The year long All Expenses Paid hooligan ride
- Thread starter Whethefakawe
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Whethefakawe
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At the publisher, should be done soon. Second volume, the factual history of bike squad, is in progress. I was hoping to be done by end 2008 but the best laid plans of men and mice......
Currently living out of two panniers and a tank bag, a bit off the grid!
Cheers
Currently living out of two panniers and a tank bag, a bit off the grid!
Cheers
Maverick (R.I.P.)
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Thanks for a brilliant Sunday evening's reading. Great report and awesome pics :deal: It certainly belongs with the best of the best ride reports I have read over the years 8)
Platbrak
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Thank you for this WTFAW. It is true that this part of our history is stooped in political controversy but I guess we did not make the policy, we were the cannon fodder and often managed to make the best of the situation.
I calculated the other day that I spent almost 4 years in the military, two continuious and the rest doing camps at various times. Although it was in the infantry (5 SAI and 1SAI, 1979/80), it was not all bad, some camps were more like holidays but is still messed with my life though. I spent a lot of time in Ovamboland and always appreciated the fact that they forced you to quietly watch the sun set and rise during klaarstaan. I wonder if they realise what a favour they did us?
My brother-in-law was also in spesmagte in the late seventies, early eighties. I think he started out as berede and later joined the spoorsnyers. He later got a job in the Kruger National Park as a tracker to battle against poachers. Anyway, his name was Douw Swanepoel (with a red beard) and I think he left as a sergeant. He recently passed away after a struggle with cancer.
I guess he cannot contribute to the knowledge you require here but some of you guys may have known him.
WTFAW, this is a great post and the fact that you are publishing a book makes it even better, especially since you were part of it and it is not merely an academic recount of history. Every success with this.
Kind regards,
Leon
I calculated the other day that I spent almost 4 years in the military, two continuious and the rest doing camps at various times. Although it was in the infantry (5 SAI and 1SAI, 1979/80), it was not all bad, some camps were more like holidays but is still messed with my life though. I spent a lot of time in Ovamboland and always appreciated the fact that they forced you to quietly watch the sun set and rise during klaarstaan. I wonder if they realise what a favour they did us?
My brother-in-law was also in spesmagte in the late seventies, early eighties. I think he started out as berede and later joined the spoorsnyers. He later got a job in the Kruger National Park as a tracker to battle against poachers. Anyway, his name was Douw Swanepoel (with a red beard) and I think he left as a sergeant. He recently passed away after a struggle with cancer.
I guess he cannot contribute to the knowledge you require here but some of you guys may have known him.
WTFAW, this is a great post and the fact that you are publishing a book makes it even better, especially since you were part of it and it is not merely an academic recount of history. Every success with this.
Kind regards,
Leon
Brilliant pics love to see more.
I have a few pics from those days too.
I was in the bike squad in 83-84 in okatope
We had a section in Ruacana and Rundu and my section in Okatope
Also part of 1 SWASPES with home base in Tsumeb.
Spent 14 months doing exacly what you showed in your pics.
I will have to scan some and post some on the site.
I have a few pics from those days too.
I was in the bike squad in 83-84 in okatope
We had a section in Ruacana and Rundu and my section in Okatope
Also part of 1 SWASPES with home base in Tsumeb.
Spent 14 months doing exacly what you showed in your pics.
I will have to scan some and post some on the site.
Hey YNOTINSA,
The memory gets fuzzy after 25 years! The 83-84 bike squad had sections in Okatope, Ogongo and Ruacana (not Rundu). Your section at Okatope (affectionately known as PoesPlaas) certainly drew the short straw being posted to that nutcase Yati. Incidentally, the stories on the 'Net about how he got his nickname are apparently grossly inflated - but I'd be curious if you could fill us in since you must have got to know him well. I'm sure Uikerman was there too at some stage - he's a pilot for Cathy Pacific now I hear.
Do you recognise any of the guys in the photos I posted on the previous page? They're all 83-84 guys - platoon 13 as Whethefakawe recently reminded me. Send me a PM with your contact details and it's likely I have a photo of you.
Regards
ThumperNut
The memory gets fuzzy after 25 years! The 83-84 bike squad had sections in Okatope, Ogongo and Ruacana (not Rundu). Your section at Okatope (affectionately known as PoesPlaas) certainly drew the short straw being posted to that nutcase Yati. Incidentally, the stories on the 'Net about how he got his nickname are apparently grossly inflated - but I'd be curious if you could fill us in since you must have got to know him well. I'm sure Uikerman was there too at some stage - he's a pilot for Cathy Pacific now I hear.
Do you recognise any of the guys in the photos I posted on the previous page? They're all 83-84 guys - platoon 13 as Whethefakawe recently reminded me. Send me a PM with your contact details and it's likely I have a photo of you.
Regards
ThumperNut
Whethefakawe
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Howzit Platbrak,
Sorry to hear about Douw. Was he called sergeant Rooibaard by any chance? My buddy Patrick worked with someone by that name a lot in 1980 and 81.
Cheers
Sorry to hear about Douw. Was he called sergeant Rooibaard by any chance? My buddy Patrick worked with someone by that name a lot in 1980 and 81.
