Tea party photoshoot I had with my daughter just before I cleared out of the #SANavy.

Battle of Sandfontein The Battle of Sandfontein was fought between the Union Defence Force of South Africa and the German Empire on 26 September 1914 at Sandfontein, during the first stage of the South West Africa Campaign of World War I. It ended in a German victory. The outbreak of World War I led to the transfer of the British Imperial garrison from South Africa to France. Expecting the war to finish quickly, many South Africans also departed for Europe, aiming to take part in the combat. The Union Defence Force took the responsibility of independently protecting South Africa from a possible German offensive. In the meantime, prime minister Louis Botha found himself in the middle of a confrontation between pro-British loyalists supporting full involvement in the war and Afrikaner nationalists advocating neutrality. German colonial troops in South West Africa numbered 140 officers, 2,000 regulars, and 2,500 reservists organized into eight mounted companies, a single camel corp, four field batteries, and an air wing. 1,500 policemen and 200 Boer rebels could also be potentially mobilized. The majority of the German army consisted of non Askaris, as the Germans were resented by the African population due to their conduct during the Herero Wars. Despite their unpopularity, the German Schutztruppe was well organized and disciplined. The UDF had the ability to mobilize as many as 100,000 troops, yet it had a heterogeneous structure and lacked experienced staff officers. A large portion of the South African-German borderline consisted of a ragged open desert characterized by the absence of water. The difficult terrain enabled the German army to create a defensive frontier along the line of Windhuk and Keetmanshoop, and troops were also stationed adjacent to the two regional railroads. Having a limited number of troops in his possession, the German commander, Joachim von Heydebreck, ordered his troops to assume defensive positions and observe predefined routes. The area of Sandfontein held high strategic importance due to the presence of the only high-quality water wells in a 75-kilometer radius, thus being a crucial supply point for any large scale operation. The South African military was well aware of the complicated geographic conditions, possessing a variety of prewar journals and reports concerning German southwest Africa's topology. On 7 August 1914, the British government requested Botha to capture the German communication stations of Windhoek, Swakopmund and Lüderitzbucht. On 10 August, following intense negotiations, the Botha government reluctantly agreed to create a volunteer expeditionary force, only after the parliament's approval. Mobilization and troop maneuvers ensued even before the parliament's decision, as the government enforced censorship on the press to suppress the spread of rumors. On 21 August 1914, the expeditionary force took its final form. A column consisting of 1,200 soldiers and six artillery pieces known as Force C was to strike Lüderitzbucht. A column consisting of 1,800 soldiers and eight guns known as Force A would land at Port Nolloth, in support of Force C. Finally, the 1,000-man Force B would invade from the eastern direction, attacking Upington. The plans regarding the invasion were revealed during a 9 September parliament session, gaining approval. On 14 September 1914, South Africa officially entered the war; however, the situation was soon complicated by the outbreak of the Maritz Rebellion the following day. The revolt led to the resignation of several high-ranking commanders involved in the expeditionary force, who now rose in an open rebellion against their former colleagues and had to be hastily replaced. On 12 September 1914, Force A under Brigadier-General Tim Lukin arrived at the border post axis of Raman's Drift, Houms Drift, and Gudous. A week later, the 4th and 5th South Africa Mounted Riflemen regiments penetrated the border capturing Sandfontein. Force A proceeded to disperse, occupying Steinkopf and Raman's Drift, as German troops began concentrating on the eastern border. Sandfontein remained isolated and vulnerable to attack as the area was surrounded by hillocks and narrow sand ridges that could be used during an encirclement maneuver. The German command made full use of its superior intelligence, having previously detained a South African scout and holding the allegiance of the rebellious Force B commander Manie Maritz. Sandfontein's garrison of 120 men was hurriedly reinforced by two squadrons of mounted riflemen, two machine guns, an ambulance, and two thirteen pounder artillery pieces on the early morning of 26 September. A force of 1,700 men, ten artillery batteries, and four machine guns gathered at Warmbad, encompassing Sandfontein on the dawn of 26 September. The German column immediately launched a simultaneous attack from Houms Drift and Warmbad, surprising the defenders. The defenders began engaging the German cavalry that emerged from the northeast when another body of troops suddenly appeared from the southwestern direction. At approximately 8 o'clock, fighting intensified with the beginning of an artillery duel. Enjoying numerical superiority, the German troops struck the unprotected flank and rear of the South Africans, who had lost the capacity of breaking through the encirclement. A South African machine-gun section foiled an infantry rush from the northeast, which intended to capture the battlefield's tallest hillock. At the same time, a German machine gunner approached from the south, killing a large pack of horses and scattering the remains, later destroying an enemy machine-gun position. At 8.30, a second German battery made its appearance, suppressing the South African artillery and slaughtering the second pack of horses stationed nearby. At 10.00, German infantry attempted a second charge from the eastern direction, retreating after suffering heavy casualties. At 11.00 transferred their artillery and machine guns to the southwest, concealing them in the stony outcrops. An hour later, the distance separating the two combatants numbered approximately 550 meters. Around the same time, UDF army commander Colonel R. C. Grant was wounded by machine-gun fire and was substituted by Captain E. J. Welby before again assuming command. Between 13.00 – 14.00, the main body of German troops ceased hostilities to have a meal while bombarding the exhausted South African troops, the majority of whom spent the previous night marching. By 17.00, German troops halved the distance separating them from the South African positions, employing high explosive shells. At around 18.00, the South African troops raised the white flag. German casualties amounted to 14 dead and 46 wounded, while the South Africans lost 16 men dead and 51 wounded.

