after serving in various ports. Then did ship deliveries, trawlers from Europe to South Africa and Australia.
1992 finally retired from the sea and went into compass adjusting.
Deceased 24th December 2020.
Deceased 25th May 2017.
Honourary President of Motorsport – South Africa, the governing body for all automobile and motorcycle sport in South Africa.
Deceased 16th April 2017.
Went shoreside in 1987, joined BMW AG, Munich working in CKD division supplying BMW SA in Rosslyn, Gauteng with car part kits. 1990 – Senior purchasing manager for global sea transport at BMW. 1994 – Transfered to BMW aerospace division – 1999 transferred to Rolls-Royce Germany civil aerospace division working in Business Improvement as senior SAP consultant.
1964 Pilot in Table Bay Harbour.
Decesased 08/03/2004.
1979 joined Safmarine.
First ship st Kulu (Supertanker arrested in Nigeria for SA Connections)
3rd Officer ’82 – ’84 – Maiden voyage of Sea Transporter.
2nd Officer ’85 – ’87
Chief Officer ’88 to ’91. Then spent 8 years ashore in Cape Town in HO in the Cargo Operations Department, initially as travelling Supercargo for SAECS stowing the multi-purpose vessels on the Southern Africa coast, then as Stowage Coordinator for the container vessels on the NW Europe, MED, Far East and USA trades.
1995 Operations Manager of Safmarine’s cargo ops department.
1999 returned to sea as Chief Officer. Found some big changes after 8 years away – SMS, GMDSS and GPS
2001 promoted Master with Safmarine
2008 maiden voyage on Safmarine Kariba
2020 presently B2B Master on Maersk Stockholm, 92000grt, 334m loa, 9000 TEU.
Most interesting ship – Cable Restorer
Most interesting voyage – on Constantia ’87 when we towed a disabled ship for 6 days in the Indian Ocean to a rendezvous with a salvage tug.
Previously GBOBA Cape Town branch committee member.
GBOBA Bursary Fund board member.
2002 posted with NOSA to Hong Kong. Returned a year later to NOSA Cape Town office where he became office manager. 2009 Quality Manager: Auditing for NOSA.
Deceased 10/08/97.
1988-1989 Blue Star and Lion Shipping as 3/O.
1989-1991 Nedlloyd Agencies Durban as Port Operations Agent / Johannesburg Sales. Executive.
1991 Unicorn Containers Johannesburg as Transport Controller.
1991-1993 BP Shipping as 3/O and 2/O.
1996 Obtained Chief Mates at Fleetwood, UK.
1997 Swire Pacific as 3/O.
1997-1999 Souter Ship Management as 3/O and 2/O.
1999 Obtained Masters at Warsash, UK.
1999 UECC Grimsby as 2/0.
1999-2006 Bristol Port Company as Marine Officer.
2006-2010 Fleetwood Nautical Campus as Lecturer (Obtained Prof. Cert. Education).
2010-2020 Liverpool John Moores University as Senior Lecturer (Obtained MSC Maritime Operations).
2020 Formed Relative Track Limited (Self employed).
1964 Staff Office c/c Naval Headquarters, rank of Commander (E).
1972 Captain in the S.A. Navy Engineering Branch.
Retired as a Rear Admiral (JG) from the S.A. Navy.
Deceased 22/09/2000
Aug.1964 – he decided to study to obtain his Engineer’s diploma. 1968 – Appointed as Engineer, Department of Posts and Telecommunications. Nov.1971 – Registered as Professional Engineer with South African Engineering Council (Reg.no: 710883). Promoted since 1968 to Senior Engineer / Deputy Director (PABX) / Director – Investigations / Senior Manager with a staff complement of 680, and a budget of R80m / Senior Deputy Director / Senior Manager / Area Manager / acting Postmaster General / Senior Manager, Communications Policy / General Manager, Communications Policy and Regulating up to early retirement end 1996. After his retirement Koos provided consultation services for various organizations. 1998 – Chairman of Telecommunication Line Terminal Equipment Association.
1988 – T1 & T2 Electronics at Cape Technikon.
1989 – 90 – Third and Second Officer on S.A. Agulhas.
1990 – 92 – worked for Electronic Workshops on Department of Sea Fisheries and obtained T3 and national diploma in electronics.
1992 – Third and Second Officer on R.S. Africana
1999 – Master on the Research Vessel, S.A. Agulhas.
2017 Crewing Manager at AMSOL (African Marine Solutions).
After twenty years in command at sea joined the harbour service in Durban, served on dredgers and hoppers. Retired 1989.
After G.B joined Bank Line but after an accident at sea spent 2 years in a hospital. He then studied Industrial and Production Engineering and also qualified in Management Services. Was engineering Manager at Toyota for 10 years, then went into Project Management and later management consultancy. Has been with Old Mutual since 1986 advising clients on investment and retirement.
Deceased 21st February 2021.
1988-1990 with SA Ports and Harbours on tugs and dredgers. Ran the training school in Richard’s Bay.
1990 – 1995 with P&I Associates Durban
1995-1999 with Island View Shipping Durban
1999-2001 with Smit Pentow Marine mainly in Sudan.
2001-2014 with Island View Shipping Durban. Heading up Global Operations from 2010
2014 with Grindrod Shipping Singapore as Director Global Operations Dry Bulk.
After G.B. Apprenticed with Elder Dempster Line. Later joined Safmarine and obtained Masters.
1964 Chief Officer in Safmarine’s m.v. “Safdan Helene”.
Joined the S.A.M.N.A General Botha in 1966 as a lecturer and in 1977 joined the Department of Transport as a Nautical Surveyor.
Past Secretary of the General Botha Old Boys’ Association, Chairman of the Wild Life Association, Committee Member of the Mountain Club.
During the time at sea, got several programming diplomas, and took on development contracts (mobile quotation systems) for Legal & General.
1984-87 UCT BSc Mathematical Statistics and Economics (with Computer Science and Information Systems as minors). Continued working for Legal & General as a programmer and systems analyst during breaks and on weekends/evenings
Technical Manager – LCS (Legal Computer Systems) 1988-1989, managed the Development and Support departments.
Managing Director, Benchmark Training (a division of LCS) 1990-1991.
Product Manager, TSD Software (a division of Persetel/Comparex) 1992-1993.
Vice President/Managing Director, ISU Education Group 1994-1998.
Senior Consultant, John Bryce 1999.
Platform Evangelist (Microsoft) 2000-2016 (Consultant on behalf of OnTarget Communications).
Director Training & Professional Services, OnTarget Communications 2001-date (2017) (also working as a senior consultant for Holden International, on occasional secondment from OnTarget).
I married Adrianne Patricia Botha in February 1973 with whom I have three sons.
I left my sea life in October 1973 to take up a career in Corporate IT as a computer programmer with Sanlam in Bellville, a large Life Insurance company. In 1981 I moved into their banking group of companies, Santambank, Trust Bank and Bankorpdata.
In 1986 after 13 years in the Sanlam group of companies, I was offered a post as IT manager at Standard Bank of SA using leading edge computer technologies. I was promoted to Senior Manager in charge of all computer infrastructures.
In my personal capacity, I acted as Chairman of Randburg Scout Group, the Randburg Civil Protection Volunteer Corpse and later the national Guest House Association of SA.
In 1996, my wife and I started our own small hotel business (10 bedrooms). We bought a property in Cape Town, South Africa and managed that until 2001 when we sold it. We continued running our Hotel business in the Cape Town area until May 2005 when due to declining tourism to Cape Town/SA, we decided to move to the UK.
I qualified as a bookkeeper through the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) in 2010.
We lived in the UK for 12 years where we first worked as a live-in couple for wealthy families.
From 2015 to January 2019, my wife Adrianne and I worked as agency care workers in various care homes.
In February 2019 we settled back in my country of birth, The Netherlands, where we now (2021) live near our youngest son’s family.
2008 retired as Master from Safmarine.
1994 promoted to Second Officer.
1999 studied for his Air Transport License in the U.K.
2000 – returned to S.A. And flew for National Airways Corporation.
2001 – Returned to U.K. And flew between Luton and Manchester.
2002 flew in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Goma based) for a humanitarian organization.
2003 to 2006 flew for the Greater Manchester Police, England.
2007 Ground and Simulator Instructor with Flight Safety Farnborough. 2008 TAG Aviation Flying the larger corporate jets. TAG Aviation is a management company with its head office in Geneva, but with offices in Farnborough and Madrid. We are the up market end of the corporate market. At least we try to be. Can’t really say who the clients are but they are normally wealthy individuals or corporations. Obtained American and European airline pilot’s license and now flying worldwide in corporate aviation.
August 1940 – RNR Midshipman. Served in various war theaters. During this period transferred to S.A.N.F. finaly demobbed as a major in S.A. Army. After sitting 2nd mates and mates examinations simultaneously joined Shell tankers.
1948 – joined British Rail Ships Southampton. Appointed Master in 1953.
1970 – appointed Marine Superintendent.
1972 – Appointed Shipping & Port Manager, Fishguard, and Area Manager British Rail.
1948 – Retired from British Rail and moved to Cornwall to develop a market garden.
He was one of the cadets on the old General Botha, anchored in False bay. During the Second World War, he served with the Royal Navy, and was one of three survivors from a destroyer torpedoed on the Arctic run. He put his survival down to the fact that as a youngster, he swam at Fish Hoek every day. On being landed in the UK, he sent his mom a three word telegram. “Sunk, saved, Claude”. Deceased 07/07/2010
1940 – 1941 – Union Castle, Deckboy, Ordinary Seaman and Able Seaman. Passed second mates certificate 2/12/41.
1942 – Continued with Union Castle.
1943 – embarked on a Singapore Straights Passenger Ship “Marudu”. Vessel diverted to Gibraltar, Alexander, Colombo & Sydney.
1945 – rejoined Stirling Castle in Sydney.
1950 – Third Officer S.A.N.C General Botha
Sept 1950 – Stevedore for Union Castle.
Sept 1951 – Joined S.A.R. & H. Served various ports rising to Deputy Port Captain, Cape Town.
April 1983 – retired
Deceased 28/09/2003
His widow, Yvonne, writes: Raymond left the merchant navy after he met me his wife, Yvonne, in Kimberley in 1952.
He went to work for De Beers in their Head Office. We got married on the 30th Jan. 1954. He applied for a job in Jagersfontein, which is 100 miles from Kimberley, as a surveyor underground. He also did shift bossing while in Jagersfontein. He ran the cricket club, played 1st team rugby and also started a baseball team.
He was very much an organizer and was well liked by everyone.
We went on a six month holiday in 1957 to what was then Rhodesia to visit his brother, and then went down to Cape Town, where he took a job as a salesman selling Venetian blinds and was very successful at it. We both loved Cape Town and decided he would hand in his notice and come and settle in Cape Town.
Unfortunately the job that was offered to him, fell through as it had already been offered to someone else.
Raymond tried selling insurance for a while in Kimberley, but he did not enjoy it, then he got a job as a salesman in Ok Bazaars in Bloemfontein, we lived there for two years, then moved down to Cape Town.
He started a business selling furniture, which was going very well until Sharpeville happened.
He then started making wrought iron furniture and someone who owed him money, paid him in oil paintings. He advertised for reps, he took about 4 in his van, loaded with paintings, door to door and it was becoming very successful. He stopped the wrought iron and persevered with the paintings.
He had artists coming to him to sell their paintings. He started the first road side selling. He used to set up the paintings at Constantia Nek and also along the road between Bantry Bay and Hout Bay. The Cape Argus, Week-end Magazine did a full page story on Raymond: Here’s a man who brings art to the people – right into their homes! He opened a gallery in Claremont calling it De Brug Gallery.
After a while, we closed down the gallery and Raymond went into building, which he did until the age of 60.
With all the unrest in the country, he started buying and selling of gas products, stun guns, etc. which eventually ended up with selling of first aid kits and then medical products. This proved to be very successful and is a very large company today, called Be Safe Paramedical.
He wrote three books during the period of 1991 – 2009. Space Station Earth, A Soul called Raymond, and The Navigator. He was a very spiritual person and believed the churches to be evil, and filling their own coffers instead of doing the work they should be doing of spreading Love, Harmony and Eternal Life.
He passed away on 30th June, 2012. In hospital from renal failure, but had been ill for approx. 3 years with bladder cancer.
He leaves behind his wife of 58 years, 3 daughters, 3 sons, 14 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
Employed by De Beers Consolidated Diamond Mines in S.W.A (Namibia) on Diamond Investigation.
Transferred to De Beers Kimberley Head Office as Diamond Investigator, liaising with diamond mines in the R.S.A., Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia and the police investigation units in these countries. Assisted with training of diamond investigation units in Botswana and Lesotho.
Seconded to Anglo American Head Office in Johannesburg as Group Investigator.
Transferred to Anglo American Head Office, Johannesburg as a Senior Divisional Security Manager. Retired in 2000.
Deceased 01/08/2009.
2000 – with W.A. Mercantile Services, Australia, as a Marine Surveyor.
2021 Managing Director, ACME Marine Services International.
2015: Since Safmarine, I’ve been doing a thousand and one jobs with Land & Marine which became Pentow Marine, which eventually became SMIT AMANDLA MARINE. I worked with Lamnalco for a while but now free-lancing doing piloting, STS ops, SPM work, in fact anything to do with ship-handling/mooring with the odd FPSO installation/de-commissioning thrown in.
2009 relocated to Durban.
1998 relocated to England. Deceased 31/04/2007.
Killed in an air crash 6th February 1947.
Warrant Officer Class II Neville Frederick LYTTLETON-LAMBERT (100527V) of the South African Air Force.
Circ*mstances of Death: Lost in aircraft Fairchild ZS-BCN. Died when a passenger in a private aircraft, Fairchild ZS BCN hit a plyon on a hillside in fog and crashed near Petermartizburg.
Trained as a Pilot in the South African Air Force and subsequently served with No. 2 Squadron SAAF (Flying Cheetahs) in the Korean conflict. Received the USA’s Distinguished Flying Cross. Unconfirmed reports have it that he was also awarded a further USA decoration, the Air Medal. After leaving the SAAF he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force and was serving with the Royal Australian Air Force flying helicopters, when he was shot down and killed during operations in Vietnam.
‘Lofty” features prominently in the book “South African Flying Cheetahs in Korea” by Dermott Moore and Peter Bagshaw, published by Ashanti Publishing.
On 8th June 1971 Cape Times reported:
“South African pilot Everitt “Lofty” Lance who left with the Royal Australian Air Force last November to fly helicopters against the Vietcong has been killed in Vietnam.
Flight Lieutenant Lance, 43, who was born in Aliwal North and educated at the General Botha, had a distinguished combat flying career. At the time of his death he was serving with his fourth air force.
At 18, after two years service with the Merchant Navy, he joined the South African Air Force in which he gained his pilot’s wings.
After five years he joined the Royal Air Force in England, and later flew with the Royal Canadian Air Force. As a member of the Flying Cheetahs Squadron in Korea he took part in 75 sorties. He was awarded the American Distinguished Flying Cross for leading a succesful bombing attack in his Mustang fighter-bomber on a communist mortar position.”
The exact date of his death was not given in the report.
b. Aliwal North, Cape, 29 April 1928, son of Thomas Fuller Lance; ed. Aliwal North High School; SATS General Botha Cadet No. 1305 [1943-1944 term] [Red Hill].
Everitt Murray Lance joined the Clan Line in the ship Perthshire in 1945.
He later joined the South African Air Force [SAAF] and subsequently served with No. 2 Squadron, “The Flying Cheetahs” in the Korean conflict. He was awarded the United States of America’s Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with Cluster for his actions in the Korean War.
After leaving the South African Air Force “Lofty” Lance joined the Royal Canadian Air Force [RCAF] then the British Royal Air Force [RAF] and in 1968, the Royal Australian Air Force [RAAF]. He was serving with the Royal Australian Air Force’s No 9 Squadron as a Flight Lieutenant, flying Bell UH-1 [“Huey”] helicopters when he was shot down and crashed during a combat resupply operation for Australian troops in Vietnam on 07 June 1971. He died of injuries received in the crash.
Deceased 03/12/97.
Post War – Stewards & Lloyds of S.A. Ltd Engineering Division.
2014 awarded the Artic Star.
2015 The Russian Consulate in Cape Town awarded Jim the Medal of Ushakov for personal courage and bravery shown during the Second World War as a participant of the Arctic Convoys. Deceased 24th November 2015.
2019 technical superintendent at Svitzer Angola.
Deceased 26th July 2021.
2021 moved to London.
1992 retired from the mines.
Deceased 08/08/97
Left Safmarine in 1999.Worked for Mid East Ship Management as DPA, mate and standing by new buildings. Left them in 2002/2003 worked for ER Schiffhardt – promoted to Master and left them in 2005 and 2012 working for Swire Pacific Offshore.
Deceased 28/01/2002
1948 – 1951 – at sea with Elder Dempster Lines, Canada
1952 – 1961 – Came ashore with Hunt Leuchars and Hepburn Ltd as block floor manager and sales representative.
1962 – joined W.F. Johnston Building Materials as a Sales rep
1971 – made a Director of W.F. Johnstone. 1974 Sales Director.
1984 – resigned as a Director and joined a small company in Jhb selling building materials.
Honorary Ranger, Game Conservation, since 1967
Received a merit award from the National Parks Board at Golden Gate in November, 1992.
1995 a farmer in the White River area
Deceased 17/03/2003
Bryan was interested in both astronomy and the Royal Navy. On completing his two years at the Botha he was faced with a quandary as the entrance age for the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth was 18 and Bryan was only 17. It was thus a toss-up between going to university, taking up astronomy or going to sea in the Merchant Navy.
The romance of the sea won and Bryan went off to Ellerman and Bucknall as a deck cadet. He spent 15 months with them, serving in the City Of Exeter, City Of Kimberly (with Graham Jooste) and the City of Carlisle on the US/India run. By this time Bryan was bored with being a cadet and resigned. Acceptance of his resignation came through while he was in the City of Carlisle.
As an interesting aside, Bryan had acquired a saxophone during his time with City Ships and, more surprising, had got the ‘go ahead’ from his shipmates to practice on it! He based his repertoire on the jazz he picked up from the ‘Voice of America’. On learning that Cadet Lawrence wished to resign, the captain of the City of Carlisle, a certain ‘Black Jack’ Jenkins, taking it as a personal insult, told Bryan to “Take your saxophone, get off my ship the moment she berths and play yourself back to Cape Town!”
Luckily it didn’t come to that and Ellermans repatriated Bryan back to Pinelands in Cape Town, where he joined his father’s packaging business, Amalgamated Packaging Industries. After starting at the bottom Bryan, finding that he had a flair for art, transferred into API’s art department and after a while transferred to Durban. While there the old wanderlust kicked in and he resigned at the age of 21 to hike through Africa with a buddy. When they were all packed and ready to go, the Mau Mau problem in Kenya had escalated and Bryan’s partner reluctantly pulled out of the venture, leaving Bryan stranded in Cape Town where he was saying ‘good bye’ to his folks. As a stopgap, his father offered to pay him for supervising the construction of a house he was building and for the next three years Bryan found himself in the building trade. He had also hugely improved his saxophone playing and formed a Cape Town jazz group called ‘the Blue Notes’.
One of his friends had an attractive Danish sister, Jeanne Stilborg. She and Bryan were married in 1966. This entailed a move back to the packaging industry. By this time API had been absorbed into Nampak and Bryan thus devoted his career to them, doing free-lance building on the side. He entered the design field, rising to development manager at Nampak, before being ‘head hunted’ by the Deciduous Fruit Board in 1974. The DFB were in the process of changing from breakbulk shipment of fruit to containerisation and palletisation. Bryan, with his packaging and maritime background, was the ideal man to oversee this change-over which lasted four years to 1978. He first did the design work for containerisation and then managed the project. In the process, Bryan’s designs were patented and two of them still have worldwide patents. In due course, in order to facilitate his designs, Bryan established his own packaging company to manufacture the design components.
While at DFB Bryan noticed that they were importing large amounts of a chemical compound to combat grape fungus and this product was available only from the USA. Hiring a chemist, he took time off to develop a successful similar product in South Africa! For the next 20 years Bryan served as packaging and development manager for his firm, which he named Macplant. In 1998 Bryan sold the business and retired. After building or rebuilding four Lawrence homes to a state of high perfection, Bryan now lives in semi-retirement in Noordhoek, but longs to get back into ‘real business’.
He and Jeanne have a daughter, Andrea, in Cape Town and grandchildren. Their son Timothy whom they had adopted when he was seven, died tragically of a heart attack in 2001.
At the 60 year reunion, Bryan and Jeanne hosted Mike and Paddy Briant; these two having travelled all the way from British Columbia. Aside from the memorable events of the reunion, the foursome apparently enjoyed much excitement, repartee (of course) and downright fun!
Bryan no longer plays the saxophone, but has taken up the piano.
After Bothie apprenticed to Houlder Line. Later ordained in the Church.
Reported in “Old Salts” 1947/48:
Was in charge (Reverend) of an expedition to investigate the possibilities of establishing a fishing industry on Tristan De Cunha, which sailed in the ‘Pequena’. He was formerly Sub-Warden of St. John’s Hostel, Cape Town.
Promoted to Sub Lieutenant S.A.N.F., seconded to R.N. Returned to S.A. as First Lieutenant of H.M.S.A.S. Sprindrift. Then demobbed.
After the war joined Tig Survey in Mowbray (Cape Town). In 1958 transferred to Provincial Administration ending his career as Control Survey Officer in 1983.
Deceased 17th November 2018.
2011 founding board member of GBOBA Bursary Fund including period as treasurer.
Retired 1995.
During WWII was Leading Writer SANF.
“I joined Safmarine in 1971 and stayed with them until they sold the Company in 2000. I went through the ranks and was promoted to Captain in 1991. Most of the time I spent on bulk carriers tramping around the world. I particularly enjoyed sailing on the “handy” sized bulk ships (30000T – 50000T) which were able to go anywhere as there were no draft restrictions and usually ended up in some strange or exotic port to load or discharge.
I disliked container ships as I found them boring and tedious. In 2001 I worked for the company who had bought SafBulk and did two contracts with them before deciding that I had had enough of 6-month contracts and working with Filipinos and wanted a change of scene.
I then did a few short term contracts on various types of v/ls including salvage tugs as mate before I was offered a chance to train as a mooring master/pilot with Pentow in 2002.The idea of piloting had always attracted me but not in RSA.I trained at the Durban SBM and Mossel Bay terminals.
From then on I worked as a mooring master in Ghana, Nigeria (3 yrs) until the pirates/high jacking got out of hand, Sudan and Lybia until 2011. Then retired.”
1945 transferred to South African Naval Forces but seconded to Royal Navy. Promtoed to Lieutenant.
Shore establihsments: Grenwich College, Chatham, English Ports Trincomalee, Alexandra. Theatres in Med E.A. Fleet. Convoy duties W. Africa. Home Fleet Scapa Flow. N. Atlantic convoys. Indian Ocean. Released from service 1946. Joined S.A.P. 1958
Deceased 10/10/2000.
Chief Officer of the S.A. Marine Corporation’s First Ship ‘Constantia’.
Born 12th March 1921, deceased 8th January 1989.
After Bothie apprenticed to Union Castle Line and Midshipman Royal Navy Reserve.
He was last seen in 1958 preaching the Gospel on the Grand Parade in Cape Town.
Worked 13 years for Truworths as a buyer. He was then with Miladies as joint MD and a director.
He retired in Franschhoek and lived there for 25 years.
When he moved to Franschhoek he bought a small farm which had lemon and nut trees. Later sold and bought in the village. Had a company called Cape Computer Labels that was in Belville. Makes all sort of stuff like wine bottle labels, medical tags, price tags for clothes etc. Later built own factory in Wellington.
Deceased 6th January 2020.
Two months later I joined the ‘Lanarkshire’ a refrigerated ship, and spent most of my apprenticeship on this ship, sailing between South Africa, Europe and the UK.
After that I joined the ‘Clan Alpine’ I did a trip to India and East Pakistan as 4th Officer. I sat for my 2nd Mates Certificate in Liverpool.
I then joined the Springbok Line ‘The Rooibok’ which was part of the Clan Line, as 3rd Officer. I resigned in Durban but was asked to remain on board as 2nd Officer. I sailed up to Beira. I then sailed to Cape Town where I finally resigned.
I joined a Stevedoring Company, African Associated. After that I joined Royal Interocean Lines in 1961 and ended up as Marine Superintendent.
I worked at Royal Interocean Lines for 9 years and was approached by the Old Mutual to join them. I was with them for 9 years and after that started my own business, Induscor. I retired 3 years later at the age of 52.
My hobbies are photography, golf, bowls and fishing.
Subsequently bought a farm in Australia and does Equine Podiotherapy.
Bsc Equine Science, Dip. EPT., Cert IV VT & A.
1964 Harbour Pilot in Durban Harbour Service.
After the war went farming, first near Klerksdorp, then Aliwal North and since 1956 on the farm Mandalay in the George district (South Africa) where he grew lettuce and celery.
Deceased 17/09/2008.
1936-1938 Removed to Government areas, state mines.
1938-1940 joined Vacuum Oil Co. Subsequently Mobil Oil.
1940 – attested for war service as A.B.
1941 – drafted to convoy anti submarine ships as First Lieutenant, promoted to Lieutenant July 1944.
1946- demobilised. Returned to Mobil Oil Cape Town as Senior Industrial salesman until March 1958 when transferred to Rhodesia as public relations and advertising manager for Southern and Northern Rhodesia and Malawi. Retired 1972. Deceased 10/09/99
Undated Curriculum Vitae:
Born 11th June 1912, Florida, Transvaal.
Schooled at Grey College, Port Elizabeth, from the age of eight years.Joined S.A.T.S. General Botha 1927.
Obtained 1st Class Navigation and Seamanship Board of Trade Certificate.
Parents refused permission to follow a seafaring career on account of two cousins and uncle buried at sea whilst serving in P&O. Joined staff at Wm Cotts, Durban 1929-1936 as junior shipping clerk. Removed to Government Areas (State Mines) Brakpan 1936.
March 1937 married Joyce Schweizer in Cape Town. Two daughters born of the marriage.
Joined Vacuum Oil Co., subsequently Mobil Oil, Johannesburg 4th July 1938.
Attested for war service with S.A. Seaward Defence August 1940 as A.B. Went on officer’s Training Course, Cape Town Castle. Gunnery 92%, Signals 85%, Rifle Drill 10%, Squad Drill 40%.
After commissioning sent to Walvis Bay as examination officer for nine months under Lt Commander N.P. Curtoys and Commander G.V. Thomas.
Returned to Cape Town and, after three weeks, was on embarkation leave prior to departure for the Mediterranean September 1941.
Drafted to escourt A/S ships, serving in Southern Sea, Southen Maid and Protea as 1st Lieutenant. Promoted to Lieutenant 1st July 1944. Returned to R.S.A. December 1944.
In command of SAS Immortelle but unable to endure lazy patrols off Cape Town after three years in Mediterranean convoy escourt work, was transferred to Port Elizabeth under Captain James Dalgleish’s instructions to demobilise approximately 100 naval ratings. This after attending a two week “Demob” course in Pretoria.
Recalled to Cape Town to take over the recruiting section for the permanent South African Navy – ratings thence officers.
Demobilised 1976. Returned to Mobil Oil Cape Town as senior industrial salesman until March 1958 when transferred to Rhodesia as Public Relations and Advertising Manager for Southern and Northern Rhodesia and Malawi.
Retired 1972. In 1978 returned to R.S.A. Retirement occupation essentially wood turning – furniture and fittings. Sadly lost elder daughter in 1987. Remaining daughter (was) sister-in-charge of Durban’s Blood Donor’s Clinic, having completed nursing training at Cape Town Groote Schuur and Queen Victoria Johannesburg.
Wife was Senior Legal Secretary with Salisbury’s largest legal firm for eighteen and a half years.
2003 transferred to Safmarine Cape Town as Intra Africa Trade Manager.
2012 retired from Safmarine.
28th September 1949 the Archbishop of Cape Town consecrated a new altar in the S.A.N.C. General Botha (Gordon’s Bay) chapel, presented in memory of J.E.J. Lewis (348) by his mother. It had been designed by Captain-Superintendent Legassick and A.S. Pomeroy (373).
1997 Master on the Deep Salvage 1 providing Dive Support with Chevron in the Malongo Oil Field, Cabinda Enclage, Angola.
2015 living in Thailand for the past ten years working as a freelance rig mover / tow master.
Deceased 10/02/98 of Cancer.
1977 – 1993 – Offshore Oil Industry as Master in a variety of offshore vessels. Latter periods with Shell as O.I.S. and O.I.M.
1994 – back in Cape Town – Marine Surveyor with S.G.S.
1995 – set up own Marine Survey and Oilfield Consultancy – IML Marine Surveys cc.
2005 with Noble Denton in Aberdeen, Scotland.
2015 became an Independent Marine Consultant.
1962-66 Cadet and 3rd Officer with Ellerman & Bucknall. Studied for 1st Mate and Master FG certificates at SAMNA General Botha. Joined Unicorn Lines as Chief Officer for 3 years. Served a dogwatch with the S.A.R.& H. Before attending Cape Town University to read economics and psychology.
1975 – 78 joined the S.A.M.N.A. General Bothal as Nautical Lecturer and taught Meterology and Shipmaster’s business. Returned to Liverpool as Senior Lecturer in the Department of Maritime Studies. Taught shipping business and worked in the Marine Operations Research Unit with Alan Bole (1949/50). Awarded the Doctor of Philosophy Degree for a thesis entitled “Secondary Radar, Collision avoidance and ship-to-ship communication.” Transferred to the Liverpool Business School of John Moores University in 1989 as Principle Lecturer in Operations Management. 1997 Assistant Director for Undergraduate Programmes. Retired September 2005.
1994 till 2020 sailed as master on Debeers Marine South Africa and Debmarine Namibia vessels Douglas Bay, Grand Banks, Coral Sea and Debmar Pacific.
2021 retired.
Reported in S.A.T.S. Magazine No.3 1937: was unfortunate enough to be ship wrecked near Jaffa, when he took charge of the first lifeboat and got his party ashore safely.
After passing his second mates examination in Cape Town, Ivor joined Sarships as third mate on the Dalia, where the master was their old navigation lecturer, Morgan Williams and the senior cadet was Hans Schröder. When this ship was sold Ivor moved across to Safmarine, serving in various ships until he obtained his masters in 1961. At the time, he was the youngest officer to achieve this qualification in South Africa, a record broken a month later by Neil du Plessis. During this period, Ivor met Patricia Anne Cullen of Fort Lee, New Jersey, and they were married there in 1960.
Ivor came ashore joining the harbour service in Port Elizabeth, where he served until 1966 in their tugs and dredgers, being particularly involved in the salvage of the Margin and Reef and doing relieving duties in Mossel Bay and East London. This was followed by a brief foray into the business world as sales service manager with Greatermans and then personal assistant to the managing director of the United American Ice Cream Company. Ivor then moved into his real forte, teaching, joining the staff of the General Botha in Granger Bay and remaining with them until 1970. During this time he did a sabbatical as master of the Unicorn Line ships Intombi and Frontier; served as an assessor in a number of marine enquiries; founded the Master Mariners ‘Bridge Watch’ magazine and wrote a number of columns for the Cape Times while their shipping correspondent, George Young, was on leave.In 1970 Ivor accepted an offer to transfer to the SA Navy with the rank of commander, and was appointed lecturer in nautical science in the Faculty of Military Science at Stellenbosch University, then based at the Military Academy in Saldanha. During this time he also qualified as a coxswain and watch-keeping officer at SAS Flamingo Air Sea Rescue Station at Langebaan. His duties also included spells at sea as midshipmen’s training officer in the minesweepers Johannesburg, Mossel Bay and Durban and as officer in tactical command of the training squadron. He was appointed Officer Commanding HDML 1204 and the fast patrol boat P1558, which were attached to the military academy and did a training patrol in the submarine SAS Emily Hobhouse.
Together with Bill Leith, Ivor drew up and presented the first long navigation and direction course to be given in the South African Navy. In 1974, Ivor won the US Institute of Navigation Prize for the best article submitted to them and was invited to present a paper at its conference at the State University of New York. In 1975 he was awarded the Military Merit Medal and successfully passed his naval command and staff course, after which he was appointed to the SA Naval Staff College in Muizenberg to lecture in English and statistics. In 1978 he was appointed officer-in-charge of the college and was then transferred to SA Naval Headquarters in Pretoria as staff officer counter-insurgency. There Ivor was tasked with establishing the SA Marines.
This done, he handed over the battalion to its first officer commanding and was then sent to Chile as an exchange officer with the Chilean Navy. Here, Ivor served in the Chilean Antarctic Squadron as assistant navigator in the attack transport Aquiles, completing three supply trips to the Antarctic.
On his return to South Africa, Ivor was promoted to Captain and appointed senior staff officer, force development at Defence Headquarters in Pretoria, his job being to convert the Transkei Battalion into the Transkei Defence Force. When the TDF was up and running he was sent to the Defence College on its senior staff course and was subsequently appointed director of communications operations at SA Naval Headquarters. From there he was selected for overseas service and was posted to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to fill the post of Military, Air and Naval Attaché. Five months later he was transferred to Italy as Defence Force Representative at the South African Embassy in Rome.
On returning to South Africa in 1989 Ivor was awarded the Southern Cross Medal and appointed senior staff officer, public relations, at SA Defence Headquarters. This necessitated studying for and passing the various grades of the Public Relations Institute of South Africa (PRISA), until he eventually found himself as Chairman of their Pretoria Branch.
As a hobby and an ancillary part of one of his projects, Ivor also achieved the status of professional tour guide for the Natal Battlefields Association and SADF representative on the Military Art Council and Delville Wood Museum Boards. A transfer followed to senior staff officer, shows and exhibitions, which entailed the supervision of all SADF participation in arms exhibitions, shows, parades and air shows. This international exposure led to his appointment as Director, Foreign Relations, at the Ministry of Defence (Defence Secretariat). In this capacity, Ivor also served as a member of the military staff serving the Southern African Development Council (SADEC); the International Security and Defence Committee (ISDC) and the Parliamentary Security and Defence Committee. Ivor retired from the navy at the end of 1997, having also been awarded his naval bridge watchkeeping certificate; surface warfare badge; bronze and silver good service medals; the Unitas Medal and the South Africa Medal (for combating terrorism). He then returned to sea in the merchant navy (just to do it one more time!) and, after revalidating his masters certificate, served in the offshore mining industry enjoying a short spell as chief officer in a tug on the Agulhas Bank offshore oilrig area. He then served as master in various ships, including the Cape Town to Tristan da Cunha mailship and aboard a support tug in the Eastern Mediterranean.
On retiring from the sea in 2001 Ivor entered into an active retirement and at various times served as National Chairman of the SA Military History Society; Acting Chairman of the South African Chapter of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission; President of the Professional and Businessman’s Club of Pretoria, Chairman of the Gauteng branch of the GBOBA and Warden of the Garrison Church of Christ the King in Voortrekkerhoogte. He was also awarded the City of Johannesburg Medal of Appreciation with Bar for services to veterans whilst serving as a member of the SA Legion. At the time of writing (2020) he is the doyen (“Godfather”) of the Pretoria Branch of the Naval Officers Association. He is living in Centurion with Anne, his wife of 60 years. Their three children and two grandchildren live close by and he keeps himself occupied by writing articles for various local and international publications. He is also the author of a published and well received autobiography titled “Above Board and Under Cover”.
Apart from the war years – he had served as a Navigator on an armed merchant cruiser, as a pilot at Freetown Sierra Leone, as a staff officer in Durban and as Commander of a Tank Landing Craft.
His last school before S.A.T.S. General Botha was Pietermaritzburg College. He started a third year in the ship but was withdrawn 30th April 1927 to join the Royal Navy Reserve as a Probationary Midshipman .
He became a Merchant Service Officer and joined Union-Castle Line in 1928. He was in the Royal Navy Reserve [RNR] during the Second World War. He later commanded a Union-Castle cargo ship, the first South African to get command in Union-Castle. After Safmarine was established he transferred across and became a Master in their ships. He eventually became Commodore of the Safmarine fleet. Deceased 18th April 1986. He held the Reserve Decoration [RD] for the RNR service.
Refer: www.bandcstaffregister.com/page1398.html
After Bothie apprenticed to Clan Line and joined the R.N.R. as a midshipman. Later became Genearl Manager of Premier Mines. Deceased.
Sailing in the m.v. Nairnbank.
” I was pushed into an apprenticeship at age 16, 1956, motor mechanic completed January 1961 went through the ranks at different firms. Journeyman, Foreman, Service Manager. Started my own business 1985, semi retired and asked to help a local high school with their maintenance problems and after 9.5 years at the school I retired at age 75, retired for the third time at 77 having been employed at a Automotive engineering firm.
Present (2021) employment, CEO of a residential setup. Duties consist of taking care of all financial requirements, all purchase requirements ( grocery shopping), all maintenance.
Deceased 12th June 2015.
1933 Appointed Midshipman Royal Naval Reserve.
Apprenticed to Prince Line,
Now retired.
August 2000 – transferred to Port Elizabeth as Safmarine branch manager.
2004 in Safmarine H.O., Cape Town. 2011 retired.
