Egs of the great war story snippets about everyone’s dad, grandpa, uncle etc I’m receiving daily for this project: http://www.geni.com/projects/World-War-II-North-African-Campaign
Private joined the forces during World War 2 and was in the Louis Botha Regiment. He and his cousins, Andries (Oom Dries) de Jager, and Andries (Oom Rooi Dries) Coetzer and their friends Mannie Schoeman and Fred and Santie Drake all fought in Egypt (Santie drove ambulances). They fought at the Battles of El Alemein and Sidi Rizeg. When the war was finally over, Coesie's uncle, Major-General Dan Pienaar (haven't worked out how they're connected yet, but they were also house friends), offered Coesie a seat on the aeroplane back to South Africa. Coesie declined the offer because he wanted to come back with "the boys". On that return flight, General Dan Pienaar was killed just off Kenya in a plane crash.
Domingo Nunes served in the South African Army's North African campaign,captured by the Italians,where he had a whale of a time, being of Madeiran (Portuguese) parentage,his temperament was so like that of the Italians,he got on with them like a house on fire! Reached the rank of Sergeant-Major (he could really yell of course,according to Monica his wife)
Private served in WW2.Captured in North Africa? & sent to German tank factory- bad idea: sabotaged everything he could! Can't have had a good time like Madeiran Portuguese brother in law [Domingo Nunes Sergeant Major Domingo Nunes](captured by Italians), as wouldn't talk about his experiences.
Kenneth James Godlonton Richards who, at 17, lied about his age & enlisted in WW2 SA Army, most likely to get away from his overbearing mother who he hated all his life! En route to Cairo to join the war, was sent back-the show was over. One of thousands of demobilised soldiers, he lived at Pollsmoor (then army camp) along with wife and her sister & brother in law Domingo Nunes, also demobilised.
David John Knox Served in WW2 Allied invasion of Italy.Shot and badly wounded in upper arm.The Canadian field hospital was overworked,so had no time to try to save the arm:amputation being the only recourse ;fortunately,noting that he was South African,they sent him to the South African field hospital,where he was the first 'customer' so they had plenty of time to save it.The horrible scar was evident in an old family photo.At centre of British spy scandal when arrested as spy in Haiti in 1967-may have worked for postwar British intelligence,quite an adventurer. (Dunno whether he served in N Africa,but must have as the right age & Italy was the next stop after Rommel was beaten.Will ask my older brother or surviving aunt for any more details.
Roy Townsend New Zealand ammunitions truck driver in Egypt. Roy left home with the outbreak of World War II, where he drove an ammunition truck in the Middle East. The only war story he ever told my mother was when he was stationed in Egypt his commander told him if he were to ever hit a person with his truck, he was to reverse over them and make sure they were dead to prevent the army being sued. One time he hit a child but didn't have the heart to go back, so sped off.
