BATTLEDRESS SHELLHOLE CENTRAL CIRCLE, FISH HOEK

BATTLECRY NEWSLETTER DECEMBER/JANUARY 2016

PO BOX 22033 FISH HOEK 7974 Email battledress.shellhole@gmail.com

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS: 1st John Lamont, 5th Neil Bright, 10th Ricky de Wet. FOFR: 27th Sue Bell FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS: 2nd George Kleinhans, 6th Phil de Villiers, 15th Craig Cruickshank, 21st Les Smith, 24th Fanie Venter

Wishing you all the very best for your Birthdays and the coming year!

SICK LIST: Moths Richard Evans, George Van Willingh and “Kirk” Ian Kirkpatrick Carol Botha (FOFR)

We wish you a speedy recovery! OF THIS AND THAT: I hope you all had a great time with family over the festive season and that 2016 is going to be a great year for you all! Thank you to everyone for your support and contributions last year big or small, please continue to do so this year too. December Meeting Photo 03/12/2015:

Back Row: Keith Galvin, Chris Smith, Skatie Fourie, Neil Bright, Les Lancaster, Robby Abrahamse, Warren Cowan, Donald Oliver, Wolfie Wolfaardt, George Kleinhans, Richard Evans, Padre Errol Sadler. Middle Row: Craig Cruickshank, Les Smith, Glyn Murrell (Visitor), Albert Massyn, Alan Hopveldt, Ronnie Gilbert, Henry Flanagan (Visitor), John Lamont. Front Row: “Smudge” Smith, Bridget Coney (Honarary FOFR), Julie Denham, Vanessa Chambers, Ena Burnett, Ricky De Wet, “Kirk” Kirkpatrick, Artie Elliott.

Moth Widow Group Christmas Party 5th Dec: Thanks to all who brought snacks, Smudge for the enjoyable cake and Bridget for the hand-made peg bag Christmas pressies for the Widows!

River Platte Breakfast 16th Dec: Many thanks to all involved in the scrumptious breakfast!

Congrats Helen aka Ricky’s “Goose” for winning the Christmas Hamper. Very well deserved!

Christmas Cheer 19th Dec: Thanks to all who attended. Good to see the Commander on his feet! The Welfare Officer “Smudge” Smith with newly recruited Moth Vanessa Chambers getting into the Christmas spirit!

Year End Charity Sunset House Muizenberg 21st Dec: Thanks to all of those people that contributed to the Charity by either buying a Hamper ticket or donating goodies. Big thanks to John & Denise Lamont, Robby & Donna Abrahamse, Keith Galvin & “Smudge” Smith. The goodies filled 2 vehicles. Your generosity was greatly appreciated! You made us proud! Well done!

Carol Parish, Bridget Coney, Ena Burnett and Winnie MacArthur

“Smudge” Smith, Lynne Laver, Wendy Kent

Shipmates Moth Ronnie Gilbert and Artie Elliott enjoying some cake

Steve Elliott helping with the decorations. Pat Smith is supervising while Kobus

Marais serves the beverages

Please continue your support by carrying on with your donations of non-perishables goods, toiletries and other items. Please drop into the barrel in the Founders Room. You can also support them by buying or selling the Moth/Mothwa 2016 calendars for us; featuring Members of Battledress Shellhole and Snoekie Mothwa ladies. The cost has been reduced from R100 to R50. Big thanks to all the people that have helped buy/sell them. Special thanks to Sue Bell (Friend of the Founders Room).

New Years Day 2016 New Years Eve 31st Dec:

Shrine of Remembrance Melbourne, Australia: Your Scribe visited this interesting memorial. The Shrine of Remembrance, located in Kings Domain on St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Australia was built as a memorial to the men and women of Victoria who served in World War I. It is a site of annual observances of ANZAC Day (25 April) and Remembrance Day (11 November) and is one of the largest war memorials in Australia.

Friends of the Founders Room Members Neil Robertson, Sue Bell and Roger

Farmer

The Elliott Clan Steve, Artie & Nick

Moth rivalryM.U.F.C vs L.F.C Artie Elliott & Robby Abrahamse

Ronnie tries his cat on new cat food

I want more

Lifeboat from the SS Devanha

The national war memorial (Shrine of Remembrance) of Victoria and the eternal flame in the foreground

The Ray of Light ceremony is central to the experience of the Shrine of Remembrance. A ray of natural sunlight passes through an aperture in the ceiling of the Sanctuary and falls onto the Stone of Remembrance over the word “love” at precisely 11.00 am on 11 November each year. This is the moment when the armistice was signed in 1918 marking the end of hostilities in the First

World War. The ceremony is now reproduced every half hour using electric light which allowed me to experience it whilst standing to attention in true Moth salute fashion.