Born Wolseley, Cape Province, 5th January 1918. Son of Jan Gerhardus Lourens and Maria Elizabeth, nee van Schalkwyk. Ed, Observatory Boys’ High School, Cape Town. Cadet Draft 1933-34. After leaving General Botha, John Lourens enlisted in the Grenadier Guards, from which he was later transferred to the RAF and in February 1944 was reported missing, believed killed, after a raid over Berlin. He was mentioned in dispatches at Dunkirk and gained the DFM.
Private Felix de la Rey Louw (1046) served in the Witwatersrand Rifles/Regiment de la Rey in the 6th SA Armoured Division in Italy. His unit recaptured Monte Stanco, the first of a string of strategically very important features which was strongly held by the German 16th SS Division. He was one of the 24 members of his unit who were killed in action.
Retired in 1995.
Peter Louw joined the R.N.V.R. at Simon’s Town as a Midshipman on 12.1.39; Sub-Lt. 31.10.42, to S.A.N.F. attached R.N. 1.5.43, Lieut. S.A.N.F. 30.4.45.
He served on the Armed Merchant Cruiser Carnarvon Castle from 12.9.39 to 1.1.42; the destroyer ‘Boreas’ 2.7.42 to 20.9.43; the destroyer ‘Chesterfield’ 2.11.43 to 18.11.44; and the anti-submarine trawler ‘Coventry City’ 2.1.45 to 7.8.45. During his service he was variously a pay, stores, navigation, cypher and code officer. He was discharged from the S.A.N.F. on 12.9.46.
He was aboard the Carnarvon Castle during her epic engagement with The German raider Thor 700 miles east of Montevideo on 5.12.40. The “Thor” fired 593 shells and 2 torpedoes and the Carnarvon Castle was hit 27 times with the loss of 4 killed and 28 wounded. She limped into Montevideo harbour and was repaired in part using plates from the Graf Spee. In 1941 she took part in Operation ‘Bellringer’ in which 5 Vichy ships were intercepted and escorted into South African ports
He later served as a Sgt and Equipment Assistant in the S.A.A.F. Permanent Force from 14.5.48. Despite having served as an officer in the Navy during the war Peter’s recommendations and applications for a commission were unsuccessful. On 30.6.55 he requested his discharge by purchase from the S.A.A.F. To join the Rhodesian Air Force where he was commissioned and ultimately reached the rank of Squadron Leader.
His military awards include the Rhodesian General Service Medal, Rhodesian Exemplary Service Medal, 1939-45 Star, Atlantic Star, Africa star with North Africa 1942-42 clasp, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Africa Service Medal.
1984 attended the Australian Maritime College and obtained his Master’s FG there. 1986 Chief Officer and later, Master, on the AMC’s training ship Wyuna. 1988/91 worked in Madang, PNG, and then went to Nauru as Harbour Master, Pilot, surveyor and Stevedore Foreman. 1991 went to Brisbane as Assistant Harbour Master but, bored with the desk jockey job, went to Hobart as pilot in Townsville, North Queensland and in 1999 returned to work in Brisbane Marine Pilots, a privatised pilotage company. Also studied for a degree in education and a graduate diploma in business. 2009 Marine Manager/Harbour Master in the port of Esperance on the South East Coast of Western Australia. Deceased 26th April 2020.
Left Safmarine in July 1995 to join a clearing and forwarding company in Johannesburg. In 1986 joined a commodity trader company as Shipping Manager. In 1992 he formed his own company trading in metal powders, refractory metals, non-ferrous alloys and speciality alloys and in 1996 commenced production of a range of welding consumables. 2003 residing in Australia developing a branch network, Speciality Metals, in Australia and New Zealand. 2014 managing director of Speciality Metals, subsequently Hard Metal Industries.
DonaldL@hmi.com.au – S.A. Office 011 452 4266 / 083 326 7575
774054 Lovemore. R StC N.. Leading Aircraftsman. RAF. Pilot (U/T) under training, presume. Serving with 4 SFTS (service flying training school) Iraq. Killed as a result of collision between Audax K7523 and K7517 12 Sept 1940, aged 21. With him was Lt. William Penn, another SA man. Buried Habbaniya Cmetry, 4.C.7, Iraq. On the headstone.. “He answered the call, and he who gives himself, gives all”. Parents Norman and Mary Lovemore, Knysna.
“I knew Dave very well, we bunked together in the starboard watch dorm. He lived with his folks in Pietermaritzberg at the time, they were ex Rhodesians. In December 1969, we both joined the ST Koberg as first trippers. We sailed together for 6 months, and then parted ways to go on leave. I seem to remember he joined a general cargo ship after his leave, but only did one trip, before resigning, and vanishing. I never heard from him since.”
Opened own business Lundy & Associates (Pty)Ltd in Jan 1980 and 34 years later still at it trading in marine & non-marine insurance claims, purchasing damaged cargo from insurers & selling it on. Like changing your job every week for 34 years !
Has written 5 books on hiking guides in the Western Cape & co-authored another 3. (“Top Treks of the World” & “Hiking Atlas of the World” have sold internationally with Top Treks having been translated into 6 languages).
Over a 20 year period (up to 2005) did weekly hiking reports on Good Hope Radio, KFM & Cape Talk. Also wrote a weekly column for the Cape Times 1994 – 1997 & Sunday Times 98/99.
Married to 2nd wife Barbara & lived happily in Hout Bay with all 3 sons & 2 stepdaughters plus 7 grandchildren (not all in the same house!).
2005 joined The Owl Club. Deceased 27th May 2015.
1931 Appointed Midshipman Royal Naval Reserve.
His father’s early death brought to an end what Len believed would have been a lifelong career with Shell. He had enjoyed every minute of a four year long intensive training period, but, more as a dare than for any other reason, Len replied to an advertisem*nt in the Sunday Times which called for applications for entry into the Northern Rhodesia Police Force. Six months after the dare, with forms and references from everyone but the Pope (including Captain Gus Legassick), Len found himself at the NRP training college in Lilayi, outside of Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia.
After a thrilling six moths training period, Len was posted to Ndola, as an Assistant Inspector, at first carrying out general duties and then, as a patrol car driver.
This was at the height of rising anarchy in the Belgium Congo, when the President Elect of the Republic of the Congo, Patrice Lumumba, was assassinated.
Len was one of the police officers seconded to the Belgium paratroopers when troops from Belgium (to whom the Congo had belonged), were sent to quell the rioting and pillaging of the country.
They were crazy days for a young South African, with excitement every day as Northern Rhodesia and Kenneth Kaunda were on the road to independence from Britain.
Len was very much involved in the political meetings which in those days, were held by UNIP, over weekends, where Kaunda would address thousands of his countrymen, from the top of an anthill (some as high as five meters, and six to eight meters in diameter), in the townships, whilst the Riot Police and the army surrounded those meeting places, armed with rifles, sten guns and even bren guns.
All to no avail of course, because on the 24th of October 1963 the flag of Zambia was raised for the first time, at midnight, in the Dag Hammerschold Stadium, Ndola.
Len was there that night.
Not long after, the Zambian government wanted Len to surrender his South African passport, being an officer in the Zambian Government services, and thus ended that chapter of Len’s career when he chose to resign and return to South Africa.
Whilst in Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia, on his way back to South Africa by car, Len responded to a newspaper advertisem*nt for a representative with a very large firm of Manufacturers Representatives. and started work the next day, selling every imaginable product including liquor, confectionary, fancy goods, tobacco lines, groceries, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, ethical lines and toys.
Len covered every city and town from Beit Bridge to Chirundu and traveled constantly, week after week, and enjoying every minute in representing some of the most famous House Brands from throughout the world.
Four years later Len was transferred to a now very independent Zambia, to the Ndola office of the same Company where he was back again in familiar territory, calling on the well known towns of Chingola, Bancroft, Mufalaru, Luyansha , Broken Hill and Lusaka.
Back once again in South Africa, after enough of all the rumblings of independence now starting in Southern Rhodesia, Len was offered the opportunity to represent the Agents for Omega watches, throughout South Africa, and so, once again, for four years, Len travelled the roads of South Africa, South West, Botswana, until being transferred to Cape Town to open a Regional Office for Omega, and be responsible for the Western and Eastern Cape and the O.F.S.
During those years Len received training in Switzerland, and other major cities of Europe and England, covering every aspect of the appointment of Omega stockists, (some prestigious jewelers waiting as long as twelve years before being appointed as Official Omega stockists !)
Ever evolving progress in the Japanese watch industry caused the downfall of many Swiss watch manufacturers and this eventually caused Len to return to Johannesburg as the National Sales and Marketing Manager for a national chain of up market jewelers.
Len’s passion for motor cars eventually caught up with him when he had the opportunity to join the motor industry, first in a management position with Toyota South Africa and then with Nissan South Africa, where, once again he was on the move, transferred back to Cape Town as General Manager responsible for the fleet needs of the entire Sanlam/Sankorp group of companies.
It was here, in the automobile industry where Len met his future wife, the Purchasing Manager of a major Insurance Company.
Len and his wife, who herself retired in June 2010, were both very keen motor enthusiasts, and very much involved with almost all motor manufactures and their dealers and were fortunate enough to attend the launch of almost every new vehicle model onto the South African market, throughout the country, and which keep the adrenaline flowing for both Len and his wife.
Whilst cars were Len’s first passion, ships were his second, and he never stopped regretting that at the time of leaving the Bothie, Len did not have the opportunity to go to sea.
By the way, that crazy, “laugh a minute”, lovable character who was at the Bothie as Len’s senior, and who spent many years at sea, was none other than Barry Downing, Len’s cousin.
1968 – with the S.A.R. & H.
Reported 1964 – Chairman of the Cape Town committee of the Old Boys Association and also of the War Memorial Fund.
1933 Junior Cadet Captain.
Apprenticed to Prince Line.
Went to sea after Bothie before joining the Royal Air Force, Bomber Command.
Rank: Acting Wing Commander
Service number: 40124
After WWII he was very successful in business.
Alan was ex-General Botha boy who, like Sailor Malan, went to sea in the Merchant Navy as a cadet prior to the 2nd World War and then, like Sailor Malan, opted for a short service commission in the Royal Air Force. He was a pilot officer at the start of the war and was immediately at the spear point of hostilities. In Bomber Command he took part in 120 sorties over Europe, an astonishing feat. Astonishing in that a man could survive such dangers for so long. The comparison would be with a member of the U-boat service surviving several years on operations in the Atlantic Ocean. At War’s end Alan was a wing-commander loaded down with decorations- DSO (and bar), DFC (and bar), AFC (Dutch) and other awards. After the war a town in England sought leave from the Air Ministry to name the streets of a new suburb after leading RAF heroes and asked for a list of men deserving this form of remembrance. Alan’s name was on the list supplied and Lynn Street came into existence. The RAF had many heroes and Alan must have been high on their roll of honour. On one mission he was leading he was told that an American war correspondent was to travel with him in his aircraft. To Alan’s surprise the correspondent turned out to be Ernest Hemingway. An official publication has a photograph of Hemingway and Alan standing beside the aircraft kitted out for the journey. Hemingway is described as “an incongruous sight with his large frame squeezed into RAF battle dress, flying gear, and helmet. His steel-rimmed spectacles and shaggy beard did not detract from the overall impression of something a little out of the ordinary.” Murderous flak greeted them on the road but Alan and Hemingway returned safely to form a wonderful and lasting friendship. After the War he was successful in business and towards the end of his life he had an urge to return to South Africa albeit on an extended annual vacation basis. For this purpose he and his wife Graziella bought a holiday home in Plettenberg Bay in 1997 and here they enjoyed several long vacations together. It was at that home that he died on March 18th 2000. Few South African men could have had such a distinguished war time record and very few men anywhere could have been more modest than Alan in hiding his achievements.
See: http://www.tracesofwar.com
Retired.
Deceased July 2003.
Reported 1964 – working at the Stellenbosch Farmer’s Winery.
I left Bothie and joined the SABC – 3 Yrs – (Electronics always facinated me)
Worked at Burroughs Machines – 3 Yrs. – (Not sufficient Electronics)
Joined K. Baker Assoc – supplying electronic equipment – 10 Yrs. (Electronics paradise – crazy environment – lots of fun)
Worked at Datakor – supplying Computer Systems – 3 Yrs (Involved in developing – first PC to be supplied in SA – even more fun)
Was with CICS Computer Bureau – 3 Yrs (Had to get to the bottom of how these Accounting Systems are designed)
Started Focus Information Systems – in 1981 – Computer Software for Industry (the ultimate in fun – still boxing on for my sins).
Deceased 19th May 2019.
1995 an independent marine surveyor and shipbroker in East London.
1999 retired. Deceased 17/07/2009.
Died of cancer 8th March 1996.
Deceased 28/06/97.
1973 Second Mate’s Certificate. South African Lines acquired by Safmarine, employment with Safmarine, returned to SAL/Globus Reederei managed ships as third officer.
1975 Mate’s Certificate. Transferred to Globus Reederei, Hamburg. Residence in Germany. Second officer on Globus managed ships.
1978 Master’s Certificate Cape Town. January 1979 joined S.A. Langeberg as Second Mate, promoted Mate.
1989 Promoted Master Sea Merchant.
1992 Master maiden voyage Oranje from Pula/Croatia.
1993 Closure/Sale of Globus Reederei, transferred to Safmarine, Cape Town.
2007 Master maiden voyage Safmarine Mulanje from Ulsan/Korea.
11/2013 Offsign Safmarine Nimba, final voyage as master. Retirement in Germany.
2002 relocated to New Zealand. Since April 2005 been working on the NZ coast for cement company Golden Bay.
Reported in “Both Watches” 1953: C.P.O. in S.A. Navy.
1994 joined Smit Marine as Business Development Manager and later General Manager of Sealink, Cape Town, a division of Smit Marine.
1998 – Transferred to Pentow Marine Head Office, Crewing Executive.
2003 joined S.A. Maritime Training Academy (SAMTRA) Simon’s Town as General Manager.
2010 promoted to CEO. December 2016 retired and joined the GBOBA Bursary Fund Committee.
1992 – 93 – Unicorn. Admin Manager then Operations Manager, Johannesburg container dept.
1993 – 94 Polaris Shipping, Container Manager Southern Africa and Indian Ocean Islands. July 1994 – Operations Manger, Unicorn Container Depot, Johannesburg.
Later relocated to Liverpool to join a container leasing company as Operations Manager and late 2000 joined an IT company as Manager, Applications Development.
2003 with FWL Technologies as project manager.
2005 – Appointed Director of Global Services Centers, FWL Technologies and relocated to India. 2007 Project Director, BIDM Asia Pacific Systems, India.
2009: transferred to Kuala Lumpur – Project Director for Tradeship (of which BIDM was a subsidiary)
2012: joined IBM in Singapore as Senior Managing Consultant – currently in the role of Solution Architect for a customised SAP application implementation for NOL.
1955 – Assistant Transport Manager for a P.E. Timber CO. 1959 – Took over family cartage business. 1970 – Sold the business and joined the buyer as Transport MGR. 1981 – Retired from business. Joined the S.A.D.F. Museum service. Served as a Sergeant at the Military Museum, Donkin Reserve. 1989 – Retired. Decorations 39/45 Star, Atlantic Star, Burma Star, 39/45 Medal. Deceased 6th August 2005.
1960 to 1974 worked my way up to Junior Partner in a stock broking firm in Sydney.
1975 – 1981 Assistant Secretary & Secretary of Ampol Petroleum Ltd, Sydney.
1981 – 1987 various small business ventures including a Marina purchased from George Bennett, Bothie Old Boy.
1987 cruising with wife Diana in own yatch on Australian Coast and in Pacific. New Zealand, Cooks, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji & New Caledonia.
1995 completed his yacht cruising.
Since retiring in 1999 involved in writing and publishing local histories and biographies.
1946 – 1950 University of Cape Town. Graduated April 1951 with BSc (Civil Engineering).
1951 to 1985 seved in various Government departments under successive governments in Southern Rhodesia and Zimbabwe, finally attaining the post of Deputy Secretary Engineering in the Ministry of Public Construction and National Planning. Retired from civil service in 1985. 1988 with Lamont Consulting Engineers in Harare. Deceased 27th June 2017 aged 92.
Joined Safmarine in 1970. Sailed on various vessels including mail ships and salvage tugs, up to Chief Officer rank. Joined Sea Harvest, Saldanha Bay, in a shore position. Later joined S.A. Stevedores in Saldanha Bay. After a few years relocated to Durban with S.A. Stevedores and managed a Citrus Fruit Terminal. Also spent some time based in Maputo establishing the Citrus Terminal there. 1992 appointed Regional Manager, S.A. Stevedores Western Cape, based in Cape Town. Appointment included a National Fruit Portfolio.
April 1996 joined Pentow Marine as Fleet Manager. Later became head of Smit Salvage in South Africa.
GBOBA Cape Town Branch committee member and GBOBA Bursary Fund board member.
Reported deceased.
Born in Pietermaritzburg, 3 May, 1926, Derrick John Makkink was brought up in Upington and Walvis Bay. After starting his studies in Seamanship on the General Botha naval ship at Simonstown he got his Mates’, Master’s and Extra-master’s Tickets in Glasgow during WW2 where he met Eleanor, his wife. Serving on the notorious Murmansk Run, he survived numerous Arctic convoys supplying food and equipment to Russia as well as being stationed for a year on the Maine Hospital Ship docked in Malta. He and Eleanor married and returned to South Africa in 1952, raising their family in both the Cape and Natal. He worked for many years as a ship’s surveyor before returning to sea as a ship’s captain of commercial ships.
Was 3rd Officer and Navigation and Instruments lecturer on the Bothie in 1953. 1956 lectured senior students in Durban.
He will be remembered as a man of fearless principle, a devoted husband, an example to his children and a loving grandfather.
Reported 1964 – Principal Officer of the Ministry of Transport, Port Elizabeth.
1939 Star, Africa Star, War Medal 1939-45 and Africa Service Medal.
Sponsored a book annual prize for the third runner up for the Gold Medal.
Deceased 26/06/97.
His portrait, painted by William During, was one of a collection of war pictures presented by the British Government to South Africa
1970 became a farmer and wine mater at Vredendal before establishing a nature reserve in the Bredasdrop area (Western Cape). Resettled game species in the area and acted as P.H. for foreign hunters.
1997 Living in Hermanus fishing and occasional shooting trips into Africa.
1931 Appointed Midshipman Royal Naval Reserve.
1931 won the King’s Gold Medal and the accolade “Excellent” for conduct.
The first Professor of Oceanography at the University of Cape Town. Passed away June 1993. Served in the Merchant Navy and the S.A. Navy as Naval Hydrographer, where he achieved both the rank of Captain and his interst in oceanography. A series of research crusies which he organised, covering 12,000 nautical miles in the SAS Protea, led to a clearer understanding of the complex behaviour of the Agulhas Current. With this background he joined UCT as Professor of Oceanography, taking with him his Naval Oceanographic research unit. His subsequent research included a study of wave action, particularly the very large and destructive ‘killer’ waves sometimes encountered by ships along the south-east S.A. Coast, which became known as the Mallory Wave. Shortly before his retirement he collaborated with United States scientists in a study of the currents in the Northern Indian Ocean.
Though retired as such remained on the boards of Torres Industries, Reef Pilots and Reef Helicopters.
Earned the nick name Cowboy after lassooing a bull in Table Bay which had escaped quarantine and swam out to sea.
Followed a regular sea-going career path in Safmarine (doing mainly Far East and USA runs with the occasional trip to UK and Continent) to Masters in 1970.
Last Safmarine appointment was Second Mate in SA Vergelegen.
Got married and joined the SA Navy in 1971.
Followed a naval sea-going career culminating with a three year command of the SAS Drakensberg.
After serving a further five years in Defence staff appointments, demilitarised in 1997 to take a civilian appointment as a director in the Defence Secretariat.
Retired from the Department of Defence in 2007 but served on a contract basis with the Defence Secretariat for a further four years.
Settled in Scarborough on the Cape Peninsula and enjoying retirement.
John then took up a new challenge – ballroom dancing – and under the instruction of Bill and Bobby Irwin, renowned world champions, John and partner, Tiny Langeveld, became SA Ballroom Champions.
The next challenge to take his fancy was learning to fly an aircraft, so he moved up to the Transvaal, and at Johannesburg Light Plane Club got his licence, and it was there in 1963 John met Sylvery Dawn. They were married in 1964, and raised four children, Gary, Kim, Shaun and Hayley. They are blessed with seven grandchildren. A very devoted family man who was delighted to celebrate his Golden Wedding Anniversary in February this year.
Back in 1982/3 taking a break from running his own businesses, John accepted a position with the consortium of companies, both local and overseas, building the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, his responsibility being the drawing up of the many and varied contracts and controlling all financial aspects.
On the completion of Koeberg, John devoted his time to his own business – Puppy Love Clothing manufacturing dogs’ wear and later corporate sportswear run by his wife and two daughters in their home town of Stellenbosch. During this time, together with his two sons they developed the only manufacturing plant of screen printing inks in Africa.
John’s passion was spreading the ‘good news’ of the gospel of Jesus Christ, who became his Saviour in 1973, the centre of his existence and interest. Worked in the mission field for many years and so became well known and beloved in Stellenbosch and surrounds, leading countless people to know and accept salvation.
His health began failing with the onset of diabetes years ago and after a severe stroke in the beginning of April, this year, he was in and out of hospital until he passed away peacefully in his sleep on the 10th of June 2014.
1964 Freight Manager, Union Castle Line, Port Elizabeth.
After Bothie he became indentured to the Anglo Saxon Petroleum Company in 1934 as an apprentice and in 1937 as second officer. He joined the S.A. Navy in 1940 and resigned from there in 1948. Saw wartime service in the Mediterranean on convoy patrol having sailed on the Seksurn, Southern Maid, Wartberg, Immortelle, Teriot, Natal and Unitie. In 1948 he was the staff officer to Commodore Dean attached to the staff of the Deputy Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant Genearl Everard Poole. After the war became a Dale Carnegie instructor followed by 20 years as Managing Director of Tack Training. Retired in 1984.
Retured to GB for further training January 1934.
Sailed as an apprentice with Clan Line until 1938.
Reported in “Both Watches” 1953
Lieutenant in S.A. Navy.
Appointed to the Staff of the General Botha as Second Officer in 1944 after serving as Second Officer on the Queen Elizabeth, the Cunard liner then serving as a troopship. Years later, after retiring from stevedoring and moving to Cape Town, he joined the General Botha at Granger Bay as Quartermaster. Deceased 03/05/90
1995 owned a Motel in Australia, sold 1997.
Also owns and flies two light aircraft. One is used for crop spraying and the other he uses for aerobatics.
He also flies a sea plane which is used for conveying tourists out to the Great Barrier Reef.
2007 retired.
Reported in “Old Salts” 1947/48: has had his appointment as Harbour Pilot in the Table Bay Harbour service confirmed. Reported in “Both Watches” 1952: A Harbour Pilot in Port Elizabeth. Chairman of the Port Elizabeth branch of the Old Boys’ Association.
Son of Captain A.C. Matson, 1992/23. Cadet in the “City of Litchfield”, at present (1952) in the United Kingdom.
1995 – Rennies Ships Agency, Cape Town
1947-49 Rhodesia, Imtali, Sabi valley. Town Engineer’s Clerk, Surveyor.
1950-57 Sub Lieutenant & Lieutenant RANVR.
1957-59 Papua New Guinea Marine Branch, Assistant Hydrographic Surveoyr.
1960-61 NSW (Australia) Lands Department & Sydney Water Board, Assistant Surveyor.
1962-67 Lieutenant & Lieutenant Commander RANR.
1968-70 Australian National Line, 3rd, 2nd, & Chief Officer, then Assistant Terminal Superintendent.
1971 – 89 sailed as Master with the Austrailian Maritime Safety Authority, Hydrographic Surveying.
1989 Retired
Reserve Decoration, Justice of the Peace.
He was Captain of a Mine sweeper at the Normandy Landings, WWII D-Day, after joining RNR from General Botha.
Deceased 21/02/97.
Cadet Draft 1929-30. After leaving General Botha, Robert Cecil Thomas McClughan became an apprentice in the Merchant Navy and was serving on SS Cerinthius when she was torpedoed in mid-Atlantic on 9th November 1942, in which Robert lost his life.
During WWII served in S.A. Military Police.
Was a POW during WWII.
RNR Midshipman, spent a year on Malta during WWII. Arrived at Malta in the Merchant Navy, volunteered for the Royal Navy and was transferred there to an anti-submarine craft.
Sub-Lieutenant P. Mc Millan (938) served in the submarine HMS Tradewind in 1945.
At the end of WWII he was a Lieutenant RNR.
Deceased.
After the General Botha, served in the army in the mechanical division (Private Kaffrarian Rifles / Air Mechanic SAAF) went into Africa and ended up in Italy before the war ended. He the then went straight to Southern Rhodesia [now Zimbabwe] where he met his future wife. He was engaged for two years then married Angie in 1948. At that time he started work at Shell. He rose through the ranks and retired for the first time after 30 years service. He got bored so started at the GST department in Rhodesia, worked for about seven years and retired for the “2nd time”. Left the then Rhodesia to come to Cape Town when the problems started in Rhodesia. He started a pensioner job at the then Perm Building Society for two years, but left because he was offered a better job at a company called Mercedes Office Equipment also for about two years. Once again someone heard about him and offered him a job at Sales Tax Dept Cape Town where he worked for another ten years and retired for the 3rd and final time. This was at approximately age 76. And then joined the vintage club touring Africa and getting into mischief in his caravan and his 1967 Chevrolet Impala. He was a true gentleman, husband and friend. He is very sadly missed by many people.
2011 joined another company managing the Port Elizabeth branch of a company called Liquor Runners doing liqour distribution on behalf of a multitude of principles in the liquor industry.
Deceased August 2019.
Retired 1998.
Chief Cadet Captain at Bothie and winner of the Gold Medal.
Served on whaling vessels in the Antartic.
Sailed with Deutsche Africa Linie, Globus and Trans Ocean Liners during which he became Master at the age of 27 before coming ashore into business.
Chief Executive of Island View Shipping based in Durban during which time the company received the Marine Money International Listed Shipping Company of the Year Award for two consecutive years. Tim received the International Shipping Personality of the Year award in Amsterdam, from the International Bulk Journal Awards, in 2010.
Following his retirement in July 2010 from IVS he, together with associates, formed the company 20 South Maritime, specialising in security at sea, particularly counter-piracy.
Deceased 3rd July 2014.
5 years as a Sales and Marketing Constulant. Returned to S.A. and worked in various capacities including:
* Personnel Consultant for 8 years
* Personnel Manager for 2 years
* Senior Warden of the University of Natal Residence for 9 years.
* Occupational Health and Safety Manager at the University of Natal (UKZN) for 10 years.
* Then retired and formed own consultancy working in the Occupational Health and Safety field for 5 years.
* 2016 fully retired near Margate on KZN South Coast. Fishing and crayfishing.
Deceased 23/11/2000
1999 joined De Beers Marine as Master.
2002 Marine Surveyor and relief deck officer based in the U.K
2004 sailing with Dart Line, U.K.
2005 self employed as a marine surveyor.
Johannesburg now hosts a Walk of Fame, which is a tribute to past jazz icons,and prominent amongst them is our own Old Boy Chris Mc Gregor.
The son of Old Boy Andrew Murray Mc Gregor 1924/25 #146, Chris was born in Somerset West and raised in the Transkei at Blythswood where his father was headmaster of a mission institution.This was the the beginning of his musical appreciation, hearing and being exposed to the complicated Xhosa music environment.
Chris’s talent and ability slowly improved until he arrived at the GB, yet he survived developing the ability to play a multitude of instruments and excelling on the piano for both years,often adding glitz to what could have been drab occasions.
Leaving the Bothie he had to get a matric before he could consider further studies, therefore he went to Paarl Boys High to qualify, he then enrolled in the College of Music where he studied for four years.During the day he had the accepted classical influences and at night he visited the local jazz clubs in District Six joining in and playing with our local musicians.
It was during this time that he became musical arranger, band leader and pianist in the theater band for the musical “Mr Paljas”which was released by Gallotone records.
His friends and he developed a mixture of South African black traditional music and black American jazz and formed a group to perform at the Soweto Jazz festival in 1962.They took 2nd prize which led to the birth of the Blue Notes.
It was at this time that Chris arranged six tracks of compositions by yet unknown musicians who would become internationally known in jazz circles.
Now shortage of money forced the group to try raising funds by touring the country in an old Combi to gigs arranged by Maxine who had initially joined the group to arrange gigs and became road manager.
Chris and Maxine eventually married and she became an part of his life.
Money, money, money became a problem for the sextet, and they toured S.A. playing anywhere they were accepted, remembering the deep dark days when mixed groups, and mixed audiences were taboo.They toured mainly to raise money to go to Europe where they believed they would be accepted. Also they had to wait for exit permits for the five black members of the band.
At last in 1964 they received the necessary paperwork and left for a musical festival in Antibes where they had been invited to play.
Hoping for a really good blast they were only given 20 minutes, but this was sufficient to get them on the road to becoming a giant in the jazz world, being responsible for integrating African rhythm with American jazz.
Forming the Brotherhood of Breath they played all over Europe and England including Ronnie Scotts review with very high praise from the jazz fraternity.
As always money raised it ugly head and the group eventually disbanded after leaving England to live on a small farm in France. He remained a major force in the music world releasing a number of solo piano albums, and contributing in a number of musical releases over the next few years.
Known as a South African jazz pioneer he continued until 26 May 1990 when he passed away.
There are numerous mentions on the Internet under Chris McGregor and Maxine also wrote the book “Chris McGregor and the Brotherhood of Breath: my life with a South African jazz pioneer”,published by Bamberger Books.
Manager, Grindrod Container terminal Cape Town.
February 1994 – relocted to Durban and promoted to Coastal Line Manager, Unicorn.
1999 – a Director with Status Shipping Lines based in Cape Town and later joined King & Sons, Maputo.
2000 Managing Moz Line in Maputo.
2007 National Operations Manager for South African Independent Liner Services [SAILS].
2008 own company, Fairseas International doing chartering/broking/logistics.
1956 – 57 – Clerk with Southern Life.
1957 – 58 – Returned to Safmarine as Cadet
1958 – 59 – Clerk with United Building Society.
1959 – 64 – Clerk with Southern Life
1964 – 71 – Woolworths, in charge of Computer operations
1971 – 72 – Garlicks, comptuer operations manager
1972 – 79 – Stellenbosch University, Head of Operations
1979 – 93 – Rhodes University, Head of Oeprations
July 1993 retired
Served on the Cape Town GBOBA Committee as well as the Executive Committee 1960 – 1976
Deceased July 2001.
Detail submitted from his son:
“My grandfather, came from Berriedale in the Highlands of Scotland in the late 1800’s and settled in Alice in the East Cape. He started a General Dealer store selling everything from groceries, food supplies to haberdashery and men’s and ladies clothes. Blankets and yarn and fabric. My father Hugh finished school at a young age and was sent to General Botha to train. After my father finished at General Botha he was sent to a department store in Port Elizabeth, Croft Magill and Watson, to learn the trade. He spent two years there and returned to work for his father. After my grandfathers passing my father, Hugh, bought out his siblings and took ownership and running the business. After my father passed on, (16 Nov 1975), my mother sold the business and building to the then Ciskei Government.”
Sailing in the “City of Chester”. Previously sailed in the “City of Litchfield.”
Deceased 23/10/2005
1964 retired.
After retirement farmed fruit in the Eastern Cape and also spent time sailing his yacht in the Mediterranean.Deceased November 2001.
24/09/2007 killed in an accident in Durban harbour.
GBOBA Durban branch chairman.
Deceased 19/08/2008.
1952 promoted to Third Officer
1953 came ashore, failed 2nd Mates F.G. joined Smith’s Coasters as acting 2nd Mate.
1954 – 63 went to Zambia, worked at Rhokana Mine in smelter as Operator rising to Reverbatory Foreman.
1963 – returned to Republic
1964 – joined m.v. Nolloth as 2/O, after 1 months promoted to C/O. Then ashore to write Masters, failed. Joined Ellams as a rep. Then joined Impala Plastics (later to become Mega Plastics) and worked for them for 22 years rising to Proejct Engineering, Sales Manager.
1990 – early retirement, started own compay, Deteq Systems.
Deceased April 2001.
Berthed the “Zulu Coast” in the tiny Murray Bay harbour, Robben Island, a number of times to replenish the island’s fresh water supply.
1964 joined the Natal Parks Board as a Ranger and was stationed at Giants Castle Game Reserve, becoming officer in charge.
1974 transferred to Hluhluwe Game Reserve where his main interest was the capture and care of wildlife. In 1981 promoted to a new post as head of game capture and moved to NPB head office. Retired from the NPB in 1995 becoming a wildlife consultant specialising in the movement of wildlife overseas.
John went to sea with Bank Line before coming ashore to join Mac Steel and later Manager of Gold Star Line. He then became Line and Chartering Manager of Raphaels in Johannesburg before taking over Directorship of Arenkiel Shipping. 1998 General Manager, Marketing of Polaris Shipping. 2004 joined Foreshore Shipipng based in Cape Town. Finally retired 2016.
Reported 1964 – was employed as Chief Officer in the African Coaster “Voorlooper”. He received a gold watch in September from the Principals of his company in recognition of his bravery in jumping into the sea off East London to rescue a seaman. Two men from the m.v. “Silverstone” were overboard and the second unfortunately drowned. When the “Voorlooper” was informed by the Signal Station, Mellows was in position and effected the rescue of the other seaman, Holzschuh. He also received a letter from the Secretary of Transport congratulating him on his brave act.
Returned to Safmarine/Saftug in May 1984 and finally promoted to Master of the Deep Sea Salvage tug “Wolraad Woltemade”. (One of the two most powerful salvage tugs built) in June 1989.
January 2017 handled his 100th towage contract involving the big tugs during an exceptional career. Retired 2018.
1964 Mate in the African Coaster “Verge”.
E.R.A. 3 in S.A. Navy.
1964 Warrant Officer/Engine Room Artificer SAS Natal.
GBOBA Bursary Fund founding board member and Life Governor.
2009 own firm importing / exporting brewery equipment from Germany to Southern African countries.
2016 self employed land surveyor.
GB Cadet No. 1780. 1952/1953. Apprentice in SAR&H Ships 1954/1956. As Mate in Thesens
Coasters 57/61. In Command SA Air Force Crash Boat Squadron 62/68 .SA Navy 69/90. Retired with rank Captain (SAN) 1990. Married Anna Groenewald 1959. Three Daughters. Linda, Karin, Shirley. Each had a boy and a girl. Shaun, Amy : Robin, Lee-Ann: Jessica, Michael. Past chairman of the S.A.T.S. General Botha Old Boys Association, Mission to Seafarers and the Cape Town Sailors Home. Deceased 25th April 2019.
2006 left the National Port Authority and joined Platinum Yacht Managements Dubai as General Manager.
2016 returned to S.A.
Captain/Junior Shareholder, Petalan Shipping Pty Ltd, Durban, South Africa 1990 – 1996.
Senior Marine Pilot, National Ports Authority, Saldanha Bay, South Africa 1996 – 2006.
Divisional Manager, Platinum Yacht Management LLC, Dubai 2006 – 2012.
Marine Operations Manager, Smit Serviços Maritimos de Moçambique 2012 – 2016.
STS Superintendent/Mooring Master/POAC; SafeSTS 2017 – present.
Served in the Merchant Navy and the S.A. Navy for 18 years. Also worked on the mines for many years followed by a lot of survey work in the townships.
1964 Third Officer in Safmarine’s m.v. “Drakenstein”.
1993 – General Manager of SGS South Africa Pty Ltd
1995 – Manager of Bureau Veritas, Port of Richards Bay.
2002 – Standards Specialist with S.A. Maritime Safety Authority.
Deceased 13/05/2006
1997 – Running his own business, “The Cheese Farm” Durban.
1998 moved to the U.K.
March 1982 joined Devonia Shipping in Randburg, ship operating, ship broking and cargo broking. September 1994 joined ISCOR as Senior Shipping/Chartering Officer. Responsible for time chartering/voyage chartering, operating and the financial aspects of vessels for the shipment of ISCOR Steel cargoes and outside cargoes to the USA as well as Cargo claims. 1996 Line Manager with Gearbulk shipping of London.
2001 Returned to Durban and started own cargo broking business Millar Maritime.
Safmarine: Marine engineer SA Trader and SA Drakenstein to about 1967.
1967: Moved to Canada, worked as a Millwright in British Columbia, Ontario and Alberta.
1992: Took over BTS Services, Calgary [vibration analysis, dynamic balancing, precision alignment, maintenance on rotating equipment.]
2010: Retired.
After Bothie apprenticed to Aberdeen White Star Line.
Reported in “Both Watches” 1953: Lieutenant in S.A. Navy.
After Bothy Brian joined Safmarine and sailed on the U.S.A.- South Africa route. Left sea and worked for John Brown Land Boilers in Cape Town and Bloemfontein.
Joined Schindler Lift Co in Durban, in 1971 .He was working on the lifts at the Maharani Hotel, still under construction, at the 2nd floor level when a steel bar weighing 3kg fell from the 23rd floor level, hitting Brian on the head and knocking him down the lift shaft. He died 7 hours later at Addington Hospital, leaving behind his wife, Denise and 3 young daughters. This accident occurred on the 15th November 1977. His ashes were scattered at sea off Durban.
WWII South African Tank Corps. Was a S.A. POW during WWII.
