Life goes on.
As I look back on the last 27 yrs, I wonder what it would have been like if he was still alive 2day. So many times did I wish I could just hold or hug him. More times I wished I could call him. This became worse once my mum passed away. I think its really unfair that we never get to ask them any advice no more. Who would give you better advice than a parent?
I wonder what they would have made of modern day living. (Both my parents passed away before we had mobile phones in Namibia for instance).
I wonder if they would approve of the life I'm living. My mum was so sure I would get married that she even had a wedding present for me already. I have been moving that with me for the last 13 years since she passed away.
I'm very proud of the parents I had, they have left a heritage to be proud of for us to keep safe and to keep alive. Would they approve of the way I'm doing it. Thinking of it.. there was no Internet in Nam then too. But... if I can choose.. even as a 38 yr old woman, I would have rather have my father in my life than the hero who died.
27 Years later, and I can still cry for him. I love you Dad. I hope we will live up to your expectations of us.
My thoughts are with all the families from 61 Mech Btn GP that lost a loved one on that sad day in 1982.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
A Letter Neels Raulstone wrote me about 61Mech and my mum, Tannie Pompies.
Beste Riana
My naam is Neels Raulstone. In 1982 gedurende ops Meebos was ek deel van Transvaalse Staats Artillerie ‘n burgermag eenheid wat die artillerie battery vir 61 Mech gedurende die operasie opgemaak het. Een nag het 61 ‘n hinderlaag gelê op die pad tussen Mupa en Cuvelia. Die manne met die dik brille en baie airials op die ratel het gesê daar is ‘n konfooi op pad om die FAPLA basis by MUPA te hervoorsien.
Ons OP pos was maksimum 4 kilometer vanaf ons maar ons kon op geen manier met mekaar koms kry nie. Ewe skielik was daar ‘n damestem op die radio. Tannie Pompie naby Thumeb het begin om al die radio verkeer te herly tussen die mortier battery en die OP pos. Wat sy daardie tyd van die nag by ‘n radio gedoen het sal nugter alleen weet. Die vuur leidings bevele het 100% reg uitgekom en sy het die nag vir ons gewen. Die konfooi is uitgehaal van die eerste tot die laaste voertuig en ons het eweskielik baie pap, spagetti en vis gehad om saam met die ratpacks te eet.
Na afloop van ops Meebos was ons op pad tussen Ondangwa en Omatia. Die manne het op die radio bespreek wat ons die aand gaan doen om die terug keer na 61 se basis te vier toe Tannie Pompies weer op die lug kom. Sy het baie duidelik geen vertroue gehad in die Army se vermoë om ‘n party te reel nie. Sy wou weet wat het ons om te braai en het in geen ontsekere woorde vir ons vertel dat dit glad nie genoeg was nie en dat die troepe gaan honger ly. Sy het gesê ons moet haar net ‘n paar minute gee om iets te reel. Binne ‘n halfuur was sy weer op die lug en gesê ons moet ‘n voertuig stuur om ‘n bees en twee Koedoes te kom haal wat sy gereel het.
As ek vandag vleis braai dink ek nog altyd terug aan die Tannie wat die lewe vir ons net so ‘n bietjie beter gemaak het sonder om iets terug te gevra het.
Jou ma was defnitief ‘n besondere persoon.
Groete
Neels Raulstone.
My naam is Neels Raulstone. In 1982 gedurende ops Meebos was ek deel van Transvaalse Staats Artillerie ‘n burgermag eenheid wat die artillerie battery vir 61 Mech gedurende die operasie opgemaak het. Een nag het 61 ‘n hinderlaag gelê op die pad tussen Mupa en Cuvelia. Die manne met die dik brille en baie airials op die ratel het gesê daar is ‘n konfooi op pad om die FAPLA basis by MUPA te hervoorsien.
Ons OP pos was maksimum 4 kilometer vanaf ons maar ons kon op geen manier met mekaar koms kry nie. Ewe skielik was daar ‘n damestem op die radio. Tannie Pompie naby Thumeb het begin om al die radio verkeer te herly tussen die mortier battery en die OP pos. Wat sy daardie tyd van die nag by ‘n radio gedoen het sal nugter alleen weet. Die vuur leidings bevele het 100% reg uitgekom en sy het die nag vir ons gewen. Die konfooi is uitgehaal van die eerste tot die laaste voertuig en ons het eweskielik baie pap, spagetti en vis gehad om saam met die ratpacks te eet.
Na afloop van ops Meebos was ons op pad tussen Ondangwa en Omatia. Die manne het op die radio bespreek wat ons die aand gaan doen om die terug keer na 61 se basis te vier toe Tannie Pompies weer op die lug kom. Sy het baie duidelik geen vertroue gehad in die Army se vermoë om ‘n party te reel nie. Sy wou weet wat het ons om te braai en het in geen ontsekere woorde vir ons vertel dat dit glad nie genoeg was nie en dat die troepe gaan honger ly. Sy het gesê ons moet haar net ‘n paar minute gee om iets te reel. Binne ‘n halfuur was sy weer op die lug en gesê ons moet ‘n voertuig stuur om ‘n bees en twee Koedoes te kom haal wat sy gereel het.
As ek vandag vleis braai dink ek nog altyd terug aan die Tannie wat die lewe vir ons net so ‘n bietjie beter gemaak het sonder om iets terug te gevra het.
Jou ma was defnitief ‘n besondere persoon.
Groete
Neels Raulstone.
Monday, September 29, 2008
A painfull walk down memory lane for Jacques Nel.
Wat ons van daardie tyd aan mekaar koppel het begin toe die eenheid opgedeel in twee en ons sou ‘n “opvoering/konsert” wat deur die “dankie tannies” gereel is op Tsumeb bywoon. Almal het mooi gesit en wag vir die tweede helfte van die vertoning om te begin toe die RSM Killer Smit ons uitjaag en beveel om buite aan te tree. Ons almal het gedink hy maak ‘n grap, maar kon sien aan sy tweede opdrag daar is moeilikheid. Dis hoe die operasie vir ons begin het. Ons is in groepe opgedeel en met ratels, kwe-voels op plase afgelaai, 3 of 4 op ‘n keer vir paasbeskerming. ander het eenheid toe gegaan. Op die plaas waar ons afglaai was het die boer net 2 koedoes geskiet, ons moes toe die aand help slag….
Daarvandaan is ek Tsinsebis toe waar my bev my nodig gehad het. Iemand anders is toe in my plek afgelaai.
Ek het nie jou swaer en pa geken nie, maar kan die Ratel wat deur Rpg’s uitgeskiet is en dae lank gebrand het met net twee oorlewendes, die boesman wat voor by die drywer gesit het en die een wat op die spaarwiel agter op die ratel gesit het en landmyn insedente baie goed onthou aangesien ek die dag in Tsinsabis was. Hulle het die kaplyne vir spore gaan vee en ek het die ratel sien wegry uit die basis. Die skok en ongeloof daarvan, die operasie en intensiewe soektog na die sowat 80 Swapo's, die kontakte wat Koevoet en ons magte hulle splintergroepe toegedien het, die Tsumeb vliegveld wat as tydelikke basis ingerig is. Die ratels met groot luidsprekers wat gevangenes se boodskappe uitgebulder het en 120mm mortiere wat die hele nag lank verligting mortiere geskied het om hulle uit te put en aan die beweeg te hou. Die Dakotas wat thunderflashes op lae hoogte uitgegooi het om spore wat net weggeraak het op te spoor. Die allohette gunships wat boom hoogte gevlieg het. Pumas wat vooraad soos ammo,diesel, ratpacks en water ingevlieg het.
Jou verlies was, soos dit deel was van jou, was dit deel van ons almal wat daar was, ons het dit almal aan ons gevoel, maar het dit destyds weggepraat deur weg te kruip agter die frase, “dit was nog nie my beurt nie”
Behalwe die operasies Angola toe kan ek die in die driehoek van die dood goed onthou, paasbeskerming gedoen en in daardie donker Suidwes nag allen waggestaan op die plase, die wonder of jy ooit weer jou familie gaan sien. Dit laat diep merke wat nie uitgevee kan word nie, woede wat nie gemeet kan word nie, wraak wat nie tot uiting kom nie, maar dit verstaan jy beter as ek.
