Cadet 1506

The Bothie

2009-04-12T17:43:00.003-07:00

The South Africa Training Ship/Nautical College General Botha,popularly known as "the Bothie",started it's first cadets in 1922 and numbered them incrementally.I was No1506 in the sequence and the pictures and memories below relate specifically to my 1947/48 period of training. There is no strict order but generally Red Hill appears, then Gordons Bay and last Bothie events after 1948.
The pictures were collected from those given to me by other cadets or from professional photographers (I had no camera). Some are old press cuttings and the quality is poor. I have given cadet names where I can remember them and apologise to those for whom I have put a question mark. Names are of cadets in the 1947 year intake unless otherwise stated.
Apart from nautical terms such as "Heads" for latrines the Bothie had a small vocabulary of its own which probably changed in some respects over the years but first year cadets were always (unofficially) called Chums, second year cadets were Old Salts and keeping watch for approaching authority was "Keeping Sponsies". In my time cigarettes were called "burns", sweets or delicacies were "ergs" or "gwogs" (so a gwogbox was a food parcel from home) and the cleaning fluid Brasso was called "bluebell".
There are 38 pictures to follow (including "Older Posts" ).
For comprehensive information about the Bothie go to its website:-
www.generalbotha.co.za

Clean Ship

2009-04-12T17:43:00.001-07:00

On the Bothie we cleaned up every day but Friday was special - in the afternoon we donned our overalls and prepared for "Captains Rounds" on Saturday morning.The picture shows the chums of Foretop in front of the hammocks removed from the main hall so they can scrub the floor -

Front: Clarke,"Buddy" Hart(Cdt.Cpn.),Castle,"Tiny"Coleman ;
Kneeling: "C"Cross,
Back: Williams,Todd,Richardson,Edwards, Hayhoe.

The Boiler Room

2009-04-12T17:42:00.002-07:00

Labour was still required for cleaning ship in our second year but I had promotion. Hot water for the showers at the top of the hall was supplied by a coal fired boiler in an adjacent room. I with Deitz and Tiny Coleman(the two Rhodesians) was assigned to maintain the boiler room and cart coal from the galley bunkers. We took great pride in the boiler room appearance and received a special issue of Bluebell to shine up its brass taps and copper pipes. We are seen here with our wheelbarrow (Deitz on the left and Coleman in the middle). Tiny Coleman came back from Rhodesia with an HMV wind up gramaphone and records including Ivor Novello's "We'll Gather Lilacas"; Sadly he was lost at sea in his first year after leaving the Bothie.

Duty Bugler

2009-04-12T17:42:00.001-07:00

On the Bothie the main activities of the day were regulated by distinctive bugle calls - "Charlie" (Reveille) to rise, "both watches" to call the ship's company together, "mess cooks" to have tables set, etc. Four of the band's buglers were appointed to sound these calls taking it in turns to be on duty for solo calls but playing together for the main events - "Charlie", "General Salute" at the raising of the flag "Sunset" when the flag was lowered and "Last Post" at the end of the day. Duty buglers would be woken by the night watchman, "Pop" about fifteen minutes before everyone else so that they could play "Charlie" in the main hall in front of the Honours board. They would stay up when others snuggled into their hammocks and turn in after Lights Out. This was not so bad in summer but not so good in winter.

Duty buglers were paid three shillings and sixpence per month in addition to their one shilling per week pocket money. I had owned a bugle before joining the Bothie and was soon made a duty bugler - the only Chum for most of my first year. Old Boys will know what I mean when I say that somehow I did more solo calls than my Old Salt fellows getting their three and six. At the final prizegiving I was awarded the "Silver Bugle Floating Trophy" for getting up early and going to bed late. I wonder what happened to this fine old instrument that hung in the trophy cabinet.