10th June 1944 seconded to Royal Navy, ex S.A.N.F.
Served with the Cape Town Fire Brigade.
1964 Berthing Master in Walvis Bay.
On finishing at the Botha, he returned to Bethlehem where he commenced an apprenticeship as a motor mechanic with the South African Railways. On completing, he took up a sales career selling farm implements and equipment for G North and Sons.
In 1960 Haig married Ria Van den Heefer in Bethlehem. They have two children, a daughter in Bethlehem, a son in Germany and five grandchildren.
In 1970 Haig joined the Permanent Building Society as a financial advisor. Gaining promotion to branch manager, he was transferred to Brits, where he opened a new branch. Further promotion came when he was transferred to corporate headquarters as manager of the Nedcor Administrative Branch in Pretoria.
In 1997 Haig was offered and accepted a ‘package’, taking early retirement in Pretoria. Haig and Ria now live happily on ‘extended retirement’ in Bethlehem.
Because of an eyesight defect, Eric was unable to go to sea and on leaving the Botha took up a post in Paarl with the engineering firm of J MacKenzie and Company, a firm of electrical contractors specialising in heating equipment. Here Eric learnt his trade of tool and die maker, before moving to the Metal Box Company in Cape Town.
A better job offer with Ashworth Products, specialising in hospital equipment, entailed a move to Durban. While with them Eric moved into the field of instrumentation, eventually taking a job with Murray and Roberts as an instrumentation draughtsman. In this field Eric started dabbling in computers and eventually became so adept that he was given the post of computer training manager for Murray and Roberts. This firm eventually closed down upon which, nothing daunted, Eric set up his own computer training practice in Gauteng.
A few years later, he decided to give up teaching and bought his own retail toyshop in Edenvale. There he was happy to apply his many skills as a toy maker but is now believed retired in Onrust, close to Hermanus.
Eric married Dianna Peterson of Cape Town in 1968 and they have a daughter, Vanita, and two grandchildren. Reported deceased.
1977, while in the employ of SAFMARINE training as a navigation cadet.
Since leaving Safmarine in July 1978 I was conscripted to serve two years in the South African Defence Force, doing bulk of my service in Pretoria – Military Intelligence. Worked on the then South African Railways as an Apprentice Telecommunication Technician.
Qualified as a Telecommunications Technician, passing my trade test at Oliefantsfontein in 1985. Worked in the SAR telecommunication department in Richards Bay KZN.
1995 to 1999 Employed as a Representative for Forest Sales selling structural timber, based in Durban.
1999 to 2015 Employed with the then Hans Merensky timber company. Accounts manager in KZN/Lesotho.
2016 Employed with Hillermann Brothers. Sales representative; KZN, Eastern Cape, Lesotho.
After G.B. sailed with various shipping companies before joining De Beers Marine in 1990 as Master. Retired due to ill health shortly afterwards. Served on the yacht club’s executive committee for many years until his passing away on 19/08/96.
In an army line regiment in the thirties.
2002 – Master with Dart Line.
2012 with SAMSA as a surveyor in Saldanha Bay.
1957 – 1960 Chief Officer with Northern Steamship Company.
1960 – 1969 Master with S. Berg & Company of Sydney / Port Vila / Hong Kong. This firm bought out by Dilmun Naviation of London. Continued as Master with Dilmun until 1972. Then Master and relieving Shore Manager with Eastern Sea Services of Singapore.
1972 to 1987 Junior Officer and rising to Master with Howard Smith Industries of Syndey.
1987 to 1994 Marine Consultant and relieving Master to tanker operations in Pacific Islands before retirement. Deceased 17th July 2015.
1973 – 86 Dean, Faculty of Maritime studies, Plymouth Polytechnic.
1986 – 87 made Professor of Shipping.
1987 – 90 Head of Deaprtment of Shipping & Transport, polytechnic South West.
1990 – 94 visiting Professor, Australian Maritime College
1994 – Emeritus Professor of Shipping, University of Plymouth
1984 – 89 Director Jayship Ltd. In partnership owned and operated handy sized bulk carriers; Jay Baba, Jay Bola, Jay Jagneesh, Gur Master, Gur Maiden, Gur Mariner.
1978 Managing Director, Marine Intelligence Ltd. A consulting company. Master Mariner (FG) – extra Master Mariner – Doctor of Philosophy (Phd). Deceased April 2010.
* Went to school in Newcastle, Natal.
* Attended the General Botha Nautical Academy at Gordon’s Bay in 1964. Picked up Second Prize for Seamanship and the Character Prize, a bit of a surprise that one!
* Went to sea with Safmarine for some years on various cargo ships, reefers and an oil tanker. My first ship was the SA Statesman. Saw a lot of ports in Europe, the USA, the Far East and some other places.
* Decided to change the world and do Town and Regional Planning at Wits University. Left after two years with lots of friends, experience in mountain climbing, dinghy sailing. The world did not change.
* Joined Barlows and sold Caterpillar Tractors in the Northern Transvaal and Swaziland.
* Did some time sailing as Second Mate on the Voorloper, a Unicorn coaster, between Durban and Cape Town.
* Worked in a yacht shop in Cape Town called Wilbur, Ellis Co. Did a lot of sailing. Met my wife, Christine, got married.
* Rejoined Safmarine and was promoted to Master in 1995.
*I was with them until their big break-up some years ago.
* Safmarine’s bulk carriers were sold to a Greek company and I went with them. I was in command of Cape sized and Panamax bulkers and a couple of geared container ships. Crews were mainly Ukrainian, some Polish.
* Retired in February 2013.
After GB joined ms Governor of T&J Harrison Line.
Deceased 05/02/2000.
I’m presently with Maersk Suppy Service as Chief Officer, previous to that master with Tidewater in Angola.
I have also been tug master in Cape Town Harbour as well as years on the S.A. Agulhas on the south Atlantic and Antarctic runs. Also did time in diamond mining
Then joined the Illovo Sugar Group as Personnel Manager. End of 1977 was personnel Manager on a project team under Tate and Lyle setting up a third Swaziland Sugar Estate. Retired from commercial life in 1980 and bought a farm in the Underberg District of the Southern Drakensberg and established a trout farm. Finally retired 1979. Deceased January 1999.Edward James Morris CB CBE DSO DFC (6 April 1915[1] – 18 Jan 1999) was a World War II flying ace.
Born in the Transvaal, he want to school at Michaelhouse. He joined the Royal Air Force on short term commission in June 1937. After completing training in May 1938 he was posted to the Parachute Test Flight, where he stayed until January 1939. He then joined 79 Squadron at Biggin Hill. He was wounded in action in August 1940 and after recuperating was sent to the Middle East in May 1941 to join 238 Squadron. In September 1941 he took command of 250 Squadron flying the Curtiss Tomahawk.
His next posting was to Desert Air Force Headquarters in March 1942. Later that year he was appointed Chief Instructor at No. 71 Operational Training Unit RAF before becoming Wing Leader of No. 251 Wing RAF of the Desert Air Force in late 1943.
At the end of 1944 he was posted to Mediterranean Allied Air Forces Headquarters.
He obtained a permanent commission in May 1945 and was sent to the RAF Staff College. He was promoted to Wing Commander in 1947.
In 1950 he took command of RAF Old Sarum before attending the College of Air Warfare in 1953. After the course he went on an exchange with the United States Air Force at Eglin Air Force Base. He returned to the UK in 1956 and was promoted Group Captain and posted to 12 Group. In 1958 he took command of RAF Wattisham before being posted as Air Commodore Operations at Fighter Command HQ. He was promoted to Air Commodore in 1962 and posted as Director of Air Defence and Overseas Operations at the Air Ministry. He was Chief of Staff at Middle East Command from 1964 to 1966. His final posting was AOC Air Cadets until he retired in August 1968.
Retirement
He returned to South Africa and moved to Natal as the Personnel Manager of sugar estates. He then went to Swaziland to construct a sugar estate before returning to start his own farm in Natal.
1961 : 2nd Mates, studying in Old Missions to Seamen. Then to Thesens ss Co. Mashona Coast, Griqua Coast, Namaqua Coast, finishing as Chief Officer.
1961-2 Bank Line as 3rd and 2nd Mates
1963 Mashona Coast again. Passed CNO Cert. Studying in tin huts at presnet Granger Bay. Pondo Coast, Zulul Coast
1964 passed Masters Home Trade. Pondo Coast, Swazi Coast Mainden voyage from U.K.
1964-66 Master of Xhosa & Griqua Coasts. Passed Masters FG.
1967 – Stevedore Foreman, Frank Robb & Goodwon
1968 – Marine Surveyor, Fox & Eastman
1968-9 – Harbour Services in CPT
1970 – Principal, Training Centre for Seamen
1980 – Master RSA (training ship, shorebased)
1980 – Lt, SAN, CF, SAS Unitie. Now in reserve.
December 2016 abruptly resigned from the Old Boys Association.
Deceased 1999.
Obtained Chief Navigating Officer CoC 1983.
1985 attended SAN Officer’s Course at S.A. Naval College, Gordon’s Bay, and Combat Officer’s Qualifying Course 1986 at the Maritime Warfare School. SAS Simonsberg, Simon’s Town.
1989 SAN Strike Craft Weapons Officer’s Course, Strike Craft Training Centre Durban.
1990 to 2016 Managing Director and major share holder of Morrison Signs c.c. based in Durban.
2018 started a small sign company, SignGuy, based in Cape Town.
2003 joined Bluewater Energy Services on the FPSO Glas Dower in Sable Field 52 NM off Still Baai and served as Marine Superintendent onboard until early 2011 during modifications in Singapore.
2011 joined S.A. Maritime Safety Authority [SAMSA] Cape Town.
GBOBA Cape Town branch committee member.
Spent his early years at sea with Safmarine and the coasting companies. Mid 1980’s he moved into road transport, initially from the Reef and later from Cape Town with Trans-coast Express in 1989. In 1992 he returned to sea first with Comargo and then Spanfreight out of Mombasa. Thereafter contracts with OSA Pentow Marine and delivery work including in command. Laterly he had been in semi retirement running a small business at the Labia Theatre.
Deceased 02/03/2005.
Deceased 2000 aged 90.
1952 – 55 sailed with Union Castle as OS and AB
1955 – 56 S.A.R. Ships Dahlia and Hangklip as AB
1957 – 62 sailed on various British Ships as AB
1962 – 63 Thesen’s Coasters Mashona, Herero and Zulu Coast as 2/O.
1963 – 64 African Coasters on Margin, Voortrekker, Barrier & Voorloper as 2/O.
1964 Antartic voyage as 3/O on the R.S.A.
1967 – 70 sailed with Marine Diamond on various vessels.
1970 – 71 Land & Marine salvage during the construction and first year of operation of the single buoy mooring off Durban.
1971 – 73 Rennies Coasters as C/O on the Swartland, Boland & Jolanda.
1974 – 75 C/O on land & marine’s Gemsbok until her founering 2/9/75.
1976 – 87 Unicorn Lines as C/O and Master.
1988 – 1996 Safmarine as Master on the Kuswag Anti Pollution Fleet, now Pentow Marine.
Deceased Jun 2001.
1964 Berthing Master in Durban Harbour.
2003 responsible for the operational and commercial aspects of two bulk terminals of African Portland Industrial Holdings. The terminals are Motala Coal Terminal in Mozambique and the Walvis Bay Bulk Terminal. Based in Johannesburg.
2010 Retired.
2017 joined Eagle Bulk in Singapore.
1982 – 1991 Cadet / 3rd Officer Unicorn Lines
1988 – 3rd Officer Seconded to Sea Fisheries
1990 -1991 2nd Officer De Beers Marine
1991 – 1993 Chief Officer Unicorn Offshore
1994 – 1995 Chief Officer OSA / Ocean Inscape Limited (OIL)
1996 – 2000 Master Portnet Durban
2001 – 2003 Chief Mate Tidewater
2004 – 2007 Master Tidewater
2007 – 2007 Port Captain / Safety Officer
2007 – 2017 Operation Manager Tidewater
2017 – Fleet Manager Eagle Bulk Shipping
Deceased 1994.
1986 – 89 – joined Department of Environment affairs as Chief Officer on the S.A. Agulhas and the R.S. Africana.
1989 – joined Portnet. Presently Tug Master and Pilot in Saldanha Bay.
1998 – relocated to Messaid, Persian Gulf, as a Harbour Pilot.
2018 returned to Saldanha.
2014 retired.
Studied for Masters at SAMNA General Botha in Granger Bay in 1991 and subsequently came ashore with Safmarine in the cargo planning department. Was poached by Pentow in 1992 in view having tug experience and filled various roles from Marketing to Towage and Salvage Co-ordinator. When Smit of Holland bought out Pentow in 1999, was promoted to Business Unit Manager; Transport and Heavy Lift reporting to the Divisional Director in Holland. Involved in all the major salvage operations on the South African coast in the early 2000’s including the Treasure, Ikan Tanda, Jolly Rubino, Sealand Express, etc. Served with Pentow in its various guises of Pentow Marine, Smit Pentow Marine, Smit Marine South Africa, Smit Amandla and is now Business Unit Manager Offshore Marine Services with AMSOL having been part of the leveraged management buyout in 2018, and is now also a shareholder in AMSOL. In 2020 celebrated 40 years’ service in the various Safmarine / Pentow Marine guises. Presently accountable for offshore marines services offered by AMSOL managing contracts in South Africa, Mozambique and Namibia, which includes the management of the Government contracted coastal protection tug SA Amandla ex John Ross. Sits as a Trustee on The Lawhill Maritime Education Trust and on the GBOBA Committee.
1939 – 1945 British Army, Royal Engineers, Lance Corporal Number 1883420.
After the war farmed in Eastern Trasnvaal, Cheshire U.K. and finally Kenya.
After Bothie joined the Mercantile Marine (S.A.R.&H. Ships) as a seaman. Reported in “Both Watches” 1953. Warrant Officer in S.A. Navy.
Retired as a Sub-Lieutenant from the S.A. Navy and passed away on the 13/08/67.
Submitted by GB cadet 2320 Robert Wells:
The last time I saw Bruce was at our 1967 Reunion. As Far as I know he left Safmarine as a cadet and worked for Lamson Paragon for several years. He became ill in 2011 and beat all the treatment so he was in remission at the time of our reunion. He was an amazing rock star renowned for his band Route 66, circa 2000s, playing all over the Western Cape. I did not have contact with him since then until I saw his obituary on Facebook. He was a very good sportsman and tops at self defence when we had lessons from the Butcher Brothers. Many off duty weekends were spent with him, a Bergvliet boy, when we stayed at Ken Shirleys house in Fish Hoek. I believe he lived on a farm between Philadelphia and Atlantis (Western Cape).
He was a gentle good humoured guy with a tremendous sense of humour. He and Frans Oosthuizen, Doc Hellman, Ken Shirley and I had some good times.
He will be sorely missed by all 29 of us and well remembered for Honour and Integrity .
Deceased 25/07/99.
2002 Chief Officer with Wightlink Ferries.
2020 Senior Master with Wightlink Ferries.
He passed away in 1961. After the war spent in Egypt and Italy with the Natal Mounted Rifles, his working life was spent ashore, with no maritime involvement.
1977 joined Safmarine as Deck Cadet.
1988 joined S.A. Transport Services (Harbour Service) as First Deck Officer.
1990 joined Pentow Marine, firstly in marketing and later operations.
1993 – promoted towage and salvage manager, Pentow Marine.
1998 – left Pentow Marine to start own business, Offshore Maritime Services. Towage and Salvage Broking; Launch Services; Marine Surveying. Branches in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and Durban.
2006 retired.
2007 bought a yacht and relocated to Brazil in preparation for a cruise.
Daughter: neillshannon@hotmail.com
2008 returned to Australia and accessing newsletters off our website.
He changed his name to Gerard Albert Nel on 25/10/1938 .
In l961, Louis married Mary Woodford of Warsash and, becoming the proud father of a daughter, he and Mary moved out to South Africa where in l963, he took up the post of Harbour Master at Port Nolloth. Their second daughter was born there.
In 1964, Louis took a management position with Ovenstones Fishing and remained with them until 1969 when he joined the staff of the General Botha. In 1970 he became marine manager of Dowson and Dobson, in charge of their electronics division, and stayed with them until 1973 when he took the position of regional manager for the Western Cape, of Redifusion South Africa.
In 1976 his marriage was at an end and he moved to Johannesburg as production manager for mobile radios with Plessey, staying with them until 1979.
In Johannesburg in 1978 Louis married Gabriella Valter of Cape Town and in 1979 moved from Plessey to Control Instruments as regional manager for the Southern Transvaal, before setting up his own business in Johannesburg, Neptune Electronics.
In 1983 Louis sold his business and he and Gabriella moved back to Cape Town. He then moved into marine insurance where he remained, except for a brief spell with the Department of Transport. He retired to Higgovale running his business until his death 31st August, 2007.
In 1943 represented G.B. at a dinner held in the Manion House London at which HRH Prince of Wales was the host. After G.B. joined Ellerman & Bucknall. Was serving as Second Officer in the City of Perth when she was lost in the Mediterranean in 1943. Late 1943 returned to S.A. to join the S.A.R.& H. In Durban in January 1944.
Passed through the various ranks and was assistant Port Captain in Durban when he passed away on 26/02/1972.
Previous GBOBA Durban Branch secretary.
1993 – Knysna Hydraulics
1999 – Outeniqua Timbers, Knysna,
Deceased 28th February 2019.
2012 working for Gearbulk in Australia as Commercial Manager.
1968 – Master with the S.A.R. & H.
Went to sea with Ellerman & Bucknall and later became a pilot in Durban Harbour.
Deceased.
1964 a junior officer in m.v. “City of Exeter”.
1970 passed B.Sc (Maritime) at Plymouth Polytechnic, U.K. First Bothie Boy to achieve this.
1968 skippered 40 foot yacht “Cyclops” from Portsmouth to Cape Town. * Further career in the USA.*
1972 passed MBA (Finance and Accounting) Columbia Univeristy.
1972 – 74 systems Engineer, Electronic Data Systems Inc, New York and other centres.
1974 – 76 Systems Analyst, Rogers Foods, California.
1976 – 78 Manager Comptuers Services and Director of Corporate Development, Rogers Foods, Idaho.
1979 – 82 self employed owner of FBDG Inc a Computer Service Bureau, Idaho.
1983 – 84 Director of computer services, Rafco Inc, MacAllen, Texas
1984 – 85 President, MUF Inc, Paskager of Freeze Dried Food.
1986 – 94 President Shelf Stable Foods Inc, Evansville, Indiana.
1994 – Director of Food Processing, Cinpac Inc, Cincinatte, Ohio.
Deceased 30/09/96 of cancer.
Born Nongama, Zululand, 28th June 1917. Son of John Hennah and Ethel Maud Nettleton. Ed. Western Province Preparatory School, where he played first team cricket and rugby in 1930.
Cadet Draft 1931-2, Chief Cadet Captain. John Dering Nettleton served as Cadet in the Elder Dempster Line for one year, after which he joined the Cape Divisional Council. In 1938 he enlisted with the RAF where he rose to the rank of Squadron-Leader during the war. He was awarded the VC for gallantry in action, and a year later, on 13th July 1943, was reported missing after a raid over Germany. Held the rank of Wing Commander at the time of his death.
He led the famous raid on Augsburg in April 1942 and of his formation of six aircraft the other five were shot down, his bullet-riddled plane being the only one of the formation to get back.
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John Dering Nettleton VC (28 June 1917 – 13 July 1943) was a South African officer in the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War. He is famous for leading the so-called Augsburg Raid, a daylight attack against the Maschinenfabrik Augsburg-Nürnberg AG [MAN] U-boat Diesel engine factory in Augsburg, Bavaria on 17 April 1942. For his role in this mission he was awarded the Victoria Cross [VC], the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Born on 28 June 1917 in Nongoma in Natal, South Africa, John Nettleton was the grandson of Admiral A. T. D. Nettleton. He was educated at Western Province Preparatory School in Cape Town from 1928 to 1930. John Nettleton then served as a Cadet in SATS General Botha the South African training ship in Simon’s Town. He was in the in the 1931 -1932 Term. After matriculating there he then spent 18 months in the South African Merchant Service as an Apprentice Navigating Officer. He later took up civil engineering, working in various parts of South Africa. His interest in the sea did not wane and on 03 September 1935 he was appointed as a Midshipman in the Cape Town Division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve [South Africa]. He was later commissioned in the RNVR but after two years he left South Africa to take a short-service commission in the Royal Air Force [RAF].
Commissioned in the Royal Air Force (RAF) in December 1938, [some reports say 03 September 1938] Nettleton then served with Nos. 207, 98 and 185 Squadrons before joining No. 44 Squadron, flying Handley Page Hampden Bombers. He took part in a daylight attack on Brest on 24 July 1941 and in a series of other bombing raids and was mentioned twice in dispatches, once in September 1940. Nettleton was promoted to Flying Officer in July 1940, Flight Lieutenant in February 1941 and was a Squadron Leader by July 1941. No. 44 Squadron was based at RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire at this time and had taken delivery of Lancaster Bombers in late 1941.
In 1942 a daylight bombing mission was planned by RAF Bomber Command against the MAN U-boat Diesel engine factory in Augsburg, Bavaria, responsible for producing half of Germany’s U boat engines. It was the first major mission flown using the new Avro Lancaster, a four engine Bomber with tremendous lift, great range, and a heavy defensive armament. It would be the longest low level penetration raid made during the Second World War. Nettleton was nearing the end of his first tour and was placed in command of the mission. The operation would require the force to fly at low level to avoid detection by German radar. To prepare for the raid the two squadrons committed were pulled out of the bombing campaign against Germany to practice low level formation flying.
The Augsburg raid commenced on the afternoon of 17 April 1942, when Nettleton led six Lancaster bombers from RAF Waddington South in two flights of three. A few miles away at RAF Woodhall Spa, six more Lancasters from No. 97 Squadron took to the air and headed South as well. The two groups did not link up as it was not required as part of their mission. Both groups reached Selsey Bill on the English South Coast independently, flew out over the channel and turned toward the French coast. The No. 97 Squadron group caught sight of the No. 44 Squadron aircraft as they approached the continent, but the No. 44 Squadron aircraft were running a course slightly to the north of what was planned and the No. 97 Squadron commander chose not to close. Shortly after Nettleton’s group crossed the French coast near Dieppe, German fighters, returning after intercepting a planned diversionary raid which had been organized to assist the bombers, attacked the No. 44 Squadron aircraft a short way inland. Four of the Lancaster Bombers were shot down. Nettleton, nevertheless, continued towards the target and his two remaining aircraft attacked the factory, bombing it amid heavy anti-aircraft fire. Both aircraft dropped their bombs but were hit as they flew away from the target. Nettleton’s aircraft limped back on three engines. His companion’s Lancaster caught fire and crashed. At the end of his return flight Nettleton’s aircraft overflew the United Kingdom and was out over the Irish Sea before turning back and finally landing near Blackpool. John Nettleton was awarded the Victoria Cross. The award was gazetted on 24 April 1942 and the citation read:
“Squadron Leader Nettleton was the leader of one of two formations of six Lancaster heavy Bombers detailed to deliver a low-level attack in daylight on the diesel engine factory at Augsburg in Southern Germany on April 17th, 1942. The enterprise was daring, the target of high military importance. To reach it and get back, some 1,000 miles had to be flown over hostile territory. Soon after crossing into enemy territory his formation was engaged by 25 to 30 fighters. A running fight ensued. His rear guns went out’ of action. One by one the aircraft of his formation were shot down until in the end only his own and one other remained. The fighters were shaken off but the target was still far distant. There was formidable resistance to be faced.
With great spirit and almost defenceless, he held his two remaining aircraft on their perilous course and after a long and arduous flight, mostly at only 50 feet above the ground, he brought them to Augsburg. Here anti-aircraft fire of great intensity and accuracy was encountered. The two aircraft came low over the roof tops. Though fired at from point blank range, they stayed the course to drop their bombs true on the target. The second aircraft, hit by flak, burst into flames and crash-landed. The leading aircraft, though riddled with holes, flew safely back to base, the only one of the six to return.
Squadron Leader Nettleton, who has successfully undertaken many other hazardous operations, displayed unflinching determination as well as leadership and valour of the highest order.”
On the night of 12/13 July 1942, Bomber Command put in a raid of 295 Lancaster Bombers against Turin in northern Italy. The object of the raid was to encourage the fascist government of Italy to withdraw from the war. Turin was a distant target and being summer the nights were short. With limited darkness, the return to England could not be flown direct, and had to be routed over the Bay of Biscay to avoid German day fighters. Flying Lancaster KM-Z (ED331), Nettleton took off from Dunholme Lodge at 10:23 pm. Another Lancaster on the mission was that of Leonard Bradfield. As dawn rose, several Lancaster Bombers caught sight of each other and grouped together for protection. Also returning from the mission, Bradfield and his crew spotted a group of Lancaster Bombers off their starboard side, on a track some 30 degrees to their west. Bradfield was confident he was on the correct course. He had a good visual, and his position had been confirmed with a strong signal from Gee. The Lancaster Bombers to their West were too near the coast. Bradfield’s aircraft signalled, but they received no response.
At about 6:30 am the group of Lancaster Bombers with Nettleton were intercepted by Nazi day fighters that had been scrambled from their base South of Brest. Among the Lancaster Bomber losses from the mission, three aircraft were known to have been shot down over the Bay of Biscay, while six more were lost without a trace. Nettleton and his crew were among the losses. Their bodies were never recovered. All are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.
About 1968 John Nezar worked as an Engineer Representative for Murray and Roberts in Cape Town Docks.
Early 1980s known to be in Albany, West Australia.
Chairman – S.A.T.S. General Botha Old Boys’ Association
Executive Committee – S.A.T.S. General Botha Old Boys’ Association Bursary Fund.
Executive Committee – Society of Master Mariners of South Africa.
Vice Chairman – Cape Town Sailors Home.
Deceased 1984.
Wrote 2nd Mates ticket in London, March 1947. Applied and joined Safmarine 1948. 3rd Mate on Vergelegen – Old Victory Ship. Very happy but had disagreemet with a marine superintendent in Cape Town.
Joined “National Cash Register” nor NCR Corp.
Took early retirement after 35 years.
Keeping busy working Autoship in Stellenbosch.
1939-45 Star, Victory Medal, Pacific Star.
Born 17/05/1926. Deceased 22/12/2011
2001 resigned from S.A. Marine Corporation.
During WWII commanded the Magnetic Minesweeper ‘Bever’. She was the last ship out of Tobruk when it fell, having stood by to the bitter end to take off demolition parties. Lieutenant North ordered all hands below decks for shelter, took the wheel himself, and ran the gauntlet of enemy shore batteries and aircraft. Had previously served in Shell Tankers.
Deceased 12th February 2020.
1999 joined Tidewater Marine as tugmaster working off Angola.
2004 with Smit Marine.
After the Mayoral year Rand Mines transferred him to the Personnel & Training Department at City Deep.1963 to 1964, Mayor of Johannesburg. Freeman of the City of Johannesburg. Chairman of the Management Committee (EXCO) of Johannesburg City Council for 16 years.
1989 received a Honorary Doctorate at the Rand Afrikaans University. Received the State Presidents Order of Merit (OMSS). The “Francois Oberholzer Motorway” (M2), a park in Johannesburg and a resort gate at Heidelbergkloof is named after him.
Founder of the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve at Heidelberg in the Transvaal. Member of the Provincial Council.
During his 37 years as a member of the City of Johannesburg he served as Chairman of major bodies and served on 93 committees associated with local government, provincial and central government. Chairman of the Regional Developmetn Advisory Committee, PWV.
Deceased 01/02/2003.
1999 President and CEO of Marine Operations for the Pacific Pilotage Authority overseeing the pilotage for the entire British Columbia (Canada) Coast.
1947 East London, Boarder at De La Salle College & when the school established a Sea Cadet unit. Relocated to Pretoria, Joined the ‘Pretoria Boys Naval Brigade’. 1954 -1955 ‘General Botha’ on Shell Tankers Bursary- Badge Cadet, Band, Good Fellowship award. 1956 Five of us leaving on a Shell Tanker from Cape Town – Roy Linnow, Jock De Beer, ‘Punchy’ Bob Brindle, Ian Toddun. Mates and Masters exams in London and Second Mates in Durban. After completing my contract with Shell Tankers, returned to SA on holiday. Was called by African Coasters to assist as they were shorthanded. Stayed with them. Most time as Master on the SS ‘Ridge’ ten passengers, cargo on the Mauritius, Reunion run and subsequently on the ‘Sezela’ a new build in Durban on which was Master at the time of her launch by Mrs. Alan Chettle in March 1970. Sezela also replaced the ‘Ridge’ on the Mauritius run and extended the service to Lobito, Luanda, Tamatave, Boma, Matadi & Abidjan. Also largest vessel to enter St. Helena bay without tugs or pilot in force 4 wind & hampered by fishing vessels. Delivered some second hand vessels from European ports to Durban when the fleet was being upgraded. From there to a period at Dorbyl Shipyard as fitting out superintendent and on to marine surveying with the Company ‘Capt. G.A.Chettle’. First to conduct surveys at the Bluff after dark and also one of the first to attend to surveys in Richards Bay when the port was opened. Eventually Ian Fishley (GB 1960/61) took over. Was an independent surveyor for a while before taking over ‘The Tyneside’ UK Hydrographic Agency in Durban and subsequently in Cape Town as, ‘ The Tyneside Nautical Charts & Publications’ in Durban and ‘ Charts International in CapeTown’.
End of an abbreviated account of my career up to September 2018.
Following are some additional memories
After ‘Bothy’ first trip was to ‘Haifa’ in Israel then on to Singapore, where we were split up. Subsequently met up with Jock De Beer in London and some years later again in Durban. He was then a journalist for a well-known magazine, sadly killed in a Motor Car accident on 13th Feb. 1962 on the Durban/Pietermaritzburg road. I felt terribly sorry for his parents they were all very close.
I sailed with Bothy Boy Chief Officer John Shone (GB 1943/44). John was brilliant an ‘Extra Master’ when I was an apprentice and subsequently when fourth officer on the new build Shell Tanker ‘Opalia’ then brand new. Subsequently visited him in and his family in 1964 at their home just outside London. I was saddened to learn some years later that he was killed in a car accident whilst on holiday in South Africa. His achievements are listed in the Bothy records
1964 Bob Brindle wife Thelma spoke to her on the phone, Bob worked in a Bank, was off to Saudi Arabia to join a Mobil Tanker. Corresponded with him a few times by email in 2018. Very annoyed about reaching retirement age said it is a pity as he will have to spend more time in the pub. He was our best boxer at the GB.
Met up with ‘Goldsmith’ of our year in London about when up for my Masters and spent an afternoon with his family in their home outside London. I remember Goldsmith for the pranks he played. On one occasion filling the Afrikaans Lecturer’s glass with salt water from the harbour another when he had ‘Granny’ assuring the lad trapped in an underground drain that help was on its way and urging him to hang on – only to look up and spot Goldsmith talking from the second floor in an open drain pipe. It ended in smiles.
Subsequently left Unicorn. Spent some time as fitting out superintendent at Dorbyl Shipyard and conducted the trials on the vessels up to delivery. Subsequently joined Capt. Chettle Marine Surveyors with Colin Bolt (GBOB).This consisted of 24 hours on call. I was the first surveyor in Durban to conduct surveys at the Bluff after dark. Travelling to Richards Bay to conduct surveys on the large bulk carriers from the time the port was opened until an additional surveyor, Ian Fishley joined us and was placed at Richards Bay. Offshore survey being delivered and retrieved by helicopter.
Old family friends Mr. & Mrs Wilkes owned ‘The Tyneside’ drawing office and were also Agents for the UK Hydrographic Office. When Mr. Wilkes passed away the firm was left to me and continuation of the UKHO Agency influenced by my Master Mariners Certificate. From that time on, together with my wife and staff, have managed and operated ‘ The Tyneside Nautical Charts & Publications cc. In Durban and Charts International in Cape Town. Have since attended a number of UKHO Conferences in Taunton and London. With recent developments meetings can be reduced due to the ability to communicate on the internet. The staff also are trained and updated by UKHO online programs. It is a requirement to have the latest version ISO accreditation. Website http.www.tynside.co.za
Ivan Bole, Shell Tankers somewhere along the line Bothy #1693. DOT – Captain Caseley Bothy 1157 DOT Durban
Some random notes -The North Sea particularly in winter time. Searching for fishing vessels in distress in heavy weather off Norway. Children going home from school skating past the ship on ice formed only a short time after berthing. Careful navigation in busy traffic zones, fog and bad weather. Elsewhere, Singapore and a period on a small tanker serving the Island’s and river ports and depots in Borneo and Sumatra. Padju, anchoring in the river at night due to lack of any navigation lights. Keeping a lookout for unwelcome visitors who drifted down stream in their small boats amongst the ‘flotsam’, branches and weed, and creep aboard to steal anything they could lay their hands on including mooring ropes etc. Blackout on board and watch for the driftwood that ‘stopped’ alongside, then action with high pressure hoses. A walk to a monument on the Equator in Borneo with ships dog ‘Jambie’, named after one of the rivers. – Vietnam during the unrest years, Thailand and Japan. Darwin, Sydney and Melborne. The Barrier Reef Pilot was interested in offering me a job. Apparently he had a second occupation which was a service to the Barrier Reef Islands by small Sailing Vessels. Very tempting. To the other side for a period operating out of Curacao in the West Indies. New York and other east coast ports down to Houston. After discharge in New York, went upriver past Sing Sing to load fresh water from the river for Curacao where the refinery was located.
Lake Maracaibo Venezuela to load crude from offshore moorings. Anchored in the lake awaiting berth a long way off the land. Playing polo in the water alongside the ship until an Alligator/Cayman decided to join us resulting in a fast exit. As second officer I had to collect the lifejackets we had in the water to rest on.
Travelling by air from the UK to Singapore, stopover at Karachi. After landing the intercom came on and my name and seat number was mentioned. I was requested to remain in my seat. Other passengers would be taken to a local hotel. I was ‘arrested’ as I was a South African citizen. An army vehicle arrived and I was taken to a military base in the airport and given a neatly furnished ‘Hut’. I was given supper and had a comfortable night. In the morning I was taken back to the aircraft and comfortably seated before the others arrived. They were not so cheerful after their experience.
London; Funny but true – London, 4.7.1964, (exam) Doctor asked me two questions, 1) What is a simple fracture and 2) and do you have five bob please!.
Escape; Alexandria Harbour, Egypt, at the time when Egypt and England went to war over the Suez Canal. Late on the afternoon before hostilities were due to start. Advised by the authorities that we would be arrested at 0600 the following morning and taken off the vessel. The Master made a plan to make a run for it at first light. The plan was have everything ready and the remaining moorings would be cut. We were lucky, at first light we saw two American Navy vessels close to the entrance to the Port. They were there to ensure the safe departure of two American merchant vessels which were moored in the inner part of the harbour. As they came up to where we were berthed, the remaining moorings were cut and we went off the berth up close alongside the American vessels and there was nothing much that the Egyptians could do. After leaving the harbour we went at full speed to clear the Egyptian territorial waters and that night were able to stop and drift in blackout condition awaiting orders from head office. It was already dark when we heard a loud whistling sound coming down on us which we thought was a bomb but turned out to be a very bright flare which burst just above the vessel – obviously someone’s (friendly) air force identifying us.
Abnormal Wave experience; Sailing from Durban to Cape Town on the ‘Sezela’ our course set close to the 100 fathom line whilst Henry Walker (GBOB), a good friend on the ‘Pongola’, on a similar course but was about a mile behind & further out to sea. About 2300 hrs, I was asleep and suddenly awakened by the vessel being in a climbing attitude of about 20 to 30 degrees. There was some centrifugal force as I could hardly move. Besides trying to think what was happening my fear was what was going to happen next. We got to the top levelled and then went into a downhill attitude. After dipping the forward end of the vessel into the sea she rose and settled down as if nothing had happened. I went on to the bridge and the shocked second office explained that everything was in order and he was looking forward when he saw what appeared to be a ‘black wall’. He could not figure it out as everything was in order and our position confirmed. Then we hit the ‘Abnormal Wave’. The only damage to the vessel was the loss of our jack staff located at the stem and some crockery. We called the Pongola to warn them but they did not experience anything abnormal. I subsequently found that the ‘Abnormal Wave’ had been studied by J. K. Mallory and in 1993 the Department of Transport (DOT) with Captain Shillington and E.H.Schoeman producing a technical article on the subject. Institute of Oceanography, University of Cape Town.) This entry also reminds me that I had a short spell at the Durban Marine Division of the DOT whilst Capt. Tony Shillington was the Principal Officer.
