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Archiver > SOUTH-AFRICA-IMMIGRANTS-BRITISH > 2007-05 > 1178952549


From: Derek Pratt <>
Subject: Re: [ZA-IB] Military Church
Date: Sat, 12 May 2007 08:49:09 +0200
References: <000501c793f9$d2e1c660$379bef9b@david>
In-Reply-To: <000501c793f9$d2e1c660$379bef9b@david>


Hi David,
I thought Anglican Chaplains who were already in the Defence Force
remained but no new chaplains were ones were licensed.So Padre Sidney
Middlemost, Mervyn Moore, Walter Buhler and Donovan Rogers remained but
this might have been in the 70s and by the 80s they had retired.

On Tuesday the Archbishop (about to retire in Sept) was telling us about
the good old days when Synods were full of political clashes and
interesting and exciting (they are so boring these days!). It was
decided that Anglican chaplains had to be licensed by the local bishop
to do work and needless to say the Bishop of Namibia refused to give
them a license so then perhaps they "became" DRC. One anecdote - At
Provincial Synod when you come forward to speak you give your name and
the Diocese you represent - eg Derek Pratt, Cape Town. After a lengthy
debate on racial issues the chairperson (? Abp Desmond Tutu) said.
"Enough about racial classification, I don't want to hear anything more
about this in this debate!" And the next speaker came forward and gave
his name and diocese, "White Johannesburg" (Mr Hugh White from
Johannesburg) - Provincial Synod collapsed into laughter.

Derek

David and Mary Bossenger wrote:
> ,
> Hi Heather,
> I think that 99% of what you have written is correct. I will take issue
> with you on one or two points that I know are incorrect or that need further
> elucidation. I am sure that some of our other list members will be able
> to supplement that which follows.
> In 1963 when I did my ballotee service (not National service) the local
> Methodist minister at Youngsfield was Captain Scott-Shaw. He wore
> captain's rank insignia and was addressed as Padre, his cap badge and badges
> on his uniform collar were the Maltese Cross as stated. I seem to remember
> that part time chaplains of the Jewish faith wore a Star of David. I can
> distinctly remember this in the 1970s. When I joined permanent Force in
> 1966 the chaplain at the Military Academy was Commander (SAN) FDJ Brand and
> I think that he was addressed as Dominee (not sure of that point). I
> suspect that your date of 1968 is correct for the change of status of
> military chaplains. They then carried the rank of Chaplain (Afr Kapelaan)
> and had the status of a Colonel, but important to note not the pay. They
> were still paid as lieutenants, captains, majors etc or the Chaplain
> equivalent. It is also important to note that when on parade eg normal
> morning parade they were always the second senior officer on parade eg if
> the parade commander was a 2nd lieutenant or even, heaven forbid, a
> candidate officer they took seniority after him. This sometimes led to
> amusing incidents when they tried to mount a podium in front of a captain,
> or a major who was the officer in command of a parade and were quite rudely
> shunted off into second place. These incidents were fairly uncommon and
> usually only occurred once.
> Also missing from your potted history is the withdrawal by the Anglican
> Church of all its chaplains from the SADF in the 1980s. This resulted in
> one Anglican chaplain remustering as Dutch Reformed. At no stage during
> this withdrawal were Anglican communicants deprived of the services of a
> priest as they could always attend the closest parish, but this was
> difficult in the "Bush". It did result in many Anglicans in the SADF going
> over to other denominations among them the Church of England in SA and the
> Methodists. I cannot remember any other denominations withdrawing their
> chaplains but my memory is sketchy as to this.
> I hope that you find this interesting and I am sure that Derek Pratt will be
> able to add something as well.
> Regards,
> David B
> .
>
>
>
>
> ........ In 1968 the Chaplain Services of the South African Defence Force,
> under
> their Director of Chaplains, began to function as a separate entity.
> During the period 1914 to 1966 the badge worn
> was the Maltese Cross with the motto In hoc siqno. During the Second
> WorldWar
> the chaplains in the field removed their badgesof rank, while in 1968
> distinctive South African classC badges of rank were introduced for military
> chaplains. At the same time it was laid down inter alia thatall chaplains
> would hold tile status of colonel, that they would be addressed, by their
> ecclesiastical titles and that the distinguishing rank badge would be
> agilded
> Christ monogram Image on a triangle of brasswith the upper surface of the
> triangle of purpleenamel. On the cap of.a chaplain appears the capbadge, and
> the cap is provided with a purple capband. The shoulders of the chaplain's
> uniform bearthe word `Kapelaan' -for Afrikaans-speaking chaplains and
> `Chaplain' for English-speaking chaplains.The Maltese Cross design remains
> the corps badge
> Copyrwrite Naspers / Ancestry24........
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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>
>
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