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Archiver > SOUTH-AFRICA > 2000-04 > 0954831133


From: "W Jervois" <>
Subject: Re: Treason Trials & G.W. Africa
Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2000 08:52:13 +0200
In-Reply-To: <38E8B4C3.42B34C54@futurenet.co.za>


I feel that "G.W. Africa" must refer to German West Africa
(Namibia) and, although you do not mention his circumstances,
perhaps your man was settled in that area long enough for him to
volunteer for the local German (colonial) militia. I say this because
in the Imperial Germany of that period, it was considered essential
for a gentleman to "do the patriotic thing" and volunteer for a year's
service with the colours. When I collected tobacco pipes, I had a
beautiful porcelain pipe bowl which had a jolly scene of a small
group of officers at a pavement cafe, smoking, drinking and
suggestively linked to attractive young ladies. The scene was
enscribed (in German) "This is how a man lives in Weisbaden!".
On the reverse of the bowl was the name of the man to whom the
pipe was presented "One-Year Volunteer K. Heymann", followed by
a list of the names of his comrades-in-arms, the name of the
regiment, the date (1889) and the slogan "for the defence of the
Fatherland". Needless to say, it must have been given to
Haymann on the occasion of his leaving the regiment, having
completed hi one year of voluntary service.

with best wishes

William


------------------------
William Jervois Resident Genealogist, Albany Museum
Somerset Street, Grahamstown
6139
South Africa
Tel: (046) 6222312 Fax: (046) 6222398
e-mail: International Code: 27-46-
http://www.ru.ac.za/departments/am/geneal.html

"Sponsored by the 1820 Settlers' Association of South Africa"

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