Flotsam/Jetsam; Capulus Haifa, Singapore via Suez , & the Gulf, Hygromia, Abadan, Bahrein, Aden, Lourenco Marques, Mena al Ahmadi, Berre. Rotterdam, Red Ensign Club, London, Thalamus T2 Tanker-one trip wartime build, Gravesend, South Shields. Whitley Bay Fair. Montreal. Quebec. Curacao. King Edward V11 College, London 1958/9. Saw Jock de Beer he left next day for Aberdeen. Providence. Punta Cardon. New York. Kingston Jamaica. Bonny/Nigeria. ‘Opalia’. King Edward Vll College London. Rabaul, 1960 Bremerhavn and Denmark, Fredericia very nice place. Snowed up at the time. Lourenco Marques, Mena al Ahmadi, Berre. Rotterdam, Red Ensign Club, London, ‘Haminella’ Dry Dock Hong Kong, Hadra – Hamburg – Elbe frozen, Distress divert, no survivors. Suez Canal, Panama Canal, New Guinea, Madang, Rabaul,- on Passenger v/l Tegelberg (Durban to-Singapore) Hygromia, 1962 passing Port Elizabeth & East London. Abadan and Port Sudan. London – the Queen (passing by 1963), Gomphina 3rd. Officer- 10 Europeans and 32 Chinese. 2/1960, Sumatra, Borneo Singapore. Hygromia, Bremerhavn and Denmark, Fredericia very nice place. Snowed up at the time. Rotterdam then up to Norway again. Up narrow fjord to Helden up here you can see Denmark, Norway and Sweden Temperature -16C degrees. Also walk from one to the other over the ice. Locals fishing through holes in the ice. Skiing and skating on ice with deep snow in places. Eastham, Malta for drydock. Haminella Singapore. 1961- Singapore – Penang – Malay Peninsula to Bangkok, Georgetown, Palebang, Christmas Island. Obor Shell Sourabaya Indonesia, Yokkaichi, Yokohama, Las Palmas, Abadan, Banda al Mashur, Harvella, Capulus, Red Ensign club, Dockstreet, London. 1962 Oct. – N.Sea – Thameshaven, Gronton, Rouen, Teneriffe,Hamburg, Invergordon, Fog, King Edward V11 College, Singapore (Connell House) Martin Catto – London – 1962 Hygromiapassing Port Elizabeth. On to Abadan and Port Sudan – Hadra1963, Stanlow, Curacao, Hyala 17.3.1964, Perth Amboy,/New York, Stockholm. Panama Canal 17.2.1964 My Birthday – From Curacao to Cardon to complete loading then to Darwin,Brisbane, Sydney & Melbourne. Etc. (order suspect!) E&OE
1964 Master of Smith’s Coaster “Intombi”.
1970 – 73 – Ford Motor Company in Port Elizabeth.
1974 – Immigrated to Australian.
1974 – 84 – with Ford Australia in Melbourne, Sydney
Including SE Asia & NZ training assignments. Sales and Marketing.
1984 – started Ford dealership in Sydney with Brad Garlick from Johannesburg.
Bothie Nickname: “Bosvark” from Port Elizabeth.
2001 – retired from Brad Garlick and 2002 shareholder in MG Rover Australia.
Previous secretary of GBOBA Australia.
1964 Second Officer in “South African Pioneer”.
On leaving the Botha he went into the marine insurance industry for a three-year learning spell, before joining E A Hiles and Company, Marine Surveyors and Average Adjustors. After eight years with them Don launched out into business for himself, opening his own marine survey practice, D S Oliver and Company, in Cape Town in l964. In 1966 he opened a branch in Durban which grew to become the firm’s head office entailing a move to Durban for Don.
His company’s business is far from just looking at damaged cargo. Over the last 48 years the firm has built itself a worldwide reputation for carrying out thorough investigations and Don has visited well over a hundred countries to date, being without doubt the most widely travelled of the 53/54 year. His work entailed investigating maritime fraud as well as interesting problems concerning cargo, ranging from live animals to gold bullion.
Don returned to Cape Town in 2000, leaving Gwilym Rees, a 1966 Botha Boy, in charge at Durban where the firm had branched out to the supervision of abnormal cargo lifts all over the world.
In the midst of all this, Don found time to marry and father two children, Cameron and Linda. (Cameron Oliver was well-known in rugby circles as a Transvaal fly-half, with every chance of making the 1995 Springbok World Cup team had he not been tragically killed in a car accident in 1993.)
Don has no intention of retiring and he and his wife Di have just moved from Kalk Bay to Marina da Gama near Muizenberg. At the end of 2011, Di was the recipient of the first University of Cape Town Chancellor’s Medal. She received it from Graca Machel (the Chancellor) ‘In recognition of your many and significant contributions over many years in advancing the cause of peace and justice in our country. Your record of having profoundly impacted the lives of many and no doubt continuing to do so, is remarkable’. Di was rightly thrilled to receive the medal personally from Graca Machel, whom she admires very much.
1999 – Moved to Hermanus to retire, but undertook 5 property developments in this time, among others his 4th retirement village under the Golden Harvest-name and a church building. At present they manage their own retirement village that includes a 42-bed frail care clinic.
Dec 1961 – April 62 – Ist Mate DoT research vessel m.v. RSA. Delivery and maiden voyage to Antartica.
Sep 62 – joined S.A. Navy as Sub Lieutenant. Sailed on various S.A. Naval Vessels as well as spcialist gunnery courses in the UK.
1964 SAS Simon van der Stel, rank of Sub Lt.
Jan 79 – promoted Captain. Staff duties S.A. Naval Headquarters Pretoria.
Dec 86 – Promoted Commodore.
Medals & Decorations: 10, 20, & 30 year good service medal, Southern Cross medal (1979), Chief of the SADF’s commendation (1990), Southern Cross Decoration (1990), SADF General Service Medal (1991)
His brother, Christopher (881), wrote:
“I regret to say that I carved my name on the back of a pew in the Anglican church. Remarkably it was not discovered by the authorities until three years later, when my brother Martin (1128) was a cadet. His protestions of innocence was disregarded, and alas, he felt the weight of Chick Chapman’s cane.”
Died of cancer 12/03/1996.
“I regret to say that I carved my name on the back of a pew in the Anglican church. Remarkably it was not discovered by the authorities until three years later, when my brother Martin (1128) was a cadet. His protestions of innocence was disregarded, and alas, he felt the weight of Chick Chapman’s cane.”
1946 – joined Ellerman Lines.
1956 – joined the Harbour Service at Durban. Received special merit for helping to save three people from drowning during a gale when their small boat capsized in the bay.
1963 – Harbour master at Luderitz.
1966 – Pilot at Walvis Bay.
1969 – Pilot at Port Elizabeth.
1976 – Assistant Port Captain, Port Elizabeth.
1982 – Port Captain Port Elizabeth
1987 – Port Captain Durban
1989 – Director Marine Services, Johannesburg
Retired 1991.
Deceased 05/06/2013.
Had the unusual experience of being a guest of the Germans on an island in the Pacific for over a year. His father told the story to the Cape Argus – without much circ*mstantial detail – where it was published on 7th March 1942:
He was in the RNR and at Dunkirk, doing six trips across the Channel with his ship to bring British soldiers away. He was in two of London’s biggest blitzes. He was in the Battle of Matapan in the Mediterranean. Then he went on convoy duty in the South Pacific.
The ship he was in was attacked by a German raider and he and others were taken aboard and cast upon a small island in the Pacific which was being used by the Japanese (before they entered the war) to refuel the German ship.
They were told that they could either stay there or get taken to Germany – one day. They chose to stay. On the island were a few women and children and about 200 soldiers – German marines.
Was awarded the American Air Medal for courage displayed during his recent service with No.2 Squadron, S.A.A.F. Korea. On completion of his training in the ship he was appointed Cadet, R.N.R. but he joiend the U.D.F. (army) and transferred to the South African Air Force. He became an air pilot in Septemebr 1941, at the age of 16 years 7 months, the youngest ever to receive his “wings” in South Africa. Reported deceased.
Reported in “Both Watches” 1953.
“In 1941 I was a staff Sergeant in the Burma Army stationed in Rangoon, my regiment had been the First Glosters, known as the famous Black Badge Regiment, an honour bestowed upon them at the Battle of Alexandria in 1801.”Evacuated Rangoon 6th March 1942 and led a party of twelve civilians to safety through country, “infested with snakes and scorpions, desperately short of food and water. After many months of enduring great privations, we reached the splendid Marguerite Camp near Imphal in Assam. The date was 3rd September.”
Full story in “Both Watches” edition 1953 as well as page 157 of the book A Name Among Seafaring Men.
2004 migrated to Perth and worked as a freelance hydrographic surveyor in the offshore oil and gas industry. 2018 moved to England.
After Bothie decided on fishing as a career, joined I&J [Irvin & Johnson] on their fishing fleet and eventually promoted to Skipper. Later went into a partnership on his own fishing vessel Donna Maria.
Deceased 11th September 2012.
Rank of Captain during WWII.
Name: Kenneth Devenish PARSONS Date of Birth: 13 July 1911
Place of Birth: de Aar, Cape Province. [Son of Reginald Scott Victor Parsons]
School: Dale College, King William’s Town, Cape [before SATS GENERAL BOTHA]
Employment: Joined the shipping company Houlder Bros & Co. as an apprentice officer on 01 November 1928. Subsequently served in the ship AMERICAN TRANSPORT.
Passed for his Second Officer’s Certificate of Competency on 19 December 1933. Was reported to have been seriously ill in London in 1933 returned to South Africa in 1933 and joined ISCOR. Returned to sea in 1938 as Third Officer in the South African Railways and Harbours [SARShips] ship ERICA. Served in the South African Naval Forces [SANF] as a Lieutenant in the Second World War. Purchased [or purchased a share in] TEGWANI a fishing boat died when TEGWANI struck the reef Yankee John off Hondeklip Bay on 24 June 1947 and was lost with all hands.
2003 relocated to Canada.
2004 Manager of a furniture store in Cranbrook, Canada.
2007 established The Biltong & Boerewors Company in Cranbrook, Canada.
2012 closed the biltong business down and settling in Virginia USA, joining an old friend in a development project.
1971 & 1971 – Cadet General Botha – Granger Bay.
1972 & 1973 – Cadet Safmarine (Union Castle) – SA Vaal.
1973 & 1974 – {2nd Mate FG} & 2/O Unicorn Lines & 3/O Safmarine.
1974 & 1975 – 3/O Safmarine & 3/O Safmarine (Union Castle) – SA Vaal.
1975 & 1975 – {Chief Mate FG} & 2/O Safmarine.
1976 to 1978 – 2/O Safmarine.
1979 & 1979 – {Master FG} & C/O Safmarine.
1980 to 1982 – Mate/Master Portnet – Port Elizabeth.
1983 to 2017 – Lecturer – General Botha, Cape Technikon, Cape Peninsular University of Technology (Maritime Studies).
2017 retired.
2018 contracted at Sea Safety Training Group (SSTG) as lecturer.
1964 Harbour Pilot in Table Bay Harbour.
Deceased early 1992.
Born 12th May 1908. Killed 5th February 1936 by falling between tug and quay at Port Elizabeth.
2020 retired.
In 1995 published the book, ‘African Keyport’ – A story of the Port of Durban. Was President of the Society of Master Mariners S.A. from 1992 to 1997.
Deceased 22/12/1999
In 1989 headed up the research and development team leading up to the establishment of the very first (in Africa) Survival Centre at Granger Bay. Continued to manage the centre and the short courses from 1990 through to retirement from CPUT in 2004. The Survival Centre was accredited with ISO 9000 status by Lloyds.
June 2004 retired from the Cape Peninsular University of Technology.
Established own company, Seatrain, facilitating the training of foreign seafarers in South Africa.
Sold Seatrain in 2016 to SAMTRA. Continued with providing short courses for the industry on demand. Joined the teaching staff at SSTG in 2015 and to date still lecturing in Marine Law and Cargo Operations.
Also provide oral exam prep for all ranks from Fishing Grades to Master’s Unlimited.
Am a current member of the Society of Master Mariners (SA) and the local regional branch of the Nautical Institute. A Trustee of Lawhill Maritime Centre. Chairman of the GBOBA Bursary Fund.
Live in a closed retirement village in Rondebosch.
Married with two daughters and 4 grandchildren.
Joined Shell Tankers as they had very nice brochure about the Far East which caught my fancy, and the fact that most South Africans in Shell all ended up there. Instead, for my sins, I ended up in the North Atlantic and Baltic for most of my time there.
After finishing my time with Shell, did a bit of boating for six months on Lake Tanganyika before getting my 2nd Mates in Cape Town. Joined Safmarine and after a spell in the Head Office (which I did not like), did an enjoyable year on the UK / Europe run. The ship (SA Shipper) was then nominated to do the second Safmarine cargo ship run out to the Far East. It was a very interesting trip indeed. Thereafter I left them and joined Unicorn.
Joined Unicorn’s Cape Town office as Second Mate on the Intombi. For the next few years trundled up and down the West Coast and South Coast in a variety of other ships. At one time on the Pondo Coast (the oldest ship in Unicorn, built 1923), we were sent off to Durban at 6 knots. On the way there one night, one of Safmarine’s newest came tearing past and cheekily asked if we would like a tow.
While on leave at one stage I got my Private Pilots License in Walvis Bay, and had many pleasant hours of flying at the various ports around the country. Once, while in Port Elizabeth, I had to deliver a parcel to a Pilot in East London. I checked with the Weather Office, (which every long lived Pilot does), they promised wonderful weather for the day. After flying there in the morning, the weather turned ugly, and I was stuck there for three days. Luckily the Captain, Morgan Williams, was very understanding, and stood in for me till I managed to get a lift back.
Got to know all the funny little West Coast ports quite well, and then eventually was offered command of the Swazi. After being there for a while, went to Grainger Bay to get my Masters FG and went back there again. Meantime I had married Diane and she was agitating for me to settle down, so I eventually joined the Harbour Service. I was given a choice of Port Nolloth or East London. I naturally chose East London.
Went there as First Deck Officer on the tugs, during which time besides normal tugging, we went out on a couple of towing jobs, of which the most interesting was to the aptly named Dodo 1 which drifting from port to port and then having to be towed into each one. Also acted as Assistant Master and Acting Master on various dredgers and as Master on the various Pilot Boats. During the time there I had most unfortunately to give up flying, as I couldn’t keep a wife, two children, two cars and a house on a FDO’s salary.
Then after 4½ years in the small town pretending to be a city, was transferred on promotion as Master to Walvis Bay were I happily spent the next four and a bit years. We travelled around quite a bit there and really enjoyed out stay there. In between travelling around, did some compass adjusting, tows to and from Cape Town and got a Pilots License. After a year or so, someone from the hospital discovered that Diane was a qualified Radiographer and roped her in to work there, as, for the previous number of years there had been no qualified Radiographer there. All X-rays being done by the Dark Room Assistant
As I was starting to get a bit bored, I applied for, and got the job of Nautical Assistant to the Nautical Advisor in Johannesburg. Talk about a ‘Culture Shock’, my two sons had never been on an escalator before, and were absolutely entranced with these ‘moving stairs’. Had a most interesting time there and Dave Powell the NA, encouraged me to do all sorts of things which I had never had the chance to do or thought of doing before. Managed to do a lot of hiking well.
In 1988 transferred down to Cape Town as Pilot. Became Pilot Manager for a couple of years, till I resigned form that post after a serious argument with a couple of our new ‘Know it alls’ from HQ in Johannesburg. Stayed on piloting until I retired in 2006 as Senior Pilot. Spent a couple of years thereafter mentoring Trainee Pilots.
After my contract with the ‘School of Ports’ ran out, I sculled around for a while. Am now making a lot of models, doing a bit of teaching at the Lawhill Academy in Simon’s Town, and taking long, off-road birding holidays around the country. Di is still working to keep me in the style I’m accustomed to. And the boys, the eldest is a qualified Actuary and New Developments Manager at Discovery Health with two boys, while the other is a successful self employed Graphic Designer / Photographer
The Loch-Class frigate HMSAS Natal was the only South African warship whose sinking of a German U-Boat was fully confirmed by the admiralty.
On 14 March 1945 six hours after leaving the builder’s yard while on passage to Tobermory for her work up HMSAS Natal assisted in a submarine search, located and sank U-714. Her Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Commander Hall (214) was awarded a bar to his DSC and Lieutenant Pedley was mentioned in dispatches.
1999 relocated to U.S.A. as a Marine Surveyor.
2006 Cargo Superintendent for Gulf Africa Line based in New Orleans.
2021 retired.
Bothie nickname: “Mule”.
Deceased 11th July 2020.
In tandem with my Navy Reserve Career, I was employed full time from 1980 for Local Government in the Durban Metropolitan Municipality as the City’s Director: Recreation (Head of the Recreation Department) for 14 years and then resulting from a re-organization of the entire Municipality in 2005 I was appointed to a position of Project Executive for the Health, Safety & Security Services Cluster of the Ethekwini Metropolitan Municipality for the remaining 8 years before having to compulsory retire at age 63 at the end of February 2013 in accordance with the Municipality Conditions of Service and in 2019 I and my wife relocated to the United Kingdom
GBOBA Durban Branch committee member from 1983 to 2019 i.e. 36 years.
Deceased 13/10/2006
Deceased 2014.
Deceased 29th June 2002.
Deceased 24th October 2017.
Reported in “Old Salts” 1947/48: Is leaving S.A. to become a Missionary in China.
Born 27th March 1908. Died at Cape Town Docks on 31st May 1932 as a result of a motocycle accident.
After G.B. joined Clan Line for 3 year apprenticeship before returning to S.A. and joining Port Elizabeth Stevedores. This company was owned by T.B. Davis who donated the Ship S.A.T.S. General Botha to S.A.
1940 joined the 2nd Field Engineer Company and served in Egypt with the 8th Army followed by 3 years as a POW, rank Sapper. After WWII rejoined Port Elizabeth Stevedores in 1946 which was later bought by S.A. Stevedores. Retired as branch manager in 1976.
Aubrey painted the Ship’s badge on the dry dock wall in Simon’s Town which is still there.
Deceased 28/10/2004.
Completed his MBA in 1998 and relocated to England from Durban where he was a Harbour Pilot with Portnet.
2000 – Pilot on the River Thames with the Port of London Authority.
Deceased 12/03/2009.
Kenneth joined the Bothie in 1961. However during his first year he received an injury which damaged his pancreas. This resulted in him becoming a diabetic.
Been a diabetic put an abrupt end to his aspirations of going to sea. He was forced to leave the Bothie and enrolled at the U.C.T. and eventually obtained a C.A.
He did his articles with Deloitte’s in Cape Town and stayed with them for a few years. In 1970 he decided to accompany his parents and sister and emigrate to the U.K. settling in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. There he married Pam and had a son Alistair.
Kenneth was offered and accepted a position with the Royal Bank of Scotland. He moved to and settled in Edinburgh. He left the Royal Bank of Scotland after a number of years, and helped set up several internet banks, including Direct Line, Standard Life and IF a subsidiary of Halifax. HBOS Banks. He was on the board as Finance Director with Standard Life and became Risk management Director with IF. He retired at the age of 58.
1999 Manager of Beaufort Shipping Agency (P&O) Dampier, Western Australia, mainly involved with iron ore exports and a lot of offshore tanker business.
2005 moved to Brisbane to take up work for Torres Pilots and spent 6 months as pilot base manager on Thursday Island in the Torres Straits.
2006 moved to Sydney to take up position of national operations manager with Oceanway Shipping (LBH Australia).
March 2010 moved to Banbury UK in semi-retirement renovating houses.
January 2015 purchased Masons Arms, a pub in Gilcrux, Cumbria.
Reported deceased.
1946 transferred SANF (V). Released March 1946. University of Witwatersrand and Imperial College London. Qualified Civil Engineer. 1952 – 1964 – joined British Colonial Service. Served in Nyasaland.
1965 – 1986 joined United Nations. Served in London, Botswana, Saudi Arabia, Persian Gulf, Iran, Thailand and elsewhere.
1985 retired and then practiced as a Consulting Engineer based in the U.K.
Deceased 26/09/1994 – his ashes were put to sea off Simon’s Town.
Previously a cargo surveyor in Durban. In June 2008 joined Beluga, situated in Bremen, as senior ships planner. When Beluga went into liquidation joined the newly formed company Hansa Heavy Lift as Senior Ships Planner, also based in Bremen. The company subsequently moved to Hamburg. Contract with Hansa Heavy Lift ended in May 2015. Then relocated to London, continued working as a freelance cargo Superintendent, 2021 undertaking the Administration & book keeping for a merchandising supply company, situated in London.
Was with the Pietermaritzburg Corporation as a draughtsman from September 1948 until December1949.
Joined the Anglo Saxon Petroleum Company in January 1950 serving as 3rd Officer on the Northia the Pellicula and the Acavus until December 1951.Obtained Chief Mates Certificate in March 1952. Appointed 2nd Mate on the Crista the Hemidonax and the Neocardia until March 1955. Obtained Master’s Foreign Going Certificate in September 1955 and joined SANC General Botha. Served as 3rd Officer from November 1955 until December 1957.
Joined the SAR and H Service in January 1958 and served as Mate until July 1958. Appointed Lecturer-in-Charge, Nautical Academy, Durban, by the Natal Technical College in August 1958. Co-opted to serve on the Nautical Training Advisory Board and attended several meetings in Cape Town during 1959 and 1960.
These meetings culminated in a recommendation to the Government that nautical training be centralized in Cape Town. This recommendation was accepted by the Government However, Dr Aston Williams Principal of the Natal Technical College disputed this decision, maintaining that his College was an autonomous institution and could offer courses considered desirable.
In these uncertain times he elected to transfer to the Nautical Academy Cape Town. In fulfilling its decision to centralize nautical training in Cape Town the Government authorized the building of an establishment at Granger Bay, called the South African Merchant Navy Academy General Botha which offered a one year cadet course, courses for students preparing for their certificates of competence and courses for the various fishing grades. Staff from the Nautical Academy, Cape Town were given Academy posts. From January 1966 until July 1990 he was Training Officer, Chief Officer, Acting Captain Superintendent (on three occasions) and Captain Superintendent (from 1985).COMMITEES and SOCIETIES
Was active in the affairs of the GB OBA and was Chairman of the OBA Executive Committee and Chairman of the SATS General Botha War Memorial Fund. Played an active role in the Society of Master Mariners (SA) serving in the capacities of Hon Gen Treasurer and Hon Gen Secretary and was President in 1975
MISCELLANEOUS
During a period of extended leave he was appointed as Master of the mv Ovambo and made several trips calling at Luderitz and Walvis Bay.
Obtained a National Higher Diploma in Post School Education in 1985.
Was invited to address the OBA Qua Vadis meeting in September 1988 to explain the background and reasons for the integration of the Academy into the Cape Technikon.
During a meeting of the Board of Control (SAMNA GB) in August 1989 he asked Capt de Wet (member of the Board of Control) how the GB memorabilia can be preserved. He suggested the establishment of a trust similar to the Unitie Trust which had been drafted by Jonathan Mort of Fairbridges. Mr Mort was requested to make a similar draft for a General Botha trust. This he did Details of these negotiations were discussed and accepted at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the Board of Control in October 1989. A display of memorabilia was arranged in the Maritime Museum Cape Town. When this museum closed the display was transferred to the Naval Museum Simon’s Town where, with contributions from OB’s and the dedication of Ian Manning [1955/56] a magnificent display is now on view.
Appointed a Trustee of the General Botha Trust in May 1990. Resigned due to ill health in January 2013.
Deceased 12th September 2018.
After General Botha, Rene’ sailed with Safmarine, then came ashore and went into business for himself. In true Bothy tradition, he built a successful business, Torque Tools that today and decades later, is well-established and continues to sail onwards with his son at the helm.
Deceased 8th June 2021.
After G.B. joined Bank Line. His first ship was the s.s. Cabarita on which he was joined by his G.B. ship mate, Gavin Dickie, and traded between S.A. and the Orient. Later transferred to the partly passenger ship s.s. Inchanga. After 7 years at sea, joined Standard Bank in Durban. Later transferred to the then Northern Rhodesia, moved about the Cooper Belt, finishing up in Lusaka where he rose to the position of Chief Teller on the Treasury Department. His last appointment was Assistant Staff Manager for Zambia. Transferred to Glasgow. After retiring from Glasglow, returned to South Africa.
28th September 1949 the Archbishop of Cape Town consecrated a new altar in the S.A.N.C. General Botha (Gordon’s Bay) chapel, presented in memory of J.E.J. Lewis (348) by his mother. It had been designed by Captain-Superintendent Legassick and A.S. Pomeroy (373).
See: http://vandwdestroyerassociation.org.uk/HMS_Walpole/1941-3.html#Pomeroy
1958 – 1965 – Moved to Rhodesia, then to Trinidad til 19790 in his own business development
1971 – 1988 – Relocated to Sydney, involved in horse equestrian management, acting in films etc.
1989 – Director of a Radio Station, Radio D.J., Sydney.
1964 Master ofAfrican Coaster’s “Range”.
Retired Master, sailed with Unicorn Lines. For many years was in command of their Voortrekker (1) and then her later consort Voorspeler (1).
1995 – PAL Security Services, Durban.
1999 Retired and relocated to Cape Town.
Deceased 12th December 2012.
1981 – Obtained Master’s Certificate and promtoed Master of a container vessel.
1983 – Sepcialist training in the offshore industry field and when completed took command of the Company’s offshore cessel/Anchor Handler Voortrekker, October 1984.
1989 appointed to Shore position as Fleet Superintendent.
1993 accepted voluntary retrenchement and joined a small firm with full management participation specialising in marine offshore services and related services to the industry.
1993 Kipper of yacht “Ukelele Lady” on the Cape to Rio race.
1956 – 1992 S.A. Navy Citizen Force, retired with rank of Captain. Chief Examiner, S.A. Cruising Association, 1990 – 1992 Maritime Industry Training Board. Deceased 09/05/2012.
Previous GB Trust Trustee.
Reported in “Old Salts” 1947/48.
First Officer of the ‘Gamtoos’ employed taking stores to Marion Islands.
Lost his wife in the sinking of the British liner Ceramic 7th December 1942.
1964 Harbour Pilot in Durban Harbour.
Deceased January 1988.
Served on HMS Austerious, AMC HMS Pretoria Castle and HMS Heron. He was a sub lieutenant and could not become a Full Lieutenant in the Royal Navy until he turned 21.
2009 retired.
Resides in a remote part of North Yorkshire moors, has a small 37 flock of Herdwick sheep.Enjoys retirement after 40 years at sea.
Reported in “Old Salts” 1947/48: Has been re-elected to the Simonstown Council, eventually Mayor of Simon’s Town.
Deceased 25th May 1960. Naval burial from at sea, from SAS Somerset, in position 34′ 13,6″S 018′ 37,5″E same position as the S.A.T.S. General Botha lies. Later his wife’s ashes scattered in same position.
Deceased 12th October 2021.
Hylton became band leader at the college and the band won several band competitions. He was awarded the silver bugle award in this regard.
After being at General Botha College he joined the South African Navy and became a sub-lieutenant.
He specialised in navigation and ASDEC`s and did some of his training in this regard at Wemmer Pan.
Born March 17th, 1908. After Bothie apprenticed to Prince Line. Lost in M.V. Asiatic Prince, which sank in a hurricane in the Pacific on her way to Tokohama in March, 1928, with all hands, 48 in all, on her maiden voyage. George Price was the first Bothie boy to be lost at sea.
Obtained B.O.T. certificate first class in Seamanship and was apprenticed to the Prince Line, firstly in s.s. Indian Prince and later m.v. Asiatic Prince.
Reported in “Old Salts” 1947/48.
Has been promoted to Senior Inspector of the Government Guano Islands Department. Sailed on the ‘Gatmoos’ when she delivered stores to Marion Island.
January 2017 retired.
Deceased 11th September 2021.
19th February 1941 was appointed to the staff of the Bothie as cadet-instructor, until he left in July to take up the Sonnenberg bursary and the Royal Navy cadetship he had been awarded.
He continued to serve through the War on a number of ships including the HMS Norfolk, Arctic patrols and Russian convoys.
After the war he remained in the Royal Navy until 1952, following which he returned to South Africa and became a surveyor. Deceased 11th August 2018.
1984-1985 foreman with S.A. Stevedores Cape Town.
1988-1992 ships agency representative with TRT Shipping Services, Cape Town.
1992-1993 ships planner with Grindrod Shipping based in Cape Town.
1993-1999 various managerial positions with Status Maritime [formerly Kien Hung Shipping S.A.] based in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
1999-2000 shipping consultant based in Cape Town.
2000-2004 operations manager with TRT, Cape Town
2004 moved to U.K.
2005-2007 Shipping manager for Columbus Stainless based in Middelburg.
2007-2009 Branch Manager MOL Johannesburg.
2009-2013 Owner’s representative Mitsui OSK Lines based in Maputo.
2013 Following four years in Maputo returned to Cape Town, Area Manager Third Party Agencies, MOL South Africa.
2014 joined Pacific International Lines as their Owner’s Representative in Mozambique.
2017 left Pacific International Lines and returned to Cape Town.
1983 – 90 – Lecturer at S.A.M.N.A. General Botha – obtained NHD in post school education. 1990 – 93 – Started own business as a PC Constulant and software developer specialising in programs for the Marine Industry. Also a freelance shipplanner with Safmarine.
1993 – Rejoined Safmarine as full time stowage co-ordinator.
1995 – Promoted to Systems Manager with ‘MARSCC’ Safmarine.
2010 retired.
Deceased 18/10/2000.
Keith came ashore after 18 months and started an apprenticeship (with the intention of returning to sea) with Otis Elevators, qualifying in 1961. He then joined Gilbarco Pumps ‘on the tools’ and was with them for 19 years, working in most departments and finishing in the position of materials and computer systems manager. In 1984, he left to join a partner in a small sign company. This partner returned to England in 1988 and in 1991 the business was sold with Keith continuing as general manager. In 1999, the business was again sold, this time to PSM, a manufacturing sign company with Keith continuing, of course, as their general manager until his retirement in 2011.
Keith married Margaret Horn in January 1962 and they have two daughters, both happily married.
Keith and Margaret both attended the three days and nights of the 2004 Gordon’s Bay reunion. Sadly however, after a short illness, Margaret passed away in September 2010. Keith stoically came down to Cape Town for the 60th reunion anyway and was excellent company but it was clear to all that he was keenly missing the love of his life, Margaret. He died 15th January 2015.
On leaving the Botha, Kevin followed his stepfather into the whaling business and took part in the 1955 whaling expedition from Cape Town to the Antarctic, serving in the Willem Barendz. His subsequent career is not known and in July 2002 he passed away from illness at his home in Thornton, Cape Town.
Apprenticed to Reardon Smith Line.
After Bothie Eugene went to sea as Cadet on tramp vessels and in 1936 he joined Clan Line as Third Officer.
Reported in S.A.T.S. Magazine No.3 1937: sailed on s.s. Bradburn
Was torpedoed in 1939 in the Atlantic. During WWII he joined the Royal Navy as a Navigation Officer and was later promoted to Lieutenant on the Anti-Submarine ships.
1945-46 Eugene attended Natal University and from 1947 to 1971 he was branch manager and a director of Bowater Paper Company. He then joined S.A. Neon which was subseuqently taken over by Claude Neon TLD where he was the Marketing Executive for 26 years. Retired 1997.
Deceased 24/02/2004.
Ex Union Castle purser – deceased 07/09/91. Donated his Queen’s Gold Medal to the General Botha Trust. On display in the S.A. Naval Museum, Simon’s Town.
1998 – relocated to Saldanha Bay with Pentow Marine.
Deceased 23/02/96
1951 – 70 – Union Steamship Company of New Zealand. Appionted Master in 1963 serving on break bulk ships, bulk carriers, chemcial tankers and Roro Container ships. Trading Australia – Tasmania, New Zealand, FIJI, Samoa and Tongan Isalnds.
1970 Pilot with Maritime Services Board of NSW
1974 – Assistant Harbour Master Newcastle
1979 – Deputy Harbour Master Sydney and Botany Bay
1980 – Harbour Master Newcastle
1983 – Chief Executive, Port of Newcastle
1989 – Retired age 60
Involved with Toastmasters and Rotary youth exchange.
Deceased 11/08/96
1998 – Principal of his own business and taken a franchise with ReMax International.
2017 retired.
I was with Unicorn Shipping Lines from January 1972 until July 1985. The last 5 years as CNO.
Joined TNPA in August 1985. Stationed in Walvis Bay, transferred to Richards Bay at the end of 1989.
Was a POW during WWII.
Was a Fireman in the Maritzburg Fire Brigade.
Deceased 16th May 1990.
Deceased 21/07/1995.
1949 started 5 year apprenticeship as an electrical fitter.
1953 transferred apprenticeship to The English Electric Company of S.A for the final year.
1954 resigned and travelled to UK and re-joined EE at Stafford Works as a Special Trainee. During the year joined Steel Industries Division and was sent to various steelworks in the UK, and eventually to Norway and Sweden.
1955 employed by Swedish State steelworks, Luleå, as Maintenance Engineer on loan from EE, to install a system of planned preventative maintenance to improve production performance and output. This system was eventually extended to cover mechanical and harbour iron-oreloading maintenance, and is still in operation today.
1958 resigned and returned to SA to visit mother and re-joined EE SA as Installation and Commissioning engineer (Mines), and completed eleven winder hoists situated between Johannesburg and Kimberley in the year on various gold, coal and diamond mines.
1959 married and was appointed by EE SA Resident Site Engineer, Iscor Works, Vanderbijlpark supervising the installation and commissioning of numerous steelworks plant in Iscor’s expansion.
1962 resigned from EE SA and was appointed Works Engineer McWillaw Iron and Steel, Isipingo, Natal. This company also had a ship-breaking yard in Durban Bay, and the steel scrap from these vessels was converted to new steel products.
1963 resigned from McWillaw to take up a Sales Engineering position by invitation from EE SA, at their head office in Johannesburg.
1964 Invited by EE SA to transfer to their Benoni Works as Project Engineer (Traction) to extend the factory and equipment, man and commence production of electric locomotive and passenger train equipment.
1968 appointed General Manager Benoni Works, as well as manager Traction and Large Electric Motors.
1969 resigned due to takeover of EE by GEC, and joined Tube Investments as MD of Flexible Tubing Africa manufacturing all types of hoses and fittings for mining and general industry.
1971 transferred by TI to head office Johannesburg as MD TI Engineering.
1972 appointed Group Corporate Planner TI while still controlling Engineering division.
1973 resigned and joined Marthinusen Industries as MD electrical products.
1974 reassigned to take control of Bonnycan Electric, owned byAnglo-American, on the sudden death of Bonnycan’s MD in a car accident. Bonnycan was subsequently purchased by Marthinusen.
1976 resigned and took a partnership and control of Republic Electric in Boksburg handling electrical equipment repairs and maintenance for mining and general industries.
1977 assumed full ownership of Republic Electric.
1981 Republic Electric bought by GEC SA and appointed MD LH Marthinusen, with six branches in SA, and chairman of LHM in Harare, Zimbabwe. Repair contracts were obtained from power, rail and dockyard companies in Taiwan and Hong Kong.
1983 resigned from LHM due to pending sale of the company to Delta Electric, and entered the textile industry through a franchise operation and opened four retail outlets, one in Johannesburg and three in Pretoria.
1984 took over the franchise for SA on approval of the Australian owners and built the franchise to 27 retail stores in SA, sourcing fabric and other items from SA manufacturers and from other parts of the world. A very successful company until bad management in Australia forced the liquidation of the company world-wide in 1994.
1994 to 2009 took a certificated course in nutrition and health, and sold health products and imported domestic water distillers nation-wide.
2009 more or less retired with odd jobs in the advertising industry. Currently [2016] chair of the wine and camera clubs at our retirement village.
2001 relocated to New Zeland and working for AIMECS, a ship repair company based in Auckland and Tautanga.
1996 retired.
Deceased 28th September 2004
1969 Unicorn Shipping = Cadet
1970 – 1971 Willem Barendz – 4th / 3rd Officer, uncertified.
1972 – 1979 Ashore, started as a sales representative for Reed Stationery, resigned as area manager and main board director for Cape Province, OFS, SWA/Namibia.
1979 – 1992 Shareholder and MD of the following small companies:
Minus 40 and Safreeze specialized refrigeration products.
Cape Lumber and Poles & Planks timber fencing and garden products direct to home owners
Cape Fabrix Carpet Manufacture
In 1993 decided to emigrate, moved to Vancouver Canada in 1994. On arrival in Canada opened Black Rock Trading Inc,. To act as the North American distributor of Boulder Buster rock breaking equipment for Rhinemetall Denel.. They discontinued the product range at the end of 2016. As Boulder Buster was the major part of the business, decided to wind up and retire.
Attended Malmsbury High School before SATS General Botha and then spent most of his life in Kimberley where he owned an undertaking business.
1960 to 1986 Price Forbes Insurance Brokers [South Africa].
1987 to 1992 Sedgewick Insurance Brokers [London].
1993 formed own insurance services companies [United Kingdom].
Here is a list of his medals.
1 the 1939 to 1945 Star
2 the Atlantic Star
3. The Africa Star
4. The Burma Star
5 . The Italy Star
6. Africa service medal
7 the commemoration medal 60 th rosary of victory in the great patriotic war 1941. To. 1945 (Jubilee Medal “60 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945”)
8. Ushakov medal from the Russians ( awarded for Bravery and courage)
9. Arctic Star.
Deceased 1989.
2011 Managing Member of surveying company D S Oliver.
1997 – transferred to Saferoute (division of Safmarine) as Operations Manager.
2000 – entered partnership in New Company, Cargo Systems.
1964 worked for Rand Mines, Johannesburg.
Deceased 1967.
Was employed by Old Mutual ± 1977
Deceased circa 1997?
After G.B. went to sea with Safmarine. Soon after obtaining Masters Certificate came ashore into Safmarine’s Container Operations Department. Later became hazardous cargo specialist with Safmarine. 1994, Operations Manager, Europe trade, Safmarine.