SA Naval Heritage Day-by-Day. 26 September: 1960 HMS Trespasser (P312) joins the surface vessels participating in the first part of CAPEX 60 off Luanda, Angola; three SAN frigates SAS Vrystaat (F157 - F10 Capt M.R. Terry-Lloyd, Senior Officer Tenth Frigate Squadron), SAS Transvaal (F602) and SAS Good Hope (F432); two RN frigates HMS Lynx (F27) and HMS Puma (F34) plus later RFA Wave Knight (A249), in addition one Portuguese frigate F337 NRP Pacheco Pereira (ex K606 HMS Bigbury Bay). During the exercise just off Lobito, Good Hope’s sonar dome is sheared off. There is initial concern about the possibility that Trespasser had been the cause; however, she surfaces unharmed and safely some distance away. After the diving team from Vrystaat had inspected the damage, Good Hope is sent off alone to return to Simon’s Town and dry-docking. Although all signals referring to this had been classified, somehow the Cape Argus became aware of it and phoned Naval Headquarters well before she entered False Bay to enquire as to what had happened to her. It is believed that the damage was caused by a waterlogged submerged tree stump which had wiped the dome off. 1960 USS Chivo (SS341) arrives in Simon’s Town - 1,823 tons - 84 officers and men. She is the first and only US Naval vessel to ever participate in any of the CAPEX/WTP exercises. Chivo’s base was Charleston, South Carolina, and she arrived in Simon`s Town from Trinidad after a 10-day non-stop crossing. The first words from the Captain when he came ashore were “Who is the President?” - referring to the American Presidential elections of the time. 1964 The third and last of the Type 12 frigates, SAS President Pretorius (Capt J. Johnson), arrives in Cape Town from the UK. (Photo) 1996 SAS Drakensberg (Capt R. Myers) is deployed to transport personnel and equipment to the islands of Tristan da Cunha and Gough on behalf of the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism. PHOTO. SAS President Pretorius arriving Cape Town

