Sapperrus

A memorial to all members of the South African Engineer Corps who lost their lives in the service of their country

Unveiled 10 November 2019

by Sappers Ashley Williams (Chairman of the Sappers Foundation) and Vincent Carruthers.

 

Locality

Sappersrus is on the R560 between Skeerpoort and Hartbeespoort Dam.

 

What can be seen     

The Hall of Remembrance, built in 1951, houses the Roll of Honour of those Sappers who died in the service of their country. Once every month a page of the Roll is solemnly turned in a quiet, dignified ceremony.  The Hall stands in the grounds of the Sapperrus Nature Reserve with pleasant walks down to the Magalies River.

Unveiling the Blue Plaque at Sappersrus. 10 November 2019

SAPPERSRUS AND THE WAR MEMORIAL TO THE SAPPERS

Article by Kathy Munro on the Heritage Portal October 2016

https://www.theheritageportal.co.za/article/sappersrus-and-war-memorial-sappers

This month it was my pleasure to visit Sappersrus. The occasion was a gathering of the tourism association of the Hartbeestpoort Dam/Magaliesberg area to meet and learn about Sappersrus and its history and attend a small memorial ceremony. We enjoyed excellent hospitality and a lunch in the well-designed lapa close to the water. I was asked to deliver a short talk on the Battle of the Somme, Delville Wood and memorialization. Our hosts were Irene Small and Ashley Williams, who run the Sappers facility and Foundation. They keep the faith of past traditions, recruit new members and educate people about the Sappers and their role in World War II and other South African military engagements. Their task is to continue the charitable work of the Sappers Foundation (as the older Sappers Association is now known) and promote the Heritage Centre. Sappersrus also offers weekend accommodation to anyone wanting a break in pleasant country surroundings.

Sappersrus is located on the road from Hartbeestpoort Dam to Magaliesberg on the north bank of the Magalies River. It is at this point that the river flows into Hartebeespoort Dam. It is about 42 kms from Pretoria and about 1 hour 15 minutes drive from Randburg. It is very accessible and the roads from all directions are excellent.

The history of Sappersrus dates back to the Second World War and the comradeship among the South African Engineers Corp. The Sappers were the engineers of the army and South African Sappers saw service in East Africa, North Africa and in Italy. They distinguished themselves building make-shift bridges, repairing roads, and undertaking construction projects. Their task was to make it possible for the army to get to the front lines and engage the enemy.

Towards the end of the war a Sappers Association was established growing out of the S A E C Old Comrades Association. It quickly established itself as a recognized welfare organization and charity to promote and protect the interests of those who had served in the Engineers Corp and to contribute to their successful transition to civilian life following their return to South Africa and demobilisation. There was also a social network and comradely support objective.

The initial idea behind Sappersrus was to provide a home for men awaiting demobilization and support them in practical ways in the search for employment. It was to become a home for those who found adaptation to civilian life difficult after four to six years in the army. The plan was to acquire a farm where crops could be grown, livestock kept, and useful new skills learnt. Sappersrus became the reality.   

The Sappers Association purchased part of the scenic old Grootplaats farm. It comprised undeveloped wooded land, with indigenous flora, trees and bush on a site that fell away towards the dam. Terraces and roads were built as men were taught the skills of road making and construction. Sappersrus was a training centre in agricultural engineering for men who had only known army life during war time service. The Sappers Association gathered funds and operated as a welfare organization. It was particularly supportive of men (and their families) who found reintegration into civilian life difficult. But was it to be a temporary or a permanent centre? Could this rural retreat not also be a focal point for the social life of former service men? What about a living memorial to those army engineers who lost their lives? The creation of a war memorial became a core objective immediately after the war to honour the men who did not return.

The Sappers Flag with the insignia of the nine flames. Here is a story and symbolism behind the nine flames. In 1944 King George VI granted the South African Engineers Corps the privilege of wearing the badge of the Corps of Royal Engineers, a “grenade fired”, with seven flames but the South African insignia has two extra flames. Below there is the motto “ubique” (meaning everywhere). (Information from Ken Anderson Photo: Kathy Munro.)