1999 – retired from Safmarine
2000 moved to New Zealand. 2003 operating a ferry between Gulf Harbour and Auckland as well as a vending business. 2004 sold the vending business and Master on Fullers Ferries.
Feb 2002 to July 2003 various survey jobs for De Beers and Mobile Oil. July 2003 to Dec 2008 Master on diamond dredger Namibia. Dec 2008 to April 2014 Master on various siesmic survey vessels for Mermaid Marine. 2015 still during delivery jobs for various companies.
Part owner of the Sea Safety Training Centre Group with branches in St Helena Bay, Cape Town and Mandela Bay. Lecturing on a full time basis.
1968 – Commercial pilot for AVEX Air, then was a pilot for S.A. Airways until 1973. Spent a year in Argentina before immigrating to Canada in 1977 where he was a pilot and flying instructor. 2000 sailed from Vancouver in a yacht that he had built to French Polynesia, Fiji and Philippines.
Captain Dave Rennie, Master Mariner, Director of Grindrod Limited, and Chief Executive Officer of Grindrod Freight Services.
Captain Rennie had been in ill health for a short while when he suddenly died, and his passing has come a shock to the Durban and South African maritime industry where he was well- known and highly respected. He was a Grindrod man throughout his career and is one of only two people to have moved through the ranks in the company from cadet at sea to director of the company.
He spent time at sea as a cadet before studying at the South African Merchant Navy Academy General Botha. Within 11 years he had risen to ships master when he was given his first ship, the Durban-built container vessel Berg.
He was seconded to the South African Navy for a special task, that of going to Galveston, Texas to bring back the Ukrainian ice-strengthened ship Juvent, which was to become SAS Outeniqua on delivery in Simon’s Town. He remained attached to the navy for six months while training navy personnel in the intricacies of operating a ro-ro type vessel.
In 1993 he transferred to Durban to be in charge of Unicorn’s crewing department and later as operations manager of the coastal trade, from where he stepped up to be in charge of Grindrod’s container shipping division, Ocean Africa Container Lines. By this time he had become a director of the company. In more recent years he has been chief executive of Grindrod Freight Services and has played a pivotal role in leading the Maputo port back to becoming an important and successful gateway for southern African trade.
He was also the man running the emergence of Grindrod as an important participant in the operating of railways on the sub-continent.
In addition to these duties, Captain Rennie was a Member of the Chartered Institute of Shipbrokers, and played a significant role in the formation of the South African Association of Ship Operators and Agents (SAASOA). He acted as Chairman of the Container Liners Operators Forum, was an advisor to the Minister of Transport and a director of the TT Club in London, an international transport and logistics insurance management service.
Captain Dave Rennie leaves his wife Jane, a son Lloyd and daughter Amy.
Has sailed on one of the Hector Whaling Company’s Tankers for South America.
First cadet to obtain his second mate’s certificate in South Africa and in August 1931 he also became the first Botha Boy to obtain his Master’s Certificate.
Reported in “Old Salts” 1947/48
Has been appointed a Harbour Pilot in the Table Bay Harbour Service.
Reported in S.A.T.S. Magazine No.3 1937: J.W. Reynolds and M.A. Dickson went through an arduous time when, as officers of the Union Government s.s. Aloe, they had to fight for days a strong fire which broke out in that ship near Mauritius. It was successfully quelled.
Served as Sub Lieutenant on HMSAS Southern Isles under the command of Lt A.C. Matson (64) in the Mediterranean During WWII.
The ship was exposed to a blistering attack by five JU88’s, one of which was shot down, to be followed by a force estimated to number 50 aircraft, which grouped themselves to pay individual attention to each ship in the convoy. Matson subsequently reported: The sky appeared to rain bombs, most of which fell within 100 feet of the ship. Towards the end of this action a particularly aggressive JU88, coming in for a low-level run over the ship, was covered by the four-inch gun, already loaded with a time-fused shell, set for 900 feet and manned by Sub-Lieutenant Ribbink and one rating. The single shot, perfectly timed, obtained a burst almost on the tail of the plane, which caught fire, jettisoned its bombs and crashed.
Ribbink was awarded the DSC for devotion to duty in September 1941.
Previously of the Royal Navy and a retired Journalist/Publisher.
Deceased 11/01/2002.
1971 – 81 – worked as a Lecturer.
Presently Joint Managing Director of research surveys – South Africa’s largest consumer research company.
After Bothie in ’74, my last trip with Safmarine was in 1982, as I recall. Headed off around the world in “Wandering Star”, my Knysna built Endurance 37, from ’82 – ’86 and in Australia I met my future wife, Liz, who is from the States. That, of course, put an end to my singlehanding days. Sailed back to the States in ’87 and in ’88 got the manager’s job at Spring Cove Marina in Solomons MD. It is a full service “resort” style marina with 250 slips and boatyard which has kept us busy and out of trouble. After 10 years, became the managing partner, and after another 16 years, here we are! Our son and daughter are both working at the marina, (as well as Liz and my brother Alan – a real family affair), “Wandering Star” is nearing the end of a facelift – (adding all the mod-cons like chartplotter and radar!) and we plan on some East Coast/Bermuda cruising in the next few years as our kids (or more accurately, “we”) become more comfortable (with them) running the marina. We enjoy skiing in the winter and I still race my Laser in the warmer months, although now I am called a “Grand Master” and seem to be getting slower and slower!
2015 following a merger salvage master with Subtech.
2019 with LOC Singapore.
Reported deceased.
1955 – 66 – Assistant to Marine Superintendent, Thesens Steamship Co Ltd Cape Town.
1964 Personnel Officer of Thesen’s Steamship Company, Cape Town.
1967 – Paymaster, Cape Town Unicorn Lines
1968 – Marine Assistant Unicorn Lines, Cape Town
1969 – 76 – Marine Superintendent, Unicorn Lines Durban
1977 – 84 – Marine Manager, Unicorn Lines, Cape Town
1985 – 89 – Manager Cape Diving & Salvage, Cape Town
May 1989 – Retired
Deceased 21/04/2006
2009 retired in France. 2016 moved to Israel.
2010 Retired. Deceased 22nd April 2017.
1964 Second Officer m.v. “Safdan Helene”.
After passing all certificates in rapid time he was appointed Master of the m.v. Tzaneen, a Safmarine reefer vessel. Shortly after promotion to Master he was appointed Assistant Marine Superintendent in New York and thereafter Marine Superintendent (Atlantic) based in Baltimore. Nine years later it was back to New York as Senior Marine Superintendent and in 1968 he was appointed Vice President Marine. In 1991 he was appointed to President of Safmarine (U.S.A) and owners representative, Safbank Line Ltd. Retired December 1999 to his farm in Virginia, U.S.A.
Deceased 29/08/2009
Parents Sidney and Nelie Rippon had four children – Merle, Desmond Ray and Alison; Started life in Durban and moved to Johannesburg where he attended King Edward High School before going to the General Botha where he matriculated.
General Botha (GB) Cadet No.1059, 1939-40.
Midshipman Royal Navy Reserve (RNR) 1940 – 45.
HMS Pretoria Castle 11 Dec 1940 to 30 Nov 1941 (Armed Merchant Cruiser)
HMS Gambia 15 Feb 1942 to 13 May 1943 (Crown Colony-class Light Cruiser)
HMS Frobisher 21 June 1943 to 9 March 1944 (Hawkins-class Heavy Cruiser)
HMS Full Moon 24 March 1944 to 7 March 1945
HMS Mayina 10 March 1945 to 21 July 1945
During his time as Midshipman Ray kept a meticulous journal of his experiences and travels as précised below.
Career after the War – Ray married Amy and they bought a bungalow on 4th Beach, Clifton in Cape Town where they began their life together. Subsequently they moved with their four children to Rondebosch. They were happily married for over 50 years.
Ray spent most of his working career as a manufacturer’s representative (middleman/wholesaler) selling clothing, textiles and groceries in the western and southern Cape. He and his brother-in-law, Piet Maas (ex-RAF Pilot) ran a very successful agency business for over 35 years. They had more than a dozen representatives on the road at one stage. They were based at the old Robbs Motors Building near the Rondebosch bridge.
Ray passed away on 31 January 2005.
After 29 years at the Robertson Wine Cellar as a Cellar Master, January 1995 working as a Consultant Cellar Master/Wine Maker at Klawer Co-operative, Klawer, in the Oliphantsriver Wine Region, Western Cape.
Deceased 22/03/2004
Lieutenant in S.A. Navy
Retired Department of Transport Surveyor and Pollution Officer, Cape Town. Previously Secretary of the Old Boys’ Association Cape Town Branch.
Deceased 16/09/92.
After leaving Old Bothie James was seconded to the Royal Navy and served as a navigator during the 2nd World War. After the war he joined the South African Railways & Harbours in Cape Town and transferred to Johannesburg in 1966 from where he retired.
Deceased 20/04/95.
I went out to the China Coast in 1965 to get enough sea time in to sit for a Master’s Certificate, had some adventurous times in tramp ships where the seamanship learned in NZ proved a blessing. After gaining my FG Master’s ticket I remained ashore in Hong Kong for ten years, working at first for local shipping firms, then for the Marine Department during the Emergency, later spending five years as a Marine Surveyor.
Much of the remainder of my time was less exciting. I was ashore in Bushire handling cargo for the nuclear power plant site when the Iranian revolution broke out in late ’78.
After G.B. joined Safmarine, sailing on all classes of vessels and after obtaining Masters sailed as Chief Officer on the S.A. Constantia. Joined the S.A.R. & H. In 1974 in Cape Town and spent his first year in Port Nolloth followed by a short while on the steam tugs in Port Elizabeth. When Port Elizabeth opened their container terminal he transferred to the Port Container Planning Office until 1979. He then immigrated to Canada and joined Lloyds Agents in Toronto. In 1984 he obtained a Canadian Masters Certificate and joined the Ship Safety Branch in Ottatwa until transferred to the Field (Prince Rupert) in 1990. There he was involved in all ships safety (for Marine Directorate) activities ranging from pollution to examinations.
2017 retired.
2000 Hired at Continental Airlines, later merged with United Airlines. Now First Officer on 777 on long haul flights.
1955 Instructor Outward Bound School of Malaya.
1964 Tug Master and Acting Pilot, Port Elizabeth.
Early seventies served as Port Captain in Port Elizabeth.
Reported deceased.
Was a Senior Cadet Captain and awarded first prize for sportsmanship.
Joined the Merchant Navy and was torpedoed during WWII which he survived.
After WWII joined the family property business and later was Mayor of Stanger for five years.
Deceased 1978.
1978 – 79 – Third Officer with Unicorn.
1979 – 91 – Second and Chief Officer with Land & Marine.
Highlights: Towing the passenger ship “Linblad Explorer” from the Antartic to Chile, return trip around Cape Horn.
1981 – 87 – Mate and Master with Windjammer cruises, e.g. 197 foot 2 masted Schooner, 4 masted Portuguese Fishing Schooner carrying 128 passengers.
After leaving Windjammer I did one tanker delivery to Italy from Miami and maintained and skippered a luxury fishing yacht in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Later I taught sailing on the Hudson River whilst putting myself through University studying Mechanical Engineering. 1999 a design engineer with a company making lithography tools.
Returned to sea in March 1996 with a New Zealand Coastal shipping company called Pacific Shipping, running between the North & South Islands. 1998 sailing as Chief Officer.
2003 moved to Australia, joined ASP Ship Management on bulk ore carriers in the Great Barrier Reef area.
2004 Harbourmaster and Pilot in Port Kembla, Australia.
2012 transferred to Port Hedland, Australia.
2017 harbour pilot in Esperance, Western Australia.
Deceased 24/08/2008.
Progressed through the ranks and in 1988 was promoted from Assistant Port Captain, Richards Bay to Fleet Manager of the newly formed Dredging Services which operated as an independent unit within Portnet. I retired at the end of September 2001.
1964 Harbour Pilot in Port Elizabeth.
Deceased 24/06/1990.
Served in the Merchant Navy during WWII as thrid officer. Was awarded the 1939 Star and the African Star medals. Demobbed 27th August 1949.
Joined Union Castle and served on various Castle, Clan Line and King Line ships until I was transferred to Mail Ships where I served on them all but for the Windsor Castle and SA. Vaal. Swallowed the anchor in 1968 and settled in Cape Town. After a short spell in sales, which was not for me, I moved on to Retail, joining the Foschini Group, and finally the Moregrow Group. I
retired in June 1999 and became a nomad spending three months or so each year travelling by road in Africa. The rest of the time I am a handy man and general factotum.
I married Meryl in 1971 and we have a son Brent (Engineer and now a Vicar ) and a daughter Tandi (IT boff). They have made us proud Grandparents of three boys and a girl. My sports are cycling (13 Argus Tours) and sailing, both of which I do less of the older I get.
2013 Cargo Superintendent with Marine Care & Solutions.
Joined Unicorn Shipping lines in 1975. Unicorn 1975 -1982 (sailed as chief officer). Joined Trident Marine 1982 (Marine superintendent), Trident Marine 1982-1983. Joined Natal Lashing Services 1983 (Manager), Natal Lashing services 1983-1999. Natal Lashing Services bought out by P&O Ports Services 1999, P&O Port Services 1999-2006 (Operations Manager). P&O Ports bought out by DPW, DPW 2006-2008(Operations Manager). 2008 Started my own company MCS (Marine Care & Solutions), 2008- present [2013], MCS doing Super Cargo/Port Captains work mainly for Scan-Trans Shipping Aps /Intermarine World Wide. (Nearly all my work out of South Africa).
New Zealand Shipping Corporation kept me employed in the offshore (DSV and supply) and Pacific Islands / Australia / New Zealand container runs until the company was sold in 1989. Swire Pacific Offshore employed me as DPO for one year on their dsv’s working in SE Asian/ Borneo waters. Later moved back to New Zealand for local short term offshore work in NZ on seismic / platform supply / container vessels as Chief Officer until Oct 1995. It was time to start work ashore, so resigned from South Pacific Shipping to work at Napier Port Ltd as tug master / trainee pilot. Pilotage was not for me so I took on the role as Napier Harbour Master until 2010. My employers decided to restructure my role which did not suit me thus took redundancy / semi retirement – and promptly found short term work locally in the offshore as master on ROV and supply vessels. I also had to retrain and obtain my full DP certificate which has kept me employed with various Australian and NZ companies on a casual basis to date.
Cadet Draft 1930 – 1. After leaving Genearl Botha, Coenraad Frans Cecil Sadie joined the Union Castle Steamship Co. And after five years at sea took up a position on land. During the war he was with the UDF (Field Park Co.) and fatally injured in an accident while travelling in a car engaged on military duty near Potchefstroom on 7th September 1940.
2015 relocated back to USA.
Firstly on leaving Bothie I sailed with Smith Coasters till I was called to SAFMARINE. There I joined the S.A. Vergelegen, an old Victory ship and later transfered to the new SA Trader under the command of Robin Thompson, an old Bothie Boy. I did couple trips with her till we blew boilers and remained in Durban when I decided to go ashore. I then joined Holland Africa Line claims and worked with Syd Benjamin, another Old Boy. From there I went to Wm. Cotts and joined Herby Horsley, still another OB. Meantime I had started the Martial Arts and eventually became one of the first instructors to go full time instructing. Richard is a GRAND MASTER 9th Dan Black Belt in Japanese Budo-Ryu Karate and the first inducted member of the South African Karate & Martial Sciences Hall of Fame, he also holds Black Belt ranks in Judo and Aikido. He was the first Westerner ever accepted as a member of the World Karate Union Teaching Department of Hyogo/Himeji, Japan. He is also the Founder and Doshu Head of the World Wide Martial Arts organization, BUDO-RYU INTERNATIONAL, with administrative offices in the Netherlands. With the huge support I had with youngsters around the country, Dot and I being concerned with the way youngsters were going we decided to start the SA Mountain Leadership School in the mountains of the Golden Gate area of the Free State. This became well respected and our program became part of many school systems for certain grade levels and gained respect from around the world. The end came in 1977 when we had a run in with the Government of the day because of a program we wanted to start bringing in youngsters from around the world to learn about the real SA, as most adults had made up their minds what they thought. This went wrong [a seprate story on its own] but the short of it was I got pulled in by BOSS and was threatened with house arrest and having my passport taken away, so we took our boys out of school and flew to Switzerland and then onto the USA, eventually becoming citizens there.
Besides the many Wildlife, Conservation and Cottage Industry projects they have been involved with around the world, Richard & Dot were the first to develop the concept of “Educational Safaris” over 40 years ago, taking people out into the bush to experience and learn about the real Africa, its peoples, cultures and wildlife.
Richard has, over the years, participated in many conservation, environmental and tribal support projects around the Globe and, in recognition of his vast experience, he was invited to join the International Environmental Education & Training Commission of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources [IUCN], headquartered in Gland, Switzerland, on which he represented the USA for 12 years.
Codrington.
1961 Master’s in Liverpool then studying for Extra’s.
1964 Immigrated to Australia joining Australian National Line as 3rd Mate (a union requirement). Completed Extra Master in Melbourne
1965 Seconded to Sydney School of Navigation to run ANL’s first apprentice pre-sea program.
1967 Marine Surveyor in Port Adelaide.
1969 Joined EZ Industries, a major mining corporation, as Transport Manager. Built Zincmaster a 18,000 tonne dwt roro/concentrate/ sulphuric acid/container carrier. President for 11 years The Metals & Minerals Shippers Association of Australia.
1979 Promoted to Marketing Manager. Chairman Australian Lead and Zinc Market Development Association. Adviser to the Australian IMO delegate.
1989 International Marketing Manager Pasminco Metals. Set up the metals hedging desk.
1991 Retired. Living in outer Melbourne.
Deceased 20/06/97.
2007 with Island View Shipping, Durban.
2013 Comprop designs, Architectural Consultants & Planners.
2001 Transferred to Unicorn Shipping International, London.
2011 Transferred to Singapore with Grindrod Shipping.
2020 Retired and returned to South Africa.
1960 – 65 sailed on the research vessel “Tui” as 1st Officer.
1966 – joined Air New Zealand as Flight Navigator until 1971 when retrained as Flight Engineer. Operated on DC8, DC10 and B747 until retiring in 1983. Went back to sea as Master and half owner of a small trading vessel operating a cargo passenger service to Great Barrier Reef Island 50 miles from Auckland. 1988 sold out and returned to Aviation until 1993.
1999 cruised the South Pacific and Queensland Coast in his 40′ steel ketch, Jananna.
2002 returned to New Zealand. Deceased 30th March 2018.
GB Cadet 1434 Term 1945/46 THOMAS BRIAN SCHMIDT (Twiggy).
BORN: 27July1929. DIED: 30 March 2018
In 1945 Twiggy joined the General Botha training ship and completed his training there in1946. He then joined the Union Castle Line as a Cadet in 1947 and worked at a wage of eight pounds per month. Later as a third officer he earned forty-five pounds and five shillings per month He did some thirty-seven trips with the Union Castle Line. The Castle ships he sailed on were: Riebeeck, Rochester, Rowallan, Carnarvon, lllangibby, Roslin, Dunnottar, Kenya, Rustenberg, Drakensberg and Warwick.
He married Jill in1954 in the U.K and left the Union Castle Line in January 1955.
He worked at various jobs while in the United Kingdom and even dabbled in car racing with permission to race at Silverstone (17.09.1955) and Brands Hatch (09.10.1955).
In1959 Twiggy, his wife Jill and two year old child, immigrated to New Zealand on the Ten Pound scheme on the Rangitoto. His first job as an unskilled worker for the Heretaunga Dairy Company in the Hastings area was organised prior to his arrival in New Zealand. Laterthe family moved from Hastings to Auckland and was completed with a fourth child.
In April 1961, Twiggy joined the New Zealand Navy research ship Tui and travelled extensively around the Pacific. He was just about to take his First Mate’s Exam when he saw an advertisem*nt from Air New Zealand recruiting Flight Navigators. He finished work as second mate on the Tui on 6th July 1966 to commence a flight navigator’s course with Air New Zealand on the 11th of July 1966.
He enjoyed flying and when Flight Navigators became redundant in 1972 he retrained as a Flight Engineer still with Air New Zealand.
During this time he made the most of his opportunities with travel to many places. He completed the Honolulu Marathon in 1979 and the Manitoba Marathon in 1980.
He was divorced in 1984.
After retiring from Air New Zealand he purchased TeAroha, an 86ft long kauri schooner with a beam of 24 ft and twin masts. It could sail in the right winds. She was built in Totara North in 1909. He ran this with partners from 1984 – 1986 as a cargo transporter from Auckland to Great Barrier Island in the Hauraki Gulf. It carried cars, tractors, animals, food supplies, kauri trees, building- materials and some very lucky intrepid passengers. He loved the sea faring, the company and the variety that came with it.
He then worked as a Flight Engineer in 1989 with Air Malaysia and was with them until 1992.
I met Twiggy in 1995 and in 1998 we left for Fiji on his 40 foot steel ketch, Jananna. He celebrated his 70th birthday off the Australian coast above Airlie Beach, up in the air on a flight in a Tiger Moth.
After four years of sailing in the Pacific, Indian, Atlantic and the Caribbean, we returned to New Zealand and settled in Whangarei. There we had great enjoyment back on land, landscaping a large garden, socialising and catching up with family. Twiggy was diagnosed with Parkinson’s a few years ago so we moved nearer to town and a smaller, more manageable property with a lovely view of the Whangarei harbour.
His two daughters and I were with him at the end.
Happy sailing Twig.
Margie
Apprenticed to Bullard King Line.
1932 Appointed Midshipman Royal Naval Reserve.
Deceased 22/02/90.
Won the Kings Gold Medal in 1932 which now with the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London.
1955 – Brocks Stevedoring Co Durban as Stevedore Foreman and John T. Renie & Sons Durban as Cargo Supervisor.
1955 – 91 – South African Railways & Harbours. From Tug Mate to Port Captain and Senior Port Captain S.A. Harbour Service. Sent overseas during this period for various training courses.
1964 – Lieutenant S.A. Navy (C.F.)
1969 – Lieutenant Commander S.A. Navy (C.F.)
1962 – 1972 – G.B.O.B.A. Hon Secretary
1972 – 76 – Vice Chairman and Chairman G.B.O.B.A.
1989 – 92 – President, Society of Master Mariners S.A.
1990 – 93 – Director, National Sea Rescue Institute.
John Chard Decoration, John Chard Medal & S.A. Medal for War Services.
Deceased 07/08/2003
Owns a wine estate, Starke-Condé Wines, Stellenbosch.
Studied at the International Christian University in Tokyo, married and lived in Japan for 25 years.
Received an award from the Japanese government: Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Ray.
Retired 1984. Deceased 27/10/2007.
He attended The Mansfield Road Government Intermediate School before joining SATS General Botha for the 1941-1942 term. He later joined the South African Naval Forces [SANF] and was an Able Seaman. His service number was 562671. He was in HMSAS Natal among other ships but like all the other members of the HMSAS Natal’s ship’s company did not qualify for either the Atlantic Star or the Pacific Star because the ship was not in either war theatre for long enough. The war was actually over when HMSAS Natal reached the Far East.
Trasnferred to East London where he died of cancer.
1964 Harbour Pilot, East London.
As far as we know he joined the Bank Line as an apprentice and sailed from Cape Town to Durban and also went to India and to New York. He got his Second Mate qualification and was at sea for five years before going to train as a teacher at Graaff Reinet Teacher Training College, working in East London, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town. He became a headmaster before going back to university to get a degree. He then left to work in England.
Deceased 7th January 2020.
1968 to 1971 Studied for B.Sc in mechanical engineering at the University of Cape Town. Worked at Salt River Power Station during vacations.
1972 to 1993 with Eskom in many roles including two years in France studying nuclear engineering. BA Degree in economics and sociology, studied management at Harvard University and chairman of various companies. Retired early as an executive director on the Eskom board.
1994 to 1999 Full time senior lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand Business School. Master’s degree in Management.
2000 Part time and visiting lecturer for the Wits Business School and private consultant.
2011 founding Vice Chairman of GBOBA Bursary Fund and Life Governor.
Deceased 25/12/1995.
1968 left auditing profession and joined family business, Electrical Industries Ltd – Commercial Refrigeration Engineers.
1985 took over family business.
Was very active with the Lions Club, Past President and Zone Chairman, and President of the Belville Hockey Club.
Deceased 13th April 2018.
2020 transferred to their Cape Town campus as Senior Facilitator.
2003 relocated to Shanghai, China with Weiss-Rohlig.
2006 joined Younger Niche Logistics, China.
2013 retired.
Douglas Shaw (773) joined the Royal Navy in 1936 and served in the battleships Royal Sovereign and Royal Oak before being drafted to the Leander class cruiser HMS Neptune in which thirty four other South Africans, half RN and half RNVR (SA), were serving when she was sunk. At 0100 on 19 December 1941 the Neptune was leading Force K consisting of three cruisers and four destroyers searching for an enemy convoy about twenty miles east of Tripoli when she struck two mines one of which wrecked the propellers and steering gear. A valiant attempt to tow the disabled cruiser out of the minefield by HMS Kandahar was unsuccessful and at about 0400 the Neptune which had been badly damaged by a third mine struck another, capsized and sank. Able Seaman Shaw and 765 other members of the ship’s company were lost. There was only one survivor.
Reported previously Assistant Port Captain in a South African Port.
1964 tug master in Table Bay Harbour.
Awarded a sextant prize, the inscription reads: “Presented to Senior Cadet R. Shearar for 1st Prize Navigation 1961”.
Relocated to Port Rashid, United Arab Emirates as Assistant Harbour Master, Dubai Drydocks.
2007 still working in Dubai (UAE) and past 4 years with a marine surveying company, Matthews Daniel.
August 2012 – I was transferred to Perth (for GL Noble Denton) after 17 years in Dubai. During that time I had 8 years in Dubai Drydocks, 8 years with Matthews Daniel (Marine Surveying job) then 1 year with GLND. In May 2012 joined GLND in Perth.
Reported in “Both Watches” 1953, Lieutenant in S.A. Navy.
1964 Officer Commanding SAS Simon van der Stel.
1972 Captain in S.A. Navy.
Photograph in our album.
1996 Port Captain of a Red Sea Port, Saudi Arabia. Resident in Saldanha Bay, South Africa.
2017 has been piloting SBM and CBM’s for the last 20 years; 10 in Angola and 10 in Ghana, with no intention of quitting as long as the body holds out!
John is chairman of the Aberdeen fundraising division of the RNLI and is also involved in the restoration and preservation of old steam engines.
1960 – 61 – Teaching G.B. – Mission to Seaman
1961 – 68 – Walvis Bay S.A.R. & H. Tug Master
1969 – 85 – Durban – Pilot and Assistant Port Captain
1985 – 90 – Walvis Bay Port Director
1991 – 93 – Cape Town Port Captain
1993 – Retired from Portnet and presently Harbour Master of the Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town.
2006 retired and established a marine consultancy business.
Reported deceased.
Terry joined a coasting company, but only for a few months. After that he went into the commercial world and was a sales rep.
1951 – 54 – Cadet with SARShips. Passed 2nd Mates F.G. London December 1954
1955 – 3rd Officer with SAR Ships.
1955-56 – 2nd Officer with Durban Coasters and Chief Officer weith Thesen’s Coasters.
1957 – 3rd Officer with Safmarine.
December 1957 passed Mates F.G. Southampton
1958 – 60 2nd Officer with the China Navigation Co Ltd, Hong Kong. August 1960, passed Masters F.G. Hong Kong.
1958 – 60 – Chief Officer, China Navigation
1965 – 1989 – Master with China Navigation
November 1989 Retired from China Navigation
1990 – 1992 – Master Hong Kong & Macau Hydrofoil Co, Ltd
July 1992 – swallowed the anchor, residing in Hong Kong.
1996 Consultant to a Cargo Surveying Company.
1979 – Trident Marine – Operations Manager
1980 – 1981 SAR&H First Deck Officer.
1983 – Master Tugs & Dredgers
1988 – Nautical Assistant Portnet Head Office
1991 – Harbour Master/Pilot Mossel Bay
1993 – Port Manager Mossel Bay
1995 – Deputy Port Captain Durban
1998 – Marine Manager Durban
2000 – Operations Director Maputo Port
2010 – Port Authority Director Maputo Port
2013 -2016 Marine Consultant BMC1996 – Deputy Port Capital Durban.
1998 – Marine Manager, Port of Durban.
Previously based in Mossel Bay for 4 years as Harbour Master, Pilot and Port Manager.
2000 – joined Port of Maputo as Director of Marine Operations.
2008 appointed Port Authority Director, Port of Maputo.
2013 retired to Cape Town, working for BMC Africa on port pojects.
2016 Port Captain in Port d’Ehoala Fort Dauphin Madagascar.
2016 – 2019 Port Operations Advisor Port d’Ehoala.
Retired.
1988 – Retired. Was a prominent rugby player at Tabard in the fifties, sixties and seventies before moving to Chichester where he took up refereeing. Retired from sport in 2001.
Deceased 29/01/2007.
Born Ermelo, Transvaal, 3rd January 1916. Son of Frederick Henry Siemssen and Ethel Elizabeth, nee Duckitt. Ed, government School, Ermelo. Cadet Draft 1931-2. Christiaan Siemssen was apprenticed to the Anglo-Saxon Petroleum Co, and gained his Master’s Certificate in 1941. After a distinguished career at sea he lost his life when serving as Chief Officer on the tanker mv Doryssa, which was torpedoed in South African waters on 25 April, 1943. He was awarded the MBE (CIVIL) posthumously.
Transferred to S.A. Navy May 1952 in rank of Lieutenant.
1964 Staff Officer Training Officers, S.A. Navy.
Retired end January 1984 in rank of Commodore, later changed to Rear Admiral JG.
DOB 30th May 1928. Deceased 10th September 2020.After matriculating from Rondebosch Boys’ High in 1942, Dickinson Silberbauer joined the SATS General Botha, then located on Redhill, in 1943 with the intention of joining the Royal Navy and then becoming an aviator. On completion of the two year course in late 1944 he attended an interview with the Royal Navy and was accepted for training in the UK as a cadet.
He took passage to the UK in the liner Mauritania and in September 1945, after a few months exploring London, commenced initial cadet training at Eaton College in Cheshire. Three months later he joined the training cruiser HMS Frobisher with other RN cadets for a cruise in the Caribbean and then to the Scottish Islands, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. In June 1946 he was appointed a Midshipman and appointed to the aircraft carrier HMS Ocean in the Mediterranean Fleet which was stationed in Greece.
He was aboard Ocean with a force of cruisers and destroyers operating in the vicinity of the Corfu Channel during the international incident when the destroyers HMS Suamarez and HMS Voltage struck mines laid by the Albanians and were seriously damaged. Times became very tense but the rest of his time there was more relaxed with visits to Istanbul and Haifa.
In December 1947, having passed his Midshipman exams and promoted to A/SLt he returned to the UK for a six-month course at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. He then joined the River class frigate HMS Helmsdale for a short while before commencing his ‘long courses’. The first course was flying but he soon realised he was not cut out for a career in the skies. After completing all his courses in November 1949 and now a SLt, his first appointment was to the LST HMS Messina in the Mediterranean.
During this period she operated in the Eastern Med and the Persian Gulf before returning to the UK and transferring to the LST HMS Striker. At the end of 1951, with four months leave due to him, he flew back to South Africa. On returning to the UK he made the decision to join the South African Navy, most likely due to his having met Sally Calverley, his future wife whilst on leave.
In May 1952 he joined HMSAS Jan van Riebeeck in Durban as Gunnery officer. When JVR paid off he was part of the commissioning team for the newly acquired SAS Simon van der Stel being prepared in Simon’s Town. Simon van der Stel commissioned in in 1953 and joined the rest of the small fleet in Durban.
On 26 September he married Sally, the wedding being held in Knysna and made special by the presence of SAS Pietermaritzburg which had been arranged especially for him. She was the last ship to officially visit the Port of Knysna as it ceased to be a commercial port on her departure. In 1954 he was given a break from sea duty with an appointment to SAS Unitie as training officer – probably due to his writing a scathing report on the standards of Citizen Force and balloted members.
From there he was next sent to the UK to collect the SDB SAS Nautilus which sailed home with SAS Kaapstad and SAS Pretoria. It was not long before he moved again, as Navigating Officer of SAS Good Hope, a very happy time for him. It was during this time that the Navy moved to Simon’s Town and him to SAS Vrystaat.
In January 1958, with Sally, two sons and a daughter on the way, he returned to the UK as Naval Liaison Officer at South Africa House. It was a busy time with ships being commissioned and men under training, but in 1961 politics changed it all when South Africa became a Republic and the family returned to South Africa where he returned to Vrystaat as Executive Officer in January 1962.
From 1963 to 1965 he served as Staff Officer Training Officers at SAS Saldanha and an appointment to SAS President Pretorius as XO followed. In 1967 he returned ashore to COMARDEF where he coordinated the search by SAS Simon van der Stel for two missing weathermen on Gough Island.
Providently he then assumed command of Simon van der Stel, his final seagoing command. In 1972 he was appointed to the Directorate Training and Manning, which he considered a trying time but of great interest. The SAN had new submarines and ships that required all sorts of support from a training and manning point of view.
In 1974 it was back to the UK again, this time as the Naval Attaché. Although it was a quiet time due to politics, he worked hard at restoring relations with various foreign attaches, ignoring politics and concentrating on professional naval matters. His success was borne out at his farewell function where the Ambassador was surprised by the attendance with even the Russians and Pakistanis attending.
Back in South Africa he attended the Joint Staff Course after which he was appointed to the Directorate of Foreign Relations in Pretoria and thereafter an appointment as Director Civic Action. In 1981 he finally returned to the Cape and was appointed to Naval Operations Command, his final appointment in the Navy before retiring in December 1983.
Cdre Silberbauer was an accomplished squash player and enthusiastic albeit amateur cameraman. His dry sense of humour and calm reserved nature were well known to all and his book ‘If you can hold up your hand, hear me! or If you can’t hear me, wave!’, (Dedicated “To all jokers and sportsmen”) gives a unique insight into the early social history of the South African Navy. A true gentleman – he will long be remembered by all who had the privilege of serving with him or just knowing him.
See: http://allatsea.co.za/musings/remembering-the-osv-voortrekker/
1936 – 1939 – Apprenticed Hall Line Ltd, various ships.
1939 – 1942 – Ellerman Lines (Transatlantic Commutor!!)
1942 – 1946 – S.A. Naval Forces, South Atlantic
1947 – 1949 – SAN Reserve
1946 – 1978 – S.A.R & H. Harbour Service.
1964 Tug Master in East London Harbour.
1978 – Retired
Deceased.
Previous Secretary of S.A.T.S. General Botha Old Boys Association, East London.
Reported deceased.
Entered the Royal Air Force as a pupil pilot in 1939. He was awarded the DFC for his attack, on 27th August 1940, on the German battleship Gneisenau. She was at Kiel and Simson came in at a height of 800 feet in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire and searchlights to drop a stick of bombs on target.
Service number: 42681
Rank: Acting Squadron Leader
Joined the Royal Navy in 1952 and resigned in 1965 with rank of Lieutenant Commander. Joined British Overseas Airways Corporation in 1966. Retired from British Airways with rank of Captain in 1989.
Born 11th July 1910. Died near Bulawayo on 22nd April 1931 as result of a motor accident.
29th June 1935 member of the cutter crew race against “General Botha”, “Conway” and “Worcester”.
Was a Corporal in D Company 1st SA Infantry Brigade during WWII.
Deceased 17/08/1981.
Corporal C.W. Sleigh (776) was Mentioned in Dispatches for gallantry during the second battle of El Alamein. The historian of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Rifles records that Corporal Sleigh “led his detachment to within 1,100 meters of the enemy and coolly directed fire to silence at least one enemy machine gun post and kept up a continuous fire for some 3½ hours hurling 400 mortar bombs into the enemy lines and inspiring his men to a great performance.”
Deceased 07/03/2005
2002 appointed Salvage Master with Smit International, based in Cape Town.
2005 Established Svitzer Wijsmuller Southern Africa, Senior Salvage Master and General Manager.
2011 launched own consulting company, Sloane Marine.
2013 successfully salvaged the Costa Concordia off Italy, the largest such salvage operation in history. In 2015 Sloane won the German Sea Prize and awarded the ‘Deutscher Meerespreis’ and 2018 the Society of Master Mariners of South Africa Gold Medal for this salvage action.2020 Appointed Vice President of International Salvage Union.
1994 owner of Rafdur International Warehousing based in Durban.
Also reportedly a builder of catamarans in Durban.
2018 Seamless Technologies.
In the thirties was on the staff of an aeroplane works at Gravesend.
In his senior year he engaged in a widely known romance with Denise Brown, whom he married shortly after leaving the Botha. They lived in Sea Point until 2002, when they suddenly and mysteriously dropped contact with the GBOBA and disappeared. Nothing further is known about Derek.
Change of career to the finance industry in 1983 found me doing my articles with the accounting firm Deloittes. This was followed with a session working as an audit supervisor for the conglomerate, Anglovaal.
In 1993 we moved to Canada. I returned to sea and worked with Maersk as a second officer until 2004 when I converted my S.A. Ticket to Canadian. Did a short stint with B.C. Ferries as a captain on an island hopper ferry. At this point we decided life was more important than the stress of endless work so I went into semi retirement. Got a job with Alberta Forestry looking out for wild fires. Easy life; working five to six months a year; no boss, no office politics; no dress code. Just trees, the occasional fire to call in, and bears!
