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Veterans Tales

development and, in June 1955, issued its
first national newsletter announcing the
proposals. The proposals included not
only the memorial itself, but provision
for services, parades, seating and park-
ing, as also provision for access roads and
gardening.

It was now proposed by the SAAF that
their Regimental Fund would bear the
cost of the Memorial and that the SAAF
Association would make a limited con-
tribution of some 2,500. It meant that the
SA Air Force would have sole control of
the Memorial. While the SAAF Associa-
tion appreciated the gesture of the SAAF
to meet the full cost it was agreed that incorporated into the new design. from various positions and a report from
the SAAF Association would be respon- him stated that the visibility and impres-
sible for half of the costs and would be an Some opposition was received from the siveness of the Voortrekker Monument
equal partner in all respects for the erec- then Minister of Defence, Mr FC Eras- would in no way be prejudiced. He also
tion and maintenance of the Memorial. mus, on the design, the budget as well as said that in contrast to the much bigger
the possibility that the new SAAF Memo- and higher water tower on Garrison Hill
With the view to the scope of the pro- rial would distract from the grandeur of (Jan Kemp Hill) the proposed SAAF
posed new memorial and its prominence the Voortrekker Monument. Although no Memorial would appear almost insignifi-
in respect of the new site, the SAAF and objection was offered from the Control cant. The committee and the officers also
SAAF Association decided to proceed Board of the Voortrekker Monument, visited the site on Bays Hill.
with a national architectural competi- approval from Mr Erasmus was not forth-
tion for the new design, subject to the coming. The report from Dr Nicol and his
conditions advised by the Institute of SA committee was handed to Mr Fouchè
Architects. Professor John Fassler was In December 1959 Mr JP Fouchè on August 24th 1960. The committee
appointed as the assessor. replaced Mr Erasmus as Minister of De- unanimously approved the Memorial
fence. The matter was once again referred design and sitting. In relation to the
The competition was proceeded with and to a committee representing the Voor- Voortrekker Monument they stated that
professor Fassler named the winner as trekker Monument, the the SAAF Memorial would appear small
Taylor & Taylor of Johannesburg, with Department of Public Works and the and ethereal. Mr Fouchè did not delay
McLennan & Zeffert in the second place, Transvaal Provincial Administration and his decision and on August 25th 1960
and HC Floyd of Cape Town in third chaired by Dr Nicol in his capacity as the gave his approval for the erection of the
place. HC Floyd as well as one or two Chairman of the Control Board of the Memorial.
other competitors designed the Memorial Voortrekker Monument. Their first meet-
as an underground construction. ing on 15 June 1960 was also attended by The Chief of the Air Force, Maj Gen BG
Maj Gen BG Viljoen (Air Chief of Staff) Viljoen appointed a committee to oversee
The design of John and Shona Taylor and Brig CH Hartzenberg. the erection of the Memorial.
visualised the beautiful construction that
stands on Bays Hill today. The original Col PM Retief of the SAAF had had two Ed’s Note: To Be Continued Next Month
bronze eagle together with the original cranes placed on top of Bays Hill in such – thanks again to Philip Weyers for his
granite inscriptions and certain paving a way to represent the proposed apex of help with the article and photos.
from the Waterkloof Memorial were the memorial. He had taken photographs
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