Latest news with #BattleofElAlamein
IOL News
06-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
Discover the unsung heroes of World War II at South Africa's VE Day exhibition
The South African Legion, in conjunction with the Castle of Good Hope, the City of Cape Town, and various partners, is hosting a 3-day exhibition that culminates in a Memorial Service and wreath-laying ceremony on the 10th May to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Image: Supplied This May, South Africa takes a moment to reflect on the often-overlooked stories of its World War II veterans, paying homage to the courage and sacrifice of those who served. From 8 to 10 May, the South African Legion, in partnership with the Castle of Good Hope, is set to host a three-day exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day (VE Day). Featuring a range of engaging exhibits, this event offers more than just a military memorial; it will celebrate resilience, courage, and the unsung contributions of many who served. Major-General Dan Pienaar, Commander of the 1st South African Division, hailed Stretcher-Bearer Lance-Corporal Lucas Majozi for his bravery during the Battle of El Alamein, highlighting the extraordinary character of soldiers like him who rescued wounded men under intense fire. The exhibition will shine a light on stories of both ordinary and extraordinary individuals who played pivotal roles in the war effort. From teenagers who falsified their ages to join the fight, to women who assumed wartime responsibilities in military and munitions roles, this event showcases the unrecognised dedication of those who served under the South African Union flag despite facing systemic discrimination. The contributions of the Cape Corps and Native Military Corps, honouring Coloured and Black South African soldiers in non-combat and support capacities, will also be underscored. Women's roles will not go unrecognised; the valiant efforts of the Women's Auxiliary Defence Corps (WADC), along with the various service wings dedicated to women in the armed forces, will be highlighted throughout the exhibition. The stories of these heroes, rich in quiet heroism, will be told through a wealth of archival material, personal testimonies, and interactive installations aimed at deepening public understanding of the war's lasting impact. A solemn non-denominational memorial service will cap off this significant weekend on 10 May at 11 am at the Castle of Good Hope. The ceremony will be graced by the presence of Ian Neilson, the ex-Deputy Mayor of Cape Town, as the guest speaker. The South African College High School's brass ensemble will perform the Last Post, a poignant tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice. The service, open to the public, will allow attendees to pay their respects during a moment of silence, ensuring that the sacrifices of both the fallen and the living are remembered. 'The importance of continuing to mark the anniversary of this global event that had such a profound effect on modern history, is to remind us of the horrors of war and to value the sanctity of peace, lest we forget the former,' said Kevin P. Ashton JCD, Chairman of the SA Legion (Cape Town Branch). For those wishing to engage further with South Africa's military history, the exhibition will feature a field kitchen operated by members of The Heritage Group dressed in WWII-era uniforms. Visitors can participate in discussions with historians about family medal collections or learn how to access military veterans' records. Moreover, the public is encouraged to share messages of peace on the Peace Wall, emphasising the message of hope that accompanies such commemorations.
Times
04-05-2025
- General
- Times
Roger Muirhead obituary: El Alamein veteran
Roger Muirhead was not the last veteran of the Battle of El Alamein in October 1942, but he was probably the last of the few who went on to serve in Italy, France and the Low Countries, and then the Far East. For the British, the victorious counteroffensive in the Egyptian desert was the turning-point of the war — 'the end of the beginning', as Churchill called it. Church bells had not rung since June 1940, being saved in case needed to signal a German invasion. But with Rommel's Afrika Korps in full retreat, and Montgomery's Eighth Army in pursuit, the prime minister authorised their mass ringing across the land. For Muirhead, a 21-year-old subaltern in the Royal Army Service Corps (RASC), Alamein was a
Otago Daily Times
03-05-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Prince of prints
Tom Chadwick, Wayside laundry, 1935, wood engraving on paper. Collection of the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. Gifted 1953 by Sir Rex Nan Kivell of the Redfern Gallery, London. Established by Iain Macnab in 1925 in Pimlico, central London, the Grosvenor School of Modern Art is celebrated for its role in reviving an interest in printmaking in Britain in the 1920s and 1930s, specifically the linocut. A painter and engraver, Macnab believed in the importance of a composition carrying a sense of movement, and the linocut offered a medium that could do this effectively through repetitive parallel lines. One influential proponent of the linocut was Claude Flight, who helped Macnab run the school from 1925-30 and taught a linocutting course. Offering space for experimentation, the Grosvenor School's approach was dynamic and versatile, the printing done by hand rather than using a press. It used easily accessible materials including linoleum flooring as printing blocks and the ribs of umbrellas as cutting tools. One student at the Grosvenor School in the 1930s was Tom Chadwick (1912-1942). Chadwick was born in Jamaica in 1912, his family returning to England in 1916. He studied at the Grosvenor School of Modern Art from 1932-36. From 1932-38, Chadwick produced several wood engravings while also working on commercial projects as an illustrator. He was a member of various societies in the 1930s, including the National Society of Painters, Sculptors and Engravers (1933), the Royal Society of British Artists (1935) and the Society of Artist-Printmakers (1936). In 1939, Chadwick joined the 3rd (The King's Own) Hussars, a cavalry regiment of the British Army, serving in Greece and North Africa during World War 2. He was killed in action at the Battle of El Alamein in 1942, aged 30. While Chadwick's life was tragically cut short, he developed a reputation as an exceptional engraver who produced highly complex and detailed compositions. Iain Macnab referred to Chadwick as his "most brilliant student". Operating in parallel to the Grosvenor School was London's Redfern Gallery, established in 1923. The underlying objective of Redfern Gallery was complementary to the Grosvenor School — "to promote printmaking through commissioning editioned prints by leading British artists of the time". Born in Aotearoa, Sir Rex Nan Kivell (1898-1977) joined the Redfern Gallery in 1925, becoming the director in 1931. Chadwick's Wayside laundry (1935) sits within a large group of British prints that were gifted to the Dunedin Public Art Gallery by Kivell in 1953, other substantial holdings also gifted to Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki. Produced during Chadwick's time at the Grosvenor School, Wayside laundry (1935) is on display in "Reviving the Print: The Grosvenor School of Modern Art", showing at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery until September 7. Lauren Gutsell is a curator at Dunedin Public Art Gallery.
