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
Monday, December 17, 2007
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.
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