The man who was the driving force in the creation of Sappersrus was Jim McIntyre. The history is covered in a series of World War II histories: South African Forces: World War II, volume 8, and the 2 volumes of the Sappers called Salute the Sappers volume 8, parts 1 and 2 by Neil Orpen with H. J. Martin (Sappers Association, 1982). Another excellent source of information is Ken Anderson: Nine Flames (1964, Purnell). All three of these volumes are now highly collectable as items of both military history and Africana.

Very speedily permanent buildings were put up comprising thatched rondavel bungalows, a club house, a shop and store. The training centre functioned successfully for many years. The hilly riverside site was landscaped. Sappers rust also became a country club for old Sappers. Later facilities such as a swimming pool, a bowling green, tennis courts, and a rose garden were drawcards for people driving out from Johannesburg. As a child, as my father being an ex-serviceman (he had served in the Royal Air Force and his social circle were ex-servicemen friends), we enjoyed family picnics at Sappersrus. In the fifties it was quite an adventurous journey to travel from Johannesburg to the Dam and beyond. 

Smuts laid the foundation stone of the clubhouse in 1948. Sappersrus was a haven and a productive farm for people who lived there but it was also a country recreational facility. Most important too for its financial stability was the Club’s acquisition of a liquor license which made for some lively parties.

17 hectares on a high lying koppie were set aside for a Memorial area and the construction of a war memorial which takes the form of a small Hall of Remembrance. The design was conceived by the Sapper artist, Ben Burrage, and his ideas were passed to an architect (I have not as yet established who the architect was). There is an interesting article about Burrage (Military History Journal, vol 12, no 1, June 2001). Burrage was one of seven officially appointed South African Artists of the Second World War, whose main contribution was his art work and drawings of the work of the South African Engineers Corps in Italy.

Hall of Remembrance (Vincent Carruthers)

 Two copies of the Roll of Honour were created in italic script, the calligraphic efforts then placed within bound vellum volumes. One copy of the Roll of Honour was sent to St Paul’s Cathedral London to be placed in a Chapel holding the Rolls of Honour of all other Dominion engineers. The second copy is still held at Sappersrus. The memorial hall still stands. It houses the revered Roll of Honour. The foundation stone of polished black marble was laid in 1951. Orpen records that beneath the foundation stone is a sealed copper casket containing a microfilm of contemporary records, photographs and drawings and plans for the memorial, extracts from “S A Sapper” and other mementoes. It is a time capsule of objects. The remembrance hall was dedicated in May 1952 to the men whose names were recorded in the Roll of Honour. 

The Dedication (Kathy Munro)

The creed of the Sappers captures the intention of the post war comradeship: “We Sappers with common interests before the War, who formed a bond of friendship during the War, created our Association so that now, as long as we are one, not one of us will be alone.” These words were proudly repeated this week, 71 years since the end of the Second World War.

It is a simple, very moving and absolutely functional memorial. More than sixty years since its erection it is both timeless and traditional in its design. It is a symmetrical shrine of natural dressed local quartz stone. The stained glass windows of maroon and an azure blue glass reflect the colours of the Sapper colours. The names of the Sappers are displayed on one wall.

The building was undertaken by Sapper Andy de Beer, a professional stone mason, over a period of 14 months when he lived on site. The slate for paving the floor comes from the nearby river. A wrought iron casket holds the Roll of Honour and all the fittings were designed and installed by Sappers. The surrounding garden shows off aloes and indigenous shrubs and succulents. With a well-kept lily pond, it is a tranquil memorial space. Take time to enjoy the ambience as you sit on one of the benches dedicated to people who were members of the Sappers Association. The wives of the Sappers were known rather quaintly as “Sapperesses” and they too are remembered with inscriptions on benches.