Ook die sihestas van 11 tot 2 in die somer. Die donderweer en reen in die laat middag om alles af te koel. Die vuurwarm stort wat met donkies warm gemaak is. Die eetplek(daardie lekker Suid Wes steaks en koue Windhoek biere en fliek, sokker / rugby veld aan die noorde kant, hek aan die suidekant, wagtorings wat ons self gesweis het en opgerig het……..snaaks hoe jy die swaar dele uitwis en die lekker dinge onthou…
Baie jare nadat ek van Grootfontein terug gevlieg het republiek toe, het ek en my familie in die mooie Namibia gaan vakansie hou. Ons het in Windhoek die museum besoek en vir enigiemand wat daar was en my ervaring op die grens deel sal ek dit nie aanraai nie. Swapo stal dit daar uit asof hulle die oorlog teen ons gewen het. Die woede kan ek nie hier beskryf nie, net dat my vrou 'n week later, toe ons in Etosha vakansie gehou het, skaars 70km van die 61Meg Basis, vir my gese het sy ken nie die mens wat ek op daardie tydstip was nie. Al die emosies, beelde van die oorlog, en die belediging van 'n museum in Windhoek wat se ons het die oorlog verloor.....
Ek kon myself nie sover kry om die basis te gaan besoek nie, ek dink nie ek wou die verval van die eens trotse en effektiewe veggroep ervaar nie.
Een ding sal altyd by my bly en dis ons leier van daardie tyd, Col. De Vries - beste man om voor te loop in 'n oorlog, vra my ek weet. Generaal De Vries is ‘n legende in my oe.
Ek het die vooreg gehad om ‘n paar jaar na die tyd met Visi Admiraal Dries Putter(In my tyd Hoof van die Vloot) te gesels en vrae oor strategie tydens operasies waarby ons betrokke was te vra, oor dinge wat destyds nie sin gemaak het nie. Hy het my 61Meg bevelvoerder persoonlik geken en hom gereken as een van die heel bestes en dit het my met nog meer trtots laat swel diep hierbinne my.
Ek moet net die volgende ook noem van daardie tyd, 61Meg se Infanterie, Pantser en Artillerie , Tiffies, Shefs en Admin se mense en amal wat aan ons kant was, soos jou pa en ma hulle die boere van die driehoek van die dood, was en is van die beste wat daar was en het diep spore in my hart getrap en dit sal vir altyd spesiaal vir my bly.
Een ding is seker, ons het “Generaal De La Rey’s” in eie tyd gehad en ervaar, almal wat daar was en help seker maak die meeste van ons kom terug en vir die wat dit nie gemaak het nie sal ek vir ewig dankbaar wees dat ek en my makkers wel hier is om die storie te vertel en helde soos jou pa en swaer te eer vir hulle opoffering. Lank lewe hulle legende! ! !
Dit bring my terug by die hede: Ek het die voorreg gehad om saam met my seun van 14jaar verlede Sondag na die Ysterplaat lugskou te neem en vir die eerste keer kon ek hom in ‘n ratel laat inklim(drywers sitplek, Bevelvoerder sitplek, Gunner sitplek) en presies verduidelik waarvoor al die 1000 knoppies was, snaaks hoe vinnig als weer terugkom al is 30jaar al weer verby. Vir die omanne, net die wapentuig het verander, die res is nog dieselfde, behalwe die nuwe ratels sal flikkerligte, sirens en spiels stukkend ry die eerste keer as hulle moet visgraad of bundu bach…….
Ek kon hom ook die lidtekens op my vingers wys waar die 61 Meg ratel se drywers hatch wat teen die 20mm kanon geleun het en toe, toe geval het toe ek die turret draai om in te klim om die radio’s aan te skakel een oggend in Angola en dit alles oor opofferings wat mense soos jou pa en swaer en ander helde selfs die wat nie gesneuwel het nie vir ons gemaak het.
Riana, dankie vir jou en jou familie en die opoffering wat julle moes maak ek en die ander troepe wat daar was waardeer dit elke dag.
Aan al my 61 Meg makkers wil ek net se, manne dit was 'n voorreg, dankie.
Jacques Nel
Sersant
Kaapveld Artillerie
14 Veld Regement
Daarvandaan is ek Tsinsebis toe waar my bev my nodig gehad het. Iemand anders is toe in my plek afgelaai.
Ek het nie jou swaer en pa geken nie, maar kan die Ratel wat deur Rpg’s uitgeskiet is en dae lank gebrand het met net twee oorlewendes, die boesman wat voor by die drywer gesit het en die een wat op die spaarwiel agter op die ratel gesit het en landmyn insedente baie goed onthou aangesien ek die dag in Tsinsabis was. Hulle het die kaplyne vir spore gaan vee en ek het die ratel sien wegry uit die basis. Die skok en ongeloof daarvan, die operasie en intensiewe soektog na die sowat 80 Swapo's, die kontakte wat Koevoet en ons magte hulle splintergroepe toegedien het, die Tsumeb vliegveld wat as tydelikke basis ingerig is. Die ratels met groot luidsprekers wat gevangenes se boodskappe uitgebulder het en 120mm mortiere wat die hele nag lank verligting mortiere geskied het om hulle uit te put en aan die beweeg te hou. Die Dakotas wat thunderflashes op lae hoogte uitgegooi het om spore wat net weggeraak het op te spoor. Die allohette gunships wat boom hoogte gevlieg het. Pumas wat vooraad soos ammo,diesel, ratpacks en water ingevlieg het.
Jou verlies was, soos dit deel was van jou, was dit deel van ons almal wat daar was, ons het dit almal aan ons gevoel, maar het dit destyds weggepraat deur weg te kruip agter die frase, “dit was nog nie my beurt nie”
Behalwe die operasies Angola toe kan ek die in die driehoek van die dood goed onthou, paasbeskerming gedoen en in daardie donker Suidwes nag allen waggestaan op die plase, die wonder of jy ooit weer jou familie gaan sien. Dit laat diep merke wat nie uitgevee kan word nie, woede wat nie gemeet kan word nie, wraak wat nie tot uiting kom nie, maar dit verstaan jy beter as ek.
Ook die sihestas van 11 tot 2 in die somer. Die donderweer en reen in die laat middag om alles af te koel. Die vuurwarm stort wat met donkies warm gemaak is. Die eetplek(daardie lekker Suid Wes steaks en koue Windhoek biere en fliek, sokker / rugby veld aan die noorde kant, hek aan die suidekant, wagtorings wat ons self gesweis het en opgerig het……..snaaks hoe jy die swaar dele uitwis en die lekker dinge onthou…
Baie jare nadat ek van Grootfontein terug gevlieg het republiek toe, het ek en my familie in die mooie Namibia gaan vakansie hou. Ons het in Windhoek die museum besoek en vir enigiemand wat daar was en my ervaring op die grens deel sal ek dit nie aanraai nie. Swapo stal dit daar uit asof hulle die oorlog teen ons gewen het. Die woede kan ek nie hier beskryf nie, net dat my vrou 'n week later, toe ons in Etosha vakansie gehou het, skaars 70km van die 61Meg Basis, vir my gese het sy ken nie die mens wat ek op daardie tydstip was nie. Al die emosies, beelde van die oorlog, en die belediging van 'n museum in Windhoek wat se ons het die oorlog verloor.....
Ek kon myself nie sover kry om die basis te gaan besoek nie, ek dink nie ek wou die verval van die eens trotse en effektiewe veggroep ervaar nie.
Een ding sal altyd by my bly en dis ons leier van daardie tyd, Col. De Vries - beste man om voor te loop in 'n oorlog, vra my ek weet. Generaal De Vries is ‘n legende in my oe.
Ek het die vooreg gehad om ‘n paar jaar na die tyd met Visi Admiraal Dries Putter(In my tyd Hoof van die Vloot) te gesels en vrae oor strategie tydens operasies waarby ons betrokke was te vra, oor dinge wat destyds nie sin gemaak het nie. Hy het my 61Meg bevelvoerder persoonlik geken en hom gereken as een van die heel bestes en dit het my met nog meer trtots laat swel diep hierbinne my.
Ek moet net die volgende ook noem van daardie tyd, 61Meg se Infanterie, Pantser en Artillerie , Tiffies, Shefs en Admin se mense en amal wat aan ons kant was, soos jou pa en ma hulle die boere van die driehoek van die dood, was en is van die beste wat daar was en het diep spore in my hart getrap en dit sal vir altyd spesiaal vir my bly.