HMSAS PROTEA sailing through the Knysna Heads 26 September 1930

On 26 September 2026, let us pause for a minute to remember the following young men from our Generation who answered the Final Roll Call. 26 Sep 1978: 76567023BG Private Jacob Daniel Otto van As from 1 Maintenance Unit was killed in a military vehicle accident at Grootfontein. He was 18. 26 Sep 1981: 70159124KV Captain Noel John Malcolm from 104 Volunteer Air Squadron was killed when his Piper PA-28, Registration ZS-KFN crashed while carrying out an officially authorised SAAF tasking. He was 60. 26 Sep 1982: 80594104CK Private William Henry Ludick from the Army Catering Corps was killed in a Military Vehicle Accident at Kuruman. He was 20. 26 Sep 1985: Special Warrant Officer Jacob Stephanus from the South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Wing: Ops-K Division (Koevoet) was Killed in Action during a contact with SWAPO/PLAN insurgents in Northern Owamboland. He was 39. 26 Sep 1987: 84399393BT Rifleman Rudolf Johannes Badenhorst from Regiment de la Rey was killed in a military vehicle accident while carrying out an unauthorised trip at night near Mooi Plaas in the Kruger National Park. He was doing a compulsory military camp at the time of his death. He was 20. 26 Sep 1988: 86628708BG Gunner Ignatius Wilhelmus Ferreira from 4 Artillery Regiment was killed 9km from Kathu on the Kuruman road when he was hit by a civilian vehicle while assisting to dig out a field gun that was stuck in the sand. The vehicle failed to stop at the accident scene. He was 21. † Their names and sacrifices have not been forgotten † All posts Credit Col (rt) Graham du Toit.

