A flight to a war zone

Rummaging through the Bowerburn Princess box delivered a rather unusual find, an invitation to Dad, or rather to The Major Clr J Wedderburn on the 18 November 1986 from Brigadier J.H. Pretorius, the Natal Commanding Officer.

Dad, along with about 40 other people, was taken to the war zone in Ondangwa, South West Africa (now Namibia) to 'familiarise you with the general and security situation'. 

The war continued until 1989.

Mortar demo after a trifle pudding

Dad writes 'when we land at Ondangwa we are very vulnerable to enemy attack'.

The programme for the visit is still attached to the letter and even more telling are Dad's hastily jotted notes on the back of the letter.

He is recording the events and his experiences over the 2 days, most probably to share it with his councillors in Howick. And I would imagine to share it with Mom too.

He watched a mortar demo at 9.55pm, after noting at 9.35pm 'having a pudding a nice trifle' and 'we got to bed 10pm.'

His years in Howick certainly broadened his world view.

Dad's jotting down notes on his trip to the war zone in SWA.