The Boer War Monument (Memorial to Fallen Soldiers). A central obelisk with a lion on each of four corners is the memorial for the Australians who died in the South African War of 1899-1902 (Boer War) Sculptured by J. Hamilton and erected in 1904 with members of the 5th Victorian Contingent Victorian Mounted Rifles.

Gazala Shellhole, London: Our Deputy Commander visited Gazala Shellhole. The youngest Shellhole in the world was inaugurated with 10 members on 29th November 2015 (subsequently grown to 12 members, many of which are South Africans living in London). The name “Gazala” was chosen for its inclusive connotations. The battle at Gazala was a major point of the Desert War in 1940. Involved were both the 1st & 2nd South African Divisions along with the British and other Commonwealth forces.

Robby met up with the lads and shared a “few” drinks and enjoyed some locally made biltong and droewors. A Battledress pennant and Moth/Mothwa 2016 Calendar was presented and in return the hospitality of the newest Moths in the Order was displayed in true Moth fashion. The 15h00 “get together” later moved to a few more pubs and culminated at the Union Jack Club (UJC) with last rounds at about 23h00.

Moth Robby Abrahamse socialising with the Old Bill (Andrew Williams) and members of the recently

formed Gazala Shellhole in London

Robby enjoying a drink and a chat with locals including members of the Chelsea Pensioners at the

UJC

Tea at Clovelly Golf Club (left to right) Bridget, Winnie, Ena, Marilyn, Wendy,

Jean and Lynne

Burns Night 23rd Jan: Another successful Burns Supper! Thanks to Artie Elliott for being Master of Ceremonies and doing all the décor. Padre Errol Sadler recited the Selkirk Grace after which Nikki and her team put up a wonderful meal with the traditional Haggis, tatties and neeps! For the non-converted there was chicken and mushroom pie & veggies. The whisky was flowing for the toast to the lassies (Ronnie) and reply from the lassies (Julie). Magnus Robertson paid tribute to the immortal memory of Robert Burns and as usual John McGill recited Tam O'Shanter flawlessly! The evening was topped with Tony Reis and a few members of the Caledonian Pipe Band playing all the Scottish tunes. Thanks also to all the helpers who helped set-up and clear away and of course to all that supported this annual event. Thanks to our Quartermaster/Barman Richard Evans who worked tirelessly.

The Moth Widow Group Report by Bridget Coney: We connected again on the 27th January and Moth Julie joined us. Amid much chat and laughter we planned some adventures for the first 3

months of the year. 23rd February: A train ride into Cape Town. It is free for

grey haired people on Tuesdays! We will explore Cape Town and have a light lunch.

22nd March: A trip to Vergelegen to enjoy a beautiful garden and have a light lunch at a Mall. 19th April: A trip on the “Hop on & Hop off” Red Bus which is half price for grey haired people on Tuesdays and Fridays. After that we will meet to discuss strategy for the winter months. This will be at tea on the 22nd May at Clovelly Golf Club. We are all looking forward to our days exploring and the variety of fun activities.

Signing off for now………… Bridget (the tallest grey hair lady!!)

FOUNDERS ROOM OPENING TIMES  Sunday, Saturday 13h00‐15h30 

Wednesday 15h00 ‐17h00 Friday 17h00‐22h00 

Closed Good Friday and Christmas Day and Public Holidays Please note that we are OPEN IF 

The Public Holiday falls on one of our usual opening days Monthly Quiz on the first Friday (Except January) 

Musical Quiz is held on alternate months. Braai is on the last Sunday. 

SPORT VIEWING TIMES ARE ON THE SHELLHOLE NOTICE BOARD 

FORTHCOMING EVENTS (U=Uniform, M=Medals)  February Sunday 28 10h30 Dugout Quarterly Commanders U Friday 26 10h00 Birkenhead Service U+M March Saturday 12 13h30 Battledress 71st Birthday May Sunday 22 10h30 Dugout Quarterly Commanders (4th Sun) U

Our next Shellhole meeting is on Thursday 3rd March 2016 at 19h00.

Yours in True Comradeship Scribe Moth Julie Denham

battledress.shellhole@gmail.com

Famous Quotes “The best way to resolve any problem in the human world is for all sides to sit down and talk.” Dalai Lama

This month ! Who is this young sports man ?

Last newsletter was a photo of young Ricky De Wet