Die Spesiale Diensbatajon (1933-1973)
Author: Komdt W Otto
Publisher: Die Staatsdrukker
Edition: First 1973
ISBN: 0 621 0 0557 6
Language: Afrikaans
Condition: Good. Clean copy with tight binding.
Binding: Hardcover with silver embossing on the front coverboard and spine
Pages: 149. Print with images
Additional Information
Foreword by Maj-Gen Markgraaf: Both in my capacity as a former member of the original Special Service Battalion (1933-1939) and as Director General Personnel, South African Defence Force, it is my privilege to present this Publication No. 2 in the Central Documentation Services of the South African Defence Force (formerly M.H.A.S.) series. The need had already originated years ago to set on paper and publish the history of the Special Service Battalion (S.S.B.). In the early fifties, as may be confirmed in this publication, a committee had been deputed to undertake the task on a volun tary basis. From the efforts of this committee and under the hand of the then Captain J. N. Blatt, a brief military historical summary was compiled, while there are indications that additional efforts were made thereafter to assemble further material. In 1972 Commandant W. Otto, one of the staff officers of the Central Documentation Services of the South African Defence Force, decided, in the light of a personal obligation as well as the appropriateness of the subject for the acquisition of his Master's degree (History), too undertake the necessary research and its subsequent compilation. In November 1972, under the guidance of Prof. Dr. F. J. du Toit Spies as mentor and internal examiner, and Colonel J. Ploeger, Staff Officer, Research and Publicity of the Central Documentation Services, as external examiner, Commandant Otto completed his thesis, "Die Geskiedenis van die Spesiule Diensbataljon, 1933-1939". After Commandant Otto had reaped the benefits of his endeavours in satisfaction, in part, of the requirements relevant to the Magister Artium degree at the Faculty of Arts of the Pretoria University, and his subject and conclusions had attained academic approval, the need was felt to publish the results of his researches. Even while Commandant Otto was employed on his research and particularly as a result of continual encouragement expressed in ex-S.S.B. circles, the idea originated to extend attention also to the history of the unit subsequent to 1939. Captain J. N. Blatt's review was accepted as the basis for the war-time events. Brigadier J. G. W. van Wyk, S.M., revised the material to accord with present day requirements and merits a word of thanks in this respect. Colonel Jan Ploeger compiled the section appropriately titled "Intermezzo", i.e. relative to the short period between the departure of the S.S.B. from Italy (1945) and the establishment of the S.S.B. as a Permanent Force unit (1946). The time lapse 1946-1973 has been covered by the latter officer and by Major F. J. Jacobs, based primarily on the data in pos session of the S.A.D.F. Archives and 1 S.S.B. itself. Through this singlemindedness of purpose the publication began to take on its form and viewed as one entity, spans forty years of historical facts of a proud regiment, with a lengthy history which, by virtue of its rich variety and exceptionally colourful nature deserves the attention and interest of all and sundry. By the very nature of the thing, stress has been laid on the evolutionary years (1933-1939) while the period 1939-1973 is dealt with rather more superficially. Seen in this light and the fact that forty years have elapsed since the Special Service Battalion came into being, it is a privilege for me to dedicate this publication to 1 S.S.B. and in so doing not allow this jubilee year to slip by unheralded and unsung.
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