Een ding is seker, ons het “Generaal De La Rey’s” in eie tyd gehad en ervaar, almal wat daar was en help seker maak die meeste van ons kom terug en vir die wat dit nie gemaak het nie sal ek vir ewig dankbaar wees dat ek en my makkers wel hier is om die storie te vertel en helde soos jou pa en swaer te eer vir hulle opoffering. Lank lewe hulle legende! ! !
Dit bring my terug by die hede: Ek het die voorreg gehad om saam met my seun van 14jaar verlede Sondag na die Ysterplaat lugskou te neem en vir die eerste keer kon ek hom in ‘n ratel laat inklim(drywers sitplek, Bevelvoerder sitplek, Gunner sitplek) en presies verduidelik waarvoor al die 1000 knoppies was, snaaks hoe vinnig als weer terugkom al is 30jaar al weer verby. Vir die omanne, net die wapentuig het verander, die res is nog dieselfde, behalwe die nuwe ratels sal flikkerligte, sirens en spiels stukkend ry die eerste keer as hulle moet visgraad of bundu bach…….
Ek kon hom ook die lidtekens op my vingers wys waar die 61 Meg ratel se drywers hatch wat teen die 20mm kanon geleun het en toe, toe geval het toe ek die turret draai om in te klim om die radio’s aan te skakel een oggend in Angola en dit alles oor opofferings wat mense soos jou pa en swaer en ander helde selfs die wat nie gesneuwel het nie vir ons gemaak het.
Riana, dankie vir jou en jou familie en die opoffering wat julle moes maak ek en die ander troepe wat daar was waardeer dit elke dag.
Aan al my 61 Meg makkers wil ek net se, manne dit was 'n voorreg, dankie.
Jacques Nel
Sersant
Kaapveld Artillerie
14 Veld Regement
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Help for those who survived..
Hello guys,
I hope this wil find you all well. The topic im gonna bring up today is something we would rather not talk about.
For a long time now Im in a bit of a struggle with the blog. I feel we can honour our departed loved ones and we are doing that here! But what about the ones that survived?? I feel I want to help the very people who have made this blog as great as it is today. We are left with scars and wounds, and now im not talking bout the kind we can see, Im referring to the phychological scars and wounds we r trying to cope with on a daily basis.
Through this blog I've met many men who have been on the border. Many of them writing to me telling me about how hard this blog have hit them for the sole reason that they have been trying for so long to block out and forget about the stuff Im writing here.
I have been a sufferer of PTSD, thats Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I dont say I can help, but what im saying is this: Ive found that writing about its all made it better for
me. In a way that is why i have this blog. I've done some reasearch on the net and have chatted to other war veterans who are suffering from this, and from many of them I've heard the same. Writing HELP!!
So this is my plan, im going to open up the blog for anyone who want to share. I will stil go on with the blog in the way ive done so far, but I want anyone who feels that they need to write about any experience, to do it here. I know it is not easy for men to talk about these stuff face to face, but even if you dont post it here under comments, or you dont mail it to me to post it on here, WRITE!!! YOU dont have to add your name, as long as you write!!
I have found a forum, I will leave you the url. Maybe some of you would rather use that.
http://www.militaryimages.net/forums/search.php?searchid=77727
http://www.militaryimages.net/forums/links/misc.php?do=linktous
This is just may way of helping, if any of you have better ideas I would be very happy to hear from you.
I hope this wil find you all well. The topic im gonna bring up today is something we would rather not talk about.
For a long time now Im in a bit of a struggle with the blog. I feel we can honour our departed loved ones and we are doing that here! But what about the ones that survived?? I feel I want to help the very people who have made this blog as great as it is today. We are left with scars and wounds, and now im not talking bout the kind we can see, Im referring to the phychological scars and wounds we r trying to cope with on a daily basis.
Through this blog I've met many men who have been on the border. Many of them writing to me telling me about how hard this blog have hit them for the sole reason that they have been trying for so long to block out and forget about the stuff Im writing here.
I have been a sufferer of PTSD, thats Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I dont say I can help, but what im saying is this: Ive found that writing about its all made it better for
me. In a way that is why i have this blog. I've done some reasearch on the net and have chatted to other war veterans who are suffering from this, and from many of them I've heard the same. Writing HELP!!
So this is my plan, im going to open up the blog for anyone who want to share. I will stil go on with the blog in the way ive done so far, but I want anyone who feels that they need to write about any experience, to do it here. I know it is not easy for men to talk about these stuff face to face, but even if you dont post it here under comments, or you dont mail it to me to post it on here, WRITE!!! YOU dont have to add your name, as long as you write!!
I have found a forum, I will leave you the url. Maybe some of you would rather use that.
http://www.militaryimages.net/forums/search.php?searchid=77727
http://www.militaryimages.net/forums/links/misc.php?do=linktous
This is just may way of helping, if any of you have better ideas I would be very happy to hear from you.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Picture of Mum receiving the HC from Magnus Malan
As we all know Dad died doing his duty to his country and not like the article state, defending his family. This was mailed to me by Derek Walker. Thank U Derek.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
61 Mech getting disbanded, The Last Parade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8aOknEyZIA
This is the link to a video ive found on UTUBE about the disbandment of 61 Mech..
I found it touching.
This is the link to a video ive found on UTUBE about the disbandment of 61 Mech..
I found it touching.
Monday, December 17, 2007
61 Mech Blog is one year old 2day.
Good evening friends
Its a year today that the blog is online. Once agian I want to thank Neville for his help and I want to thank every single one of you that have been here and a very big thanks to all the guys who have mailed me.
Ive had so many responces and Im glad to say I know much more now about the day we had our big loss than I did a year ago. It came at the right time, I was ready to learn the full story. Im glad to have made contact with Oom Roland de Vries again. Im glad to have made contact with every single person who have mailed me.
I hope to get more input in the year to come and that we could get the blog to be a place where old friends meet and exchange stories.
Mech greetings and a wonderfull festive season for all of you.
Riana
Its a year today that the blog is online. Once agian I want to thank Neville for his help and I want to thank every single one of you that have been here and a very big thanks to all the guys who have mailed me.
Ive had so many responces and Im glad to say I know much more now about the day we had our big loss than I did a year ago. It came at the right time, I was ready to learn the full story. Im glad to have made contact with Oom Roland de Vries again. Im glad to have made contact with every single person who have mailed me.
I hope to get more input in the year to come and that we could get the blog to be a place where old friends meet and exchange stories.
Mech greetings and a wonderfull festive season for all of you.
Riana
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Great picture of 61 Mech in action.
This picture of 61 Mech during an excersize just before disbandment was sent to me by Jaco Marais.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
6 July 1995
Hello Friends
We all know about 15 April '82, but I have not told you about 6 July '95 yet.
That is the day my Mum( Tannie Pompie) passed away. She was a diabetic for a very long time, and those of you that met her would remember her being a chain smoker too.
We moved to the coast Jan '94.My sister Olivia and her family went to live in Hentiesbay and I came to live in Swakopmund. On Olivia's invite and insistance she went to live with them in Hentiesbay. I cant recall how long she lived there, but it wasn't very long, I dont think 6 months, when she moved back in with me. We came a long way and understood each other best of all.
She moved in and shortly after that she started to fall into diabetic comas. After one very bad one where she was in the coma for quite a long time she just stopped walking. I tried everything to get her to walk, so did my sisters, but to no avail.
She spent a long period in the hospital over new years of '94.
She deteriorated very fast after that, and became totally bedridden. She lost a lot of weight and her health became worse by the day.
The night of the 5th of July was a nightmare. When I came from work I could see she was not well. My eldest sister Retha and her family came around to visit her. They live in Swakop aswell. We all sat in her bedroom, she was laying down, she allways sat up in bed when she had visitors, but that night she was too poorly. We all tried to make jokes, that's allways been our way of dealing with stress and hardship. She didnt say much in all the time they were there, all I can remember her saying was to tell my sister to look after me.
After they have gone I tested her glucose levels, and it was even higher than earlier that evening. We didnt sleep that night, she was restless and I brought myself a matress in and tried to sleep but couldn't. By 5 the next morning I had her ready to go to hospital. I called the docter who told me to take her to hospital. The ambulance came to pick her up and by 7 she was in hospital and I felt better, even relaxed a bit.