The picture shows the band in 1948.
(L to R) Seated: Dickson (Jnr and the best boxer of my time), Richardson, Hayhoe (Drum Major), ? (Jnr), Harmon
Back: ? (Jnr), Kros, ? (Jnr) Staats, ?(Jnr), ? (Jnr), ?(Jnr), Brown, Thompson,
Clarke,?(Jnr.).

The Smokers

2009-04-12T17:41:00.000-07:00

I was one of those foolish enough to smoke but at least with the sense to give it up in later life. There were two places on Red Hill used to conceal this illicit activity. One was "Joe's Hole" (Joe was the nickname for Captain Pennington). This was a depression in a far corner of the sports grounds partly filled with water but low enough to conceeal and give ample warning of approaching authority. The other more convenient and thus popular venue was the washlines. We had a Bothie song about it which we sang on occasions like being transported in the troop carrier. Some words I remember

Old Ernie caught me by the lines,
By the lines, by the lines,
Old Ernie caught me by the lines,
By the lines - today.

My boy you've been a ting-a-ling, ling,
ting-a-ling ling, ling-a-ling-ling
My boy you've been a ting-a-ling-ling
Ting-a-ling-ling - today.

I'll have to PUT you in for Joes
In for Joes, In for Joes
I'll have to PUT you in for Joes
In for Joes - today.

Seamanship Instructor "Tallow" Gough was also called Ernie and he would report a smoker to Chief Officer Prest who would PUT the offender on Captain's Report. The word PUT was emphasised and pronounced as if it were a golf stroke because that is the way "Chiefie" Prest pronounced it.

The standard punishment was six cuts from the Herculean arm of Signals Instructor Bert Caustic strengthened from years of rigorous semaphore activity. In the picture (L to R)
Langer-Smith, Bergh, Clarke, Kros, Brown, Harmon

VIP Visits

2009-04-12T17:39:00.002-07:00

In 1947 World War II had recently ended and Simonstown being the Royal Navy base of the South Atlantic was included in the itineraries of many of Britain's VIPs who made goodwill tours of South Africa. The Royal family came and the local population crowded on Jubilee Square to welcome them. The Bothie were allocated a place and some cadets in the front rank were spoken to by members of the Royal party.

Field Marshall Montgomery, hero of the North Africa campaign also paid a visit and the Bothie paraded in Simonstown Docks as part of his reception. He signed the big drum and posed with the ship's company in the above picture - the dignitaries in the front are:-
"Tallow" Gough, Chiefie Prest, the RN Admiral, Harry Pinn, Monty, Legassick,
Bob Mercer and Bert Caustick.

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Another VIP visitor to the area was then Prime Minister, "General Smuts" when he opened a camp for needy children at Glencairn. The Bothie formed a guard of honour.

Trafalgar Day

2009-04-12T17:38:00.002-07:00

In the late 1940s, Trafalgar Day was an important date in the Bothie calendar. We marched through the streets of Cape Town, attended a special church service at St Georges Cathedral and had lunch at the Missions to Seamen. This picture appeared in the local press in 1948.

Van

2009-04-12T17:38:00.001-07:00

Clarke and van Willingh. We were good friends on the Bothie and decided that we would like to go to sea together. We were both from Cape Town and after leaving we sought out the man responsible for arranging our apprenticeships (I believe he was the Secretary of the Bothie's Board of Control). I think we found him in his garden pruning his roses and he was not charmed by the interruption; He immediately made it clear to us that we would go where he found it appropriate. Shortly thereafter I was apprenticed to SAR Ships and Van to Clan Line.

Van stayed with Clan, got his Master's, joined the Harbour Service and retired as an APC in Durban. We remained good friends as did our wives. He died recently. The Bothie gave us many things but to me the most valued was the lifetime friendships it created. Van was one of them.

Cutter Race

2009-04-12T17:37:00.002-07:00

The Both Watches Cutter Race was held annually and if the pictures were in colour it would show Port Watch in the foreground with red sashes and Starboard Watch in the background with green. I was the cox of Starboard sitting in the stern. After being behind at the beginning we won the contest in 1948 and even earned a few words of praise from Tallow Gough.