The silent moving ceremony is of the turning of the page of the roll of Honour. The bell is tolled, the flag marks the sense of place, two sentries mount guard at the door and the small procession marches into the hall to then undertakes the simple ceremony of page turning. A short silence is observed. Initially this ceremony was held once a week on a Sunday morning but with the decline in membership, the ceremony it has become a once a month event. 

‘Turning the page’ ceremony (Kathy Munro)

The Sappers Foundation has moved with the time to reflect changes in the Defence force and new sites of service by the engineers. Their membership today comprises veterans, but also friends, families, sons and daughters and is open to anyone with an interest in the history of the Sappers. However, sustaining a veterans’ organization and associated facilities proved to be a tough challenge. Recapitalisation was necessary with some of the land being sold for a golf estate and housing development. The old club house, tennis courts, swimming pool, rose garden and rondavels have disappeared. Accommodation for weekend guests (open to all) is today provided within a courtyard, with rooms off a rectangular of shaded veranda. This area was an original staff compound but has been modernized and updated with kitchen facilities and en suite bathrooms. 

We descended through the natural wooded terraces (Kathy Munro)

We walked downhill about a kilometre through open veld to the memorial garden and hall for the remembrance page turning ceremony. After the ceremony we descended through the natural wooded terraces to the thatched spacious lapa for lunch. The objective today is to share the news of this retreat and welcome all who want to enjoy a tranquil break. It was a sociable occasion, with refreshments provided. It was a special two hours to meet both members of the local tourism association and the sons of Sappers who fought in the war and hear their memories of fathers and families.

My visit to Sappersrus also brought to mind another encounter with the Sappers at the Ditsong Military History museum. On a visit earlier this year I spotted a work of art inspired by the South African Engineers by the sculptor Herman Wald, created in 1941. Here a group of muscular, fit engineers strain under the weight of an iron girder used to bridge a gully or culvert. Wald became a sculptor of note in Johannesburg; his best known works were the stampede of impala for the memorial park in Joubert Street and the Miner’s Memorial in Kimberley, both commissioned to honour Sir Ernest Oppenheimer. Wald was himself a sergeant in the 85 Camouflage company of the S A Engineers Corps and served in North Africa from 1941. The museum is worth a visit just to see this homage to the Sappers of South Africa.

 

  Work of art by Herman Wald inspired by South African Engineers 

BRIEF HISTORY OF SAPPERS RUST

1943

Well before the end of the War, anticipating a post-war depression and consequently unemployment, certain senior officers evolved the idea an organisation to help re-habilitate members of the Corps on their return to civilian life.  The Old Comrades Association was formally recognised as a Welfare Organisation on 22 November, being given the number WO 314. The inital subscribtion was £3:1:0 for life, payable over a period.

1944

On 8 February, a formal constitution was adopted and the name was to the less cumbersome and more apt “Sappers Association” 

On 7 December, the first issue of the “SA Sapper”, a magazine that was to be published for more that 50 years, was issued free to all Association Members.

1945

On 7 June, the Western Province Branch in Cape Town was formed, the first of many branches to be formed throughout the Union (R.S.A.), S.W.A. (Namibia) and the Rhodesia’s (Zambia and Zimbabwe), under the Constitution of the parent body.

On 1 July, “Sappersrust”, an area of land on the north bank of the Magalies River (which flows into the Hartebeespoort Dam – near Pretoria) was acquired and became known as Sappersrust.  Soon a fully equipped camp was set up, where Sappers who had been demobbed from the army were accommodated while being integrated back into a post-war society.

On 14 September, a split-pole and thatch shop, built near the river, was opened with a general dealers licence and served tea, cakes and sweets to enthusiastic Sappers who braved the dirt road to Sappersrust.

1946

On 1 June, the first General Meeting of the Sappers Association (affectionately known as “Congress”) was held to elect the first non-military Board of Directors.  Subsequent Congresses, consisting of Sappers representing the Branches throughout the Country, have meet annually to receive reports of Sapper activity during the year and to elect new Directors to deal with matters of policy.