With the available free time I turned to things artistic and began dabbling with visual effects for film. Did some work for a few films and won several awards on the international film festival circuit. Decided to direct and produce my own film, a short scifi venture called Pirette. This was released beginning of 2021 and has so far won 14 awards on the film festival circuit. Should be available on Amazon’s Prime VOD in 2022.
At the time of writing, I am a few days from permanent retirement (August 2021). What’s next? I am already working on the preproduction stage of my next scifi film, The Dark Away, for release in 2023. Maybe retired, but still working!
Sailed on the Africana, the old SA Agulhas, the Algoa and was Master on the offshore patrol vessel the Sarah Baartman for three years before that contract ended in March 2012. Was also an extra watch keeper on the ill fated CS Chamarel when she caught fire in August 2012. Since then relieving Master between the Algoa and the SAMSA training ship SA Agulhas.
Following matriculation, he joined Safmarine as a Cadet spending his entire Cadetship with them serving aboard fruit ships, general cargo and tanker vessels. He heard of a world- class Nautical Training Academy General Botha which he attended initially for a 6-week pre-sea period before joining his first ship, spending the remainder of the year aboard her before returning to the Bothie, as it was affectionally known, the following year for a full year. At that time South Africa had left the Commonwealth and unfortunately South African qualifications were not recognised world-wide and as a Brit he decided he needed to study for UK-qualifications and thus returned to the UK to accomplish this. He discovered he had to re-do all of his South African gained qualifications apart from his lifeboat ticket as the then named Dept of Trade and Industry refused to accept them. He applied to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service for employment, had an interview aboard one of their freighting tankers when it called in at Cape Town. This had a successful outcome and he was offered the job of 3rd Officer then had to await the arrival in Cape Town of the next available ship.
This was the RFA Tidesurge returning home from serving on the Beira Patrol in the Mozambique Channel attempting to stop the flow of oil into Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. Needless to say, this did not achieve it’s main objective at all.RFA Tidesurge had been launched in the mid-50’s now well out of date in many respects. Having been used to somewhat luxurious accommodation on the Safmarine vessels, the accommodation on Tidesurge was abysmal to say the least. 12 Officers living on the same deck with just two working showers and 3 toilet cubicles. None the less he stuck it out and his first trip turned out to be really exciting. Until then the rule was “stay well clear of other vessels at sea” but three weeks after joining he experienced one of his first replenishment at sea operation where they refuelled a ship at sea one hundred feet off their side whilst steaming along together. He spent eight months aboard taking part in many similar exercises.
He finally returned to Portsmouth for the ship to layup whilst awaiting disposal. His first leave period was taken in the UK as he had a large family there. He remained with the RFA for the rest of his career at sea before it was truncated by a degenerative spinal condition. He enjoyed fantastic times going to some really unusual places which, according to a publicity brochure at the time, were off the beaten track. He served aboard tankers, troop-carrying vessels, store ships (including the ill- fated RFA Sir Galahad which was tragically bombed and set on fire during the Falklands War with a heavy loss of life).During the next thirty years he progressed through the ranks serving as temporary Chief Officer on a number of occasions. Having passed his Foreign Going Masters Certificatehe participated in hundreds of RAS operations involving Royal Navy vessels together with ships from many other foreign nationalities, American, Dutch, German, Italian, Greek, Spanish and French Navies. On one occasion he flew across to SAS Drakensburg via her own helicopter to join as an observer on her Bridge during a RAS operation with his own ship.
The Bridge Team kept on switching to Afrikaans at times not aware he spoke the language fluently—some embarrassment caused when James asked for the correct time in Afrikaans!!
His career with the RFA had good and bad times in peace and war. Just prior to the start of the Falklands War he was serving aboard RFA Grey Rover where they were berthed in Gibraltar as part of a large contingents of twenty eight British Warships in preparation for a major exercise in the Mediterranean when the Argentinian scrap dealers landed on South Georgia and they all hurriedly sailed for the Falklands. They re-fuelled a lot of the British Warships to the Falklands and also back to the UK. They became the only operational tanker left on the UK home coast as all the others had been earmarked for duties in the South Atlantic. They were heavily involved in conducting RAS trials at sea with normal merchant ships with RFA personal embarked to show them the ropes! They conducted trials with ships ranging from Fishing Trawlers which had been requisitioned for other duties up to and including the QE2. It was a really busy 3 month period with a long time at sea, one lasting six weeks before they got back into port to top up their own cargo tanks. History has shown what a successful outcome was achieved. He was also involved in the conflict in the former Yugoslavia when he acted as RNLO Split (Royal Navy Liaison Officer) for a 14month tour of duty where he worked closely with the Croatian Navy. Another time whilst aboard RFA Fort Victoria they were caught up in the Iraqi Conflict and were sent through the Suez Canal with five large Sea King helicopters embarked to assist in operations in the Persian Gulf area. He was the Chief Officer aboard RFA Sea Crusader during the second Gulf War when they carried Chieftain Tanks, various trucks and Land Rovers which were discharged close to Kuwait City amid a scud missile attack. All very exciting, but very enjoyable times.
Spent 32 years in pipe construction business around the world. Has subsequently set up a consultancy to assist pipeliners to handle QA/QC work that needs to be done on their contracts.
1977 – 88 – Grindrod Group / Grindrod Ship Agencies. Director, non liner services.
1988 – 95 – Self Employed – Marine Consultant, Superintendent, Surveyor,
1995 – Chief Officer with Safmarine.
1998 – Promoted to Master with Safmarine.
June 2016 retired. Surveys as required for A.R. Brink and Associates.
Born 28th August 1913. Died at Cape Town on 5th August 1933 as the result of a motor collision.
Previously sailed in SAR Ships and Safmarine before coming ashore into a commercial post with Safmarine. Was Safmarine’s Branch Manager in Port Elizabeth and Durban before retirement.
Deceased 24/02/2003
1993 Seconded from Safmarine to CMB-T stationed in Dar Es Salaam Tanzania.
Died of yellow jaundice 21/03/97.
Here are some excerpts from his “final voyage” notice from his daughter. “My Father and mother, Janice Florence Danielson, were married on April 6, 1963 at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York. They would call their first home Long Island, NY, only to move to Delaware 5 years later. During their time in New York, my Father would graduate from
NYU with a Masters of Business, with distinction, work as a Merchant Marine Officer as well as working in a grain company when during a brief departure from the Merchant Marine. During this time my Mom would attain her Masters Degree at Queens College and as his equal partner for life, she began her 30-year career as a Speech Pathologist. Once moved to Delaware, my partners continued to enjoy their time together taking in New York Jets Games (the year of Namath and Super Bowl #3) as season ticket holders. They would take in the Opera and Broadway, go water skiing on their motor boat, watch ALL sports, dance, play bridge to the
early morning hours with their best friends even though their friends baby was sleeping in the same room. During the 27 years in Crofton, MD my Father was a Professor of Economics during the school year, and for the first 15 years continued as a 2nd or 3rd mate officer for the Merchant Marine. He worked 12 months a year, while Mom was a Speech Pathologist in Prince George’s County, MD for 30 years. As a professor, my Father would realize his greatest gift. Teaching. They have been truly happy and blessed to call Rodanthe, North Carolina
their last home.”
After GB he went back to Rhodesia and joined the BSAP. After serving for some time in the Police special branch he left finishing his working career in various sales positions.
01/1944 to 09/1946 – Midshipman & Sub Lieutenant, RNR
1947 – University of Cape Town, Architecture (dropped out).
1948 – Cadet Pilot RAF
1949 – SAAF pupil pilot course No 1. Wings about 1050
1059 – No. 1 City of Pretoria ACF Squadron.
01/1949 – 10/1950 – various jobs, Crownmines, Jhb Stock Exchange, Wisheco Johannesburg, Pilot course part time.
10/1950 – 11/1051 – joined Comair, Rand Airport
12/1951 – 06/1957 – joined SAA as copliot
07/1957 – joined Swissair, Zurich as captian (pilot in command)
12/1983 – retired
1964 Harbour Pilot, Durban Harbour.
WWII Private ‘Q’ Services Corps / SA Armoured Corps.
2002 Retired as a Rear Admiral. Deceased 05/12/2011.
2003 Operations Manager of Koppers Arch Wood Protection.
2009 Retired.
2002 with PWC Constulting, financial services company, based in Durban.
2007 relocated to Australia working as a consultant implementing computer systems for a company in Brisbane called Fusion5, they have a head office in New Zealand and offices
in the major centers in Australia.
Deceased
Failed eyesight test after leaving the training ship. Did an engineering apprenticeship with Globe Engineering. Subsequently went to sea with Ellerman & Bucknall as an engineer. Sailed with Safmarine in 1964. 1965-69 with Reckitt & Coleman in Research & Development. 1970-95 with Caltex Oil at their Milnerton refinery in field and supervisory positions in Reliability Services before retirement in 1995. Deceased 2nd March 2020.
After Bothie joined Shell Tankers with shipmate Peter North. After four years swallowed the anchor and chased the high wages on the Transvaal mines. Later immigrated to Australia and had a service station in Sydney for many years.
Assistant Port Captain, Portnet, Cape Town
1993 – retired
Deceased 21/11/2012
March 1997 joined Pentow Marine (now Smit) as a single buoy mooring pilot.
Subsequently been appointed to various posts overseas as pilot including Ghana, Sudan and Russia.
2002 Mooring Master with Smit Octo Luktrans, Novorossiysk, Russia, followed by other appointments in Russia.
2012 Returned to Cape Town, joined AMEC International, seconded to ZADCO, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Harbour Master on a man-made sea island, ramping up for drilling.
Deceased 18/04/1992.
1965 -1970 Safmarine – cadet, 3/o, acting 2/o – Reefer, gen cargo, tankers
1970 -1973 Durban Lines – c/o, master
1973-1974 Harbour service Durban – tug mate
1975-1977 DOT Ship surveyor Durban
1978-1981 Mark Harvey & Ass – marine surveyor, partner
1982-1984 Bulkcharters (Pty) Ltd – bulkship management – operations Director
1985-2009 Island View Shipping – bulkship management – ops manager, pool ops manager
2009- Retired
On leaving the Botha Gerry joined Northern/Southern Steamships being appointed to their President Kruger along with Okke Grapow.
After a few trans-Atlantic voyages, followed by a run to the Far East, Gerry was transferred to the President Steyn, an ex SAR&H ship. There he found Ronnie Wege as his fellow cadet. Ronnie, having gone to sea first, was the senior and eventually, when he left, Gerry stepped up to uncertificated third mate in his place.
In the latter stages of his apprenticeship, when the ship was laid up at Borrowstounness (Bo’ness) in Scotland, Gerry met Sheena Rangley. They were married in 1960 while he was studying for his second mates. Two children, a boy and a girl, were born from this marriage. Gerry then signed up with Ben Line on the Far East run, then moved across to Mobil and finally to Stephenson Clarke, before obtaining his masters. By then his marriage had ended in divorce so Gerry joined Imperial Oil of Canada and spent four years alternating between their two deep-sea ships on the Aruba to New York and Canada run and the Persian Gulf to Europe run.
A fellow officer tipped him off about a ferry job where he could be home every night and, following Mark Twain’s advice to ‘head west, young man’, Gerry joined British Columbia Ferries as a civil servant. He spent 26 years with them, ending up as Senior Master in the huge Vancouver to Nanaimo ferries. During this time he met Lana Brovold of Vancouver and they were married in 1984.
He and Lana are enjoying their retirement in Nanaimo, Canada, from where Gerry is doing an excellent job as chairman of the North American Branch of the GBOBA.
1. With Alfred Holt & Company (Blue Funnel Line) from 1944 to 1950. Obtained second and Chief Officer’s Certificates.
2. Went to Johannesburg in 1950 and started his commercial life with E.J. Dancer & Sons until 1985 when he retired for health reasons
Deceased 22/01/94.
Was in command of the midget submarine XE11 at the age of 24.
1943-45 sailed on Four Masted Barque ‘Lawhill’ as Ordinary Seaman, rounding Cape Horn twice and broke his arm rounding the horn the second time whilst attending to some lashings with Bill Damerall (1941/42) of a liferaft on the Foredeck.
1945-6 Able Seaman on Four Masted Schooner “Commodore II”
1947 left for U.K. on ‘Empire Ortotan’ as Able Seaman. Full member of the International Association of Cape Horners.
1947 joined the British Merchant Service as 3rd Officer, promoted to Chief Officer with P.S.N.C. in 1958. Delivered the Harbour Tug F.C. Sturrock from Scotland to Durban in 1959. Sailed with African Coasters until 1960 and then joined S.A.R.& H as Tug mate. Retired as Saldanha Bay Harbour Master and Pilot 31/03/1985. Deceased 7th June 2014 aged 90.
Served in the Royal and South African Navy during WWII.
Reported deceased 2006.
1928 awarded a certificate on vellum by the Royal Humane Society for rescuing cadet 417 H.R. Horsley from drowing.
Prizes won: Floating Trohpy, “Howard Medal” and 25 pounds for navigation and seamanship, first in wire splicing, first in knowledge of instruments and the efficiency medal.
Was apprenticed to Ellerman & Bucknall Line and served in s.s. City of Valencia, Bloemfontein and City of Kimberly.
Born 8th November 1913. Died at Beira on 11th May 1932 as result of a drowning accident.
December 2003 transferred to Safmarine’s H.O. in Antwerp as Business Development Manager.
2012 retired from Safmarine and launched own business, Antwerp Ship Partners. Primary focus working with partners on new efficient vessel design, management and chartering.
2019 with Livestock Express, a Vroon Group company.
Reported in S.A.T.S. Magazine No.3 1937: with Union Government Steamers.
Was Thesen’s marine superintendent and later Unicorn’s deputy marine manager.
Joined Ellermans as a cadet and once he had obtained his second mate’s certificate he moved to Smith’s Coasters as mate and was later master on Mead and Nahoon (1). During the Second World War he commanded HMSAS Southern Seas in the Mediterranean and was later seconded to the Royal Navy to command a ship that took part in the invasion of Burma.
1944-45 in command of HMS Monkshood.
In 1946 he was a founder of the Union Steamship Company, which was later taken over by Thesens, who had the foresight to retain his services.
1964 Master of Safmarine’s “South African Pioneer”.
Reported Deceased.
1994 – Cape Town Harbour Pilot
1999 – Cape Town Harbour Marine Services, Floating Crane Manager.
Deceased 30/03/2008.
“2011 – I am not retired at seventy one being active in a few businesses but also enjoying a bit of farming wine and horses near Plettenberg Bay. After leaving The Bothie I worked at odd things in Johannesburg to fill in until I left for the UK to study and then work. On returning to SA I worked for Barlows in various marketing positions and left after a final assignment as PA to Punch Barlow the son of the founder. I then started my own company which led on to other things and I have enjoyed being my own master most of my life although as a Corporate Chairman and director of a few public companies I was shackled a bit, I am retired from most now, I work for myself in a few areas and will do so while I feel up to it. And then just stick to farming.”
Settled in Australia in 1982. First worked for Nedlloyd and then with Freight Forwarders, Rohlig and Bax Global. November 1986 appointed General Manager of Martinair Holland, a Dutch Airline operating at the time DC10 freighters Amsterdam to Sydney and later twice weekly 747 freighters. 2008 Martinair ceased Australian operations. March 2009 started as New South Wales and Queensland General Manager for ACP Worldwide. Still in aviation but now selling cargo space on behalf of the airline as General Sales Agent (with Martinair we were the airline). ACP represents SAA, Martinair, Air Mauritius, United Airlines, Asiana (Korean) and British Airways. March 2010 ACP Worldwide were appointed as General Sale Agents for Etihad Crystal Cargo and I took on the role as Sales Manager NSW to get the Cargo Sales ball rolling. September 2010 I was appointed (under the ACP Worldwide umbrella) as Sales Executive for NSW and Queensland for British Airways World Cargo. March 2013 time had arrived to throw in the towel and head off to the retirement pasture. February 2014 we sold up in Sydney opted for a sea change and headed north to Corlette , a suburb in the picturesque Port Stephens area ( 2 ½ hour’s drive from Sydney and one hour’s drive from the port of Newcastle) A number of GB old boys are scattered throughout this North Coast area.
Deceased November 2004
Peter did his apprenticeship with what was then Metal Box in Maitland.
He stayed with Metal Box with most of his working life
Sailed with Safmarine as a cadet and later with SAR & H on the coal run, and Thesens coasters. Joined the lecturing staff at S.A.M.N.A. General Botha in 1969 until retirement in 1990.
Lived in the USA for 5 years. Now settled in UK
2001 relocated to the U.K. Since 2006 cruising waterways in France
Lost at sea presumed dead Circa 1967. Was Skipper of Fishing Trawler on way to Tristan or Vema Seamount. Disappeared without trace.
Submitted by Brian Georgeson:
“After GB joined Cayzer Irvine as cadet. First vessel unknown, probably a Clan Line ship. Mid 1959 SA cadets taken off various vessels and sent to Bullard King’s Umtata which was a cadet ship. Syd was there. After a trip or two UK/Round Africa Springbok Line was formed and sent to various vessels of Springbok being ex Clan or Bullard King vessels. Springbok absorbed into Safmarine. Other than Umtata I do not recall which vessels Syd on.Think he had a 2nd Mates. Think he with Thesens a bit. Think he was Skipper of the Panorama lost at sea without trace late 1960’s en route to Amsterdam Island for crayfish although ostensibly en route to Vema where no permits required.”
Air Mechanic SAAF Motor Boat Wing 2/43.
Set up his own company, Seastock, stevedoring and shipping consultants. Subsequently retired.
Was involved in many diversified business interests. In his early days in advertising he designed the K logo for Solly Kramer bottle stores. He founded Denver Soap Works in the Transvaal (now Gauteng), was later a founder/director of McCullum and Stevens in Cape Town, a company which manufactured number plates, signs and metal badges. Later, with Sam Collins, was responsible for bringing into commission the first diamond mining barge off the West Coast. In his later life he managed, as co-owner/director, the block of flats Chartleigh House on Beach Road, Three Anchor Bay. Deceased 1976.
1968 – Sailing with Safmarine
1997 – with Portnet Cape Town
2009 retired as harbour pilot Cape Town.
Bill was one of the few on S.A. shores who had a Certificate of Competency in sail, having served on the s.v. ‘Lawhill’ as apprentice in 1945. Sailed many years on the S.A. coast before completing his seagoing career as Master with Safmarine. Was Master of the ‘S.A. Van der Stel’ on her maiden delivery voyage. Considered to be the finest seaman Safmarine had ever employed. After leaving the sea, Bill headed and lectured the Seamans’ School in Cape Town and later lectured seamanship on the S.A.M.N.A ‘General Botha.’ Rose through the ranks from Cadet to Master in 12 years.
1984 joined Portnet [harbour service]. Worked through various appointments and ranks until appointed Deputy Harbour Master in Cape Town. 2004 appointed Harbour Master in Saldanha Bay. 2011 June – retired.
Left the sea in 1990 to join the family printing business in March 1990.
Also has other business interests including SA CoolShades.
Deceased 19/03/1994
Diploma in animal husbandry, Veterinary Medicine
Retired in December 1992 as managing director of Lenco Zimbabwe Ltd.
Deceased 23/12/2007.
1984 – Unicorn Lines Second Officer
1986 – Unicorn Lines Chief Officer
1992 – Unicorn Lines Master Certificate Number 236.
1999 – Unicorn Lines Superindendent, special duties.
2001 – Joined Smit Pentow, Cape Town.
2003 – On secondment in Yuzhnov Sakhalinska, Sakhalin Island (Russia) as Project Manager on a Smit joint venture. Managing a diving company, two ice breakers and persuing new business in the oil and petroleum exploration field.
2007 with Southern Tankers, the BEE arm of the Grindrod group, running the Commercial side of the South African companies, from Durban.
2009 appointed Commercial Manager at Unicorn Tankers International.
2011 Office relocated to Singapore.
2012 “I have relinquished my post here as Operation Manager at Unicorn Shipping, and taken over as Marine Manager at Grindrod Shipping. This sees the IVS dry fleet and the Unicorn wet fleets brought in under a single management entity. I remain based in the Singapore office.”
1967 – 1970 – London & Overseas Freighters, 3rd & 2nd Mate
1970 – 1972 – Safmarine, 2nd Mate.
1972 – Unicorn, 2nd Mate & Chief Officer
1973 – 1974 – Extra Masters Certificate of Competency.
Highest Marks for the examination of 1974.
1974 – 1977 – Unicorn, Chief Officer & Master.
1977 – 2006 United Kingdom Department of Transport / Marine Safety Agency / Maritime & Coastguard Agency [MCA] – Nautical Surveyor, Examiner of Masters and Mates, Principal Nautical Surveyor. Retired as Regional Operations Manager – Surveys & Inspections for Scotland & Northern Ireland.
Deceased 2nd July 2017.
A strong supporter of the OBA and a founder member of our bursary fund, Alistair passed away 2nd July 2017, a sad loss to the association family and ship mates.
Alistair joined his first ship as a cadet on the City of Ottawa in 1962, Ellerman Lines and 1967 sailed with London & Overseas Freighters. He served at sea with Safmarine and Unicorn from 1970 to 1972. After completing his Extra Master’s Certificate in 1974 in Durban, he spent two years in command with Unicorn Shipping of Durban. He then joined the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) as a Grade 1 Surveyor, progressing to Principal Surveyor Scotland. He was also a very active member of the Scotland branch of the Nautical Institute including chairman for eight years.
In his retirement Alistair was an active astronomer, a keen hill walker and a cyclist. He also studied for a Master’s Degree in Geology and a course in German.
Decorations: 1939 – 45 Star, Atlantic Star, Burma Star & Other war medals
Deceased 09/01/95
January 2006 to July 2009 Resident Engineer Cotswold Downs Golf Course Estate, Hillcrest.
August 2009 to June 2012 Contracts Manager for Icon Construction, Durban.
Moved to the United Kingdom July 2012 and working as a Contracts Manager in the South of England for a family run construction business, Nicholls Construction Ltd Building & Civil Engineering.
1989 was in command of a supply vessel operating from Durban for approximately three years.
He died in 1992 and his ashes are scattered over Kenilworth Race Course.
“Peter was born in Cape Town 1938/04/08 and spend all his life in East London from the age of 2. He attended Cambridge High School before going to the Bothie in 1954/1955 he then joined the Clan Line on the Clan McTaggart and had to leave the Navy on account of his eye sight. His land career started at the Post Office and then on to Baker King and in 1958 joined South African Railways and Harbours and worked himself up to the Chief Buyer of the Eastern Cape before he retired in 1992 and spent 16 years in Hamburg South Africa fishing and being a National Tour Guide. His angling was his whole life and his ambition was to become a Springbok Angler but made it up to the top six (Light Tackle Boat) in South Africa and just missed his Green and Gold. He married Leona Rissling in 1961 and had two sons Stephen and Andrew and was three years short of his golden wedding when he passed away on the 22 January 2009 after a brave and courageous battle against the odds of Cans never complaining. His son Stephen was in the South African Navy and spent most of his 5 years on the Strike Craft following in fathers footsteps his other son followed his career and has just been promoted to Head of the Buying section of a big Hardware chain. I must add at this point that Peter was the first son of an ex Bothie Boy 1924/1925 Eric Stephen Sumption (GB cadet 193) also his uncle Cyril Sumption 1923/24 GB cadet 126.”
Was a POW during WWII. Rank Gunner.
1964 Tug Master in East London Harbour.
1988 – 1994 : Polaris Shipping – various positions, last being Branch Manager, Richards Bay Agency office.
1994 – 1999 : Operations Manager for Christensen Canadian African Lines (CCAL) based in Durban.
2000 – 2005 : Operations Manager – Seaboard Overseas Ltd.
2005 Grindrod Shipping – first as Operations Manager for Commodity Trading Division, Atlas Trading & Shipping. 2017 General Manager, Operations, Durban for Island View Shipping, a division of Grindrod.
2021 relocated to the United Kingdom, still with Grindrod Shipping (Island View Shipping a Division of Grindrod) opening office in London.
GBOBA Bursary Fund board member.
1964 – 72 – Cadet, Third Mate & Second Mate with Safmarine.
August 1972 – joined Harbour Services as Mate in Durban.
July 1976 – Promoted to Tug Master to Walvis Bay.
January 1980 – Promoted Pilot to Saldanha Bay.
October 1984 – moved to Mossel Bay as Harbour Master.
November 1991 – Promoted to Assistant Port Captain in East London.
1974 – 1976 – Served as Secretary of the Durban branch of the Association under Gordon Jones. 2002 retired. Deceased 06/05/2008.
Cadet Draft 1929-30. Maurice Methley Symons joiend SARSHIPS as AB in 1931, but in 1933 left the sea to take up farming. At the outbreak of war he joined the SANF and was serving in HMS Gloucester when she was sunk off Crete, and he was reported lost at sea on 22nd May 1941.
Deceased 18th July 2005.
Lieutenant G.E.F. Taberer (290) was seconded to the 12th Lancers in Italy and was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry on 21 June, 1945.
1953 – 64 – Senior Draughtsman, British Colonial Service. Nayasaland Government (now Malawi).
1964 – 66 – Technical Representative, fixing & fastening methods (Pty) Ltd
1967 – 72 – Entered into a partnership and started a new company, Powerbolt (Pty) Ltd
1972 – 80 – Branch Manager of Turner Morris (Pty) Ltd
1980 – Appointed Branch Manager, Liquid meters when the meter division was to run independently.
1990 – Amalgamated with Dupleix valves and made Regional Manager Dupleix/Liquid Meters.
1990 – Appointed (alt) Director to Fluid Holdings Board.
Deceased 31/07/2007
Master aboard SMIT AMAMDLA (ex JOHN ROSS) from 2003 to 2008 in role of ETV for S.A. Government on S.A. coast. Swallowed the anchor in 2008 after 34 years at sea and joined SMIT Salvage as a Salvage Master. January 2018 retired.
Last salvage job for SMIT was as OSC (On Scene Commander) in 2018 for the MAERSK HONAM salvage job. After reaching mandatory retirement age in January 2019 departed from SMIT Marine South Africa following 44 years “continuous” service since joining Safmarine in 1974. Joined GSC (Global Salvage Consultancy) in February 2019 as an Associate Salvage Consultant. First major salvage job with GSC was attending capsizing of car carrier GOLDEN RAY in Brunswick, Georgia, USA late 2019. Appointed to Lloyd’s SCR Panel from 1st January 2020. First job as SCR, a cargo barge grounding in Latvia, also in January 2020.
2003 awarded the Russian Federation’s highest peacetime medal for bravery. The award was made for Kevin’s pivotal role, as Master of the S.A. Agulhas, in rescuing a Russian
Antarctic expedition team from the deck of the German research ship, Magdalena Oldendorff, after the ship was trapped in pack ice in June 2002.
Retired. Deceased 29/07/2007.
Returned to South Africa mid 2016. Surveying in Richards Bay.
On gradutation from University of Cape Town in 1948 appointed to the S.A. Diplomatic Service. After postings to S.A. Embassies in Washington D.C. and Rome, Legation in Athens and Consulate in the Belgian Congo, these interspersed with head office stints in Pretoria, resigned from ‘The Diplomatic’ to join the Commonwealth Government service in Australia. Eventually retired as Director of the Coastal Transport branch of the Department of Transport. Since retirement has had several novels published in the U.K.
2003 had an Advertising Agency in Gauteng.
2020 owner and Managing Director of Logix, a Freight Forwarding business based in Johannesburg.
September 1995 – Transferred to the Safbank Office (USA Trade) as Operations Manager, later promoted to Trade Operations General Manager followed in 2001 to Trade Executive.
October 2002 appointed Regional Executive for Unifeeder renamed United Africa Container Lines in 2004 and following further mergers to Ocean Africa Container Line. Retired 2011.
Previously with the S.A.R.& H. as Harbour Pilot and Assistant Port Captain of East London. Reported deceased.
Sailed on the passenger vessel S.A. Vaal before joining Safmarine H.O. in their marketing department. Between 1978 and 1982 worked for various chartering firms based in Johannesburg before moving to Canada with Gearbulk. 1983/4 posted to Gearbulk’s H.O. in Norway and on returning to Canada joined Map 6 Shipping in 1985 followed in 1987 as Vice President Business Development with Worldwide Shipping and Chartering involved in ship brokering activities with major charterers and owners world wide.
Office address: World Wide Shipping & Chartering Ltd., 1066 West Hastings, Street, Suite 2000,
Vancouver, B.C., Canada, V6E 3X2. 2012 joined CTL Westrans Shipbrokers.
2014 estblished his own company, Bluesea Chartering Inc and also appointed Nobel Chartering Representative in Vacouver.
Apprentice with P&O and later 4th Officer on the Himalay’s maiden voyage. Served briefly as 4th Officer with Union Castle before returning to P&O. Spent 4 years as Assistant Dock Superintendent in the Royal Group of Docks based in London. During subject period became a Royal Navy Reservist and eventually retired from the RNR as a Commander RD RNR. Joined Safmarine in November 1971 and served them for 20 years. Commanded 14 Safmarine vessels until retirement in 1991. Thereafter did some relief voyages until late 1992. Deceased 23/06/2010.
1968 was a founder member of N.S.R.I. Station 7 (East London) and left the N.S.R.I. as Station Commander in 1981. 1969 joined the S.A. Navy Citizen Force and 1996 was still attached to S.A.S. Port Rex with rank of Lieutenant Commander. Deceased 22nd February 2013.
Lt RNR/SANF HMS Carnarvon Castle 12/9/39
Rob worked in the motor industry in Pretoria for 25 years until his retirement in 1988, when he became a Financial Consultant to some of the largest maufacturers in the country.
Deceased 09/12/2003.
Reported in “Old Salts” 1947/48. “Was Second Officer on the ‘Vergelegen’ (Safmarine) on her first voyage under the S.A. Flag.” Extract from “Mailships of the Union Castle Line. “A few Safmarine Officers were transferred to the mail ships, one of whom was Captain Robin McA. Thomson. Having learnt his seamanship on the training ship General Botha, and after a spell in the Blue Funnel Line, he had joined Safmarine as a Third Officer in 1947, gaining command in the early fifties. His experience and his polished demeanour made him an obvious commander on the S.A. Vaal, before being appointed to command on the S.A. Oranje. When Commodore Norman Lloyd on the S.A. Vaal retired, Captain Thomson succeeded him as Commodore.” 05/02/1976 the first Safmarine Officer to be appointed Commodore. Retired July 1983 but was appointed to Safmarine’s new cruise liner Astor December 1983. Finally retired June 1984.
Deceased 11/01/2011.
Robert (Robin) Thomson GB cadet 1067; 1939 and 1940. Robin joined Blue Funnel during 1941. His first ship Anchises, was sunk off the north west coast of Ireland. Dick (GB 896) and TY (897) were on the quay side to meet him when the survivors came ashore in Liverpool. Robin completed his second mates with Blue Funnel and returned to South Africa as fourth mate on the Sarpedon, an old Blue Funnel passenger ship. He served with Maersk Line on one of their tankers and with SAR Ships before joining Safmarine’s Morgenster in New York during 1947. His first appointment as master with Safmarine was five years later. When Safmarine ventured into stevedoring he was appointed manager of SA Stevedors in Durban. He returned to the fleet serving on the bulk carriers, the big whites (container ships) and finally on the passenger ships before he retired. His lovely wife Helene joined him on most of the ships he served on as master.
Following WWII, Chris came ashore and worked in personnel management.
Decesaed 17/06/2000
1975 to 1980 journalist, Pretoria News and Citizen
1980 to 1997 news-writer SABC TV News, eventually rising to Chief Executive Producer, TV News. Also freelanced as 5FM news presenter
1997 to 2002 news anchor Radio 702
2003 to set up newsroom for Classic FM
2004 to present, set up and running community radio station in Pretoria. Presently TUT Top Stereo, soon to be Tshwane FM. Gauteng’s fastest-growing radio station.
Found myself in Durban with no money and no job, but found an advertisem*nt in the local newspaper that Safmarine were looking for deck cadets. So I thought “What the heck, I’ll give it a go and see something of the world.” So I found myself a cadet for the 2nd time in my life.
Served on the S.A Hexriver for all of 1970 before going the Bothie in 1971, sailed on the Far East run on the S.A. Morgenster and then was transferred to Union Castle for a year on the S.A. Oranje. Met some great shipmates with whom I am still in regular contact. Sea life does that to one. Went ashore to sit 2nd Officers Certificate and then went back to the Far East run on the S.A. Constantia with Captain Brian Evans – great ship. Transferred back again to Union Castle as 3rd Officer on the S.A. Oranje, sailing with Robin Thompson as Captain. Finished off sea time for Chief Officers Certificate in the S.A. Sugela with Ernie Hinterlietner as the Captain, a very happy ship. Completed Chief Officers Certificate in 1975 and then did a short stint as Chief Officer on the Zwartkops with Unicorn to fill in some spare time and earn some extra cash before getting married.
Swallowed the anchor in 1976 when Annette and I were married, and transferred ashore to Safmarine Computer Services as programmer and eventually Project Manager. Spent five years working with the Anglican Church in Cape Town before returning to IT as a Project Manager and consultant. Started law studies in 1984, which were halted when I immigrated to Australia in 1989 and we settled in Sydney. In 1990, I went back to University to complete the MBA, graduating in 1993.
After a variety of roles in strategy and planning, I finally completed my law studies (Bcom, (Law) and LLB) that I started in South Africa, and was admitted as a Lawyer of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. I spent time with the national telecommunications carrier (Telstra) in corporate practice, specialising in litigation mainly in the areas of Competition and Consumer Law. Left Telstra in 2008 and went out on my own doing corporate advisory work in corporate governance, compliance and mergers and acquisitions. Went back to University of Sydney Law for further studies, graduating in 2013 with a Masters of Laws. In 2013, I went out into the private sector and now run my own law practice practicing in Corporate, Civil disputes Property, Employment and Criminal. I am content to have my colleague lead the Family Law practice, which I reckon is legalised blood-sport – I am quite happy to muck in defending the (alleged) criminals and jail-birds any time.
1989 – obtained Class 3 Certificate.
1992 – obtained Class 2 Certificate.
1996 – Chief Officer with Safmarine.
2002 – Master with Tidewater.
2004 – Smit Terminals Europe based in Poti, Georgia.
2007 – Marine Advisor with Smit in Saldanha Bay.
Deceased 15/09/96.
After the General Botha he joined up for the Naval Services. Simonstown, Robben Island and Saldanha Bay were places he often spoke about. His work during the war was to lay under water cables and the “Spindrift” was the boat that they worked on. The name has been carried down the line and their house in Port Alfred, his son’s fishing boat and his daughter’s B + B in Kleinemonde have all been named the “Spindrift”.Married in 1947 then he joined his father to farm in the Trappe’s Valley area near Port Alfred. A few years later he bought a coastal farm in the Peddie district, (Eastern Cape).
In 1979 his farm was bought off him to form part of the Ciskei and he very sadly was forced into early semi-retirement and moved to Port Alfred until his death.
Left Safmarine in 1987 as C/O on Nederburg and joined Portnet Durban as mate on the tugs with Rob Reuvers and Peter Blackett. Moved back to Cape Town in 1990 as mate / master on Portnet tugs and then pilot. Got first pilots license in Cape Town in 1995 and left Portnet in 2001 for Ras Laffan, Qatar and I am still here as pilot with Rob De Koning playing with LNG carriers, tankers up to VLCC’s and now dry docks as well.
Worked in Cape Town with my brother Hans, first as tug master and then later joined him in the pilots office. This was a fantastic experience and as naturally happens between brothers a lot of chirping went on when we were on the water at the same time !!!
1964 Master of “South African Vanguard”.
In 1967 he was transferred to the U.S.A. as Marine Superintendent until 1988 when he retired from Safmarine. He then joined Gulf & Atlantic Marintime Services Inc. In Houston as Trade Manager for the Safbank Account. Retired from G&A in 1996 and spent the following two years as self employed Marine Consultant. Retired from the Marine Industry in 1998.
At Bothie he won the Royal Naval Scholarship to train as an Officer in the Royal Navy at Portsmouth, England. After training promoted to Sub-Lieutenant, R.N.R. Then joined Holder Bros Shipping Company for three years. Was then appointed as an Officer to the British India Line. In 1941 was called up by the Royal Navy and commanded patrol boats in the Middle and Far East. 1946 returned to Cape Town and demobbed with the rank of Lieutenant-Commander R.N.R. Then joined the harbour service in Port Elizabeth, where he served as Tug Master. Ordained as an Elder of the Presbyterian Church, Port Elizabeth, as well as a choir member.
Deceased 02/07/1991.
2017 serving as a Dredging Master in Durban with Transnet National Port Authority.
Jim arrived in S. A. about 1940 with his parents and still had an English accent, hence his nickname of Limey.
Jim was unfortunately colour blind so didn`t go to sea.
Some years later, he left for the UK and lived for a while on a canal barge on the Thames, upper reaches, presumably with his wife/companion.
His dad was a land surveyor and we believe he followed that for a while, but eventually worked for a Civil Engineer on bridge design and construction. After retirement time he worked for quite a while on a part time basis.
Eddie left the sea in 1959 and, after marrying Natalie Watt of Bloomfield, New Jersey, emigrated to the USA and joined the US Army. He saw service in New Jersey, Ludwigsburg in Germany and finally Georgia, USA.
