Good afternoon and welcome to the 27th Report Back on the NHT. A particular welcome to our president Vice Admiral Simpson-Anderson. It is always a pleasure to see you here.

To begin with:

ORAL HISTORIES

The trust presently holds 365 completed Oral Histories. There are 4 OH`s in a proofreading stage as well as 3 OH`s being self-written. All the poorly recorded OH`s have now been completed and added to the database. 

These tapes were fed into an AI program and typed up. They were however so poorly recorded, without proper layout and continuity, that they have unfortunately proved to be of little value. Old Navy News articles and FB posts from the Bothie Boys site have provided some interesting mini OHs of past naval members.

BOOKS AND NAVAL DIGESTS

During 2024/2025 the Trust continued producing Naval Digests each year with ND 37, 38 and 39 being published and delivered. The Trust was able to produce and print the book on Foreign Submarines in SA Waters by David Harrison at the beginning of 2025. 

The reprint of the very popular “Just Nuisance” by Terence Sissons in 2022 is still proving to be a good seller and bringing in a healthy monetary return each month.

There are now 31 books and 39 Naval Digests in the NHT collection. All these Naval Digests and books are available for sale in the NHT Office.

In the publication pipeline there are 25 books and NDs being worked on at present, with some close to completion. The next Naval Digests are ND 40 and 41, The History of Military Bands in SA by Cdr John Imrie and The SA Naval Band by Andrew Imrie (John Imrie was Andrew Imrie’s grandfather) and are both due out in July 2025. The full list of publications in the pipeline can be viewed at the NHT Office.

The 2026 NDs are also nearing completion. ND 42 will be on Capt Tim Johnson. This will include most of his paintings. ND 43 on Top Sports Men and Women in the SAN. is also due for publication in July 2026.

NH Society members and the public can purchase the Heritage publications through the NH Web page as well as at the Naval Museum, ASG Office, STADCO and Enkosi gift shop in Simon`s Town. These outlets have a limited range and sell the publications at retail prices. 

Paid up NHS members can purchase all the publications at discounted prices from the NHT office.

The Post Office is only used for overseas publication delivery – this route still appears to be working. All deliveries within SA are undertaken with Paxi Post (PEP Store) and this system has proved very successful. Deliveries in and around the Cape Peninsula are done by hand by the Trustees and Board members.

A number of NHS Members have opted for the electronic version of the Naval Digests which has assisted in bringing down the cost of printing additional hard copies for delivery. The electronic copies are only available for Naval Digests and not the books.

Naval Heritage also stocks a limited number of the Nigel Peddie book “Journey of a Lifetime” and Daniel Gericke’s book on SA Navy Divers.

BOOK COLLECTION

Naval Heritage has a good collection of Naval and military books – in excess of 600 and slowly growing. Most of these books have been donated by NHS members during clean ups. Where there are duplicates, these books are offered to the NHS members at a low price or passed on to either the Naval Museum or Naval Cadets.  

Please remember us when you are thinking of getting rid of your “old stuff”. It may not appear to be significant or interesting – especially to the younger generation – but it may add to the wealth of heritage that we are trying to preserve.

FACEBOOK SITE

The Naval Heritage Facebook page was started in April 2016 and has been growing each month with new members joining on a regular basis. The membership of this site is now 7248,

The daily Naval Heritage Day by Day is added each evening, and this has continued to draw positive comments and reactions. Historic photos of the events mentioned are included in most of these posts and these bring in many positive responses.

The daily Shipwreck report issued by SAHRA is added which is also proving beneficial to the site.

NH WEBPAGE

Our Web Master is Nicholas Dunn, and he has put together and maintains our attractive Web page. The site covers Membership, Newsletters, Book`s and ND`s, Naval 100 slideshow, History of the SAN, videos and submarine project updates when they are available. The NH webpage site has had 19505 visitors to date.

With ND 41, The SA Naval Band a QR code will be in the book which will enable the reader to access the website and listen to music being played by the Naval Band.

NHT VOLUNTEERS

The daily work of NH is conducted at the office on Mondays and Thursday between 0930 and 1200 by the “volunteers”. Having Wi-Fi in the office also assists in getting more work completed.

The coffee and scones/muffins are still good, and visitors are welcome to join the team on these days.

DATA BASE OF ASSETS

Naval Heritage has a continually growing supply of Assets (paintings, books of value, trophies, uniforms) which have either been purchased or donated. All the Assets are registered and controlled in the NHT Data Base.

HERITAGE MEMORABILIA

• Naval Heritage pens are still available in the office at R30 each.
• Naval Veteran Caps at R140 and
• Car licence stickers at R5 each

MEMBERSHIP

According to our membership secretary, Andre Wessels, we had 239 members including Honorary members and Trustees. Unfortunately, there are 20 “delinquent” members – those who have not paid their membership this year and who have not responded to our attempts at communication with them. There are 15 organisations including libraries that have membership.

SAS ASSEGAAI PROJECT

To say that this project has consumed a major part of our attention this past year is an understatement. The submarine was moved to her present position in foul weather with great difficulty and it was with a huge sense of achievement when she settled in. Work didn’t stop as doors had to be cut into her hull, steps made to gain access for visitors, cleaning, painting, restoring and preparing her for exhibition, as well as the preparations of the museum alongside.

The public was allowed to visit her from the 16th of December last year and more than 11 800 people have toured her already. The Assegaai Management NPC was registered in October, and a small staff was appointed.

On the 30 May she was officially opened by Chief of the Navy Vice Admiral Monde Lobese and the Mr Geordin Hill-Lewis, the Mayor of Cape Town. The people who had donated funds, expertise and time were acknowledged and I am pleased to tell you that the event (hosted by the NHT) was a great success.

OUR TRUSTEES AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE

Finally, I want to pay tribute to the members of our Executive committee

• Capt Glen Knox is the incredibly hard-working man in charge of producing the Naval Digests and books, controlling sales and supplies, reporting on sales and restocking of outlets, reporting on our Facebook page and website, administering our office – the list goes on.
• Our secretary Capt Trunell Morom does all that necessary admin work – Minutes of our meetings, Notices etc.
• Glynnis Helleman has the unenviable task of Treasurer and keeps a beady eye on our finances.
• Adm Arne Soderlund has SAS Assegaai under his wing. It was his dream and now is his consuming passion. What you see on display is his triumph
• Cdr Leon Steyn not only represents the Navy as a Trustee, but he manages the Naval Museum of which SAS Assegaai is just one of its assets and keeps us posted as to the current status of things naval.
• Capt Chris Dooner not only serves on our committee and the Assegaai management committee but looks after other Naval interests such as the guns on Robben Island and the Noon Day gun.
• Cdr Eddie Wesselo is in charge of the hard working and uncomplaining volunteers.
• Cdr Mac Bisset is a never-ending source of knowledge and wise counsel
• Warrant Dave Harrison is the techno fundi who can convert old manuscripts and photographs into comprehensible digital resources. He also serves on the Assegaai team
• Warrant Andre Wessels looks after our membership and the many obstacles that that raises. The Newsletters (thanks to Glen again) are never a simple distributi1on task.
• Warrant Harry Croome just gets on with whatever needs to be done without a grumble.

They are the most dedicated team of passionate heritage preservers and I salute them.

Thank you.