Around 8 I left her in the capable hands of the hospital staff and went home, and then to work. I opend up my business and saw that everything was going well and went back to hospital. When I arrived there she was in a coma again.I sat with her until my sister arrived and the doctor took us out to tell us this was to be the end. The hospital sister came rushing in to call the doc and he told me sit with her and hold her hand. At around 9.30 the morning of the 6th of July 1995 I lost my mother and the world lost a legend. I can't bring her flowers anymore, but I can make sure she lives on in our hearts and memories forever.
I love you Mum!! And miss you everyday.
We all know about 15 April '82, but I have not told you about 6 July '95 yet.
That is the day my Mum( Tannie Pompie) passed away. She was a diabetic for a very long time, and those of you that met her would remember her being a chain smoker too.
We moved to the coast Jan '94.My sister Olivia and her family went to live in Hentiesbay and I came to live in Swakopmund. On Olivia's invite and insistance she went to live with them in Hentiesbay. I cant recall how long she lived there, but it wasn't very long, I dont think 6 months, when she moved back in with me. We came a long way and understood each other best of all.
She moved in and shortly after that she started to fall into diabetic comas. After one very bad one where she was in the coma for quite a long time she just stopped walking. I tried everything to get her to walk, so did my sisters, but to no avail.
She spent a long period in the hospital over new years of '94.
She deteriorated very fast after that, and became totally bedridden. She lost a lot of weight and her health became worse by the day.
The night of the 5th of July was a nightmare. When I came from work I could see she was not well. My eldest sister Retha and her family came around to visit her. They live in Swakop aswell. We all sat in her bedroom, she was laying down, she allways sat up in bed when she had visitors, but that night she was too poorly. We all tried to make jokes, that's allways been our way of dealing with stress and hardship. She didnt say much in all the time they were there, all I can remember her saying was to tell my sister to look after me.
After they have gone I tested her glucose levels, and it was even higher than earlier that evening. We didnt sleep that night, she was restless and I brought myself a matress in and tried to sleep but couldn't. By 5 the next morning I had her ready to go to hospital. I called the docter who told me to take her to hospital. The ambulance came to pick her up and by 7 she was in hospital and I felt better, even relaxed a bit.
Around 8 I left her in the capable hands of the hospital staff and went home, and then to work. I opend up my business and saw that everything was going well and went back to hospital. When I arrived there she was in a coma again.I sat with her until my sister arrived and the doctor took us out to tell us this was to be the end. The hospital sister came rushing in to call the doc and he told me sit with her and hold her hand. At around 9.30 the morning of the 6th of July 1995 I lost my mother and the world lost a legend. I can't bring her flowers anymore, but I can make sure she lives on in our hearts and memories forever.
I love you Mum!! And miss you everyday.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Sktr. I.J.Visser, ook bekend as Izak Visser
Ek het gisterand met my swaer gesels, dis nou Izak Visser. Baie van julle sal hom onthou, hy was altyd saam met met pa en Hendrik. Hy het nie baie van skoene gehou nie, en was altyd kaalvoet. Hulle (hy en my suster Olivia) het my blog gelees.
Hy was ook die dag saam met Hendrik en my pa toe hulle die noodlottige skermutseling gehad het. Gelukkig vir ons was hy in die ander groep en nie in die ratel waarin Hendrik en pa was nie.
Hulle onthou baie beter as ek en hy het gese hy sal ook graag n bydrae wil lewer tot die blog, waarvoor ek ek baie dankbaar is.
Hubie, jy sal hom seker onthou, hy dra 'n baard en brille.
Hy se baie van dit wat hy gelees het is honderd persent korrek, en het veral gepraat van jou brief Hubie.
Die blog is nou n bietie stil en ek sal maar weer begin gesels met julle tot ek weer bydraes kry van mense.
Ek wil ook weer van die geleentheid gebruik maak om vir julle almal baie dankie te se vir dit wat ek reeds van julle gekry het, en vir die mense wat graag wil bydra vra om my assbelief te kontak by my adres: rvdwesthuizenatgmail.com (vervang die at met 'n @).
Vriendelike groete
Riana van der Westhuizen
Hy was ook die dag saam met Hendrik en my pa toe hulle die noodlottige skermutseling gehad het. Gelukkig vir ons was hy in die ander groep en nie in die ratel waarin Hendrik en pa was nie.
Hulle onthou baie beter as ek en hy het gese hy sal ook graag n bydrae wil lewer tot die blog, waarvoor ek ek baie dankbaar is.
Hubie, jy sal hom seker onthou, hy dra 'n baard en brille.
Hy se baie van dit wat hy gelees het is honderd persent korrek, en het veral gepraat van jou brief Hubie.
Die blog is nou n bietie stil en ek sal maar weer begin gesels met julle tot ek weer bydraes kry van mense.
Ek wil ook weer van die geleentheid gebruik maak om vir julle almal baie dankie te se vir dit wat ek reeds van julle gekry het, en vir die mense wat graag wil bydra vra om my assbelief te kontak by my adres: rvdwesthuizenatgmail.com (vervang die at met 'n @).
Vriendelike groete
Riana van der Westhuizen
Friday, June 15, 2007
Nostalgiese brief van Ferdi
Hi Riana
Oom Daan en Tannie Pompie was so deel van 61 Meg soos almal van ons. En die van ons wat in daardie tyd deel van die bataljon was, onthou hulle met agting en respek.
Ek het heel per ongeluk op jou blog afgekom, en dit het 'n vloed van herinneringe wakker gemaak -- dinge wat ek eintlik al wou vergeet, of hard probeer het om te vergeet. Maar 'n mens kan nie, dis deel van jou... vir altyd.
Ek was saam met Hubrecht van Dalsen (het gesien hy was al in kontak met jou) en Ariel Hugo (ek het sy bydrae ook gelees) van November 1980 tot Oktober 1981 by 61 Meg. Hubrecht was saam met my (en Etienne Gilbert) die peletonbevelvoerders van Charlie kompanie en ons het onder meer aan Ops Protea deelgeneem.
Daarna het ek nog twee "kampe" saam met 61 gedoen -- einde 1982 (met Ops Meebos), en einde 1983 tot Februarie 1984 (Ops Askari).
Een van my heel eerste operasionele take (dit was in Desember 1980, as ek reg onthou) was om die kaplyne rondom Tsintsabis te patrolleer, en op pad daarheen is ons getaak om by julle plaas aan te doen (ek dink dit was om 'n spoorsnyer op te tel en voorrade af te laai).
Dit was laatmiddag en ek onthou nog die groot heinings en die antennas en 'n jong meisie onder die bome speel (waarskynlik jy). Ek onthou ook ek het baie respek gehad vir hierdie mense wat te midde van die gevaar steeds op die plaas gebly het.
Ook onthou ek hoe verbaas ek aanvanklik was om 'n vrou op die army radionetwerk te hoor, maar later het ek menige boodskappe deur Tannie Pompie laat herlei terwyl ons met kaplyn patrollie besig was.
Snaaks genoeg, ek het jou pa 'n paar keer vlugtig op Omuthiya gesien, maar nooit werklik ontmoet nie. Daaroor is ek nou nog jammer, want ek het eers einde 1982 met my eerste kamp verneem wat met hom (en die res van die Ratel bemanning) op daardie dag in April gebeur het.
Terloops, soos ek dit het, was die boer met die vliegtuig 'n Duitser (kan ook nie sy naam onthou nie) wat vir hom twee AK's onder die vlerke van sy Piper Cherokee laat aanbring het, en 'n gat onder die stuurkajuit gemaak het sodat hy handgranate daardeur kan gooi.
Ek wil jou geluk wens met jou blog. Dis 'n wonderlike manier om nagedagtenis aan twee wonderlike mense lewendig te hou, asook om herinneringe te kan deel oor 'n tydperk in ons lewens wat verreikende gevolge vir ons almal gehad het.
Sterkte
Ferdi de Vos
* Hier is n foto van die vliegtuig, Ferdie Pieterse was so oulik om dit vir my te stuur.
n Brief van Roland de Vries - Bevelvoerder van 61 Mech in '82
Beste Riana,
Baie dankie vir jou E-pos. Dit was 'n groot en lekker verrassing. Dit het beelde wat nog baie duidelik in my kop is weer na vore gebring: 'n Baie oulike klein dogtertjie; jou ma voor die radios in die kombuis op Koedoesvlei ; jou ma in die dam (rok en al); jou pa en sy span besig op 'n Ratel....