As the initial roll for Sappersrust had been completed it was decided that these grounds should continue to be the focal point for Sappers veterans and that a club for our members would be established on these grounds.  On 16 December, the first permanent structure, a cottage consisting of 3 linked rondavels was opened as a dining room serving simple meals to Sunday visitors.

1947

On 4 December, the first nine rondavels and their communal ablution blocks were taken into use to accommodate the Sappers and their families that were to build the clubhouse and the luxury cottages (with individual bathrooms and hot running water) that were to follow.

1948

At Congress on 2 May it was decided to compile a Roll of Honour of the S.A.E.C. to remember those Sappers that had paid the final price in the defence of their country and its ideals.

Work on the Clubhouse started and on 12 December Field-Marshal Smuts laid the Foundation Stone.

1949

On 23 June, the “Sappers Club” was constituted and on 26 November General Ken Ray, the first President of the Club, formally opened the Sappers Clubhouse.  The attractive two-story thatched building had been built by Sappers and Sapper orientated firms at nominal cost.

1950 / 51

Permission was granted to enshrine the S.A.E.C. Roll of Honour in St Paul’s Cathedral in London, together with the other Commonwealth Rolls (Not only Engineers) of both the 1914/18 and 1939/45 Wars.  It was felt that a duplicate book should be kept in South Africa and on 3 September 1950 the designs for the Hall of Remembrance, the books resting place, at Sappersrust was approved.

On 10 December 1950, the first sod was turned on the site chosen on a koppie, backed by the noble Magaliesburg and over-looking the river valley.  The building of the Hall was entrusted to a dedicated Sapper stonemason, who lived and worked on the spot for 18 months.

On 15 April 1951, Sapper JC McIntyre laid the foundation stone and underneath the stone, set in concrete is a sealed copper casket with a S.A.E.C. cap badge welded on the lid, containing a microfilm of contemporary records, photos of drawings and plans of the memorial, extracts from the SA Sapper magazine and other mementos.

1952

At Congress on 4 May, the Sapper Creed that heads this brief history was adopted and has since been used to open all Congress, Board and Branch meetings.

The Congress was followed by a dedication ceremony for the Hall of Remembrance and the Roll of Honour was reverently placed in the casket where is still resided today.  Thereafter, every year on the first Sunday of May, an anniversary ceremony (Annual Memorial Service) is held to honour the event and remember fallen comrades.

Every Sunday Morning at half past Nine a simple ceremony is performed during which a page of the roll is turned and a short silence observed.  This has been done without break and still continues, every Sunday.

1953

An internal battery-illuminated lamp, built into an old petrol can, and carrying the symbol of the Association was approved and has been used since as part of the ritual opening of formal meetings.

1956

On 10 October, Sapperspriut was officially opened as a holiday resort with 3 Cottages and a renovated farm house for the Caretaker, where Sappers could enjoy swimming, fishing and drives into the surrounding country, for very reasonable costs.

1963

On 9 March, Sappershoek was officially opened as a holiday resort with Cottages and a communal hall to be the home of the Eastern Cape Branch.  Several retired Sappers were accepted as semi-permanent residents.  This resort was later to be converted into a retirement centre with 26 cottages in line with the changing needs of Sappers in general.

In the early 60’s it was recognised that the years were passing and the need for looking after our ageing and retired Sappers would become No 1 priority eventually.  The Sappers Creed was supplemented by adding the concept of “easing the burdens and brightening the lives of all our Sappers, as they grow older” – which thought adopted in 1977 as a pledge to form the closing ritual of all formal meeting of the Association.

1964

“Nine Flames” – The SAEC Story, was completed and published, authored by a well-known and experienced journalist and author, supported by 78 Sapper sponsors, he delved into all available records and put on tape individual experiences and reminiscences from Sappers all over the Country.  This publication is still available from our Head Office at Sappersrust.