In 1964 he attended the National Aviation Academy in St. Petersburg, Florida. Graduating with various flying qualifications, he commenced a career as a general aviation instructor with various flying schools in Florida and California, adding in due course to his commercial/instrument pilot’s licence by obtaining a Cessna 500 rating, becoming an instructor in that rating as well.
Throughout his two years at the Botha and during his time at sea, he was always known as ‘Eddie’ but with another ‘Eddie’ in one of the flying schools his name had been summarily changed to ‘Ted’! It stuck; he was known to all and sundry as Ted and that’s how we’ll refer to him for the remainder of this entry.
In 1968 he joined Western Airlines as a pilot instructor, teaching systems on Boeing 727-200s, Boeing 737-300s and McDonnell Douglas DC 10s. In 1978 Western Airlines merged with Delta and Ted was transferred to Atlanta, Georgia, where he continued training pilots on the Boeings. He then worked on the McDonnell Douglas MD-11 in Long Beach, California, developing a new computer based training programme for Delta. Appointed Senior Instructor by Delta, he taught and trained other instructors to teach on this aircraft.
He also oversaw the design and development of a flight training device in Montreal; this was incorporated into Delta programmes, shortening pilot’s training time and later extended to cover training on Boeing 737-800s.
In 2006 Ted and Natalie retired and moved to Englewood, Florida, where he formed a company known as Pixel Maniac, involved in photography and website development. Ted is also actively engaged in spurring economic growth and assisting local businesses in downtown Englewood in the updating of their facilities. Active in his 70s! Ted and Natalie have two sons, Robert and Matthew and two grand-children ‒ all resident in the USA. Their daughter Megan was tragically lost in a motoring accident in 2000. Deceased 8th January 2019.
Served with the Hall Line from September 1932 to September 1935. Obtained Second Officer’s Certificate at Sir John Cass Nautical College in England. Due to the depression he left the sea and in 1937 joined the British South Africa Police in Rhodesia. Was commissioned in 1957 and retired after 32 years in 1969 as a Senior Assistant Commissioner.
Deceased 05/09/95
After the war Dad left the sea and moved to Kenya to join his father who was involved in the game hunting industry. After a few years he was employed by the government to conduct locust control and moved throughout East Africa conducting this task. It was during the early 50’s that he met my mother, who was on holiday from Germany, at her uncles ranch. They were married in 1954 and had a happy few years in Tanzania where Dad had won a job as a game park ranger. This was a time of unrest in East Africa and the Mau Mau crisis was the catalyst for the young couple to move to the UK to start their family. They had 3 children and after 8 years in the UK decided that the climate was just too cold for their liking.They imigrated to Australia as 10 pound poms in 1964. They were always happy with their choice to start fresh in this country.
At age 50 Dad got itchy feet again and decided to return to the sea. He and Mum gave up their comfortable existence in the suburbs and purchased a small yacht. Dad quickly fell into the life at sea and he and Mum went on many wonderful adventures around the South Pacific. Often stopping to work and build up the kitty along the way. After about 15 years of this wandering they decided it was time to move back ashore. I think the cruising lifestyle was one of the happiest periods of his life. After selling their boat they decided to become mountain people and moved to a little cottage on top of Mt Mee on Queenslands Sunshine Coast. Dad also enjoyed this quiet country existence and he became quite an expert curry maker entertaining friends, his adult children and grandchildren.
Deceased May 1978.
While overseas I joined the Union Castle Line as an Electrical Engineer Officer and sailed on the Windsor Castle for about a year.
I then returned to Northern Rhodesia in 1962 and worked at Mchanga Consolidated Copper Mines.
I returned to South Africa in 1963 to further my studies in Engineering and am at present (1995) a Consulting Enginner with Keeve Steyn Inc, where I have been employed since 1968.
Deceasd 23/10/96 of cancer.
1964 Pilot in Table Bay Harbour.
Deceased after a long illness 25/12/97.
After G.B. joined the mv Kathiawar and later transferred to the mv Luxmi. Was offered a berth on the Tacoma City shortly before her disapperance at sea. After WWII joined the South African Harbour Service and served in most ports until retirement as assistant Port Captain of Walvis Bay in 1968, returning to his birthplace, Queenstown. Reported deceased early 1970’s.
Then returned to sea as Chief Officer with Salen U.K. Ship Management and Marine Management Services and Ship Manager with Wallem Specialised Ship Management of London. After retirement was an Inspector on new buildings in Ngasaki for Marine Management Services. Deceased July 2007.
1998 – Promoted Harbour Pilot, Durban.
Hope all this is not too long for you. I enjoy your newsletters. Keep up the good work.
Reported in “Old Salts” 1947/48.
Was Lieutenant on the Destroyer HMS ‘Kempenfelt.’After G.B. Went to the Royal Navy Training College “Dartmouth” in the U.K. Same period as the Association’s Patron, H.R.H. Prince Philip.
Deceased 1990 or 1991.
1933 Appointed Midshipman Royal Naval Reserve.
1933 Won the King’s Gold Medal on the Botha.
Apprenticed to Ellermans Line.
1941 Was in command of one of the whalers converted to minesweepers, HMSAS Nigel.
Subsequently he saw service in the Mediterranean in command of the LL minesweeper Treern.
Deceased 6th February 2003.
WWII Private Physical Training Battalion / OS SANF.
News paper interview on his return to South Africa (newspaper cutting in album):
In 1943 Johannes van Breda of Worcester, a 16 year old ex Botha Boy left Cape Town as a seaman in the American ship Westdurfee. He returned today (date unknown, circa 1953) as a passenger in the cargo liner Constantia, wearing the uniform of the United States Army, with the rank of staff-sergeant, and with his chest well covered with medals.
Behind him are nearly ten years of adventure.
Chatting in his cabin today he said: ‘It’s sure good to be back. Sorry, I’m trying hard to lose Americanisms in my conversation.
Before the end of the war (WWII) I had been sunk twice, in the Mediterranean and off Norway. Gee, but it was cold when that torpedo got us on the Murmansk convoy.
In 1948 I joined the American Army in the 25th Division. Aliens are often drafted into the United States forces.’
TO JAPAN
‘I was sent to Japan and served with the army of occupation until the outbreak of the Korean War. Our crowd arrived in Korea on June 30, and for 13 months we in the ding-dong battle up and down the peninsula.
We were in the retreat almost on the sea when the General ordered: “Stand and fight. No more retreat.” That was a terrific show with hand-to-hand fighting. At times our ammunition gave out. We lived for weeks on iron rations.
After three weeks of fighting I was wounded by a grenade in the left leg. Later I got concussion from a grenade.
COMMANDED TUG
Eventually I was taken off fron-line work and, because of my sea training, I was given command of a 65 foot tug.
I managed to rescue an Australian pilot shot down in a Mustang.
Last year I was flown back to the States. Over New Mexico the aircraft developed engine trouble and crashed. Five passengers were killed, and I was in hospital for four months.
Now I’ve come back to live in South Africa. I have been offered a good job in Port Elizabeth.
As a staff-sergeant I was earning about £60 a month. On getting my honourable discharge from the American Army I was paid a gratuity of about £130.’
Cpl in S.A. Army during WWII & PoW.
In 1965 Upon obtaining my Master’s I joined the good old SAR&H as a mate on tugs in East London. I proceeded to serve through all the ranks at various ports and upon reaching retirement age in 2002
I went on pension from Transnet/Portnet in the post of Executive Manager (Marine Services) in Johannesburg. This position was perhaps better known as Nautical Adviser.
Started own consultancy Nautad Consulting c.c. Which closed 2010.”
Deceased 7th November 2021.
“I married Marlene Malherbe on 03 December 1971. We have two daughters, Tanya and Sam.
In 1993 I resigned from ASTAS and remigrated to the Netherlands. I retired from IT in 2005 and
now live in Arnhem (a bridge too far).”
Deceased.
Deceased 27th June 2015.
After a period at sea came ashore and worked in the motor industry in Port Elizabeth.
Deceased 28th February 2004.
Treasurer of GBOBA Cape Town branch.
brucevdmeulen@gmail.com
Third Officer of the ‘Gamtoos’ employed taking stores to Marion Island. Promoted to Second Officer.
Deceased 29/11/2016
2000 – relocated to Australia.
“After departing with South African Marine Corp (Enterprise) in 2000, I worked for Seaspan Container lines until 2004. In 2004 I came ashore and worked in the Marine Surveying with C.R. Cox and Associates until 2011. I moved across to a Marine Warrantee Surveying in 2011 at Braemar Technical Services (Offshore).” July 2019 Braemar Technical Services sold to Aqualis Offshore and became AqualisBraemar.
1954 – Cadet Officer, s.s. Constantia, Safmarine.
1954 – 74 Nestle, S.A. (Pty) Ltd, various positions
1974 – 78 – Nestle (Rhodesia) PVT, Managing Director
1979 – 81 – Nestle (S.A.) (Pty) Ltd, Marketing Manager.
1982 – 93 – Business owner of Bookstat, Randburg Stationers, Sandton Printers, Randburg Printers.
Ken was Chief Cadet Captain in 1953 and for some strange reason was nick-named “Joe”. He won the Thesen’s Sextant Navigational Prize, the Safmarine binoculars for a good all-round record and the Queen’s Gold Medal.
After a brief spell at sea with Safmarine he came ashore and took a job with Nestle. In 1974 he was promoted to Managing Director of Nestle Rhodesia, returning to South Africa as Marketing Manager of Nestle South Africa. He took early retirement in 1981 and started Bookstat, Randburg Stationers, Sandton Printers and Randburg Printers before retiring permanently because of his illness. He was a keen golfer and was for a few years Chairman of the GBOBA Johannesburg Branch. Deceased 18th May 2020.
23/04/1935 joined Union Castle Arundel Castle as Deck Boy. Served seven years in R.A.F., including 1939-1946 war period. On demobilisation (about July 1946) joned Bradford (Yorks) Fire Brigade as Fireman.
Transferred to the s.s. Dalia in 1946. 1948 joined m.v. Kaapland as A.B. Until 1949.
1949/50 held various jobs including plant operator of an oil refinery and farming.
1951 joined Cape Town Fire & Rescue services as Fireman and retired as Assistant Divisional Officer in 1985. Deceased 17th April 2015.
2018 working for LBH Southern Africa, Port Operations Department, based in Durban.
Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Ship Brokers (FICS).
Diploma Maritime Law University of Kwa-Zulu Natal.
2002 – relocated to England, piloting on the Humber River.
Served on Minesweepers during WWII. Was decorated for wartime services at sea around Port Elizabeth with the M.B.E. His efforts incldued the salvaging of the remains of the Liberty Ship Anne Hutchinson and the picking up of survivors from several torpedoed vessels. He was also engaged on the demolition of enemy mines off Cape Agulhas. Later he served in the Mediterranean and brought a minesweeper from Alexandria, Egypt, back to the Union in most gruelling circ*mstances taking three months to complete the voyage. After the war he started tobacco farming at Groblersdal, in the Transvaal. He devised a scheme to market pumpkins fourteen days before time. He followed a system or rotention farming, planting seasonally in succession, wheat, peanuts, wheat once more and then tobacco.
Deceased 29/05/1993
2011 returned to Cape Town.
2014 left South Africa once again and relocated to the Middle East, specifically Abu Dhabi, to carry on working for London Offshore Consultants doing mainly offshore oil and gas work with some P&I “thingies” as well.
Retired and living in Philippines.
Second Officer of the ‘Gamtoos’ Employed taking stores to Marion Isalnd. Then became Insepctor in Charge of the Southern Islands, Government Guano Isalnds Department.
Qualifications: Association Member of Chartered Institute Secretaries, Associate Member of S.A. Council of valuers, Member of the Institute of Estate Agents.
1989 – Joined Safmarine shore staff. Employed in “MARSCC” as a Stowage Coordinator and Computer Systems Administrator.
September 1995 – transferredt o Safbank Trade (Safmarine) as Logistics Manager.
1997 – Transferred to Safmarine/CMBT Lines, Antwerp, as Central Logistics Fleet Co-ordinator.
2000 – transferredt o Copenhagen to manage the Container Fleets of both Safmarine and Maersk for the African region.
2002 transferred back to Cape Town responsible for equipment and terminals Africa region.
2005 transferred to Singapore.
2004 with Smit Terminals Europe based in Poti, Georgia.
1999 – with Rob Marine P&I Services, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
2004 Left Robmarine and established as an independent surveyor and consultant based in Dar es Salaam.
Paul joined Safmarine as a cadet 1971 and worked his way through the ranks to Master. He had been with the company, latterly with Smit Amandla Marine, for 43 years and a Master for 20+ years.
1990 moved to Mossel Bay managing the De Bakke Santos Resort.
Married Rita van der Walt (born 16 May 1944) on 14 Dec 1963. Four children following careers as architect, quantity surveyor, quantity surveyor, dental technician; the three sons practice in Lichtenburg, the only daughter (QS) moved to Brisbane, Australia. Seven grandchildren aged 4 months to 18 years (end 2011). Interests: architecture, art, theology, genealogy, astronomy, sailing, restoring Cape furniture, bird watching, classical baroque music. Collects sea shells from over the world. Deceased 13/04/2016.
Brian Ingpen writes:
“After his time at General Botha (1954/55) where he was Senior Cadet Captain, Bill van Ryswyck went into business and later, set up a very successful IT operation in Johannesburg. He was a very astute man, with a brilliant mind and a gift for mathematics. He readily imparted his mathematical knowledge to Lawhill students. He and his very dear wife Sue enjoyed hiking, mountaineering and generally being in the outdoors.
Bill was a wonderful, sincere man, enthusiastic in everything he did, and a man of his word. We will miss his cheerful personality, his generous spirit and his great interest in Lawhill Maritime Centre. A great man is no longer with us.”
1997 – Master with Safmarine
Reported in “Both Watches” 1953: C.P.O. in S.A. Navy.
Born at Zastron in the Orange Free State and widely known as “Lofty”.
Joined the Royal Navy in 1935 and served with distinction in a number of Royal Navy ships before and during WWII, including battleships Nelson and Ramillies, the cruisers Curacoa, Amphion and Penelope.
Finished his career as a WO1 in the S.A. Navy. Died in 1987 and was buried in the Naval Cemetery, Simon’s Town.
Has been appointed Transport Officer, Bulawayo (Rhodesia).
During WWII Frans served in the Mediterranean on minesweepers.
After Bothie apprenticed to Union Castle Line and joined R.N.R. as a midshipman. During WWII Herman served as a Lieutenant on Robben Island looking after defence of access to Cape Town. He was also involved in installation of cables near Cape Point to detect submarine access to False Bay.
After the war he was a pilot in Cape Town and Durban and then Port Captain in East London
Deceased 27/06/94 of cancer.
1964 Tug Mate in Table Bay Harbour.
1980 Assistant Port Captain, Cape Town.
Deceased 31st March 2011.
1961 – obtained Second Officers certificate and 1963 obtained Chief Officers Certificate, both in London.
1960 – 63 – sailed with Bibby Line of Liverpool as Third Officer.
1964 – returned to S.A. joined ‘Ocean Science and Engineering’ on “Rockeaster” as Chief Officer.
1965 – 67 – Sailed with African Coasters as Chief Officer.
1966 – obtained Masters Certificate in Cape Town.
1968 – joined Harbour Service in Port Elizabeth.
1994 – Tug Master with Portnet, Port Elizabeth
1999 – retired.
1983 – Master with Caroline Fishing Company.
1983 – 87 – Sailed with Department of Environment Affairs (Sea Fisheries) achieving the rank of Master in July 1987. November 1987, joined Portnet. Has served as Dredge Master on a trail dredger and 1995 Tug Master in the port of East London. Obtained Harbour Pilot’s License in 1993.
1996 – transferred to Durban on promotion to Harbour Pilot.
2000 – moved to Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates, as a Harbour Pilot.
2012 harbour pilot in Sohar, Oman.
2017 returned to South Africa. Terminal Pilot / Mooring Master with Fendercare Marine, UK.
Voight bought by Inchcape Shipping.
1999 – relocated to Cape Town as Regional Manager
Joined Inchcape Shipping in London January 2007 as General Manager, Global Bulk Services.
Subsequently returned to Cape Town in same position.
2013 owner of Fairship, a ships agency company.
See: http://allatsea.co.za/musings/remembering-the-osv-voortrekker/
Later joined De Beers Marine as Master on their mining vessel Debmar Atlantic. 18 months later joined SAMSA in Saldanha Bay.
1980 – 84 Assistant Marine Superintendent for Safmarine in New York, U.S.A.
1984 – 85 Cargo Superintendent for SAECS/Transatlantic RoRo Service on the Southern African Coast.
1985 – 88 Port Co-ordinator for SAECS/Transatlantic Ro Ro Service, Durban,
1988 – 89 Marine Superintendent for Bridge Marine on the Southern African and Australian Coasts.
1989 transferred to Brazil as Marine superintendent for Bridge Ocean Lines, later renamed Barbican Linew then purchased by Von Rantzau Group in Hamburg.
1993 promoted to Owners Representative for Barbican Line, Brazil.
1999 owners representative for Global Lines in Houston, U.S.A. and running a company called Armadillo Marine Consultants.
2009 semi-retired, doing the occasional jobs for Oldendorff Carriers and Saga Forest Carriers. Subsequently returned to live in South Africa. Deceased 6th August 2016.
06/1994 – Master with De Beers Marine.
August 2005 retired.
1972 started “Antalex Jersey Stud.” Second biggest in R.S.A. Sold in 1990, retired. Now play with Antalex Dairy and Milk Distribution Co. In Benoni. Son runs business.
Sport: off road racing, Toyota Hilux 4×4
2010 running a 45 meter sailing super yacht for an American family and have taken them to many exotic destinations. Has been with same employer for 18 years and has been instrumental in building three yachts for them.
Retired 2018.
Founder member of the S.A.T.S. General Botha Old Boys Association Bursary Fund as well as Marine Inspirations.
In 1966 Douglas married Hester Claasen and a son, a daughter and ‘laat lammetjie’ identical twin girls were born from the marriage. Doug’s son, continuing the family tradition, took over the farm from Dad. Doug’s eldest daughter is in Deiniliquin, Australia and the twins are in Cape Town. One is a policewoman and the other a teacher.
A few years ago Doug took a break from farming and sailed two fishing boats out of Mossel Bay. He still had the sea in his blood.
His first marriage having ended in divorce, Doug subsequently married Marion Habberton. They were a jovial couple at the 50 year reunion ‒ and sorely missed at the 60 year do! He and Marion lived in retirement on the family farm in Swaziland. Deceased 7th August 2018.
Sailed as Master with Unicorn Lines. Deceased 22nd February 2015.
2010 Will and his wife Madeleine work for a church in Ontario. They have three married children and travel quite a lot with their work which involved counseling sick people. A great couple who are doing marvelous work with people in distress.
After G.B. went to sea with Safmarine and later joined Thesens Coasters. Then did trawler deliveries to Mozambique. Ended up doing crayfish and Perlemoen diving off Gansbaai, Cape South Coast. 1996 settled in Durban and did some Ski Boat fishing. 2010 Moved to Sunwich Port where he purchased the Marlon Holiday Resort.
Deceased 14th August 2017.
After completing Bothie his father thought him too young to go to sea and sent him to HMS Conway. 1936 joined Union Castle as Cadet, later obtaining his second officer’s certificate. 1940 joined the S.A. Seaward Defence Force as Sub-Lieutenant and posted to examination services in East London until early 1941 when transferred to Durban to join the anti-submarine section. Later in 1941 transferred to the Mediterranean theatre and joined the minesweeper ‘Southern Maid.’ During this time he was gunnery officer when they sank the Italtian submarine “Ondina.” Late 1942 returned to S.A. and commanded SAS Pretoria. Served with the S.A. Navy until end of WWII. He joined S.A. Philips until retirement in 1982 having served as their regional manager in all regions. Deceased 10/02/1999.
Was awarded the D.S.C. During the second world war for the part he played in the sinking of the Italian submarine Ondina in the Mediterranean.
2015 living on a private game reserve adjoining Mkuze game reserve called Kube Yini to the east of the N3 between Hluhluwe and Mkuze.
They moved from Bedford to the Kat River Valley to establish a citrus farm.
Robert was on the General Botha for two years aged 15 & 16.
He the trained at the Grootfontein Agricultural College and farmed as a cadet for his Uncle Keith Ross at “Cavers”.
In 1939 he joined The First City Regiment in Port Elizabeth and was sent to Koffiefontein to guard Italian Prisoners of War. A task he found so boring he did a ‘runner’ and joined the Navy. But not for long for he was given compassionate leave for a year to run the farm.
Back in the army with the 23rd Division, he spent a year in the North African Desert then in Italy.
After the war he farmed in the Katberg. He married in 1949 to Noel McEwen. The family immigrated to New Zealand in 1952 farming first on the South Island for eight years before moving to Hawkes Bay in the North Island.
2014 Senior Mooring Master, SMIT Amandla Marine which became Afircan Marine Solutions (AMSOL) in 2018.
1956: I studied for and obtained my Second Mate’s Certificate in Durban then spent 14 months in the mail ships Carnarvon Castle, Athlone Castle and Durban Castle.I was then appointed as Third Officer in Riebeeck Castle.
Aside: Company rules stipulated that I had to take all my leaves in the United Kingdom. During my leaves I took two rock-climbing courses in North Wales and the Lake District and then enjoyed the first of six skiing holidays in Austria. On summer leaves I sailed with a good friend on his engineless ketch around the North Sea and along the English East Coast.
January 1959: I obtained my First Mate’s Certificate in Southampton. I then joined Fumess, Withy & Co. Ltd., initially as Third then later as Second Officer on the North Atlantic iron ore trade. I then went to the Mediterranean in the Prince Line [part of Fumess Withy & Co. Ltd.] and then around the world in general cargo ships to the Pacific Islands, Australia and New Zealand [out by way of Panama and home by way of Suez – or the reverse] on five-month voyages in Medic, Mystic and Bardic.
February 1961: It was five years since my last leave at home in South Africa so I took unpaid leave from “Furness” to do a delivery voyage to Cape Town as First Mate in the new trawler Linaria built in Hull,
March 1963: I Passed for Master [Foreign Going] in London. Now a decision! The law required that the Master of a British registered ship be a British subject. South Africa, now a Republic, had left the Commonwealth. If I wanted to stay in British companies and progress through the ranks to Master, I would have to exercise my right to adopt British nationality because of my having had more than ten years service in British ships – inheritance aside!
Unwilling to relinquish South African citizenship and finally start paying British income tax, [reclaiming British tax had paid for my skiing holidays] an opportunity presented to finally fulfill a long-time ambition to do an ocean crossing under sail. In late 1963, I joined the American-owned, Bahamian-flagged 56-foot ketch Skywave, newly built in Germany, as crew/navigator. We sailed from Southampton, England to the Mediterranean then to the Canaries,West Indies and the Bahamas. I was then given command to charter her around the Bahamas. My sister Jennifer joined me as cook/stewardess for some months before taking up a nursing contract in Canada. Then I went up to the Cape Cod and Maine area to charter. In late 1964 I left Skywave to go on a 99-day $99 Greyhound bus tour right round the United States of America.
March 1965: I came home to South Africa bringing my cabin trunks, suitcases, skis etc., on another delivery voyage as First Mate in the trawler Lupin from Aberdeen to Cape Town. After that I sailed as Chief Officer in the “up and down” steamcoaster Reef belonging to African Coasters.
1966: My next sailing voyage was as navigator/crew aboard the American-flagged, 36-foot yawl Aldebaran from Durban to Cape Town and then on to St. Helena, Ascension and Natal in Brazil, so sailing from Natal to Natal. We called at several small ports on the Brazilian North-West coast. I left Aldebaranin in Surinam.
March 1966 to
December 1966: I sailed as First Mate in Rennie’s Induna.
December 1966 to
December 1967: I was Master of Jolanda, of Rennie’s Angola Line out of Durban to all ports to Pointe Noire.
1968: I took a one year sabbatical, touring South Africa’s five old ports: Shepstone, St. John’s, Alfred, Beaufort andKnysna; then “berging” in the Drakensberg [My longest walk was 13 days along the top from the Royal Natal National Park to Giant’s Castle (Bushman’s Pass)]. I also surfed but not at all well and had the first of many skiing weekends on Matroosberg.
December 1968: I was appointed Second Officer in Safmarine’s Marland for six months. I then took flying lessons at Virginia Airport, Durban.
October 1969 to
June 1970: I was Second Officer in SA Weltevreden then took my next sailing voyage.
January 1971: I sailed as skipper/navigator on Eshowe in the first Cape to Rio Race. We came in on handicap and were commended by the South African Meteorological Service for the quality of our weather reports.
April 1971 to
April 1973: I was Second Officer in Vergelegen, Letaba, and Morgenster, then for 17 months I was Second Officer of RSA the South African Antarctic research ship.I made two voyages to the South African SANAE Base in Antarctica and several voyages to Marion, Gough and Tristan da Cunha Islands.
Late 1975: I embarked on my fourth sailing voyage as skipper/navigator of Phayet fromNew York to Cape Town with stops at Bermuda and Recife. In all it was 60 days sailing. We used the engine [needlessly] for only 21/2 hours in the Doldrums.
February 1976 to
March 1978: I was Master in several of the Kuswag pollution patrol ships then went back to deep-sea as Chief Officer in the fruitship Hexrivier.I made passages from Seattle on the West coast of the United States to South America, the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.
July 1979: For one month I was appointed as relieving Chief Officer of the cable ship SS Cable Restorer, managed by Safmarine. This was my second “up and down”steamship.
I was Chief Officer in Safmarine fruit ships, general cargo, bulk carriers and container ships. I finally became “established” with Safmarine after entering into an employment contract with them.
1980 29 February. Vera and Brad married She had two grown-up daughters with children of their own so he became an instant grandfather [with none of the hassles of bringing up children]. After that she did several voyages with me to Europe, the Mississippi, Japan, the West coast of the United States of America and places in between.
1988 to 1993: I sailed as Master with Safmarine, commanding bulk carriers and general cargo ships
October 1991: I was appointed Relieving Master for a month of SS Cable Restorer – she was at buoys and still in commission.
October 1993: Retired on pension [16/40] from Safmarine.
Post 1993 Up-dating the Mostert’s Mill saga: from 1968 when the poll-end rotted through, dropping the mill’s sails to the ground, I became seriously involved with the revitalization of Mostert’s Mill. It is the only working windmill in South Africa and possibly in the whole of Africa. [There are thousands of wind-pumps, in South Africa.]
In1996 two other volunteers and I [one, another “Bothie Boy”] were trained by Dutch milling experts to run the renovated Mostert’s Mill and have since gone from strength to strength.
In the meantime I became a Life Member of the False Bay Yacht Club and served on their “Safety and Training Committee” for six years.
2014 Elected as Chairman of the Friends of Mostert’s Mill Committee but I no longer take part in active milling.
Now (2019) as an eighty year old, I have become interested in the 9-inch Rifled Muzzle Loader [RML] at Middle North Battery on Red Hill, Simon’s Town. Among other tasks, I sweep out the gun emplacement preparatory to each firing. These take place probably ten times a year. I often say the gun gives a very satisfying ROAR! I am also involved in keeping the Glencairn wetlands clean and undertake tasks concerned with the development and beautification of the Wetlands.
I have had a life-long interest in cetaceans [whales and dolphins] and having been a supporter of the Dolphin Action and Protection Group [DAPG] for many years, I was recently elected chairman of the DAPG Committee for all the fact that as Chief Officer of Waterberg, I found a hump-back whale wrapped around the stem on berthing in Cape Town.
Deceased 29th December 2020.
1998 – Joined TRT Shipping, Cape Town.
2000 – relocated to New Zealand.
2001 – working for a Real Estate company.
Deceased 5th June 2002.
1984 – attended General Botha.
October 1990 to June 1991 – joined De Beers Marine (Undersea Diamond Recovery), then returned to Unicorn as Chief Officer. Later promoted Master.
1998 joined the S.A. Maritime Safety Authority in Cape Town and in 2001 joined Safmarine as Marine Manager.
2010 independent marine surveyor and marine training.
1941 to 1941 – Sub Lt. HMSAS Oostewal
1941 – 1942 HMSAS Natalia
1943 HMSAS Bluff
1944 Lt HMSAS Soetvlei
1944 to 1945 HMS Salvestor
1946 HMS Chaster, HMS Indefatigable, HMS Barcross, HMS Barbrake
1947 HMS Rockrose
1947 to 1954 Lt Cdr HMSAS Pretoria
1955 HMS Scott, HMS Shackleton
1956 HMSAS Protea
1957 to 1963 CDR HMSAS Natal
1964 to 1974 Navy Hydrographer (S.A.)
1975 – 1976 Rear Admiral Chief of Naval Staff Logistics (S.A.)
1977 – 1980 Vice Admiral Chief of Navy (S.A.)
Decorations, SM, SD
Deceased in February 1992.
2020 Managing Director at IBTT Port Myanmar.
Born Grahamstown, 6th August 1918. Son of George Whitaker Walton and Lilian Jemina, nee Fisher. Ed, Kingswood College, Grahamstown. Cadet Draft 1934 – 35. Dudley Norman Walton was a member of the SATS General Botha rowing team which went to England in 1935 to compete with crews from HMS Conway and HMS Worcester. After leaving General Botha he was apprenticed to the Thesen Line, and in 1940 joined the Seward Defence Force. He was serving as Sub-Lieutenant on the minesweeper, HMSAS Southern Flow, and lost his life with most of the ship’s company when she was sunk (mined) while sweeping in the vicinity of Alexandria, North Africa, on 11th February 1941.
Laurence, known as Glenn was a Term-mate of Ian Manning, they were the two Junior Cadet side-drummers in the band in 1955 and Senior Cadet drummers in 1956 when Glen was lead drummer. Ian confirms Glen came from Jeppe High School Johannesburg where he was in their pipe band. He was a very friendly and well liked chap.
He went to sea with Shell and served on STS ‘Dolabella’, then STS ‘Hydatina’ then to STS ‘Helix’.
Reported deceased.
Decoration : Received ICD in Rhodesia.
Deceased 12/04/95
1996 retired. Deceased 17/08/2008.
Left Fleetwood Nautical Campus in December 2011, started teaching nautical subjects at Liverpool John Moores University in Jan 2012 until 15th February 2021. 2013 completed MSc.
2020 Captain Jonathan Warren, an L3 Assessor and senior tutor maritime at the Liverpool John Moores University School of Maritime and Mechanical Engineering was recognised for his services to maritime education. Awarded the Merchant Navy Medal.
15th February 2021 I have accepted voluntary redundancy and will officially retire.
I have set up a company called “Maritime Training Limited” which teaches STCW topics to OOW and Ch Mates students preparing for their SQA exams.
In addition, I work very closely with the UK Harbour Masters’ Assn, managing their HM Cert course.
Deceased 20/02/71.
Deceased 1st July 2015.
1964 – 1969: C G Smith’s Coasters/Unicorn Shipping Lines; Second Officer ,Chief Officer and Master
1969 – 1979: Department of Transport – Surveyor in Durban and Firs Principal Officer in Mossel Bay.
1979 – 1983: Rennie Murray & Co – Marine Survyor.
1983 – 1998: Department of Transport – Durban and Pretoria – Surveyor o Chief Director Shipping.
Obtained Masters Certificate in 1966 and Master Special Grade in 1985. Also obtained Post Graduate Diploma in Maritime Law at University of Natal and Graduate Diploma in Company Direction at Graduate Institute of Management and Technology.
1998 – 2002: Took part in the establishment of SAMSA [South African Maritime Safety Authority] as the first CEO.
2002 – 2011: Independent Maritime Consultant working extensivelyin Africa for the International Maritime Organization however also undertook assignments in China, Philippines, North
Korea, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Unitedab Emirates.
2011 Decided to finally retire and am now [2012] living in a Retirement Estate in the East of Pretoria.
Married in 1963 and have two children and four grandchildren. My son and family live near Perth in Scotland and my daughter and family in Eldo Glen in Pretoria.
He grew up in Johannesburg/Pretoria region and had a head start on the rest of us as he was a sea cadet as a schoolboy . He left the sea without writing second mates and joined Reunert & Lenz, an engineering supply co, as a sales rep. In the early Nineties returned to sea. Was employed informally by various ex-Bothy Boys, Brian Greenwood, Godfrey Needham and Frans Kies. He managed to aquire enough seatime to write a deck officers certificate and was then able to get employment with Pentow on their smaller tugs. To conclude,he was a good seaman and should have stayed in the trade. I remember him as a kind and easy going shipmate. Passed away suddenly on the 1st February 2009.
Member of the Royal Cape Yacht Club and involved for many years in the organisation of South African International Keelboat racing events. Was Chairman of the Cruising Association of South Africa for 12 years and chairman of the S.A. Ocean Racing Trust. Also Vice-Chairman of CASA and President of The Port Owen Yacht Club.
Deceased 06/01/2006.
Sailing in the Riebeeck Castle.
Sailing in the m.v. Nairnbank.
1964 Chief Navigating Officer in African Coaster’s “Voortrekker”.
2005 joined the CTS Group based in Ghana.
Retired in December 2020 and contracting in ports’ development and management, amongst other port related activities.2021 on a contract in the Seychelles.
On leaving the Botha he joined Northern/Southern Steamships as a cadet in the President Steyn, where Gerry Stalling later joined him. He also sailed in the President Brand. Thereafter, Ronnie served as third mate in Safmarine and as second mate with Sammy Collins in the pioneering West Coast diamond mining tugs and barges. It was during this period that, while working in the breakers, a wire snapped, wrapped itself around one of his legs, fracturing it in several places, effectively ending his seafaring career.
Undaunted, Ronnie wrote his second mates with Gerry Stalling and Bill Du Sautoy at Warsash then, determined to give it his best shot, returned to sea as third mate in the President Brand. However, his leg injury soon obliged Ronnie to take shore employment in a series of maritime-related jobs, including stevedoring but finally, he was forced to seek a desk job in the employ of the Western Cape Regional Services, where he remained for the rest of his working career.
Ronnie loved children and animals and was a keen and loyal member of the Bothie Old Boys, becoming well known as Father Christmas at the Cape Town branch’s annual Children’s Christmas party, volunteering for the job year after year until his health deteriorated.
After suffering a stroke and continual problems with asthma, Ronnie and his wife Cynthia decided on a move to the Karoo, settling in Calitzdorp where he rapidly began playing a large role in the community! Ronnie passed away after an asthma attack 28th April 2002, Cynthia joining him a few years later.
1971 Left sea and went into banking.
2 Years SANDF + yearly 3 month camps until 1985.
Various jobs.
SANAE base Antarctica for 14 months (nearly dead).
Made enough money to study law.
Legal adviser Alberton and Sandton municipalities.
Started own practice.
Left practice 4 years later and started teaching law.
Did MBA and started teaching law and business subjects in the Middle East.
Did CELTA course and started teaching in South East Asia , Middle East and North Africa.
2021 Senior Mediator, HW Mediators.
Reg Weiss completed more than 63 years in active journalism, some 54 mainly with agricultural publications. From 1996-2005, he was Vice-President (Africa) of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists and at the time of his death he was an Honorary Life President of the SA Agricultural Writers.
Trained on the General Botha, Simonstown (1945-46), for a career as a deck officer, he was the first cadet-officer to sign on with Safmarine’s first ship, STS Constantia, sailing between South Africa, the West Indies and the United States. In 1948, he took up a post with The Friend Newspapers in Bloemfontein. He cut his teeth in 1958-59 with Farmer’s Weekly, where he was trained as a reporter before joining The Friend, South Africa’s first daily newspaper north of the Orange River. He was “Editor: Western Cape” successively of three publications – the Farmers’ Weekly, Landbouweekblad and The Dairy Mail. He also worked for the SA Press Association and the Cape Argus, at the same time seeing service in the Parliamentary Press Gallery (with breaks) from 1957 to 1995.
He represented SAPA and Reuters at the independence celebrations of Ghana, the first colony in Africa to achieve this distinction. In the 1950s, among others, he covered the treason trial in Johannesburg and the historic congresses of the ANC before it was banned. Memorable assignments included interviews with General Smuts, Dr Malan, Dr Moroka, Chief Albert Luthuli, Walter Sisulu, J. G. Strydom, Hendrik Verwoerd and P. W. Botha and he also remembered being introduced to a youthful Nelson Mandela, then described by Sisulu as a “young Turk” no longer satisfied with passive resistance.
Frustrated by negative politics, he returned to agricultural journalism, which he saw as a positive force for good in the world. Visits to the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, France, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Australia, Israel, Ghana and the West Indies only reinforced his belief that peace was best served by “putting good wholesome milk into babies” (Churchill).
He represented South African journalists at successive world congresses of the IFAJ and fought hard to secure the 10th World Congress for South Africa in 2004. It was the first in Africa and hosted some 100 delegates from 26 countries.
He was a past chairman of the Paarl Ratepayers’ Association, the Simon van der Stel Foundation and the Paarl SPCA, was secretary of the Drakenstein Heemkring and ratepayer representative on the Drakenstein aesthetics advisory committee.
He served for two successive five-year terms on the Cape Diocesan Council and was for some 40 years a lay minister at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Paarl, also representing the parish at various synods and the elective assemblies of five Archbishops, including that of Emeritus Archbishop Tutu. He was Public Relations Manager of the old Deciduous Fruit Board in the 1970s and served on the board of the National Museum, Bloemfontein, in the 1950s.
