Barry Fowler
Now retired I can spend time writing, gathering and publishing things which I find of interests, evidently the South African Defence Force Border War (1966 - 1989) and in particular the experiences of conscripted national servicemen. I have a hobby of interviewing people about interesting experiences they have had (interesting to me) and where they give permission, publishing them. Increasingly I am being given books and documents written by other people who, with the author's permission I publish on my Academia.edu pages. Hopefully other people will find those of interest, and I think publishing such makes a humble contribution to recorded history.
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It may have a clunky start, so if this might be too mundane, maybe skip to Camp 10 when the group starts to get into its stride.
"Hire a teenager ... while they still know everything!"
The Group started in about 1949 and finally closed in 1999. This book is just a `slice of its history’ mostly recorded then and initially written in 1986. Troop members would have had many adventures and incidents in the preceding years, as did the members in the years that followed, but fewer records of that history are available.
In those days, it was usual for a patrol of 6 boys with a 13-year-old patrol leader to be dropped off at a remote campsite, often on a farm, with a tent, equipment and food they had packed and to be collected by arrangement several days later. There were no mobile or cell phones.
This is how things were at the time – different from now: the fun and adventures, the rivalry and hypocrisy, collaboration and political intrigue, achievements and … `let's not talk about that’, feuds and friendships lasting until today. It's partisan, of course, and that is unavoidable. Read between the lines.
Trigger Warning: Some quoted witness statements contain graphic descriptions of child sexual abuse.
Frederick Brian Wade set off from South Africa to join the British Forces to serve King and Empire during the First World War. He trained with the King Edward’s Horse at Bishops Stortford and the Curragh in Ireland. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 7th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment which formed part of the 47th Division. Generally serving in the transport section, he served at the Somme and Ypress. Medically discharged due to illness, he returned to South Africa, and then went on to colonial service in formerly German-held Tanganyika. The military sections of this material were written subject to the censorship restrictions of the time.
Paperback copies of the original 1996 edition are still available from the publisher.
This is part of a series of books of personal accounts of South African Servicemen from 1966 – 1998. The more established books in the series are `Pro Patria’ originally published in 1995, and `Grensvegter?: South African Army Psychologist’ published in 1996 – both republished via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing in 2021. The originals of `Pro Patria’ and `Grensvegter?’ have been cited in several articles by Gary Baines, Professor of History at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
"Ahead of us was an Olifant with UNITA soldiers riding on top. The next moment there was a huge bang and the tank came out backwards towards us. It had been hit by a FAPLA tank...."
2008 marks the 20th anniversary of a series of battles fought in southern Angola, during a long and bitter war that had wracked that region of Africa for over 21 years.
The South African offensive in late 1987 and early 1988, collectively known as Operation Hooper, consisted of a number of battles fought around the town of Cuito Cuanavale wherein a numerically inferior force of South African tanks, armoured cars and artillery, supported by UNITA forces, decimated three FAPLA Army Brigades and drove them back to Cuito Cuanavale itself.
This is a series of recollections by six former South African soldiers about their experiences in Angola, during Operation Hooper. These personal accounts cover not only their involvement in Angola but the broader aspects of their service in the South African Army.
This is part of a series of books of personal accounts of South African Servicemen from 1966 – 1998. The more established books in the series are `Pro Patria’ originally published in 1995, and `Grensvegter?: South African Army Psychologist’ published in 1996 – both republished via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing in 2021. The originals of `Pro Patria’ and `Grensvegter?’ have been cited in several articles by Gary Baines, Professor of History at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
The personal accounts contained in this books are by men who completed their national service within South Africa, primarily and who did not go to South West Africa or Angola during the border war, either because they serve too late to be posted there, or because the service was considered to be essential elsewhere.
This is part of a series of books of personal accounts of South African Servicemen from 1966 – 1998. The more established books in the series are `Pro Patria’ originally published in 1995, and `Grensvegter?: South African Army Psychologist’ published in 1996 – both republished via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing in 2021. The originals of `Pro Patria’ and `Grensvegter?’ have been cited in several articles by Gary Baines, Professor of History at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
Personal Accounts of Military Service in the South African Defence Force 1969 to 1990
Most people today, when presented with the more recently accepted picture of the Apartheid regime that ruled in South Africa until the mid-1990s, can be excused for believing that all personnel who served in the Armed Forces of the South African Defence Force during that time were “Bad Guys”, who personally suppressed the black population.
With new and representative governments in power in both Namibia and South Africa today, not much evidence is likely to be produced to counter such an opinion. In this, and other books, we hope to present a human face of those involved in the SADF, most of whom were not remotely evil, and were just trying to make the best they could of a difficult and uncomfortable situation, without considering themselves to have been holding up the Apartheid regime.
The 18 personal accounts in this book are by men who served part of their service in South-West Africa, during the border war.
