Despite low numbers, the South African Springboks bundled the Italians out of Abyssinia in months, thus also probably saving Egypt, the Middle East, and India. (The only Allied victory in the opening years of the war.) This enabled O'Connor to drive the Italians out of Libya (only to be chased out in turn by Rommel). For all Hitler’s derision, the South Africans went on to do yeoman work. There were South Africans in the Royal Navy; even on the county class cruiser which chased the Graff Spee in the River Plate.
MOST OF ALL I WEEP FOR TOM WARDER
Saying nothing about the vicissitudes of war, he told his children about how he had swum in the Mediterranean off the coast of Oran, but, not, until they were older, about how he and a friend had brought the body of an American soldier ashore. He sang the songs that he and his brother had sung on the ship, and played the tunes they had played in the squadron band, named The Venturians because the aircraft they flew were Venturas. His youthful listeners thrilled to hear about how he had once or twice had a chance to play with some famous musicians including Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller; but he was never able to talk much about how pilots, returning from anti-submarine reconnaissance to the hopelessly too short emergency airstrip at Kalafrana in Malta, on occasion misjudged the distance to the precipice at the edge of the towering cliffs.
The Warder Boys came home from the war in Europe, having signed up for further service in Burma; Tom to court his girl while they waited to be shipped out to the Far East. Fortuitously, before the order came for them to leave, peace returned to their world on V J Day. Tom joined a commercial airline, married and settled down to raise a family, remaining fiercely proud of his squadron. After emigrating from South Africa in 1978, he joined the Royal Canadian Legion and became a member of the Army Navy and Air force Veterans’ Association, retaining life membership of the South African Air-force Association. He gave his time, his energy and his money passionately, however, to help his wife establish an organization which has saved millions of lives in Canada and around the world by creating awareness of the most common genetic disorder of all: Hemochromatosis.
He has been described by physicians and patients alike as the "most courageous man" they have ever known. When, with dreadful suddenness, that same genetic disorder caught up with him and he learnt that he was dying, he was faced with two almost overwhelming problems: he might not have time to write "The Story of the Monarch," as he had promised the children; and not only was the kind of money which a funeral might entail, frozen in South Africa but it would take too long to arrive in time to pay for his funeral
Article comments
1 - Arthur Blake.
What a great article! I was in the RAF and I remember clearly when 27 Squadron SAAF came to join us on Malta. Their band - led by Tom Warder - lifted us up and helped to keep us going during a really dreadful time in our lives.
2 - Desmond Graham
My wife found a link to this article on Facebook and what memories you have triggered, Arthur.
Herewith another link that might interest you. Remember Thuys Uys, the Commanding Officer of 27 squadron and the 'rescue' off Skeleton Coast?
3 - Zena Desmond
I recommend a gripping book called "With No Remorse..." by the writer of this article. It is partly fiction, but much of it is based on fact. It has a photo of the Tom Warder and the "Venturians" on the opening page.
4 - Patsy
I've read it, and have a URL for a tape of the Venturians.
Try it out.
5 - Marie Warder
Thank you for posting a link to the Venturians. Something tells me that you must also have had a dear one "Up North" with 27 Squadron, SAAF.
6 - Ziggy
I cannot find words to express my sorrow at reading about how an old and very dear friend was treated.
My wife and I remember dancing to the music of his band at the Coronation Ball -- which was held at Rand Airport in Germiston -- on the occasion of the Queen Elizabeth's crowning.
7 - Marie Warder
Thank you,Ziggy. Good news!I have received a letter from my member of parliament who read the article, and hers has come with a copy of one to the Minister of Veteran affairs requesting recognition of South African Servicemen! - Praise God!
I now await his response with baited breath.
8 - Dorothy
Marie, I admire your courage, strength and believing and fighting for something that should of been recogized a long time ago.
Keep up the great work.
You are finally being heard.
Dorothy Found
9 - Marie Warder
Another accolade for Jan Smuts: He drafted the Charter of the International Court of Justice, helped found the State of Israel, and led the Boers to victory in the Boer War.
10 - Marie Warder
Praise God! The years I have spent writing to Canadian members of parliament, and pleading for South African vets to be recognized, have paid off! The member of Parliament for my area, read this article and sent it to the the Minister of Veteran Affairs, who has now acknowledged that SA was indeed an ally in WW2, and that surviving veterans would henceforth enjoy the same benefits as Canadians.