Remembrance Day 2007, Perth, Western Australia
Report from Garth Pienaar (Regional Chairman, SAMVOA WA) on the Remembrance Day service in Perth.
Remembrance Day was held at the Cenotaph at the Flame of Remembrance in Kings Park, Perth on Sunday, 11 November 2007. This date marks the 89th anniversary since the guns fell silent on the Western Front during World War One.
This was the first conflict to involve soldiers from the Union of South Africa, who were to become known as the "Fighting Springboks" and were to distinguish themselves in German South West Africa, East Africa, Palestine and at the famous battle of Delville Wood during the Battle of the Somme on 15 July 1916.
With the outbreak of World War Two, the fighting spirit of the South Africans was again evident when they fought with distinction during the Battle of Britain, in Somaliland, Abyssinia, Egypt and Italy before returning home in 1945.
In 1950, South Africans of No 2 Squadron the "Flying Cheetahs" distinguished themselves as part of the United Nations forces involved in the Korean War.The "Cheetah" pilots were held in such high regard that the Officer Commanding 18 Fighter-Bomber Wing, United States Air Force issued the following policy directive to ensure that the association between his Wing and the SAAF would not be forgotten. It read:
During the United Nations action in Korea, 2 Squadron South African Air Force served as an integral part of 18 Fighter-Bomber Wing, United States Air Force. In memory of this living evidence of United Nations solidarity and of our gallant South African comrades, it is hereby established as a Wing Policy that all retreat ceremonies shall be preceded by the introductory bars of the South African National Anthem, `Die Stem van Suid Afrika'. All personnel will render the honour to this anthem as our own.
As the "Winds of Change" blew through Africa in the 1960`s, South Africans were once again called to arms in the little known and secretive counter insurgency wars in Rhodesia, South West Africa and in Angola which eventually led to the decisive Battle of Cuito Cuanavale in 1988.
It was in the spirit of remembrance that we laid a wreath on behalf of South Africans of all races, who made the ultimate sacrifice in defence of their country.
This was done with great pride by the SAMVOA Veterans who participated in the parade and I thank them for attending.
Veterans at the parade (from left to right): Peter Colvin, Peter Neunborn, Kenny Currin, Garth Pienaar, Kevin van der Mescht, Ben Opperman, Mark Coldrey and Michael Lord.
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