The Company Gardens in Cape Town was a fitting backdrop for the Annual Gunners’ Memorial earlier this month (March) with the General of the Gunners, Major General Willbrod Mazibuko, in attendance along with good representation from the SA Army artillery and air defence formations.
This extended to unit commanders and regimental sergeants major for the 16 March event.
The memorial service, according to the Gunners’ Association, was a tribute to service and sacrifice reflected in the broad spectrum of those present representing, among others, veteran organisations, Cape Town and Western Cape regiment as well as representatives from the diplomatic corps and Cape Town city councillor. Further lustre came in the form of Fort Ikapa and SA Navy (SAN) personnel and the Sea Cadets.
The service was summed up in the artillery motto – Ubique – meaning “Everywhere.” This word serves as a constant reminder of the unwavering dedication of the gunners, both past and present, who stood ready to serve wherever duty calls.
“The Annual Gunners’ Memorial continues to be a poignant occasion, ensuring that the courage and sacrifices of those who have served in the artillery are never forgotten. As attendees departed the Company’s Garden, the sense of pride and remembrance lingered, a testament to the enduring legacy of the Gunners,” the Association reported.
The Gunners’ Association of South Africa was established to promote fellowships and camaraderie amongst all Gunners, whether from the Field Artillery, Air Defence Artillery, Anti-Tank Artillery, whether serving or retired; and to promote Gunner Traditions and preserve Gunner Heritage. The Association also seeks to provide welfare and educational support to Gunners and their families.
One of the Association’s key projects is the SA heritage gun register, which last year had 529 guns on record with 350 inspected by a committee. The 529 number was reached with the addition of five “Ermelo guns” – four GV1s (25 pounders) and a six-pounder anti-tank gun. The armament is at the Air Defence Artillery School in Ermelo, Mpumalanga.
A site of significance for the Association is the Gunners Memorial near the outskirts of Potchefstroom, adjacent to the now closed No: 3 Gate of the Military Base through which, over a period of time, all gunners passed on entering or leaving the camp. The design of the memorial was conceived by Dr Gordon Leith, himself a gunner, who had served overseas with the SA Artillery during World War I. The Memorial was unveiled in May 1952 by the Chief of Staff, SA Army, Lieutenant General “Matie” Christiaan Ludolph De Wet du Toit and entrusted for safekeeping by the Gunners Association. The original plaque on the Memorial reads “To the glory of God and the memory of all Gunners who lost their lives in two World Wars, 1914- 918; 1939-1945.”