Cheers
Platbrak
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Hi WTFAW,
Yes, I think it was him. At some point they moved the trackers to Eastern Transvaal (Graskop or Sabie) but I think this was closer to the middle of the eighties. He was definitely in Potch. One of my school mates was there too but he is serving time for manslaughter (or perhaps murder - I am not sure). Dragged somebody behind his bakkie on the farm. I will refrain from mentioning his name but I guess it takes all types to make this world.
I think your thread/post has the potential to start an avalanche. Although we were not all so lucky to do the two wheel thing in the SAW, there should be many dawgs that did service with many stories to tell under other headings. With fifty approaching my sense of adventure is more or less limited to spooning ordinary coffee in with the decaf so I often think back to the days of free food, clothes and lodging...and exiting hardware to play with.
Every success with your book. I will surely buy a copy.
Yes, I think it was him. At some point they moved the trackers to Eastern Transvaal (Graskop or Sabie) but I think this was closer to the middle of the eighties. He was definitely in Potch. One of my school mates was there too but he is serving time for manslaughter (or perhaps murder - I am not sure). Dragged somebody behind his bakkie on the farm. I will refrain from mentioning his name but I guess it takes all types to make this world.
I think your thread/post has the potential to start an avalanche. Although we were not all so lucky to do the two wheel thing in the SAW, there should be many dawgs that did service with many stories to tell under other headings. With fifty approaching my sense of adventure is more or less limited to spooning ordinary coffee in with the decaf so I often think back to the days of free food, clothes and lodging...and exiting hardware to play with.
Every success with your book. I will surely buy a copy.
Platbrak
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And by the way, if you ever pass through Nairobi to or from Uganda, please drop me a PM. It would be nice to meet you.
Whethefakawe
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That's too bad - my buddy had a lot of respect for Rooibaard, he wrote me his account of the day the section leader hit a cheesemine on his bike and he mentions Rooibaard several times. They thought the world of him.
Patrick actually spent a year or two in Kruger on horses doing the anti-poaching thing. around 86 to 88, I'll have to let him know that Douw was there too.
I'll make a point of contacting you next time I go to Uganda, probably very soon.
Cheers
Patrick actually spent a year or two in Kruger on horses doing the anti-poaching thing. around 86 to 88, I'll have to let him know that Douw was there too.
I'll make a point of contacting you next time I go to Uganda, probably very soon.
Cheers
SuperJuice
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WTFAW,
Let me know if you still need some info from Midmacor's side. I could probably get hold of Fred for you and I'm sure my old man can help you out too.
Let me know if you still need some info from Midmacor's side. I could probably get hold of Fred for you and I'm sure my old man can help you out too.
Whethefakawe
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Thanks SJ I definitely will, I'm in the transition phase at the moment, will shortly devote much more time to the project.
Cheers
Cheers
Big E
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Great stuff
johang
Race Dog
Very good report and overview! Big Ed refered me here, thanxs bud. As I said on the previous thread about the RE rebuild, it brings about good memories.
Did my bit in 84/85 in the BS, first Berede at Potch, then 1 SWA SPES at Otavi and the full next year at Okatopi Base 53 Bn.
Will collect some photos that I may still have and start some feedback as soon as the photos are scanned in. As you may remember we did not have digital cameras in those days only the 124 stuff so scanning is the in thing.
"Yati" was our feared and respected leader at the base for those that can remember him.
ta
Did my bit in 84/85 in the BS, first Berede at Potch, then 1 SWA SPES at Otavi and the full next year at Okatopi Base 53 Bn.
Will collect some photos that I may still have and start some feedback as soon as the photos are scanned in. As you may remember we did not have digital cameras in those days only the 124 stuff so scanning is the in thing.
"Yati" was our feared and respected leader at the base for those that can remember him.
ta
mrg46
Pack Dog
Just finished reading this thread - really epic, and so good that you're saving a bit of history that would be a lot fuzzier if someone didn't take their finger out and do the work.
cheers!
cheers!
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mrg46 said:
Hey Mark, so glad you pointed me to this forum. Really great reading here. I loved the BS (bike squad) stories, no idea we even had them. :ricky:
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Platbrak said:
Just read this amazing post.
Likewise if you pass through Dar es Salaam, pop in for a few chilly ones.
Amazingly, when I first moved up here I brought an ex army xr500 with me, still decked out in most of it's original khaki paint. I eventually managed to remove most of it from the plastics, but that stuff stuck like shit to the engine. I sold the bike since, but it is still here and temporarily down for rebuild.
I served in the Rhodesian army, and often ran across the bike squad there operating on XT250's. Picked one lad up who'd dropped a wheelie on the tar road between Kariba and Makuti, didn't have much skin left on his back. We fed him a bottle of vodka we had been saving for a camp bash. Made him a little more cheerful.
Chees...! This really brings back memories! It all feels like yesterday and it's already 25 years ago. I remember watching you guys with envy once up God knows were someshere in 1 zero - cheese I was so envious. Infantry-get where you need to be-in your own two boots-avante antie-graspol in die hol en daar gat jy-crap. Great reporting!!!