These are the thoughts, feelings and experiences of the men who were there.
This is part of a series of books of personal accounts of South African Servicemen from 1966 – 1998. The more established books in the series are `Pro Patria’ originally published in 1995, and `Grensvegter?: South African Army Psychologist’ published in 1996 – both republished via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing in 2021. The originals of `Pro Patria’ and `Grensvegter?’ have been cited in several articles by Gary Baines, Professor of History at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
As an autobiography, the first chapter deals with the author learning of his assignment, preparations and his journey. The tenth chapter does the reverse – winding down and returning to ordinary duty in `the states’ (South Africa). Chapters 2 – 4 are mainly descriptions of the various characters involved, as well as the lifestyle of the medical section at the HQ of the most active sector of the South African occupation of Namibia in their counter-insurgency operations against SWAPO. After that the author focuses more on his experience as a clinical psychologist working in a military medical environment – the debriefing of soldiers involved in firefights – one of which is described as a case study, and then the duties of visiting various outlying bases, and insights into working and living in a military environment, some of them humorous anecdotes.
This is a republication of the 1996 edition of this book which has been cited in several articles by Gary Baines, Professor of History at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
I was there. This is what I saw. This is what I did!
This is an expanded and updated version of the original 1995 version, and this book contains personal accounts of SADF service in the border war which qualified servicemen for the Pro Patria medal. It includes the `friendly fire’ incident at Okalongo base in March 1986, a mortarist injured in a rev on Eenhana, two sappers sweeping roads at Elundu and Eenhana, doctors at Ukuludi and Ombalantu, a health inspector at Eenhana, a psychologist’s border duty at Oshakati, and psychologists on PTSD Debriefing Teams on Ops Modular and Hooper, Quito Cuanavale. Appendices include the Model used for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Debriefings as used by the SADF in 1987/88.
This is a republication of the 1995 edition of this book which has been cited in several articles by Gary Baines, Professor of History at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
Boys experience abuse or sexual bullying away from home, by boys their age or older, or adult authority figures. Why do many go again knowing what could happen? Are they groomed, manipulated, exploited or threatened? Few raise concerns or ask for help. Some boys raise the alarm, at the time or years afterwards. Too many are let down by the very safeguarding systems put in place to protect them.
This book is a personal exploration through youth organisations, schools and sports tours, the South African military and the British National Health Service by a psychologist using clinical histories, case studies, vignettes and experiences reported to him. The focus is on first-hand accounts and original documents, as well as finds in other publications, films and television.
Sadly, the prevailing culture is too often to dismiss a boy asking for help, suggesting ‘Man up!’, ‘Grow a pair!’ and ‘Big boys don’t cry!’
It may have a clunky start, so if this might be too mundane, maybe skip to Camp 10 when the group starts to get into its stride.
"Hire a teenager ... while they still know everything!"
The Group started in about 1949 and finally closed in 1999. This book is just a `slice of its history’ mostly recorded then and initially written in 1986. Troop members would have had many adventures and incidents in the preceding years, as did the members in the years that followed, but fewer records of that history are available.
In those days, it was usual for a patrol of 6 boys with a 13-year-old patrol leader to be dropped off at a remote campsite, often on a farm, with a tent, equipment and food they had packed and to be collected by arrangement several days later. There were no mobile or cell phones.
This is how things were at the time – different from now: the fun and adventures, the rivalry and hypocrisy, collaboration and political intrigue, achievements and … `let's not talk about that’, feuds and friendships lasting until today. It's partisan, of course, and that is unavoidable. Read between the lines.
Trigger Warning: Some quoted witness statements contain graphic descriptions of child sexual abuse.
Frederick Brian Wade set off from South Africa to join the British Forces to serve King and Empire during the First World War. He trained with the King Edward’s Horse at Bishops Stortford and the Curragh in Ireland. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 7th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment which formed part of the 47th Division. Generally serving in the transport section, he served at the Somme and Ypress. Medically discharged due to illness, he returned to South Africa, and then went on to colonial service in formerly German-held Tanganyika. The military sections of this material were written subject to the censorship restrictions of the time.
Paperback copies of the original 1996 edition are still available from the publisher.
This is part of a series of books of personal accounts of South African Servicemen from 1966 – 1998. The more established books in the series are `Pro Patria’ originally published in 1995, and `Grensvegter?: South African Army Psychologist’ published in 1996 – both republished via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing in 2021. The originals of `Pro Patria’ and `Grensvegter?’ have been cited in several articles by Gary Baines, Professor of History at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
"Ahead of us was an Olifant with UNITA soldiers riding on top. The next moment there was a huge bang and the tank came out backwards towards us. It had been hit by a FAPLA tank...."
2008 marks the 20th anniversary of a series of battles fought in southern Angola, during a long and bitter war that had wracked that region of Africa for over 21 years.