Ek kan begryp hoe jy oor jou pa voel. Die oorlog het nie een van ons onaangeraak gelaat nie. Hy was 'n wonderlike, entoesiastiese en lojale persoon. 'n Man wat leierskap en toewyding in die ware sin van die woord verstaan en uitgeleef het. Hy was 'n held by wie ek baie geleer het. Iemand wat die lewe vir my baie makliker gemaak het daar bo, iemand wat jy ten alle tye kon vertrou. Ek kan nog presies onthou waar ek gesit het en hoe ek gevoel het toe ek sy sitaat vir die Honores Crux geskryf het.
Jou ma was 'self n vrou wat vele lewens gered het deur op kritiese oomblikke in die geveg, diep in Angola, deur te gee, as sy agterkom ons sukkel met komms. Sy het ook altyd geweet presies waar almal is en het ons dikwels aanmekaar gehou met haar radios.
Stuur asseblief groete aan almal. Ons moet beslis kontak hou, veral met 61 Meg se reunie, die boek wat ons wil skryf en die assosiasie wat ons wil stig. Ek het vir Ariel gevra om met jou te praat oor die moontlikheid om Augustus by ons in Caledon aan te sluit vir die beplanning.
As 'n nagedagte, jammer dat ek nou eers jou e-pos antwoord maar was uitstedig met 'n projek. Ek sal beslis sommer nou na die web blad kyk.
Meg groete - vertrou ons sal mekaar spoedig weer sien.
Liefde
Roland
Baie dankie vir jou E-pos. Dit was 'n groot en lekker verrassing. Dit het beelde wat nog baie duidelik in my kop is weer na vore gebring: 'n Baie oulike klein dogtertjie; jou ma voor die radios in die kombuis op Koedoesvlei ; jou ma in die dam (rok en al); jou pa en sy span besig op 'n Ratel....
Ek kan begryp hoe jy oor jou pa voel. Die oorlog het nie een van ons onaangeraak gelaat nie. Hy was 'n wonderlike, entoesiastiese en lojale persoon. 'n Man wat leierskap en toewyding in die ware sin van die woord verstaan en uitgeleef het. Hy was 'n held by wie ek baie geleer het. Iemand wat die lewe vir my baie makliker gemaak het daar bo, iemand wat jy ten alle tye kon vertrou. Ek kan nog presies onthou waar ek gesit het en hoe ek gevoel het toe ek sy sitaat vir die Honores Crux geskryf het.
Jou ma was 'self n vrou wat vele lewens gered het deur op kritiese oomblikke in die geveg, diep in Angola, deur te gee, as sy agterkom ons sukkel met komms. Sy het ook altyd geweet presies waar almal is en het ons dikwels aanmekaar gehou met haar radios.
Stuur asseblief groete aan almal. Ons moet beslis kontak hou, veral met 61 Meg se reunie, die boek wat ons wil skryf en die assosiasie wat ons wil stig. Ek het vir Ariel gevra om met jou te praat oor die moontlikheid om Augustus by ons in Caledon aan te sluit vir die beplanning.
As 'n nagedagte, jammer dat ek nou eers jou e-pos antwoord maar was uitstedig met 'n projek. Ek sal beslis sommer nou na die web blad kyk.
Meg groete - vertrou ons sal mekaar spoedig weer sien.
Liefde
Roland
Monday, May 14, 2007
61 Mech gaan reunie hou!
Beste Riana,
Ek het op jou Blog afgekom via Hubrecht van Dalsen. Hy was teenwoordig die
dag toe jou vader en swaer noodlottig gewond is en het blykbaar reeds met
jou kontak gehad. Ek en hy is tydgenote en was saam jong offisiere in 61. My
tyd het gestrek van November 1980 tot Desember 198 en syne tot in 1982.
In elke geval, min dinge roer ons verlede in dieselfde mate as juis die
trots en passie waarmee jongmense hierdie formidabele eenheid gedien het
nie. Die eenheid is amptelik in Januarie 1979 gestig - soos jy weet - en ons
(die leiergroep van 80/81) is besig om 'n reunie vir iewers in 2008
aanmekaar te slaan. Ons plan 'n hoë vlak affêre met al die oud bevelvoerders
betrokke. Generaal Roland de Vries (2 de bevelvoerder van die eenheid) is
deel van die komitee en doen tans skakelwerk met die "establishment". Een
van ons lede is besig om 'n amptelike 61 webblad te ontwikkel waarop alle
oud lede sal kan registreer en beslis iemand soos jy ook. Deur die medium
beoog ons om alle belanghebbendes dan bymekaar te trek vir ons reunie.
Gegewe die netwerk van 61 lede wat jy oor die jare ontwikkel het, wil ek
graag versoek of jy so gaaf sal wees om jou netwerk te begin aktiveer mbt
die reunie. Ons eerste beplanningsvergadering is op 10 + 11 Augustus naby
Kaapstad te Caledon, my tuisdorp. Sodra ek meer detail het sal ek dit vir
jou aanstuur.
Al is dit 25 jaar en enkele dae later wat jy jou vader verloor het - hiermee
my innige meegevoel en ek hoop ons kan mekaar eendag in die oë kyk.
Baie sterkte en weet 61 was die beste!
Groete
Ariël Hugo
Marketing manager: Europe
Katope Fruit Exports (Pty) Ltd
Somerset West
South Africa
Tel: 00 21 851 5272
Fax: 00 21 852 4676
Mobile: 00 83 700 5323
Email: ariel@katopefruit.co.za
Ek het op jou Blog afgekom via Hubrecht van Dalsen. Hy was teenwoordig die
dag toe jou vader en swaer noodlottig gewond is en het blykbaar reeds met
jou kontak gehad. Ek en hy is tydgenote en was saam jong offisiere in 61. My
tyd het gestrek van November 1980 tot Desember 198 en syne tot in 1982.
In elke geval, min dinge roer ons verlede in dieselfde mate as juis die
trots en passie waarmee jongmense hierdie formidabele eenheid gedien het
nie. Die eenheid is amptelik in Januarie 1979 gestig - soos jy weet - en ons
(die leiergroep van 80/81) is besig om 'n reunie vir iewers in 2008
aanmekaar te slaan. Ons plan 'n hoë vlak affêre met al die oud bevelvoerders
betrokke. Generaal Roland de Vries (2 de bevelvoerder van die eenheid) is
deel van die komitee en doen tans skakelwerk met die "establishment". Een
van ons lede is besig om 'n amptelike 61 webblad te ontwikkel waarop alle
oud lede sal kan registreer en beslis iemand soos jy ook. Deur die medium
beoog ons om alle belanghebbendes dan bymekaar te trek vir ons reunie.
Gegewe die netwerk van 61 lede wat jy oor die jare ontwikkel het, wil ek
graag versoek of jy so gaaf sal wees om jou netwerk te begin aktiveer mbt
die reunie. Ons eerste beplanningsvergadering is op 10 + 11 Augustus naby
Kaapstad te Caledon, my tuisdorp. Sodra ek meer detail het sal ek dit vir
jou aanstuur.
Al is dit 25 jaar en enkele dae later wat jy jou vader verloor het - hiermee
my innige meegevoel en ek hoop ons kan mekaar eendag in die oë kyk.
Baie sterkte en weet 61 was die beste!
Groete
Ariël Hugo
Marketing manager: Europe
Katope Fruit Exports (Pty) Ltd
Somerset West
South Africa
Tel: 00 21 851 5272
Fax: 00 21 852 4676
Mobile: 00 83 700 5323
Email: ariel@katopefruit.co.za
Sunday, April 15, 2007
15 April 2007
Hallo Vriende,
Vandag is 25 jaar nadat 61 Mech n massiewe verlies gely het op die grens. Nie net het ek en my familie n man, pa en swaer verloor nie, maar baie ander mense is ook geraak deur die gebeure van daardie dag.
Ek wil graag hier vra dat almal wat voel om eninge bydrae te maak tot die blog my asseblief sal mail by die addres wat julle by die blog sal vind.
Hulle se tyd heel alle wonde, dis korrek, maar op dae soos die 15 de April en ander spesiale dae in my lewe kom my besige lewe amper tot n stilstand en dan moet ek tyd neem om te dink aan 25 jaar terug.Ek is nie meer die kind wat ek daardie tyd was nie, maar tog op dae soos vandag is dit asof ek al die selfde emosies ervaar wat ek daardie tyd gevoel het.
