September 20, 2007
By George Matlala
FOR 60 years the South African National Museum of Military History has been showing the horrors of war; and it is marking its 60th birthday with a comprehensive exhibition of the country's role in military conflicts throughout the world.
The exhibition runs until October. It recounts the institution's history, from its humble beginnings when two Bellman aircraft hangars contained various exhibits; today it has a collection of more than 44 000 items, including armoured carriers, artillery, small arms and uniforms.
Its public relations officer, Allan Sinclair, says the museum's role is to educate people about the horrors of war. "We don't glorify war. We hope that the wars seen here will never happen again." People should learn from their mistakes, he says.
Prime minister, Field Marshall Jan Smuts opens the South African National Museum of Military History in 1947
Regarding itself as the "spiritual and symbolic home of regular and reserve soldiers and veterans", the museum was officially opened in 1947 by the then prime minister, Jan Smuts. It was initially called the South African National War Museum.
But it had its beginnings in 1940, when Captain J Agar-Hamilton was appointed historian of the defence force. He formed an historical records committee, with one of its first steps setting up the museum.
In 1941, the committee submitted a proposal calling for the preservation of documents and materials of military interest. Approval was obtained from Smuts in his dual capacity at the time as minister of defence and commander-in-chief of the South African Defence Force.
The first exhibits were displayed at the Liberty Cavalcade at Zoo Lake in Parkview; from there they were moved to the public library in Johannesburg. In 1946 they were moved again, to their present home at the Zoological Gardens, above the Johannesburg Zoo in Forest Town. The buildings comprised of the two Bellman aircraft hangars; an army hut was added as an office in 1947.
An advisory board ran the museum in the early days. However, when the government began funding it, a board of trustees that included the Johannesburg City council and the three arms of the defence force, was appointed.
The government provided enough money to cover the salaries of a small staff and other administrative costs. However, there was little hope that the museum would expand, until the old Joburg City council voted for an annual grant that made it possible for the museum to add to its collections.
The exhibits, collected from the battlefields of World War Two, were popular and more items were donated. The museum continued to grow and expand its services. In 1975, the name was changed to the South African National Museum of Military History to include all military conflicts in which South Africans participated.
More recently, new halls and a library have been added, including the Aviation Hall, the War Store and the Armada Hall. The former houses the ME 262 B-1a/U1, the only night fighter version of this aircraft still in existence, notes Sinclair.
"This is our Mona Lisa, the only aircraft of its kind left in the world," he says.
Early days: the museum in the 1940s
Today, the huge collections are divided into 37 categories, including the South African War, art and photographs, ordnance, military music, graves and memorials, medicine and military insignia.
The two historic Bellman hangars house a variety of thematic displays, including the South African War, the Anglo-Zulu War and resistance movements such as Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK).
Permanent exhibits
A recent display covers the history of MK, the military wing of the African National Congress. That force was integrated into the South African Defence Force, to make the South African National Defence Force, after the 1994 elections.
Key exhibits include various weapons and the uniform worn by the late Joe Modise, the former commander-in-chief of MK and the minister of defence.
There is also a display commemorating the centenary of the South African War, which raged from 1899 to 1902 and pitted Boer against Brit.
Issues including the causes, strategies and logistics of the war are explored. Also part of the display are conditions in the concentration camps and events that led to the peace in 1902, as well as small arms, edged weapons, badges, uniforms and equipment used during the war.
Another display, the South African Women on War Service (1939-1945), depicts the role of women during the second world war. On show are photographs, uniforms, medals, badges and a range of items sent as gifts and comforts to South African servicemen and women around the world.
About 80 000 people visit the museum every year, with the South African National Defence Force sending over 30 groups. "Coming here forms part of [their] curriculum," Sinclair says.
Permission to use web site material
Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as:
- Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website
(www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency
(www.joburg.org.za)";
- If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original
article on this website;
- The name of the article's author is acknowledged;
-
The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill
in this brief online form).
Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 |