Leisure Time

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(l to r) "Little" Harrison, Clarke, van Willingh and Damp
(there were two Harrisons dubbed "Little" and "Big")

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(l to r)
Front: Brown, ?, Stewart, Ihlenfeldt, "Big" Harrison
Back: Barraclough, Dodkins, Munchin, Gemmell, Clarke

2009-04-12T17:35:00.001-07:00

A Sunday afternoon "Ramble" outside the Bothie which can be faintly seen in the background. Bradfield is in the front and the others (l t r) Burgh, Gauss. "Big" Harrison and Brown

Cross Country

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A group of Old Salts and Chums about to set out on a run over the Red Hill countryside in 1948.

Rigs

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A display in front of the Honours Board in the Main Hall of the different rigs worn in 1948.
Seated:(L to R) ?(Jnr), van Willingh, ?(Jnr), Clarke
Standing: (L to R) Ihlenfeldt, Staats, ?(Jnr), ?(Jnr), Edwards, Tully

Sport

2009-04-12T17:33:00.001-07:00

The soccer team in 1947 played its games against ships' teams which were arranged by the Missions to Seamen. Instructor Jimmy Smith was an enthusiastic coach
(L to R)
Front: Richardson, G Bennett(snr), Hayhoe, Barry(snr/c), Edwards, Clarke, Ferguson(snr)
Back: Lawrence, Nelson (snr), Staats, Todd, Cox(snr), Cross, Barnes(snr)

2009-04-12T17:32:00.004-07:00

The 1st XV Rugby team in 1948 played most of its games against other schools but I recall one game when we played "away" against a team from Grabouw and many of their players emerged from the local pub at the start.
(L to R)
Fron: Etherington, Dickson(jnr), Cameron, Stewart
Centre: van Willingh, Thomson, Clarke, Cross(c), Bradfield, Harrison, Brown
Back: Williams, Damp, Lawrence, Munchin, Lange-Smith, Todd, Miles, Mr Du Bois (teacher/coach)

The Ship

2009-04-12T17:32:00.003-07:00

In 1947 we used to row in the cutters near the ship where it alll began but later I sat among the ship's company on the brow of Red Hill and watched the shore batteries send it to the bottom.

Goodbye Red Hill

2009-04-12T17:32:00.001-07:00

On the day we moved out of Red Hill in 1948 the flag was lowered in a ceremony attendced by dignitaries and parents.

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The band leads the way out of Red Hill on the way to Gordons Bay.

Gordons Bay

2009-04-12T17:31:00.001-07:00

Marching in to the new Bothie campus at Gordons Bay.

Flag Raising

2009-04-12T17:28:00.002-07:00

The flag has been handed over by the standard bearer (van Willingh) and is being raised to the sounding of the General Salute.

Staff

2009-04-12T17:28:00.001-07:00

The officers,instructors and teachers of 1948 (L to R) with their nicknames:-
Seated: Officers: Bob Mercer(3rd), Harry Pinn(2nd), Chiefie Prest(Chief)
Gus Legassic(Captain Superintendent)
Teachers: Jock Frame(Principal), Minifie-Hawkins(Padre), Snoz Du Bois,
Ollie Stokes
Standing:
Instructors: Jimmy Smith, ?, Bert Caustic, Tallow Gough,
Macdonald(Secretary).

Boating

2009-04-12T17:27:00.002-07:00

Sunday afternoon in Gordons Bay could have been spent messing about in boats. Pictured bow to stern are Lawrence, Cross, Damp and Clarke

Prayers

2009-04-12T17:27:00.001-07:00

Padre Minifie-Hawkins leads prayers on the parade ground. He was a kindly man who I seem to remember suffered severe wounds in the war and bore the scars with dignity and fortitude. He had a good speaking voice and the beautiful words he so often used in our prayers before turning in have remained in my memory

"Until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes, the busy world is hushed,the fever of life over and our work done ; grant us a safe lodging, a restful night and in the end peace".