My doel met die blog is nie net om die dag waarop ons ons mense verloor het te gedenk nie, vir my is dit meer om die lewens wat hulle gely het en die dade wat hulle gedoen het wat hulle vir altyd in ons herhinneringe sal laat voortleef te herdenk en te verewig.
Daarom wil ek n uitnodiging aan almal gee wat die blog besoek en voel dat hulle iets wil bydrae om my asseblief te kontak met hulle stories, of sommer onder "comments" ietse te los..
Aan almal wat al die blog besoek het en vir my gemail het, BAIE DANKIE!!Ek wil julle vra om my asseblief te help om die blog uit te brei, die wat my ouers geken het en wil bydraes lewer..asseblief doen so.Die ouens wat in 61 Mech was en stories het wat hulle graag wil vertel,asseblief stuur dit aan, ek sal dit opsit.Die blog is nie net my blog nie, maar almal wat iets het is vry om dit te vertel.Ons het n geleentheid en voorreg om ons geliefdes se nagedagtenis lewindig te hou..laat ons die beste daarvan maak.
Groete,
Riana
Vandag is 25 jaar nadat 61 Mech n massiewe verlies gely het op die grens. Nie net het ek en my familie n man, pa en swaer verloor nie, maar baie ander mense is ook geraak deur die gebeure van daardie dag.
Ek wil graag hier vra dat almal wat voel om eninge bydrae te maak tot die blog my asseblief sal mail by die addres wat julle by die blog sal vind.
Hulle se tyd heel alle wonde, dis korrek, maar op dae soos die 15 de April en ander spesiale dae in my lewe kom my besige lewe amper tot n stilstand en dan moet ek tyd neem om te dink aan 25 jaar terug.Ek is nie meer die kind wat ek daardie tyd was nie, maar tog op dae soos vandag is dit asof ek al die selfde emosies ervaar wat ek daardie tyd gevoel het.
My doel met die blog is nie net om die dag waarop ons ons mense verloor het te gedenk nie, vir my is dit meer om die lewens wat hulle gely het en die dade wat hulle gedoen het wat hulle vir altyd in ons herhinneringe sal laat voortleef te herdenk en te verewig.
Daarom wil ek n uitnodiging aan almal gee wat die blog besoek en voel dat hulle iets wil bydrae om my asseblief te kontak met hulle stories, of sommer onder "comments" ietse te los..
Aan almal wat al die blog besoek het en vir my gemail het, BAIE DANKIE!!Ek wil julle vra om my asseblief te help om die blog uit te brei, die wat my ouers geken het en wil bydraes lewer..asseblief doen so.Die ouens wat in 61 Mech was en stories het wat hulle graag wil vertel,asseblief stuur dit aan, ek sal dit opsit.Die blog is nie net my blog nie, maar almal wat iets het is vry om dit te vertel.Ons het n geleentheid en voorreg om ons geliefdes se nagedagtenis lewindig te hou..laat ons die beste daarvan maak.
Groete,
Riana
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
A letter from a fellow soldier of 61 Mech and 301Bn
I served at Tsintsabis from the end of 1983 to Dec 1986 before being transferred to Sector 10 ,Oshakati. I started my border duty at 301 Bn (Tsintsabis or previously known as Noord Grens Kompanie) a year after the particular ambush described here and I remember the ambush site very well as we used to drive past it on our patrols between the Bravo and Charlie Cutline close to a place called "Plaas 8" near the "17 30" cutline which ran from North to South. We would sometimes stop at the ambush site and some of the shallow trenches that the PLAN fighters dug would still be visible. We would sometimes find pieces of molten bullet-proof glass and other items from the destroyed Ratel. To us that site was almost holy and we always thought of our comrades that died there. I will one day visit that site again as it is one of my dreams. For three years I closely worked with one of the bushmen trackers who was present during the ambush named "Ou Jan". His brother, Jan KK was also killed during that ambush and we must never forget the big role that these bushmen trackers played and the sacrifices that they made. I also remember Tannie Pompie and you, Riana and Olivia very well. As I said I have a dream to visit Tsintsabis again one day and retrace our steps at 301 Bn where I spent three of the best years of my life in the army between the Aplha and Charlie cutline. I made good friends and I only have fond memories of that time of my youth. Despite all the negative perceptions being distributed about the old SADF, I will always be proud to have served as part of a force which formed a buffer between the threat from those who intended to kill farmers and other innocent civilians and those that we had to protect, regardless of race, creed or colour. It was not in vain! I must end by saying that Tannie Pompie understood a TR-15H and B-25 radio better than any other signaller that I met and I am gratefull for all the times that she relayed messages for us. I am sorry to hear that she has passed away. I last saw her in Swakopmund in 1990 if I am not mistaken. Take care and cherish your memories as you can be proud of your parents. I salute all soldiers and civilians who served at 301 Bn as well as the soldiers of 61 Mech Bn (our neighbours), Etosha AME and other units on our flanks, front and rear. Greetings "Skollie"
All my mothers children
I hope people will have patience with me and understand that I get flooded with memories of my childhood. I try to keep them all in the correct order in which they actually happened but its not always possible..
I don't remember how old I was when 61 Mech started sending guys to live with us. The boys they sent were more there for their own benefit than ours, since some guys just could not cope with the harsh army life so instead of sending them home they send them to live with us.
I remember Kleinjan the best. I don't know who would remember the letters "Kleinjan" sent home to mum and how we all laughed at them. In a way our Kleinjan was much the same...If I remember correctly he wasn't even issued with a rifle for his own safety and those around him. He fast became part of family and soon him and I had the most violent fights over the most trivial things. At one stage my mother complained that if my dad wouldn't do something about us, there would not be a working door handle in the house by the time were finished. What would take place is that a fight would break out between us and then there would usually be a door involved where one of us would try get to the other while trying to escape the impending attack.
I remember Kleinjan in his t-shirt and his "onsedelike broekie" as my mum liked to call it. In the 80' s there were these very shiny and very bright coloured shorts with a silky feeling to it. I think they were actually polyester shorts. That’s what klienjan wore...ALLWAYS, barefoot and too eager to help my mum with anything and everything...he was a good boy, but I hated him then!!! He once tried to kill me with a knife, yeah!!! The fights often got vicious and even bloody.
I also had an older brother and I learned at very early age that my teeth were my best weapon and Kleinjan wasn't quite as clued up about it as my brother was.
My parents felt a great responsibility towards the guys who were living with us and there was always someone there, at times more than one. I don’t remember most of their names, but I remember Kleinjan and Koos.
Koos, I think was not his real name but his surname was van der Merwe and because we thought that hes character very much resembled that of the Koos van der Merwe in the jokes we christened him with the name. Much can be said about us bunch of van der Westhuizen's but no one could ever accuse us of not seeing the humour of a situation and making the most of it, often at the expence of some unfortunate victim.
Koos was the opposite of Kleinjan, since he was extremely tidy on himself and he wore his browns every day, even though it was not required on the farm. They were only to wear it when they went into town or when their officers would come around to see how they are doing.
But Koos was adamant that he would wear his browns everyday, his boots polished to the extent where you could see your face in them.
Koos wore contacts and one day someone thought it would be a good joke to switch them around. Poor Koos came into the kitchen cross eyed and confused as to why he couldn't see today. My mum couldn't understand what was going on with Koos either and was the verge of radioing for help for Koos when we started giggling and spilled the beans.
Just the other day I opened my mums cook book and there was a recipe written down in Kleinjan's child like writing, and I wondered where he was today, would he have gotten married and have a family. Does he ever think of us? He was as much a kid in the house as I was and I think because of the person he was my mother often sided with him. She had such a kind heart. She would tell me to let him be since he is special.
Kleinjan and Koos today I remember you, I hope u r safe and happy.
Due to factors out of my control I will be doing the postings on the blog myself from now on. As im Afrikaans speaking, there is bound to be spelling mistakes, even though I do try to do my best. The way things get put across in writing may differ very much.
I hope to hear from all of you so please do feel free to send any contributions for my blog to me via e-mail or leave comments.
I don't remember how old I was when 61 Mech started sending guys to live with us. The boys they sent were more there for their own benefit than ours, since some guys just could not cope with the harsh army life so instead of sending them home they send them to live with us.
