TOPIC:

Hello All,

A few of us Cape Town medal society members flew up to Johannesburg hired a bus and went for a weeks field trip.

We started at the Voortrekker Memorial in Pretoria and Fort Schanskop, from here we went through to AFB Swartkop where I was in my element, I found the aircraft I qualified on back in 1983... Very emotional moment for me.

We then went through to Johannesburg and had a lovely evening and dinner with Michael Kaplan after digging through all his bits and pieces. The following morning was spent at the SA War Museum and then we travelled to Kimberley and spend two nights in the Kimberley Club, what a marvellous place to stay. Whilst in Kimberley we travelled to the blockhouse on the Modder and visited Magerfontein and the Scandinavian Memorial also spent a few hours at the Paardeberg battle field. We took photos of all the Boer and British memorials and graves as well as Colonel Hannay's grave which was something I had wanted to do for years. Spend some time with the MOTHS and also at the McGregor Museum whilst in Kimberley.

Travelled to Bloemfontein and spent a night eating wonderful T-Bone steaks with the locals and the next morning visited President Brand Cemetery.Due to vandalism we were unable to physically walk amongst the graves which was sad but instead we went and visited an old mate, Sgt/Major Marais at the TEMPE School of Armour which was magnificent, Climbed onto a WW2 Sherman tank which served in Italy with the 6th SA Armoured Division. We then went through to the Woman's Memorial and the ABO War Museum.

Finally we travelled to Colesberg and had a great time in the small dusty town.

I have photos of all the British headstones in the cemetery at Paardeburg and those at the Colesberg Cemetery if anyone requires a pic.

Page Two.

Page Three.

Wow! That's quite a field trip!

Page Four

Page Five.

Some photo's of the cliff which was behind the Boer Laager at Paardeberg and also a photo of the staircase in the McGregor Museum.