The South African offensive in late 1987 and early 1988, collectively known as Operation Hooper, consisted of a number of battles fought around the town of Cuito Cuanavale wherein a numerically inferior force of South African tanks, armoured cars and artillery, supported by UNITA forces, decimated three FAPLA Army Brigades and drove them back to Cuito Cuanavale itself.
This is a series of recollections by six former South African soldiers about their experiences in Angola, during Operation Hooper. These personal accounts cover not only their involvement in Angola but the broader aspects of their service in the South African Army.
This is part of a series of books of personal accounts of South African Servicemen from 1966 – 1998. The more established books in the series are `Pro Patria’ originally published in 1995, and `Grensvegter?: South African Army Psychologist’ published in 1996 – both republished via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing in 2021. The originals of `Pro Patria’ and `Grensvegter?’ have been cited in several articles by Gary Baines, Professor of History at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
The personal accounts contained in this books are by men who completed their national service within South Africa, primarily and who did not go to South West Africa or Angola during the border war, either because they serve too late to be posted there, or because the service was considered to be essential elsewhere.
This is part of a series of books of personal accounts of South African Servicemen from 1966 – 1998. The more established books in the series are `Pro Patria’ originally published in 1995, and `Grensvegter?: South African Army Psychologist’ published in 1996 – both republished via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing in 2021. The originals of `Pro Patria’ and `Grensvegter?’ have been cited in several articles by Gary Baines, Professor of History at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
Personal Accounts of Military Service in the South African Defence Force 1969 to 1990
Most people today, when presented with the more recently accepted picture of the Apartheid regime that ruled in South Africa until the mid-1990s, can be excused for believing that all personnel who served in the Armed Forces of the South African Defence Force during that time were “Bad Guys”, who personally suppressed the black population.
With new and representative governments in power in both Namibia and South Africa today, not much evidence is likely to be produced to counter such an opinion. In this, and other books, we hope to present a human face of those involved in the SADF, most of whom were not remotely evil, and were just trying to make the best they could of a difficult and uncomfortable situation, without considering themselves to have been holding up the Apartheid regime.
The 18 personal accounts in this book are by men who served part of their service in South-West Africa, during the border war.
These are the thoughts, feelings and experiences of the men who were there.
This is part of a series of books of personal accounts of South African Servicemen from 1966 – 1998. The more established books in the series are `Pro Patria’ originally published in 1995, and `Grensvegter?: South African Army Psychologist’ published in 1996 – both republished via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing in 2021. The originals of `Pro Patria’ and `Grensvegter?’ have been cited in several articles by Gary Baines, Professor of History at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
As an autobiography, the first chapter deals with the author learning of his assignment, preparations and his journey. The tenth chapter does the reverse – winding down and returning to ordinary duty in `the states’ (South Africa). Chapters 2 – 4 are mainly descriptions of the various characters involved, as well as the lifestyle of the medical section at the HQ of the most active sector of the South African occupation of Namibia in their counter-insurgency operations against SWAPO. After that the author focuses more on his experience as a clinical psychologist working in a military medical environment – the debriefing of soldiers involved in firefights – one of which is described as a case study, and then the duties of visiting various outlying bases, and insights into working and living in a military environment, some of them humorous anecdotes.
This is a republication of the 1996 edition of this book which has been cited in several articles by Gary Baines, Professor of History at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
I was there. This is what I saw. This is what I did!
This is an expanded and updated version of the original 1995 version, and this book contains personal accounts of SADF service in the border war which qualified servicemen for the Pro Patria medal. It includes the `friendly fire’ incident at Okalongo base in March 1986, a mortarist injured in a rev on Eenhana, two sappers sweeping roads at Elundu and Eenhana, doctors at Ukuludi and Ombalantu, a health inspector at Eenhana, a psychologist’s border duty at Oshakati, and psychologists on PTSD Debriefing Teams on Ops Modular and Hooper, Quito Cuanavale. Appendices include the Model used for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Debriefings as used by the SADF in 1987/88.
This is a republication of the 1995 edition of this book which has been cited in several articles by Gary Baines, Professor of History at Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa.
Boys experience abuse or sexual bullying away from home, by boys their age or older, or adult authority figures. Why do many go again knowing what could happen? Are they groomed, manipulated, exploited or threatened? Few raise concerns or ask for help. Some boys raise the alarm, at the time or years afterwards. Too many are let down by the very safeguarding systems put in place to protect them.
This book is a personal exploration through youth organisations, schools and sports tours, the South African military and the British National Health Service by a psychologist using clinical histories, case studies, vignettes and experiences reported to him. The focus is on first-hand accounts and original documents, as well as finds in other publications, films and television.
Sadly, the prevailing culture is too often to dismiss a boy asking for help, suggesting ‘Man up!’, ‘Grow a pair!’ and ‘Big boys don’t cry!’