Ex Natal Diamond
South Africa Nov-Dec 2001
A group of lads from 23 Amphibious Engineer Squadron had the opportunity to travel to Kwa-Zulu Natal in South Africa on an adventure training expedition. We had two weeks to combine hill walking in the Drakensberg mountains and battlefield tours of Rorke's Drift and the site of the battle of Wagon Hill, Ladysmith.
We started our hill walking trip by stopping at the Sani Lodge while we acclimatised and sorted out stores. While there we also took a little walk up to a nearby peak to 'Nelson's Column', as you can see the view from the top was great.
The 'Giants Cup' trail stretches some 60km across the southern Drakensburg mountains from Sani Pass to Bushman's Nek over some spectacular landscapes. Above you can see a picture of the 'Rhino's Horn' peeking through the cloud.
The trail consists of five legs between 9 and 13.3km , each taking between 4-6 hours and ending at a hutted camp where we could stop overnight in relative comfort. Throughout the trek we managed to take enough time to enjoy the scenery.
Bushman's Nek, the final stop where we had time to re-group and, after a trip to the local 'town' Underberg have a few well earned beers and a BBQ before setting off for Dundee and the second stage of our trip.
The first of our two Battlefield tours was Rorke's Drift. The place where 140 British soldiers held off a force of up to 4,000 Zulus for a whole day back in January 1879.
More VC's were won here than at any other single engagement in history, a total of 11, one of which was won by Lt JRM Chard RE, the officer commanding the station.
Our second Battlefield tour was of the Battle of Wagon Hill just outside Ladysmith. Here back in 1900 a work party from 23 Engineer Coy, building a defensive gun emplacement was surprised by an attacking party of Boers. The troops were rallied, during the counter-attack and the many hours fighting that followed, by Lt RJT Digby-Jones RE. The graves of the members of 23 Coy who lost their lives during the battle can be seen in the picture. Lt Digby-Jones also died during the action and was awarded the VC.
For the last couple of days we headed for Durban and the best hotel we could afford, and it was the best. We spent our time doing some shopping, eating out and enjoying the night-life. I had a nice view of the Indian Ocean from my balcony.