Extracted from the First Quarter Report

Greetings to all our members, friends and their respective families and a happy and prosperous 2010 to all.

We trust you all enjoyed the festive season. Amazing how we are well into the first quarter of the year and time is flying by as usual.

REGIMENTAL NEWS – From the Officer Commanding, Lt Col Cobus Valentine

It is the year that all of South Africa has been waiting for with the advent of the Soccer World cup. Witwatersrand Rifles will once again play an important role in the SA National Defence Force and the year 2010 will hold many challenges for all of us. The Regiment will again be leading the way during any task that it receives or during any operation that it supports

The main activity will be to prepare one sub-unit [Company] for deployment to the Mozambique border in order to safeguard the borders of the Republic. This will be a six month deployment which will go a long way in honing the combat capability and skills of the Regiment. Each action contributes towards the combat readiness of the Regiment. There is an old adage that says “The more things change, the more they stay the same”.  This is also applicable to the present. During World War II members of the Regiment deployed to the deserts of North Africa as tasked & during 2008/09 members of the Regiment once again deployed to the deserts of North Africa [Sudan]. During the late seventies & early eighties members of the Regiment deployed to the “Border” of South
West Africa & during 2010 members of the Regiment will once again deploy to the “Border”, this time however the border of South Africa & Mozambique.

Witwatersrand Rifles will function as the staging Headquarters for all internal operations to be conducted in Gauteng. As such this will go a long way in establishing our vision of being the best Infantry regiment in the SA National Defence Force. This is also to our advantage as funds and equipment are more readily available to empower the Regiment as such.

I would like to conclude by saying that your Regiment is doing well and going from strength to strength. My door is always open to anyone. Please feel free to make use of the offer should you feel inclined to do so.

Cobus Valentine

ASSOCIATION NEWS

On Sunday 8th November the Association participated in the Remembrance Day Parade at the Johannesburg Cenataph and the event was considered to be most successful. The annual MOTH parade was held at the SA Museum of Military History and well attended by Association members.

DIARY  Notes

May
1st – Regimental Birthday – TBA
14th – Cameronian Day – TBA

November
11th  - MOTH Sunset Parade – SA Museum of Military History – 18h00

POEM ON THE NATIONAL ARBORETUM  IN STAFFORDSHIRE, UK
(Submitted some time ago by the late Lew Harris)

Who are these men
Who march so proud
Who quietly weep
Eyes closed, heads bowed?
These are the men
Who once were boys
Who missed out on youth
And all of its joys.

Who are these men
With aged faces
Who silently count the empty spaces?
These are the men
Who gave their all
Who fought for their country
For freedom and all.

Who are these men
With sorrowful look
Who still can remember
The lives that were took?
These are the men
Who saw young men die
The price of peace
Is always high.

Who are these men
Who in the midst of pain
Whispered comfort to those
They would not see again?
These are the men
Whose hands hold tomorrow
Who brought back our future
With blood, tears and sorrow.

Who are these men
Who promise to keep
Alive in their hearts
The ones God holds asleep?
These are the men
To whom I promise again
Veterans, my friends,

I WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Jodie Johnson (11), Lancs, England

SOME HUMOUR

A group of 40 year old mates get together and discuss where they should meet for dinner. Finally it is agreed upon that they should meet at the Four Seasons restaurant because the waitresses there have low cut blouses and nice figures.

10 years later, at 50 years of age, the group meets again and once again they discuss where they should meet for dinner. Finally it is agreed that they should meet at the Four Seasons because the food there is very good and the wine selection is good also.

10 years later, at 60 years of age, the group meets again and once again they discuss where they should dine. Finally it is agreed upon that they should meet at the Four Seasons because they can eat there in peace and quiet and the restaurant is smoke free.

10 years later at 70 years of age, the group meets again and once again they discuss where they should meet. Finally it is agreed upon that they should meet at the Four Seasons because the restaurant is wheel chair accessible and they even have an elevator.

10 years later, at 80 years of age, the group meets again and once again they discuss where they should have dinner. Finally it is agreed that they should meet  at the Four Seasons because they have never been there before……

Best wishes and kind regards,

Kevin Townsend (Lt Col retd)

Secretary