Publicity

2009-04-12T17:26:00.002-07:00

Bothie events were often reported in the press and soon after the move to Gordons Bay a Cape Town paper ran a special feature section. The picture above and the five which follow appeared.

Navigation

2009-04-12T17:26:00.001-07:00

Harry Pinn, Second Officer, an Old Boy and a fine teacher explaining the sextant. I won a prize for the navigation he taught us - a telescope presented by the former Rand Club Branch of the Navy League.
(L to R) Pinn, Staats, Williams, Clarke and Deitz

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Instructor Bert Costick gives signals instructions on the
"bridge".

(L to R) Kros, Hayhoe, Gauss, Costick, Lawrence, Barrraclough.

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The cutters coming in to the boat house.

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Inside the mess deck.
At the head of the table is Lawrence, on the right of the picture van Willingh and, on the left, Harmon in the foreground and Edwards next to him.

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Chums doing PT; nearest the camera Spengler, behind him Paddy Blake and to his left Glen Syndercombe (later Admiral)

Aloe

2009-04-12T17:21:00.001-07:00

The Aloe passing under Sydney Harbour Bridge. I joined the Aloe in 1949 in Durban; on board were three other OBs, fellow cadet Peter Carrington, the 3rd Mate and the 2nd Mate (Keith Botha). We took coal to Colombo(then Ceylon) and the derricks loaded it into lighters; it took many weeks. We were then light ship to Borneo, up the Rajang River to load logs which were floated down alongside in rafts. These were taken through the Great Barrier Reef and unloaded in Brisbane and Sydney. Next to Wallaroo where we loaded wheat in bags bound for Beira and then back to Durban.

Wallaroo

2009-04-12T17:20:00.002-07:00

Wallaroo is a small town. Perhaps having a ship at the jetty was an occasion, the people were hospitable, they invited us to a dance. Peter Carrington is 4th from the left in the second row and I am next along with a young lady bewtween us. The Third mate is in the front third from the left and I think the Second Mate is somewhere in the middle.

40th Reunion

2009-04-12T17:20:00.001-07:00

In 1988 cadets of the year 1948, senior(47/48) and junior(48/49) enjoyed a day together to remember 40 years before. The occasion was initiated, organised and hosted by OB Glen Syndercombe (48/49) who was in a unique position to provide facilities available to his then office as Admiral and Chief of the SA Navy. The day included a bus visit to the ruins of the Red Hill site, a trip across False Bay in two of the Navy's strike craft, lunch at Gordons Bay and return for drinks at Admiralty House. The picture above shows the ten OBs of the 47/48 era present on that memorable day.
Back: Lawrence
Middle: Hayhoe, van Willingh, Boltman, Tully
Front: Gemmell, Edwards, Clarke, Kros, C Crosss

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OBs inspect the ruins of Red Hill which had obviously been stripped of usable material by locals.

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One of the two strike craft.

Anniversary

2009-04-12T17:16:00.000-07:00

1997 was special representing 75 years since the first cadets in 1922. Coincidentally it was also the 50th year for OBs who were on the Bothie in 1947. Various functions were held to celebrate the occasion including a cocktail party at which eight of the 1947 Obs were present. The above picture shows :-
Standing L to R:
Clarke(47/48), Bennett(46/57), Christie(46/47), Brecken(46/47),
van Willingh(47/48), Barnes(46/47), Hayhoe(47/48)
Sitting:
Bluett(46/47)

60th Anniversary

2009-04-11T19:43:00.000-07:00

In 2008 three OBs of 1947/48 were living in Sydney and when another, Richard Edwards, visited, the four had lunch to remember the old days.
Seeated:
Cameron and Damp
Standing:
Edwards and Clarke
(Regrettably decapitated by Mrs 1506)

Finis

2009-04-11T19:23:00.000-07:00

2008 model 1506
(complete with head)

The End