Hello. From Gordon Angus Mackinlay, NSW Australia
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I am offering to all persons with any form of interest a file containing the manuscript of the book as entitled above. It is a greatly enhanced rewrite of the classic work of Major Geoffrey Tylden, “THE ARMED FORCES OF SOUTH AFRICA”. I was greatly influenced by this man in my youth and this is in his memory. It is written in a style of a book that I would purchase, full of factual, well researched information written in manner of interest, not just a great list., but about human beings and their totally unique behaviours! With all that goes with them., its content being Chapters :
ONE THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE - THE DUTCH ERA 1657 TO 1806.
TWO TWO COLONIES : TWO STATES. Part One : The Cape Colony 1806 to 1910. Part Two : Natal 1828 to 1910. Part Three : The Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (The South African Part Four : Transvaal to 1910. Part Five : The Union of South Africa/Unie van Suid Afrika 1910 to 1948. Part Six : From The War's End. The 1948 Nationalist Government, To the Republic, To the First Democratic Elections. Part Seven : The “Rainbow Nation”, The 'New' South Africa.
(These two are written in a chronological format form, with amplifying entries).
THREE THE REGIMENTS AND CORPS OF THE LAND FORCES OF SOUTH AFRICA WITH ANNEX ON THE SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE, THE SOUTH AFRICAN NAVY, AND THE FORMER HIGH COMMISSION TERRITORIES.
With a overview of Modern South African Badges and Insignia.
FOUR GERMAN SOUTH WEST AFRICA, SOUTH WEST AFRICA AND NAMIBIA.
FIVE MEDALS AWARDED FOR SOUTHERN AFRICA SERVICE
SIX COLOURS AND THEIR BATTLE HONOURS AWARDED TO THE DISCIPLINED FORCES OF THE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA AND THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA
It has 2,088 unit/organisation entries, covering over ten thousand individual units, infantry armour artillery engineer - the multitude of policing bodies - those who they fought against - special forces paratroops and the operations of both - logistical and training to such as "the Old Duffers". Entries go from just two lines to several pages; such as the 7 of Bushveld Carbineers and the court martial of what we now call "war Crimes" resulted - to the Natal Carbineers of 7 and giving the background to the English speaking volunteer movement. With comprehensive notes; the SA Tank Corps cover the development and individual armoured wheeled vehicles; while the 1st SA Tank Regiment has similar on the use of tracked armour. The unit notes include detail of significant individuals, dress, events, matters of interest. I enhance many with details of medals awarded to men serving with them from my long ago disposed of medal collection. In total over ten thousand units in different sizes receive a mention .
I have attempted to walk the centre of the road in the minefield of current culture, while trying to be none bias, such as the Kaffir Wars description is left in, since the 1960’s these conflicts have had 21 separate and totally different titles, so for the sake for the sake of continuity the racist term is included, for which I apologise. Much described in modern terms is offensive to some, but (even though it popular to do so) you cannot just pick and puts in those pieces of history that meets your concepts.
Over twelve years I used records held in the UK and South Africa and elsewhere, in SA much of what had seen and recorded in the 1980-90'S are no longer extant in public records, for a variety of reasons. Laboriously translating from Afrikaans and German I have put together for the period of 1948 to 1995 a pretty accurate record of the makeup and organisation of SA land forces (military and police). Much however has vanished and I do not know if it would be possible to recover such. I have a very comprehensive section of the commando movement from 1715 to its final disbandment in in 2007. And relating to this those unknown campaigns of the Boers (equally the little known "home guard" type units of The South African War 1899-1901 - I only use the official titles of conflict not such as Boer, Zulu wars, WWI and WWII).
It is prepared as book I would want to read and to have in my possession. It accepted for publication by two publishing houses, and then at the last minute cancelled, I having the money to publish it myself, first attempt with a person in the UK saw him go bankrupt (the electronic transfer I sent I found went to an account of his social partner!), Whilst I can have it printed here in Australia, there is no company that can put a firm hard cover on a large (722 A4 pages) text, getting it printed in Singapore of China is totally fraught with danger!!!
It is a large item, that would need to be converted from 1,322 electronic PDF pages, to a realistic A4 at 722. It is an encyclopaedia, so no pretty pictures, the references in the Notes link to easily available photo texts, while for maps, I have 27 pages of poorly drawn by hand maps, covering the period from 1652 to the modern political internal of SA, and it was just too expensive to have such prepared in a competent fashion.
As I said this is a free, buckshee, gratis offer, home email address being gam47@bigpond,com. I must ask that if you know of anyone, individual or organisation that would find it of use, pass this on give them the address and I will send out to all. Due to health problems I will popping off the mortal coil without notice, so get in quick.
Yours,
G/. G.A.MACKINLAY NSW AUSTRALIA.