# 26 September 2026 ## Today in History ### 1652 **From the diary of Jan van Riebeeck.** Cape Commander van Riebeeck records that it had rained for virtually the entire night. A reasonably strong northwesterly wind blew during the day. Some of the men complained about the constant hard work they were required to perform. Several were also unhappy about the simple food that was sometimes served to them. That they had good reason to complain appears certain. Van Riebeeck writes that they sometimes received only two meals a day, and that meat days were sometimes replaced with fish. The bread flour used for baking bread was also almost exhausted. For his part, the Commander tried to alleviate the situation by sending men out every day to catch fish. For example, on the previous day **100 steenbras** had been caught, together with a reasonable quantity of **harders**. It later came to light that **Eems Harmen Vogelaer** was the agitator behind the men's dissatisfaction. ### 1653 *From the diary of Jan van Riebeeck.** Dawn brought a cloudy day. Light showers also fell from time to time. No incidents are recorded. ### 1654 **From the diary of Jan van Riebeeck.** The entries for **25 and 26 September 1654** are recorded together under the same date in the diary. The **Gidion**, a jacht, departed for Batavia during the day. Twelve sick sailors were left behind to recover. ### Sunday, 26 September 1655 **From the diary of Jan van Riebeeck.** The wind, as on the previous day, blew from the northwest. Although not recorded verbatim, the day must have been cloudy, since several thunderstorms occurred. ### 1656 **From the diary of Jan van Riebeeck.** Daybreak brought a warm and pleasant day at the Cape. Towards evening the south-southeasterly wind once again began to blow with considerable force. ### 1657 **From the diary of Jan van Riebeeck.** Morning initially brought a cloudy day with soft, penetrating rain. Later the wind began blowing from the north and the day became pleasant. The carpenters aboard the **Rotterdam** requested permission to come ashore. They offered their services free of charge to the Free Burghers to assist with building houses. As their repair work aboard the Rotterdam had been completed, their request was granted. ### 1658 **From the diary of Jan van Riebeeck.** Daybreak brought a cool, cloudy day with rain from time to time. The wind blew constantly from the west. **Doman**, together with three sons of the Cape captain **Osinghkimma**, also known as **Chacher**, arrived at the fort during the day. Four cattle and thirteen sheep were bartered from them. ### 1659 **From the diary of Jan van Riebeeck.** The day is described only as cloudy, with rain from time to time. --- ## Monday, 26 September 1836 **From the diary of Louis Tregardt.** Louis writes that **Carolus** began digging a water furrow from the **(Dorps) River**. A horse named **Soutman** and an ox died during the day. ### Tuesday, 26 September 1837 **From the diary of Louis Tregardt.** Louis writes that the party was ready to trek early in the morning. Louis had just begun to insp an the oxen when he discovered that one of his oxen was missing. At approximately the same time, the party became aware of an uproar at **Albach's ox-wagon**. They would later hear that **Catarijn** had lost one of Albach's horses the previous day. Albach was furious because Catarijn had not immediately informed him of what had happened. In short, it can be said that she received a thorough beating with the leather whip that morning. Shortly after the oxen had been inspanned, Louis rode around the cattle and counted them. There were **five cattle missing**. According to the diary, the party trekked that day as far as **“Oude Sabietaskraal.”** Punt, in *Tregardt se laaste skof*, describes Oude Sabietaskraal as being where present-day **Zebiediela** is situated. ### Tuesday, 26 September 1837 **From the diary of Reverend Erasmus Smit.** The Retief party, as on the previous day, remained at **Liebenberg's Kloof**. Reverend Erasmus Smit describes how another trekking party passed them peacefully and outspanned some distance further ahead. During the morning the reverend visited a boy who was lying sick in a tent. Matters of faith were naturally discussed. According to the reverend, the boy was not prepared to meet his Creator. After the visit, the reverend walked over to where the family of **Adolf Botha** was encamped. All of Botha's children were apparently sick. Reverend Smit describes the distance to where the sick boy was lying as approximately **800 “paces”** from his wagon, while Botha's camp was another approximately **500 paces** further on. Along the way, the reverend used his walking stick to jump across two beautiful streams of water. ### Wednesday, 26 September 1838 **From the diary of Reverend Erasmus Smit.** Disturbing news was received that **Dingaan's “army”** was on the warpath and approaching. **Jakobus Potgieter** and **Jan du Plessis** set out with commandos to investigate. Towards evening, six men were posted as sentries. --- ## 1815 The first orphanage in South Africa, the **South African Orphanage**, was officially inaugurated on this day by Reverend **J.P. Serrurier**. The orphanage was situated in **Long Street, Cape Town**. The first eight children had already been admitted on **2 November 1814**. ## 1897 ### Professor James Leonard Brierley Smith Professor **James Leonard Brierley Smith** was born. He is remembered as the South African **ichthyologist** who identified the **coelacanth**. At the time, the coelacanth was believed to have been extinct. Professor Smith also wrote several books relating to South African marine fish, including ***Smith's Sea Fishes***. --- # Wednesday, 26 September 1900 ## Anglo-Boer War **Day 351 of the war** The **Paardekraal Monument** near Krugersdorp was damaged and broken open by British forces on the orders of **Lord Roberts**. ### Background The Paardekraal Monument owed its “origin” to the annexation of the **South African Republic (Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek)** on **12 April 1877** by **Sir Theophilus Shepstone**. The civilian population, including future President **Paul Kruger**, organised several protests, but without success. Two deputations to Britain, as well as several petition lists opposing the annexation, also achieved little. On **13 December 1880**, approximately **5,000 Boers** gathered at Paardekraal. It was decided that the South African Republic would be restored to its former status. **Heidelberg** was designated as the provisional seat of government and the **Volksraad** was restored. On **14 December**, everyone present placed a stone upon a pile, thereby demonstrating their determination and, as it were, entering into a covenant that, with the help of the Lord, they would regain their freedom. Later, in **June 1888**, it was decided to build a monument over this memorable pile of stones. The design was produced by **Sytze Wierda**, the state architect. The **Paardekraal Monument** was officially and ceremonially unveiled by President **Paul Kruger** on **16 December 1891**. On this day, the railings around the Paardekraal Monument were broken open, the stones were removed and thrown into the **Vaal River**. Only one stone survived, having been saved by **Colonel M.F.M.N. Joudain**. Joudain later presented the stone to the Paardekraal Monument Committee in **1936**. * General **Buller’s** force reached the **Sabie River** and moved north. * Commandant **D.J. Riekert** evacuated **Rustenburg**. Brigadier-General **Cunningham** occupied the town shortly afterwards. --- # Thursday, 26 September 1901 ## Anglo-Boer War **Day 716 of the war** A British fort known as **Fort Prospect**, approximately 15 kilometres east of Fort Itala, was attacked by the Boers. **Captain C.A. Rowley**, with approximately 80 men, was in command. On the Boer side were Generals **Emmet** and **Grobler**. The attack began at **4:15 a.m.** and continued intermittently until evening. Because of the fort's position and its good preparation, the attack was repulsed. On the Boer side there were **two wounded**. On the British side, **nine were wounded and one man was killed**. * Colonel **C.J. Briggs** captured a small commando consisting of 21 men near **Reitz**. * Commandant **Scheepers** shot and killed a coloured spy, one **Zederas**, near **Kruisrivier, Oudtshoorn**. --- ## 1950 **Sasol — the South African Coal, Oil and Gas Corporation —** was registered. Construction of **Sasol 1** took place from **1951 to 1955**. Construction of **Sasol 2** began on **5 December 1974**. I am not familiar with the 2026 statistics, but in **1980 Sasol supplied 30% of the Republic's motor fuel**. This South African achievement can be described as **pioneering work**, especially considering the fact that South Africa was becoming increasingly isolated during that period.

