Basic Training



2 SAI Alpha Company 1985-1986

At the onset of Basic Training, there were almost 2 complete Companies, Alpha and Bravo.

Options came up to become a driver, medic, mortarist or join the artillery and there was a try-out for the paratroopers and so on, reducing the initial intake to Alpha Company only.

These are the men of a platoon in Bravo Company.

Spes Bona somewhere in South West Africa. This photo was taken immediately after an “All Night” route march.

Altino Couto and Yves Semet
Alan Taylor, Trevor Stuart and Warren Hardwick
Craig Hewkins, Chris Yzel, Timothy Hutton & Robert Heydenrych
Warren Hardwick, Brian Fritz, Altino Couto, Sophocles Pantazis, # # and Lt Minnie
Jonathan Atkinson, George De Sousa, Trevor Stuart and Warren Hardwick
Lieutenant Minnie and the Platoon Sergeant, Corporal Castle.
Fresh sand and more digging
Camo attempts while on a foot patrol

Conventional Warfare Training

After 4 Months of Basic Training and a short pass, we returned to Riot Control and Conventional Warfare Training near AFB Rooikop, roughly 20 kilometres from Walvisbay.

Jonathan Atkinson and Alan Taylor

Section Leader Training

Training kick-off – a 3 Day, 132 km full kit hike from Dune 7 Walvis Bay ending at Henties Bay. Typically called a Vasbyt (Hold back the tears) March.

Section Leaders – Day 1, The peak of Dune 7.
Section Leaders – Day 1, just crossed over Dune 7.

For a few Dollars more! A Rifleman earned about 85 Rand a month, a stripe or two on the arm increased your earnings up to roughly 125 Rand.

A Lecture by Staff Sergeant Van Bosch.

Back to Spes Bona, round 2. So much for all the effort, I (Craig H) remained a rifleman.

2 SAI Base Camp

After Section Leaders and back at 2 SAI Base Camp in Walvis Bay.

There were 2 trips to Spes Bona, the first in the initial 4 months of Basic Training and the second was split for the troops and section leaders.

  • Michael McCue – Rustig
  • Dave Porter – Platoon 3
  • Warren Hardwick – Thumbs Up
  • Altino Couto and Warren Hardwick
  • LCpl Goodchild
Platoon 4 Section 2

Platoon 4 – Section 2

(Standing) LCpl. Degenaar, Dawid Strauss, Philip Fourie, LCpl. Gustav Hoock, Craig Hewkins, Mark Pope, Jonathan Atkinson, Johan Zeelie. (Kneeling) George Fourie, Robert Heydenrich and Chris Yzel

On the Border, Zeelie, our Buffel driver was replaced by Jan De Beer.

A first class bunch of characters. Now ready to deploy to Elundu, a sh#thole near the Angola Border.

Alpha Company – Platoon 4

Alpha Company – Platoon 4

Starting from the back row.

Row 1: # #, Doetz Volmhagen, # #, Mark Pope, Craig Hewkins, Michael McCue, Altino Couto, Michael Jackson, Timothy Hutton

Row 2: # #, Ives Semet, Chris Yzel, # #, Dawid Strauss, Johan Zeelie, # Mostert, # #, Philip Fourie

Row 3: George Fourie, # #, Trevor Stuart, # #, # #, Warren Hardwick, # Bulldog, # #, # #

Row 4: # #, LCpl Russell Korte, LCpl Sophocles Pantazis, LCpl Gustav Hoock, Sgt. Scheepers, Lt. Minnie, LCpl Garth Benneyworth, LCpl Jannie Goodchild, LCpl Degenaar, Jonathan Atkinson

Row 5: Robert Heydenrich, Alan Taylor

Next Up – 2 SAI 1985 Elundu