I remember Kleinjan the best. I don't know who would remember the letters "Kleinjan" sent home to mum and how we all laughed at them. In a way our Kleinjan was much the same...If I remember correctly he wasn't even issued with a rifle for his own safety and those around him. He fast became part of family and soon him and I had the most violent fights over the most trivial things. At one stage my mother complained that if my dad wouldn't do something about us, there would not be a working door handle in the house by the time were finished. What would take place is that a fight would break out between us and then there would usually be a door involved where one of us would try get to the other while trying to escape the impending attack.
I remember Kleinjan in his t-shirt and his "onsedelike broekie" as my mum liked to call it. In the 80' s there were these very shiny and very bright coloured shorts with a silky feeling to it. I think they were actually polyester shorts. That’s what klienjan wore...ALLWAYS, barefoot and too eager to help my mum with anything and everything...he was a good boy, but I hated him then!!! He once tried to kill me with a knife, yeah!!! The fights often got vicious and even bloody.
I also had an older brother and I learned at very early age that my teeth were my best weapon and Kleinjan wasn't quite as clued up about it as my brother was.
My parents felt a great responsibility towards the guys who were living with us and there was always someone there, at times more than one. I don’t remember most of their names, but I remember Kleinjan and Koos.
Koos, I think was not his real name but his surname was van der Merwe and because we thought that hes character very much resembled that of the Koos van der Merwe in the jokes we christened him with the name. Much can be said about us bunch of van der Westhuizen's but no one could ever accuse us of not seeing the humour of a situation and making the most of it, often at the expence of some unfortunate victim.
Koos was the opposite of Kleinjan, since he was extremely tidy on himself and he wore his browns every day, even though it was not required on the farm. They were only to wear it when they went into town or when their officers would come around to see how they are doing.
But Koos was adamant that he would wear his browns everyday, his boots polished to the extent where you could see your face in them.
Koos wore contacts and one day someone thought it would be a good joke to switch them around. Poor Koos came into the kitchen cross eyed and confused as to why he couldn't see today. My mum couldn't understand what was going on with Koos either and was the verge of radioing for help for Koos when we started giggling and spilled the beans.
Just the other day I opened my mums cook book and there was a recipe written down in Kleinjan's child like writing, and I wondered where he was today, would he have gotten married and have a family. Does he ever think of us? He was as much a kid in the house as I was and I think because of the person he was my mother often sided with him. She had such a kind heart. She would tell me to let him be since he is special.
Kleinjan and Koos today I remember you, I hope u r safe and happy.
Due to factors out of my control I will be doing the postings on the blog myself from now on. As im Afrikaans speaking, there is bound to be spelling mistakes, even though I do try to do my best. The way things get put across in writing may differ very much.
I hope to hear from all of you so please do feel free to send any contributions for my blog to me via e-mail or leave comments.
Saturday, December 30, 2006
A Letter From a Son Of Africa.
Hello Riana,
First of all, allow me to say how terribly sorry I am for your loss. I knew all the men who died in the Ratel that fateful day. I got to know your dad, Lt van der Westhuizen and brother-in-law, Sktr J.H. Potgieter through operations in 61 Mech. I can't begin to tell you what good men they were. I remember both you Dad and brother-in-law as true Sons of Africa, who loved their country, but also loved the people they served with. They could be serious on the job, but also enjoyed a good laugh in between tough situations. They were true heroes, who gave their lives so others may live in freedom.
It is now long ago, but I will pass on to you what I remember about the brave, fearless men of 61 Mech.
Operation Yahoo was in the making of what started on Friday, April 9th, 1982. About 190 terrorists had made their way past Tsumeb and past 61 Mech base at Omuthiya. A Koevoet group tracked them and made contact. There was also a farmer, who's name I don't remember, who helped in the attack by flying over the battle with his private plane and dropped grenades on the ters. Unfortunately the ters shot his plane down and also shot out a Caspir belonging to Koevoet, in the process killing 6 of our men. The Koevoet group continued to track this group as they dispursed into smaller groups, making it difficult to attack all together.
On Wednesday, April 14th, we (Alpha and Bravo company of 61 Mech) attended a concert in Tsumeb. I don't remember too well, but I think the performer was Geraldine, who came up to Tsumeb to raise the troops' morale a little. Halfway through the show, our RSM, Sergeant Major Smith (Killer Smith), got on stage, told the singers to stop and made an announcement for 61 Mech to dispurse immediately and go to our vehicles. We left immediately back to 61 Mech base, Omuthiya. Once there, we were pulled together and received our orders. Left over groups of April 9th were tracked and spotted and we were to track them down and eliminate them. We started arming ourselves and loading up the Ratels with ammunition for a full scale attack. Operation Yahoo officially began the morning of Aril 15th at 2:30 AM as we left Omuthiya.
We reached Tsintsibis at about 4:00AM the morning of April 15th. We monitored the radios as we heard various groups, including ourselves, observing ter movements, tracks on the "Kaplyne". Three Alpha company Ratels were following the track of a large band of SWAPO ters. The tracks were fresh. Your Dad, Lt D.R. van der Westhuizen and Skt J.H. Potgieter were with us that day in one of the Ratels. Lt vd Westhuizen was in the command position in the Ratel's turret. The normal vehicle commander, Cpl Van Jaarsveld had given your Dad his seat and moved to the back of the Ratel into the Anti-air Gunner's position, allowing your Dad better visibility of the terrain. One of you Dad's Bushman trackers also joined us in that Ratel and was sitting on the nose of the Ratel to let him track the spoor better.
At one point, around 10:00AM, the band of ters split up, I believe 20 went one way and another group (60 if I recall correctly), went the other way. A decision was made to let two Ratels continue on the spoor of the large group and let your Dad's Ratel follow the small group for a few miles to get an idea of what direction they were heading, since they sometimes walked in circles to confuse us temporarily and then head in their planned direction. Once we figured out what direction this group was going, the Ratel would turn around again and join the other two Ratels in the hunt.
Your Dad's Ratel set out, followed the spoor through thick bush and plains for about 1/2 hour. When they again crossed an open plain, the ters opened fire with RPG's from the tree lines where they were dug in. The first RPG hit the Ratel on the side through the engine compartment, instantly killing Cpl Van jaarsveld, wounding everyone inside. Your Dad managed to call "Contact" over the radio and the other two Ratels turned around to rush to their assistance. Meanwhile the men all opened fire, but was very vulnerable with the Ratel disbled and sideways against the attack. The blast blew the Gunner off the turret, as he was just sitting on top of the vehicle, and not positioned inside next to your Dad. About four more RPG's followed into the Ratel, while the ters also opened with AK 47's as the men tried to get out of the burning, disabled vehicle. The Ratel exploded inside as the ammunition caught fire. The men fired back and fought with all they had, but being badly wounded and trying to get out of the Ratel into the line of small arms fire and incoming RPG's, they just did not have a chance. The Bushman tracker and the gunner, who were both blown off the vehicle were also wounded, but they opened fire on the ters. Four ters were killed and the rest escaped before the other Ratels could arrive.
More explosions followed through the Ratel and it was impossible for us to even get closer than a few hundred meters from the vehicle. After the explosions stopped, the Ratel burned at an extreme heat. It was impossible for us to reach any of the bodies and it continued to burn the next day. We were able to reach the bodies of our friends later and take it back to Tsintsibis on Saturday, April 17th. This was a terrible day for us. We lost a lot of good men that day.
Ops Yahoo continued with many more successes by us in 61 Mech and Koevoet and finally ended on May 18th, 1982 with us returning to 61 base at Omuthiya.
I kept notes of every day of Ops Yahoo and together with my memory, this is about as much as I can recall of this day. I hope this helps you in some way bring closure about your Dad. All I'd like to add is that he died a brave man, a hero and friend to all of us. What's more important is the way he lived. He led by example, fearlessly, unselfishly and protected all of us by giving up his own life. There is no greater honor in than what he did.
Please let me know if there is anything else I can do for you.
Kind Regards,
Anton Hattingh.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Oom Daan and Tannie Pompie
Im Riana, the youngest daughter or Oom Daan and Tannie Pompie. He was 2nd Lt. D.R. van der Westhuizen and she was Sgt. C.C. van der Westhuizen.
But to many boys on the border they were known only as oom Daan and tannie Pompie. He was a man with a good humor and was accomplished at bushman tracking techniques. My mother was the radio operator guru known as 91.They were farmer’s, great parents and wonderful human beings and then came the army.