Up until his death, he was still a regular columnist for the Paarl Post and The Dairy Mail, edited newsletters for organised agriculture in the Western Cape for many years and was also a correspondent for Die Boer and several commodity journals.
1950 – BSc Phys Ed, University of Stellenbsoch
1952 – Helsiniki Olympic Games, Gymnastics
1956 – Melbourne Olympic Games, Gymnastics
1954/1958 – World Gym Championships, Rome/Moscow
1960 – BSc Hons, University of Potchefstroom
1972 – Senior Lecturer, Johannesburg College of Education
1988 – Retired
He then joined Safmarine in 1965 and served them from cadet to Chief Officer where he left to join the Harbour Service. He was well known as a dredger Master on the coast based in East London and Durban, and ended up working in the dredging office in Durban. 2006 he retired and did spells of dredging, and also taught in the Transnet Academy. His last job was for Subtech in Durban. Ken passed on peacefully after a long illness on 6th April 2017.
I served in Safmarine from 1968 to 1979 and left them as Chief Officer in 1979, serving on general cargo vessels, tankers, reefer and bulk carriers.
I joined the Harbour Service in 1979 as Chief Officer in Richards Bay and East London before transferring to Durban as tug Master. I carried on serving Durban Harbour and retired as Senior Pilot in 2012. I am now (2017) happily retired and we now live out at Durbanville .
Deceased 13th November 2002
1995 – Reported a Harbour Pilot with Portnet.
April 1996 with Pentow Marine based in Mossel Bay.
Spent a few years as a harbour pilot in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
2004 retired.
“I went to sea with Safmarine as Third Mate after Bothie, sailing on the new SA Vaal and ‘big whites’ before joining the Wolraad Woltemade and John Ross for a 2 year stint.
After resigning towards the end of 1986 I joined Pennypinchers in a complete career change, was able to purchase a partnership in my Tokai, Cape Town business in 1996, and sold 2020.
Safmarine – cadet class starting 1978, Weltevreden, Vergelegen, Hexriver, Mistral Universal, Huguenot, Sederburg, Waterberg.
SA Agulhas – joined the ice team in 1981 with a shiny new ticket, was with them for 3 years.
Pentow Marine – Salvage, Anchor-handling & DSV. Wolraad, Ross, Salvor, Skua, Service, Jade Fish.
OSA – Anchor-handling. Werdertor, Herdentor, Schepelsturm, Holstentor, Imkenturm.
OIL – Anchor-handling, Oil Tempest, Oil Provider.
Pentow Marine – Anchor-handling, SBM & pipe-laying. Skua as Master for years.
Reading & Bates Falcon – Anchor-handling on Champion (Smit 110 class). Then moved from years as Master to a lowly Assistant DPO on the drillships, quite a change starting from scratch.
Moved up quickly to DPO, Sr.DPO, Chief Mate & Master. RBF became Transocean Sedco-Forex then Transocean – all DP drilling rigs worldwide (same coverall – different logo).
Peregrine III, Sedco 709, Deepwater Frontier, all as Master/OIM.
Then I got selected to run the construction & mobilization project of 2 newbuild DP3 drillships.
Lived on Geoje Island in Korea for a few great years at the shipyard.
Vantage Drilling – Was poached from Korea by ex-Transocean team @ Vantage to start up the company from scratch in Singapore. Quite a challenge with nothing in place, no policies, manuals, procedures. Since then we’ve built 3 new DP3 drillships & 4 high-spec jackups in Singapore & Korea. Also built 7 other DP rigs for other companies in Korea, Singapore & China
For the last 8+ years I’ve been managing Marine Ops, DP Ops, Regulatory Compliance, DPA, CSO. Transferred to Houston 6 years ago when we set up the Head-Office here & quite settled by now in the centre of the drilling universe.
I’m also Rig Manager for the Titanium Explorer DP3 drillship which is presently hot-stacked alongside in Ngqura.
1993 – Promoted to General Manager of King and Sons (Pty) Ltd in Durban.
Later became Managing Director of Barwil South Africa based in Durban.
2005 retired from Barwil. 2011 freelance cargo superintendent on S.A. coast.
Deceased.
1999 – at sea with Aquamarit of Saudi Arabia.
2012 Maputo Harbour Master, Mozambique.
Deceased November 2013.
Laughter- loud, joyous, contagious laughter- that is what most people comment on when they remember Pastor Leonard Weston. As children, when in a large crowd & we didn’t know where our parents were, we would just stand for a moment & wait for the laugh, making Dad easy to find.
Leonard Ernest Weston, born 3rd November 1949, in Chingola Zambia, was the youngest of four children. Len attended boarding school in Lusaka, Zambia & then completed schooling at Gifford Tech, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. During his high school years, while on a family vacation in Cape Town, he met Dagmar- which resulted in him moving to Cape Town & spending a year at General Botha Naval Academy in 1968. Len was quite the wild child, by the age of 21, he had been in 21 car accidents (he was only driver in four of them), the last accident being when he put his MGBGT sports car under a train, whilst dicing a friend, in the Cape Town harbor. After the Academy, Len worked his way up the ranks in business until he was factory manager for a leather luggage company. Leonard & Dagmar married in 1972. Their home was the notorious party spot & they were the neighbours nobody wanted to have! One afternoon, in the midst of reveling with friends, Len had the sudden urge to attend an evening church service & told his friends to lock up when they’d finished their drinks. Two weeks later, the same urge hit him & that night, after hearing a message of the stoning of Stephen, Leonard responded to the altar call & his life changed drastically. From then on, Len became very involved in the local church & in 1980 felt called into fulltime ministry. At this stage, Len & Dagmar had two young children, Robert & Simone, & sold up everything and moved to Louisville, Kentucky, USA for Len to study at the Southern Baptist Seminary for eight years. Whilst there, their youngest, Natasha, was born. During those years, Leonard was a co-pastor at a vibrant, fast-growing charismatic church with his brother, Dr Owen Weston. Upon completion of his theology studies, the family returned to South Africa whereupon they received a call to the then Piet Retief Christian Church, in January 1989. At that time, the church had undergone a split. One of Leonard’s conditions of accepting the post was to restore the two factions, which, with the help of the Lord, was accomplished within the first year.
Prior to the 1994 elections, Leonard was the Chairman of the Peace Committee & was also key in networking with pastors in Swaziland & surrounding towns. This networking resulted in lifelong friendships & in him being made chairman of the Lighthouse Board, Mbabane- which now oversees Bulembu, Teen Challenge & Potters Wheel church. The PRCC grew, adjacent properties were bought, Maranatha School was started & the original building became too small. It was apparent that a larger building was necessary. To this day, many people still joke about “Len’s gym” where the church folk would help with building the new church on Saturdays! The new building was opened in 1997, with not a cent owed: debt-free, such a testimony! In the years that followed, different ministries sprung up from PRCC, namely: Kebar Bookshop, Assegaai Revival Centre (Commondale), River of Life Church Plants & Uzwelo Home. At this time the leadership decided that a name change was in order, to encompass the various ministries- thus Wellspring Ministries. In 1999, Pastor Len completed his Masters degree in Ministry. Pastor Len was an integral part of Piet Retief’s pastors fraternal & a great encourager & motivator for many ministries. He was also a part of the Fellowship of Elders- a meeting of Senior Pastors from all over South Africa. Since 1998, Pastor Len mentored Sheldon Hallis & frequently referred to him as his “Timothy”. On Sunday, 18th March 2018, Len officially handed over the mantel of Senior Pastor of Wellspring Ministries to Sheldon, unknowing that this would be his last time at the pulpit.
Pastor Len began having heart problems in 2013, resulting in a pacemaker. Sadly, on Monday 26th March, Leonard went home to be with the Lord. He leaves behind his beloved wife Dagmar, three children, their spouses & seven grandchildren. The Weston family has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love & support from Wellspring & from the entire Piet Retief community, for which we extend our gratitude.
Pastor Len often challenged young pastors & mission students, “If God had to take your church out of the community, would anyone notice?” With this we would like to challenge you to make a difference in your community & to continue Pastor Len’s legacy.
Deceased.
Reported in S.A.T.S. Magazine No.3 1937: with Harbour Service in Port Elizabeth.
1964 Port Captain, East London.
After Bothie joined the m.v. Seelandia and later the ss Dalia until the end of WWII. Joined Burroughs Machines in Johannesburg and from there Goldfields Mining House. In 1963 set up own business manufacturing laboratory apparatus called Rutland Industries. Retired end of 2000.
1933 Appointed Midshipman Royal Naval Reserve
Apprenticed to Andrew Weir Line (Bank Line).
Was a survivor when HMS Royal Oak was sunk by a German submarine October 1939. He was serving as a Sub-lieutenant on board. Of the complement of 1,200 there were only 414 survivors.
On leaving the Botha, Dick joined Shell Tankers being appointed to the Tectarius with Chris Copeland and Mike Shaw. He and Shaw were then transferred to the Paludina on the Curacao to Maracaibo run, followed by the Hydatina. Disappearing for a while, he was then seen in Cape Town as second mate with Unicorn.
Qualifying for his masters in South Africa, Dick then joined Tidewater, followed by Zapata Oil and Petrobras in Northern Brazil. He finally married a Brazilian girl, settling down in Araruama, near Rio de Janeiro for a good part of his life.
Dick had seemed keen to travel from Brazil and join the 2004 reunion in Gordon’s Bay ‒ to the extent of sending Barry a $100 bill by air mail as deposit. Knowing Dick and his ways, Barry kept his place open to the end. But, amidst all the excitement, was nonplussed to find one reserved seat unoccupied when, with the entire crowd of 53/54s aboard, the luxury coach was due to leave for lunch at a fine Stellenbosch winery. It was Dick’s seat of course.
We missed him. Dick passed away in 2009.
Was a POW during WWII.
Was a POW during WWII, rank Private.
Commemorated at Plymouth Naval Memorial and on the SATS General Botha Memorial, Cape Town.
When Springbok Line was formed, he transferred across from Clan Line. When Springbok and Safmarine merged, he found himself employed by Safmarine, serving in a number of their ships. On obtaining his masters, Geoff saw a brief spell in the Harbour Service followed by an even briefer return to Safmarine, then to Sea Fisheries as master of the Africana II and finally to stevedoring with Grindrod Cotts in Port Elizabeth. In due course, Geoff settled down to marine surveying in the windy city, taking over Norman Caseley’s business and running it under his own name for eight years.
Having developed this taste for surveying, Geoff then took a position as a marine surveyor with the Marine Division of the Department of Transport in Durban, rising through the ranks to Principal Ship Surveyor and Examiner. He was then transferred to Cape Town with the department until it became the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), serving as Principal Officer and Senior Examiner, until his retirement.
Since then, unable to lead the quiet life, Geoff lectured in nautical subjects at Northlink College maritime campus and then, in his mid-seventies, not done with work, he lectured part time assisting deck officers preparing for the SAMSA oral examinations.
In 1967 Geoff married Eileen Manthey a Port Elizabethan. They had two children, a married daughter living in Springs and a son who, following the family tradition, is based in Simon’s Town serving in the South African Navy – along with four grandchildren.
Geoff was keen to join his shipmates celebrating their 60 year reunion in March 2014, had booked for all events but was forced to phone Barry a few days before to report “I’m too ill, won’t be able to make it.” Geoff died of cancer two weeks later, 16th April 2014.
1998 resigned from Engen and relocated to Grahamstown, Eastern Cape.
2010 Director of Development and Alumni Relations for Rhodes University in Grahamstown.
My wife and I are running our businesses in Grahamstown. We have a Spar with a Tops and a BP forecourt. Been in the business for close to 20 years but upgraded from a Kwikspar to a Spar last year and so I needed to come and help out the missus who had been carrying the load for the bulk of those years.
2020 sold Kwikspar, owner of BP Oak Cottage Motors, Grahamstown.
1995 – with Keely Stevedores, Durban.
2005 left P&O Ports Stevedoring as Managing Director and formed Marine Care & Solutions in 2006.
1981 – qualified as Master Mariner, Foreign going.
1987 – studied and completed the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers Examination.
1988 – studied and passed MDP through UNISA.
1990 – studied and passed AEP through UNISA.
01/1972 – 12/83 – at sea with Safmarine.
01/1984 – 08/85 – Nautical Lecturer at S.A. Merchant Navy Academy “General Botha.”
08/1985 – joined Irvin & Johnson as Marine Superintendent, Development.
02/1988 – promoted to Marine Manager. One month later promoted to Fleet Manager.
01/1991 – promoted to General Manager, Trawling Division.
1996 – left I&J, started own business, African Maritime Services (MD), manufacturing fishing nets.
President of the Society of Master Mariners South Africa.
Deceased 14th July 2012.
1989 – 1991 Rhesco Engineering Supply Co, Durban
1991 – 1992 Self Employed – Tinseltown Graphic Design
1992 Moved to Northern Ireland.
1992 – 1997 Sales Engineer, Pegler & Louden Ltd
1997 – 2002 Business Development Manager – Ireland, St Gobain Pipelines plc
2003 – 2003 General Manager, Ulster Tubes Ltd
2003 – 2016 General Manager / Managing Director, BM Heat Services Ltd
2016 – 2021 Sales Manager – Ireland, Börger UK Ltd
2021 – Country Manager, Ireland, AVK UK Ltd
2006 Senior Forensic Auditor with SizweNtsaluba, Cape Town.
2010 moved to Port Elizabeth municipality as forensic auditor.
During WWII served in the RNVR (SA) and served in the cruiser HMS Cornwall which was sunk by Japanese dive bombers on Easter Sunday 5 April 1942. He was most fortunate to survive, Able Seaman V.W. Wiggill (728) who was wounded.
Has joined the ‘President Steyn’ as an Apprentice Officer. After coming ashore worked for forwarding & clearing agents, Renfreight and Grindrods, for 25 years.
1953 – Midshipman S.A Navy on HMSAS Transvaal.
1964 Lt Cdr, SAS President Pretorius.
1972 – 1975 – Naval Attaché, Paris
1977 – appointed Director on the Staff at Defence HQ, Pretoria. Later seconded to the office of the Prime Minister before being appointed as the Officer Commanding Naval Command Natal 12/1980
1986 – promoted to Rear Admiral. Appointed as Flag Officer Commanding Naval Command East.
1989 – retired, apply farming in the Elgin District.
2013 fully retired from farming.
Deceased 28/07/2013.
Deceased 25/08/2008.
1934 Apprenticed to Bullard King Line.
Served as a Captain in the S.A. Air Force during WWII.
Was a Lieutenant on the Destroyer H.M.S. ‘Kempenfelt.’
Deceased 05/07/1977 of heart failure.
Served with the Royal Navy on Destroyers and Submarines, including HMS Viking, during WWII. Was torpedoed in the East and after reaching shore led his party of survivors through the jungles to reach India. During the March they came across a man who had been crucified by the enemy, but was still alive. They rescued and carried him to India where he was hospitalised and survived.
After the war he took up welfare work and was assistant manager of the D.P. Marais (a T.B. Hospital in Cape Town). Later joined the “Cape Peninsular Organisation for the Aged” and was posted to Zerilda Steyn Place and later Sea Point Place in Cape Town before his retirement.
Henry Wilco*cks was born 14 November 1938, in Pretoria, the second son of Jean Hillegert Dupré Wilco*cks and Florence Logan. He attended the Sunnyside Primary School and then progressed to Pretoria Boys’ High School. His love for the sea was stimulated by his membership of the 22nd Pretoria Sea Scouts and in 1955 he enrolled at the General Botha. At the conclusion of his training there he intended going to sea, but was advised against such a choice because of a slight hearing impairment.
Henry decided to enroll as a trainee in the Stewarts and Lloyds training scheme and at the successful conclusion of his course he was posted to Durban and Empangeni. A succession of postings took him across southern Africa: Bulawayo, Umtali, Blantyre, back to South Africa in 1966 to Johannesburg, then on to Bloemfontein, Kimberley, Dundee and East London; then back to Kimberley. In 1983 after he had resigned from the firm, he took up a post as manager of the Cape Town branch of Incledon Engineering. At the age of 58 he was working for the National Trading Company when he was medically boarded and went into retirement.
Henry’s first posting to Kimberley was as sales manager which he held for 4 years. From 1972 onwards he was the branch manager at Dundee, East London and Kimberley.
During his tenure in Blantyre he married Margaret Ann Riddell on 9 March 1963. She was a lass who was born in Forres in Scotland, and whose parents were working in Blantyre. Their son David John was born the following year in Blantyre. Their daughter Sharon Louise was born at the end of 1970 when the family was in Kimberley. Eventually the whole family settled and remained in Cape Town.
Henry was particularly active in sport. At the General Botha he was the boxing champion for his weight division and while he was in Malawi, then known as Nyasaland, he played rugby for the national team. In Cape Town he was a regular member of the Pinelands Bowling Club.
Throughout his life he was a real “man’s man” and moved easily in all social circles. It was sad to see this genial and positive personality battle bravely with Alzheimer’s disease over the last 12 years of his life. He passed away on 9 May 2009 in Cape Town.
1964 Cadet in m.v. Letaba.
Left 10 years later to join the S.A. Harbour Service, served as Harbour Master in Port Nolloth until September 1974. Was involved in salvage work on the Oranjeland which had gone aground off East London, before returning to Safmarine in February 1975. Promoted Master with Safmarine November 1980.
Deceased 19/02/1995.
1948 – Apprenticeship S.A.R.& H Test & Research
1952 – SMD Manufacturing Co (Laboratories) Design Engineer
1956 – In partnership, formed United Electronics Ltd
1961 – Joined Eskom as Communications Engineer
1973 – Joined University of Natal Medical School as Bio Research Engineer. CO-authored numerous research papers.
1993 – Retired to build classic cars e.g. 1910 De Dion, Autin Healey’s 100′ six & 3000.
Deceased of heart attack 15/08/1998
1934 – 1935 Joined P&O of London until outbreak of the Second World War and then served as a Commissioned Officer in the Royal Navy until demobilised in 1945. Returned to South Africa and served as Master in the Union Steamship Co. and later in South African Marine Corporation (Safmarine) for about 7 years until appointed government marine surveyor and examiner in Cape Town. In 1959 appointed to S.A.N.C. Genearl Botha, Gordon’s Bay and later commissioned into S.A. Navy until retirement in 1976. Thereafter served in a civilian capacity at the Hydrographic Office, being finally retired in 1986.
Decorations: Bronze medal for good service, chief of the Navy’s Commendation, 1939 – 1945 Star, Atlantic Star, Africa Star, Burma Star, 1939 – 1945 Service Medal, Mention in despatches. Deceased 10/12/93.
TJ Harrision of Liverpool, Rennies Angola Line, Tafelberg Stevedoring Cape Town, Consolidated Stevedores Durban, J.T. Rennies Marine Superintendent Durban, AESL, Centromar Shipping Durban.
Ten years at sea, then stevedoring, owner’s representative and ships agent with a short spell working at Highveld Steel Plant in Witbank.
Eldest son of Captain Owen and Molly Williams. He was educated at Clifton Preparatory School and Durban High School. After serving as a cadet on the General Botha at Gordon’s Bay, where he was a Senior Cadet Captain, he joined Union Castle as junior officer, serving with the line until 1958.
He sat for his master’s certificate in London shortly after his marriage to Miss Joy Carte, before joining the S.A. Harbour Service where he became a harbour pilot.
His colleagues paid tribute to his conscientiousness. He was active worker for the General Botha Old Boys Association and the Master Mariners Society.
After Bothie completed two years of school and a further two years at university. Then went farming in Citrusdal and Rhodesia and after some years returned to Durban where he worked in a convent.
1964 set up a trout farm in Kwa-Zulu Natal and also farmed vegetables, flowers, sheep and also established a sawmill on the property.
1995 farming and milling timber in Natal. Subsequently established a caravan park.
Served in the Royal Navy during WWII. Reported deceased.
Awarded the sextant prize in 1924, inscription on the sextant box reads:
Presented by
Senator The Hon Sir Charles Smith K.C.M.G.
To
PO2
H.V. Williamson
S.A.T.S. “General Botha”
1924
1st Prize
Highest Combined Marks All Technical Subjects.
(This sextant is the personal property of Tony Nicholas 2399 who purchased it on E-Bay.)After completion of his two year course he left SATS General Botha on 11 December 1924. He was placed with the Peninsular & Oriental Steam Navigation Company’s Branch Line [P&O Branch Line]
Apprentice in BALLARAT [early 1925?]
Fourth Officer in KHIVA in 1928
Fourth Officer in RANPURA in 1930
H. V. Williamson was commissioned as a Sub-Lieutenant, later LT CDR, in the Royal Naval Reserve [RNR] [no date or promotions given] and served in HMS Battler. HMS Battler was an ATTACKER Class small aircraft carrier, one of the United States Navy’s BOGUE Class transferred to the Royal Navy during the Second World War. He probably served in other RN ships as well.
Deceased.
Served on the Durban OBA Committee with Herby Horsley and Gordon Jones.
5th May 1941 with S.A. Air Force Meteorological Section.
In 1963 news was received that he had unaccountably found his way into the American army as a Captain.
This led to him joining Andrew Levy and the Contact Group – Gemini Consulting in the early 1980’s.
He was a Director at the Contact Group (a well known HR and L&D consultancy at the time) from 1983 – 1992.
From 1992 with his wife Ria as a partner, own consulting company, Ntinga Transformation Services. Deceased 15th March 2018.
WWII AB SANF.
Joined the Royal Air Force and served in Coastal Command during WWII. Eventually became a very successful quanitity surveyor in Johannesburg.
Reported deceased in 1975.
During WWII served as Sergeant in S.A. Artillery.
Submitted August 2017 by his stepson, Chris Miller (chrismiller@telkomsa.net):
“I have been in touch with Tom’s nephew, Anthony Wilson, who regrettably has been unable to add much to my information. I will try and give you what we can recall.
Tom grew up in the Eastern Transvaal, on a coal mine in the Carolina/Breyten district, where I believe his father was Mine Secretary. He had, I think, two brothers, Ken who became Underground Manager of Harmony Gold Mine and the other brother who lived in Rhodesia and who I never met. He also had a sister, Kitty, who relocated to America later in life and who I also did not meet.
He enlisted as a cadet of General Botha in 1925 and was in England during the Great Depression when work was almost impossible to come by.
I am aware that he did sail on a cargo ship of sorts to Argentina and he would repeat a story of the refrigeration plant breaking down and having to dump numbers of “the best beef carcasses in the world” while at sea.
He also tried his hand at writing articles for newspapers and would have been quite adept at this as he was highly articulate and interesting to talk to but I am afraid that my knowledge of this time is very sketchy.
I do believe that he may have returned to South Africa at some stage and may have joined the gold mines where employment may have been possible.
This would have given him some training in surveying and together with his navigation experience would have been useful when he joined the artillery (Transvaal Horse?) on the outbreak of the war where he and brother Ken both served during the Abyssinian and north African campaigns. He reached the rank of sergeant and was often deployed as Observation Post, directing the fire of guns from a strategic forward position.
After the war I believe he rejoined the gold mines until injured when trapped by a hopper against the sidewall of a haulage which broke his hip. He later went into rigging and was responsible for erecting a number of radio masts in the Kempton Park area for the South African Broadcasting Corporation. It was in this period that he married my, then divorced, mother, Winifred Elaine Miller, (born Woods), who had been a school friend. They had two children, Diana and Thomas.
In later years he went into timber farming mainly in the Eastern Transvaal and ended his days with a company named Exchange Yard in the Tzaneen district. He was to die in Johannesburg in the early 1990’s of an asthma attack.”
’60~’63 : Apprentice and Act 3/0 with The Bank Line
1964 Third Officer in “South African Merchant”.
’64~’69 : 3/0 and 2/0 with Safmarine. Master FG cert. 1969
’70~’71 : C/0 with SAR & H
’71~’78 : Lecturer at SAMNA “General Botha”
’79~’85 : Tugmaster, salvage master, tanker pilot, tanker discharge advisor and asst. marine supt. With Land and Marine
’86~95 : Tugmaster, tanker pilot, branch manager (Mossel Bay) with Pentow Marine. Resigned.
’95~’08: Freelance tugmaster, anchor handling and rig shift advisor, tanker pilot, berthing master etc. Final job in 2008 (for BP offshore Cabinda) and retired at 66.
Very seldom at home – travelling most times.
Deceased March 2006.
I sailed for eleven months, then came ashore to be with my childhood sweetheart I had first met in kindergarten.
After Safmarine in 1959 the SABC sounded like a good idea and I stayed with them until retirement at age 52 at which time we emigrated to Canada to be with my ailing mother on Vancouver Island.
Now a world renown artist.
Also served on the Sea Fisheries Advisory committee to the Minister for seven years.
Deceased 03/01/2012
Retired 2012.
1964 Engineer Officer SAS President Kruger, rank of Lt Cdr (E).
Various shore appointments and promotions followed until appointed Director of Naval Engineering at Naval HQ in 1979 in Pretoria. Promoted to Commodore in 1980 and appointed Chief of Naval Logistics with a seat on the Naval Board. Returned to Simon’s Town in 1984 as OC Naval Logistics Command and in 1987 appointed OC SAN Dockyard from which he retired from the navy in 1990. During this last spell in the Dockyard was appointed by the Minister of Defence as a town councillor for Simon’s Town and on retirement was elected a Town Councillor for Simon’s Town until 1996. Deceased 22/02/2014
After attending Franschhoek High School he was a Cadet in the South African Training Ship General Botha during 1924. He failed Seamanship and Scholastics and on 08 January 1925, young Withers, now aged 16 and standing 5ft 7½inches tall, was accepted as a recruit by the fledgling South African Naval Service [SANS] (Permanent Force). He was rated as a Boy and allocated the number N10049 and posted to HMSAS Immortelle a minesweeper which had been presented to South Africa by Britain in 1921 – then named Eden. Withers was rated Ordinary Seaman on 16 March 1925, his 17th birthday – and Able Seaman on 16 March 1926. He passed his Educational Test, Part I on 6 July 1926. He purchased his discharge on 7 February 1927. His Conduct Sheet indicates that his character had been ‘Very Good’ and his ability ‘Satisfactory’ throughout his 3-year service with the SANS.
From October 1928 to 14 November 1934 he was employed as a plant operator, box making machines, at the United Tobacco Company Kloof Street, Cape Town. In November 1934 he became a barman at the Fountain Hotel in the City. On 14 December 1935 he moved to what was no doubt a more congenial ‘watering place’, the Men’s Bar of the Paardevlei Club in Somerset West. Married on 9 April 1936, he and his wife Hildegarde Elise Adela set up home at 39 Mills Street, Strand.
War clouds were looming. Hitler’s panzers Invaded Poland, and on Sunday 03 September 1939, Britain declared war on Germany. The very next day, 04 September, Withers reported to Simon’s Town to
volunteer for service in the Royal Navy [RN] for the duration of hostilities. Given the number D/J 177512 he was carried on the books of the RN Depot ship HMS Afrikander for three weeks.
On 30 September he was drafted to HMS Carnarvon Castle, the Union Castle Mail. Steamship Company’s passenger liner then being converted at the RN base at Simon/s Town to serve as an Armed Merchant Cruiser, [AMC].
After a brief interlude 05 to 16 November 1939 in the sloop HMS Auckland he returned to Carnarvon Castle on 17 November 1939. The AMC: was soon at sea in her new role to safeguard the South Atlantic against the activities of German surface raiders and blockade runners carrying urgent supplies to the German Reich. Sometimes she operated in company with consorts similarly equipped with outdated guns, sometimes she was on her own.
Withers, as a member of ‘White Watch’ 6-inch gun crew was aboard to share the excitement of Carnarvon Castle’s only major naval action – her early-morning engagement on 05 December 1940 with the German surface raider Thor off Montevideo. The AMC could muster a broadside of only four 100-pound shells. Nevertheless, Captain Hardy DSO, gave orders to close with all possible speed and engage the enemy. During the five-hour running battle Carnarvon Castle suffered heavily, sustaining 27 hits which caused four dead and 27 wounded. While the enormous bulk of the AMC had suffered severe punishment, Thor was undamaged. Nevertheless, Fregattenkäpitan Otto Kähler decided that discretion was the better part of valour and the raider ‘made smoke’ and disappeared into the distance.
Granted a few days asylum the battered and severely damaged Carnarvon Castle limped into Montevideo where the most urgent repairs, sufficient to allow her to cross the South Atlantic for a total refit in Cape Town, were hurriedly carried out. Some of the ship’s company enjoyed the ‘Montevideo interlude’. Withers, for one, found there was little wrong with a well-grilled Uruguayan steak!
For some months, Carnarvon Castle was idle in Cape Town undergoing repairs – then she was off again, Withers still a member of her crew, to resume her patrol duties in the Atlantic. Withers remained in the ship till. 13 July 1943, when he was drafted back to HMS Afrikander. Carnarvon Castle sailed off to finish the war as a troopship ferrying service personnel and civilians between New York and Britain.
From 03 May 1944 to 01 May 1945 Withers served at Admiralty House, Simon’s Town where he may have been employed in his civil occupation as barman.
At. the annual assessments throughout his naval service his ‘character’ was consistently recorded as ‘Very Good’, and his efficiency in his rating as A/B ‘Satisfactory’. Though granted his first Good Conduct Badge on 04 September 1942, this was subsequently twice ‘deprived’ and twice ‘restored’.
His secondment to the RN ended on 07 July 1945 and he was transferred to the South African Naval Forces. Withers was discharged from the SANF at the Westlake Dispersal Depot, with demobilisation benefits on 05 November 1946. He had served 07 years and 46 days. He returned to his pre-war occupation as barman, now at the Western Province Sports Club, Kelvin Grove, Newlands and to his home with his wife at 87 Roodebloem Road, Woodstock, Cape Town.
Francis Withers died on 04 April 1967. He had divorced Hildegarde in 1961 and left no will.
Attended the first meeting of the GBOBA in Durban on the 4th April 1938. Bothie nickname “Curly”.
Deceased 16/04/1996.
Born Blantyre, Nyasaland, 3rd March 1918. Son of Hudson Edward and Pauline Ellen Wood. Ed, Durban Boys’ High School. Cadet Draft 1934 – 35 (Chief Cadet Captain). On leaving Genearl Botha, John Claude Hudson Wood became apprenticed to the Prince Line and passed for Second Mate in 1939. In 1941 he joined the RNR and was lost in the submarine HMS Utmost which was sunk by the Italian torpedo boat Groppo off Marittimo on 25th November 1943.
I served with Unicorn Lines as a 3rd Officer until January 1988. Thereafter becoming a landlubber to pursue a career in IT.
An experienced newspaper man and former Natal Mercury journalist, Mr Reginald Philip Woods, 67 died in Johannesburg at the weekend.
Born in Johannesburg, Mr Woods completed his education aboard the merchant navy training ship General Botha.
He served in the merchant navy throughout World War II, mostly on tankers on the North Sea run to Russia, surviving several U-boat torpedo attacks.
Mt Woods’s post-war journalistic career began in Fleet Street where he worked on the London Daily Mirror. After returning to South Africa he worked in various capacities on several newspapers both here and in Zimbabwe.
In the 1950s Mr Woods worked at The Natal Merciry for a number of years as a night news editor and later as a sub-editor before leaving for Johannesburg.
He was a sub-editor on the Star for several years and at the time of his death was financial sub-editor on the Citizen.
He leaves a daughter and a son.
“I did an engineering apprenticeship with the intention of going to sea in the engine room. This plan was scuppered when soon after qualifying I met the girl I was to marry and the sea career seemed less attractive. We lived in the Transvaal (now Gauteng) where I worked in a power station for several years before travelling to England in 1963 for a working holiday. Upon returning to South Africa we settled in East London where we lived until 1977 when we moved to England with our three children. I worked in a winery in Kingston-Upon-Thames, while my wife ran the corner shop we owned. Later I worked for British Rail and retired in 1998 when we moved to Dorset.” Deceased 4th January 2020.
Reported 1964 – Became an American citizen in 1954 and graduated from an American university in 1961. Employed in the United States Customs Department in Washington.
Deceased 11/03/1995
2002 Chief Officer with Hoverspeed – high speed ferry service Dover-Calais.
2006 London Harbour pilot.
Relocated to Australia in May 2012 based in Cairns. Initially coastal pilot with Australian Reef Pilots but now (2020) primarily port pilot at Amrun and Gove. My reef licences still valid and do the occasional reef pilotage. Also a licensed cruise pilot.
Also served with the Maritzburg Fire Brigade.
Joined British tankers as a deck apprentice and obtained his 2nd officers certificate. During the depression in 1936 was unable to obtain a berth at sea, returned to S.A. and joined the Johannesburg Traffic Department in 1937. At the outbreak of WWII in 1939 he joined the South African Air Force, attaining the rank of Captain and awarded the DFC. After WWII he joined his father in Davis Engineering Works in Brakpan (S.A.) and after his father’s death in 1949 he and his brother inherited the firm. Was very active in the MOTH Order, being a founder member of the Cozy-Corner Shell-Hole in Brakpan. Passed away in 1972.
1940 Chief Cadet Captain and awarded the ‘Owen Clough Medal for efficiency and quickness off the mark’. November 1940 joined HMS Cumberland as Midshipman in Simon’s Town. Extensive war service with the R.N. including Russian convoy duties. January 1944 appointed to intelligence operations, promoted to Lieutenant R.N.R and appointed to First Command, ‘Mobile Flotation Unit No 1’. Returned to Rhodesida early 1946 and took up a career in Forestry. 1995 retired and sat on the Board of the Zimbabwean Forestry Commission.
Deceased July 2015.
1998 – joined Pentow Marine in Durban.
2008 tug master with TNPA Durban.
Born 1946. 1965 joined Safmarine as Deck Cadet, SA Seafarer being the first and SA Zebediela the last. Later Chief Officer with Zapata Marine bringing the first oil exploration rig to South African waters. Joined BP in 1970 as Industrial Representative in East London. During 1974, was Coxswain of NSRI Station 7 rescue craft that took 36 crew & 2 pax off SA Oranjeland aground on the East London beach front.Rejoined Safmarine in 1975 in a shore based position as Marine Superintendent, special ships division: SAFTUG. Attended outfitting of Ocean Tugs John Ross & Wolraad Woltemade, as well as three Voith Schneider tugs for Saldanha Bay Harbour and five Kuswag oil pollution patrol vessels. Active in international rig towage, salvage, oil pollution abatement and ship management projects. 1985 Promoted to Executive Manager for SAFTUG.
1986 PENTOW MARINE formed. Appointed Assistant GM.11/87 Provided the marine logistics and navigational infrastructure for the search for SAA Boeing Helderberg off Mauritius.1987 founding member together with SAAF personnel of SASAR. Developed AIDLIFE air deployable liferaft system.1992 appointed Managing Director OCTO Marine, a J/V company with FISH of Paris for West African offshore oil and gas, based in Cape Town.1988 Established offshore tanker terminal for Mossgas (PetroSA) in Mossel Bay.
1993 Designed and owner built at Dorbyl Cape Town, the inland bunker tanker barge PENTOW ENERGY for service in Durban Harbour. 1996 Appointed Commercial Director of Pentow Marine, various projects including logistical support vessels for De Beers out of Port Nolloth, and additional bunker barge, an offshore tanker terminal for the Georgian Pipeline Co in the Black Sea; and together with TELKOM undertook a fibre optic cable maintenance study for the new SAT-3 system that resulted in the ship management contract for the Chamaral. 12/99 SMIT BV of the Netherlands purchases Pentow Marine. Appointed as Business Unit Manager Ports and Terminals, South Africa and Commercial Manager for Smit Area Africa.
1/2002 Appointed CEO of Smit Marine South Africa as well as GM Operations for the Terminals in Nigeria, Gabon and the balance of West Africa.
9/2004 Relinquished GM Terminals Africa position. Focused on BEE and recruited prospective new CEO. Restructured Smit Marine SA into two companies and relinquished position as CEO 10/2005. Directly as well as indirectly involved in 207 salvage operations during the period 1975 through 2008.
Retired 01/2009. Appointed to the SCR (Special Casualty Representative) list at Lloyds that involved me in global salvage operations and added to the total of 79 countries visited, my greatest achievement.
Finally retired 12/2018. Purchased a small ‘lifestyle farm’ (Olives & Figs) on the other side of ‘Towerkop’ in the Klein Swartberg mountain range in the Karoo.Clean air and NIL noise!
Travel and transport certainly go together, in 2001 when flying to London from Toronto to attend one of the last meetings on the IMO Bulk Carrier Safety Group, which resulted in many recommendations and changes to SOLAS, it coincided with 9/11, and we were turned around in short order to fly back to Montreal. I started noticing the plane turning around, when I saw a particular wharf and bend in the St Lawrence river from above turning slowly. This looked just like a chart I remembered. You just never know when chartwork hammered in at Bothy,comes in handy. This event brought in a whole new slew of international requirements on secutity, and it never fails to amaze how many changes shipping has undergone over the years, from new technology to pollution prevention, ballast regulations, security, and shipping corridors for whales, etc.
Retired in 2013 as Manager Marine Safety and Security Cargoes and Ship Port Interface and Port State Control.
Prizes won: second in use of instruments, second in seamanship, first in rule of the road.
Was apprenticed to the Union Castle Company and served in s.s. Dromore Castle.
Born 1st July 1912. Died at New York on 14th november 1930 as result of an accident.