1973

The thought of caring for our older Sappers had been taking hold more over the past few years and in 1970 a combined committee was elected from the Sappers Association, the Gunners and the Southern Transvaal MOTHs to develop a retirement centre in Johannesburg.  On 22 September, ‘G.E.M. Homes” was officially opened in Rooseveldpark, in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg, with 16 Flats, 68 Cottages, an office and a communal hall.

1982

“Sapperhaven” was officially opened as a retirement centre for the Johannesburg Sappers, in Lombardy East also a northern suburb of Johannesburg, with 120 Cottages and a communal hall.

1985

“GEM Village” was officially opened, as a joint venture retirement centre with the Gunners, in Irene in the southern suburbs of Pretoria with 19 Double Cottages, 12 Single Cottages, 36 Single Flats, 43 Double Flats and a communal hall.

1988

“Sappersglen” was officially opened as a retirement centre for the Sappers of the Natal South Coast with 23 Cottages and a communal hall.

1992

A second Roll of Honour is placed in the casket in the Memorial Hall to honour those who have dies on active service protecting and upholding the ideals of the Republic of South Africa.

1994

With the change of the constitution of the Republic of South Africa, the election of the first fully representative government and the formation of the New South African National Defence Force, the Sappers Foundation recognises the sacrifices made by the non-statutory and the homeland defence forces and votes to allow these military engineers full recognition in the Sappers Association.

1997

We as Sappers can be proud of our Association, as it has survived and prospered for more than fifty years.  We should feel a special pride that we have had the guts to admit that we are slowly sinking away due to dwindling membership and rising costs and took the necessary steps to ensure that what was started in the heat of battle would continue and would hold high the memory of the Military Engineer into the 21^st Century.

The National Board Meeting, held on 1 November 1997 is hailed as the turning point for the Sappers Association, which had been in decline for a decade.  At this meeting the Sappers Association started its transformation to its new form, that of a Foundation for the preservation of Military Engineering Culture, History and Traditions called the “Sappers Foundation”. We had to accept that certain of the projects of the old Sappers Association would not be carried forward but the Directors pledged themselves to retain as many of these as possible, to preserve the traditions and symbols and to ensure that none of our members are alienated by the change process.

1998

The Sappers Foundation is registered and the control of the Sappers Association and all its Retirement Centres and Projects is transferred to the Board of Directors of the Sappers Foundation.

1999

Due to dwindling membership and the general ageing of the infrastructure, it was decided to close the Sappers Club and sell this portion of the property and buildings into a joint venture development company (Herons Nest) who could raise the funds needed for the rising costs of maintenance and upgrading necessary to be able to run the resort as a Conference Centre and River Lodge.

2001

The decision was taken to separate the Retirement Centres into Section 21 Companies that would be self-sufficient and would ensure the continuation of these long after the last veteran Sapper has passed to higher service as a memorial to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their Country.

2002

A Memorial Trust was formed to preserve the Hall of Remembrance and the Memorial Gardens into perpetuity and a new head office was built for the Sappers Foundation on the Memorial Grounds including a home for the “Sappers Heritage Collection”, overnight accommodation for visiting Sappers, and a general meeting and recreational area.

With the decreasing numbers in the Association and with Sapperspriut no longer being used by Sappers it was decided to sell the property and to use the funds to ensure the continued existence of our Retirement Centre projects.

The Board of Directors decided that the joint venture development company (Herons Nest) was not viable and should be liquidated with the remaining funds donated to the Sappers Memorial Trust.

2003

The remainder Sappersrust, after the sale of the Sappers Club / Herons Nest property, was transferred into the Sappers Memorial Trust to be utilised to supplement the income of the Trust and has been leased on a long-term basis for a sum greater that the current upkeep costs.

 

SAPPER’S CREED

We Sappers with common interests before the War, Forged a bond of comradeship during the War, Created our association so that now, As long as we are one, Not one of us will be alone, Before, During, Now, We will remember those, Whose names lie in our Hall. 

 

We pledge ourselves to ease the burdens and brighten the lives of all our members, as they grow older.