We are 4 children, my oldest sister Retha is now 52, married to Dup Venter and mother of 2 sons and a daughter and the grandmother of the light of her life, a 3 yr old girl.
My second sister Oliva, is 49 and she is the widow of J.H. Potgieter (Hendrik) who died with my dad on 15 April '82.She got married again to Izak Visser who
My brother Danie who was in the army at the time of my dads death is now 44 and has 4 kids and he is now married to Retha...(not my sister, another one) LOL
Im Riana, the last and unplanned child, im 36 yrs old. no hubby, no kids.
The story I’m about to tell u started many years ago and its not about any of the kids. Its about my parents.
When it was decided to start the Etosha commando's my parents not hesitate for one moment. They signed up and they inspired others to do the same. They felt they had to do their duty towards their country and could not expect the kids from all over the country to fight while they sit back and nothing. At that time, South West Africa was under South African Rule and South West Africans were loyal to
My dad was an natural leader with the most an incredible sense of humor. I have no doubt that he could make even the worst danger look like a walk in the park. He was just that kind of person. Nothing was ever too difficult to do and the glass was always half full and never half empty. He would never expect anything of anybody unless he was repaired to do it himself.
My mum was not the quiet wife type, she loved my dad and her family to bits but she found her other big passion in the army. Radio's were her passion. She had a knack for them and I believe she could do magic with those big green monsters. Give her a radio and she will have it working in no time and hear distances and people that only she could hear. She even designed her own Antennae, reversed V with which she was able to hear as distances far into
Mum just smiled and hid her sketches of her reverse V antennae.
In the mid 70's terrorist was big word for a 6 yr old and I became very confused with terrorist and tourist. I struggled with pronunciations and I called myself Hanna because it was just too difficult to say the R in Riana. It took me a while to sort of, know the difference between the two, probably never got my head around the tourist part even though I got to learn that they fighting terrorists and I knew for certain that there was danger in the air.
We had a high fence around the house by now and all bushes on the other side had been taken out and we had to paint a number on the roof of our house and dad and Hendrik went to "chase terrs" now and then. When this happened Olivia and her kids would come and stay with us. I wasn’t allowed to play outside the fence and before dark I had to be inside. But as a child I still did not realise the full impact of what was going on.
Mum was in front of the radio, I was told to shhhhht and be quiet, she had to listen. She started with one small radio and she had to tape record conversations of troops on frequencies only she could hear and she did that with a small cassette tape deck, like I got for my 12th birthday years later. But that meant there had to be absolute silence and she was sitting hunched over the radio's listening and turning knobs. To me it was pure craziness! So the kitchen became radio room and the green monsters got more and bigger. Mum became callsign 91 and the radio guru with the private telephone number directly to “oom Jannie Geldenhuys” (General Jannie Geldenhuis)
In the Meantime dad got a few bushman trackers together and
The army provided them with food, which we went to fetch on Grootfontien every Friday. A long drive in a garry (what we called the landy the army gave dad) The Bushmen got the same food as any member of the SADF but before long they started to complain, "Luitlant, dis food make us lazy and don’t give us energy, we want mieliepap." They were not impressed with the cheese and polony and tinned food and boxes of the best food the SADF came up with to feed them, no sir, they wanted meiliepap, that’s what they know, that’s what their bodies were used to and what gave them sustenance that made them feel energetic so that’s what they got.
They learned to shoot...to march...to do the things a soldier in the army would do and they were my dad's pride and joy. He was extremely proud of them and they swore that he could walk on water.
In the meantime the farming had to go on and so it did. Dad and Hendrik weren’t only family and comrades but they were also best buddies and would chat for hours on end. They were both farmers and good farmers at that, spending many hours looking at the clouds and working hard, and getting up 4 in the morning. When I was not in school I would wake up with him and follow him around like a shadow. He didn’t have to receive the Honoris Crux to be my hero. He was my hero because of the love he showered me with.
He taught me the phonetic alphabet which I remember till this day. He taught me his army nr, which I still remember off the top of my head. These are the little memories of him I treasure till this day.
I only had him for 11 yrs and 11 months, but he gave me enough love to last me a lifetime...
Monday, December 18, 2006
The Heroes of 61 Mechanised Battalion.
A couple of weeks ago I came across Riana on the internet and we exchanged the usual questions starting with ASL (age, sex, location). She told me she is from Namibia and I suspect because of my age (44), she asked, whether I had been to Namibia before, whereby I replied that I had been there, courtesy of the South African Defense Force during 1982 to 1984.
She went on to ask me whether, I had been on or known of, operation Yahoo and I replied, no. In fact I had never heard of it or could not remember ever hearing of it and was sure that she was either mistaken or having me on. I all too often come across people who claim to have been amidst the goings on of the brutal terrorist war that was being fought, in the northern regions of what is now Namibia, thinking that they can somehow convince people into believing their stories of glory. They fool some of the people some of the time but they cant fool all of the people all of the time, especially those who have actually been there.
Riana began telling me a story and I soon came to the somewhat shocking realization that she was real and the story she was telling was the real. I sat on the edge of my chair till 3 in the morning taken back to a world that I had almost forgotten and in a way, so desperately wanted to forget.
After eventually going to bed, I could not sleep and could not stop thinking of that period of my life and what it was like to be there but, I could not help having doubts about the finer details of what she had told me.
Even though the sincerity in which she had conveyed the story, had me convinced that there surely must be some truth in it and I was convinced that an event of such magnitude must surely, be documented somewhere on the internet.
It was!! However, what I find so extremely saddening is that the details of our heroes are so sparsely documented that, they are forgotten by the vast majority and the fading memories of those who still do remember, will soon dissappear under the sands of time leaving the rest with nothing.This is the exact purpose of this Blog. To remind you, NEVER to forget!
In Remenberence of 2nd Lt D.R. van der Westhuizen and Rfn. J.H Potgieter who were attached to 61 Mechanised Battalion Group, Omuthiya in the Tsumeb district. “Etoshagebiedsmag”. Veni Vidi Vici!! Lest we forget.
In short, this is the story Riana van der Westhuizen’s conveyed to me. The details of which may be blurred by myself. She is the daughter of late 2nd Lt D.R van der Westhuizen and sister in law of late Rifleman J.H Potgieter. This is her Blog and I merely set it up for her together with this prologue, for her to continue with. The details are up to Riana and the men of 61 Mech, who hopefully come across this page, to keep it alive together with the memories of our heroes and our past. Go for it guys!
As mentioned above 2nd Lt D.R van der Westhuizen was attached to 61 Mech and who was an accomplished tracker. Between 6 and 18 April 1981 there were numerous infiltrations, which led to four events where fire was exchanged with Swapo infiltrators and which lead to the death or capture of eight of the enemy. Lt D.R. van der Westhuizen was involved in all four events.
On the 14th April 1981 two of his comrades, without substantial cover, were pinned down by Swapo insurgents, whereby 2nd Lt van der Westhuizen, “without hesitation”, as quoted by military documentation regarding the incident, stood upright in a military vehicle known a “Buffel” while ordering the driver to position the vehicle in which he was standing upright, between the Swapo and the solders pinned down by hostile fire, thereby redirecting the fire to himself, giving the soldiers opportunity to take cover. The Swapo insurgents were subsequently killed. For this act of bravery, 2nd Lt van der Westhuizen was awarded the Honoris Crux.
For those who don’t know the enormity of being bestowed the Honoris Crux. It is awarded only to those who "without thought of own safety and through personal courage and determination performed a gallant act or deed against the enemy in the field". It has only been awarded 187 times since its inception in 1952 to 1991.
One year and one day later on 15th April 1982, while on patrol in a Ratel, Lt van der Westhuizen was following a couple of a tracks that one of his trackers had picked up. The Ratel was hit by no less than five RPG-7 rockets in an ambush just after 10am. By the time backup went to their aid, the majority of the occupants of the Ratel had been killed including Lt van der Westhuizen’s son in law Rfn. J.H Potgieter. Riana was only 11 years old at the time.
Lest we forget.
Rfn. B.J Wolfaardt
Rfn. M Peterson
Rfn. JH Potgieter.
Rfn. Hough
Rfn. JDC du Toit
Rfn. GPC Hattingh
2nd Lt. DR van der Westhuizen
L/Cpl. JJ van der Berg
Kpl. MJ van Jaarsveld
Riana would like to hear from anybody who was involved with 61 Mech Battalion. Her address is at the top of this page.
Neville van Jaarsveld.
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