While we were busy with staff training at the SA Army College we stayed in a officers mess and one of the paintings in the coffee room where of a soldier sitting in a tent reading a letter.
Everyday there were somebody that made a comment of what were written in that letter.
The most pouplar comment were that the troop were given the "bloupas" or the sack. It meant that his girlfriend wrote him a letter telling him that it is over between them.
In those days when you received a letter in a blue envelope then it spells out that your relaitionship were taken a nosedive.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The Black Car
In the old days (1971) the Officer Commanding of the School of Signals had a black Chevrolet as his official car(ampsmotor).
As young Candidate Officers we were very impressed with this car. We thought when we become a Officer Commanding (OC)we will also have such a black car.
When we become OC's years later we had Toyotas - that was before the "subsidie motors" - he system of subsidy cars.
Every morning we watched the OC come into the unit with his Black Car. It was not a nobody pitching up for work - it was a grand entrance. The guard on duty were turned out with rifles etc and they present arms when the car entered.
This were really the days.
For some reason I become hospitilised during those days at the old 1 Mil Hosp. The OC were required to come and visit the sick - it were the drill and it were required frorm the officers as well.
He visisted me and ask about my health and so on. He were standing in his tunic with his red cap and I were the envy of the other troops lying in hospital. I was not someone special - he was doing his work but later years I tried my best to also visit my troops and staff when they were in hospital.
When I looked out the window I saw him climbing in his black car driving off to the School of Signals. I was really impressed with him.
As young Candidate Officers we were very impressed with this car. We thought when we become a Officer Commanding (OC)we will also have such a black car.
When we become OC's years later we had Toyotas - that was before the "subsidie motors" - he system of subsidy cars.
Every morning we watched the OC come into the unit with his Black Car. It was not a nobody pitching up for work - it was a grand entrance. The guard on duty were turned out with rifles etc and they present arms when the car entered.
This were really the days.
For some reason I become hospitilised during those days at the old 1 Mil Hosp. The OC were required to come and visit the sick - it were the drill and it were required frorm the officers as well.
He visisted me and ask about my health and so on. He were standing in his tunic with his red cap and I were the envy of the other troops lying in hospital. I was not someone special - he was doing his work but later years I tried my best to also visit my troops and staff when they were in hospital.
When I looked out the window I saw him climbing in his black car driving off to the School of Signals. I was really impressed with him.
Troop shouting at the top of his voice
One morning when arriving at work(near the old DB) at Voortrekkerhoogte a signalman was standing on top of the guardhouse.
He were shouting very hard" ek moet nie teen die muur *** nie. The meaning of the words were that he must not urinate against the wall of the guardhouse. The RSM caught him redhanded in the act.
Apparantly the RSM found him doing his business against the wall and the solution by the RSM was immediate. To prevent this activity of laziness from the guards as there were a toilet nearby was to let him shout what not to do.
We laughed behind the RSM back but I can assure you that it never happened again.
He were shouting very hard" ek moet nie teen die muur *** nie. The meaning of the words were that he must not urinate against the wall of the guardhouse. The RSM caught him redhanded in the act.
Apparantly the RSM found him doing his business against the wall and the solution by the RSM was immediate. To prevent this activity of laziness from the guards as there were a toilet nearby was to let him shout what not to do.
We laughed behind the RSM back but I can assure you that it never happened again.
Monday, December 27, 2010
HAIR CUTS AT THE INFANTRY SCHOOL
One of the first things that happen to you when you report to the Infantry School is to have a haircut. That were a drill when you went to a course then you go to the barber first thing.
My friend know the drill but he decided he will cut his hair before he report for his course to see if he can escape the drill.
When he reported for his course he said to the Course Leader that he already had a haircut.
The course leader did a short inspection and his words were "beweeg" meaning go to the barber. He had to go and sit and had a haircut.
This is the drill and we still laugh at these little incidents.
My friend know the drill but he decided he will cut his hair before he report for his course to see if he can escape the drill.
When he reported for his course he said to the Course Leader that he already had a haircut.
The course leader did a short inspection and his words were "beweeg" meaning go to the barber. He had to go and sit and had a haircut.
This is the drill and we still laugh at these little incidents.
To Braai or not to Braai
When you are on a veld exercise you normally organise firewood and a "vleisie" just in case you get hungry.Some times you also had some OB's (Old Brown sherry)to chase the cold away.
One evening during a veld exercise in Heidelberg myself and my Staff Sargeant was very hungry and we had the meat and the wood but nothing to put the meat on.
We looked around and we saw that the Landrover had a grill just made for the braai.
We thought hard on this one and after a while decided that it is not such a great idea - how will we be able to explain the obvious fire marks on the grill of the landrover to the transport officer.
My Staff Seargent then had a great idea- what about the shovel - he cleaned it to the best of his ability and then he "sanitised" it over the fire.
The steaks landed on the shovel and I can still taste those steaks today. He could make a plan just as he made a plan when there were work to be done.
I salute the NCO's that I worked with. They were people that you could trust your life with. You worked hard as a team and even the lighter moments is something to remember.
One evening during a veld exercise in Heidelberg myself and my Staff Sargeant was very hungry and we had the meat and the wood but nothing to put the meat on.
We looked around and we saw that the Landrover had a grill just made for the braai.
We thought hard on this one and after a while decided that it is not such a great idea - how will we be able to explain the obvious fire marks on the grill of the landrover to the transport officer.
My Staff Seargent then had a great idea- what about the shovel - he cleaned it to the best of his ability and then he "sanitised" it over the fire.
The steaks landed on the shovel and I can still taste those steaks today. He could make a plan just as he made a plan when there were work to be done.
I salute the NCO's that I worked with. They were people that you could trust your life with. You worked hard as a team and even the lighter moments is something to remember.
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