Predictability corrodes competitiveness. If you find yourself in a contested marketplace without the will to act outside your normal patterns, you are not going to win. Sports coaches understand this very well, which is why most of them employ game and opposition analysts to find predictability in opposing teams. If one can isolate these predictable patterns, it becomes much easier to strike hard against it. But then one must take care not to fall into the trap of one's own predictability. Surprise tactics win wars and battles, but always with the end objective in mind. It is not good just to be foolish in the attempt to act surprisingly different. Universally, people find change hard, and the default behaviour is to revert to the known. Companies have missed great opportunities in the face of settling into the "we have always done it this way" scenario. We have ample examples in South Africa alone, where those who were willing to play outside the traditional boundaries managed to completely change the nature of business and muscle in on the competition. To be surprisingly different requires a healthy portion of bravery, coupled with decent intelligence. Fear will force the comfort of the known, but determined intent and strong belief will lay the groundwork for disruption when others least expect it. Great leaders read their environment well and always survey where the boundaries can be pushed. Fear holds back; belief breaks fences and fortifications. Read more about being surprisingly different in our recently published book "On Winning Your Battles", available at selected bookstores or from naledi.co.za.

South African soldier with a captured 9K32 Strela-2 MANPAD, 1980s Border War.

Sa Artillery Live ammunition demonstration

South African Denel Dynamics Seeker UAV in use during the final stages of the South African Border War, 1987-88 period.

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Recces in the 1980s - Italian Beretta SCS70 5.56mm Carbines with attached Aimpoints.

Today, September 25: “This day in our shipwreck and aeronautical wreck history” 1889: Amana, this iron sailing vessel ran aground and wrecked north-east of the Great Fish River mouth in Waterloo Bay in the Eastern Cape. The next morning, against the captain’s orders, a seaman attempted to swim a line ashore, and he drowned. By the 28th lifeboats (from East London according to one source) arrived and saved all those on board. The body of the seaman was recovered, and he was buried in the dunes with a wooden cross to mark his grave. The captain was found to be guilty of gross negligence in navigating the ship.

10 Artillery Brigade was formed in Potchefstroom in 1983, when 4 Field Regiment and 14 Field Regiment were both incorporated as 4 Artillery Regiment and 14 Field Artillery Regiment. 4 Artillery Regiment was located to the old 14 Field Regiment base where the Brigade was established. It provided the base and training facilities as well as National Servicemen gunner training between each regiment on an annual basis.

Talana museum needs your support. The local municipality has not paid the electricity bill for the past 4 months. Eskom has disconnected the power and the museum is in darkness. Visitors are unable to view the exhibits. Temperature and humidity control in the archives is not operational. Despite all sorts of discussions by the Board of Trustees at local, regional and provincial level, nothing has happened to get a commitment from the municipality and the provincial treasury to settle the outstanding bill. It has been suggested to the Trustees by the municipality that they pay the account - R103000.00. We do not have funds of that nature and it is now even worse as we have no income at all and the funds owed to the Board of Trustees by the municipality have not been paid for many many years.