SA National Museum of Military History

The South African National Museum of Military History is located near the Johannesburg Zoo on an 80ha site.  I have been there several times over the years and it has improved to host some spectacular displays, a war shop where enthusiasts can buy old war memorabilia as well as a café. 

These wonderful displays house weapons used in the wars that South Africa has been involved in over the years. You will find interesting exhibits on the Anglo-Boer War and the Anglo-Zulu War, through to the two world wars and right up to operations in what was then South West Africa (Namibia). 

My daughter a historian and her two brothers as well as my hubby are keen lovers of military history and weaponry so they were in their elements.

I was blessed to have my own passionate tour guides in my hubby and children but for those of you who are not as lucky, the SA National Museum of Military History hosts tours for all age groups, allowing adults and children to gain information about the artefacts displayed. Guided tours are available on request during the week, and the library and photographic facilities are available for research.

The military museum, opened in 1947 by South Africa’s then-prime minister, Jan Smuts, offers a fascinating display of past weaponry. Among the museum’s hardware are some of the first modern weapons, such as the Maxim machine gun, the howitzer, automatic handguns, magazine-fed rifles and guns used in the Anglo-Boer War in the 19th century. 

This museum has two large exhibition halls and a great outdoor display, which is interactive in that you are able to climb onto the vehicles and explore! 

These also focus on South Africa’s role in the major wars of the 20^th century with emphasis on WWII. 

On display we found original Spitfire and Messerschmidt fighters and one of the only remaining ME110 jet night fighters (my boys were in 7^th heaven!!). Many tanks of both English and American origin were also on display.

On show are many modern armaments South Africa used in its war against the Cuban-backed Angolan army during the 1980’s. 

French-built Mirage fighter planes and Russian tanks stolen by the South Africans from a ship en-route to Angola are also on display.  There is also a national military art collection (my daughter both a History and Art Major was thrilled!!), memorabilia from the Anti-=Conscription Campaign of apartheid days. We also found an exhibit on the history of Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation, or MK, the African National Congress’s [ANC] military arm). 

At short history of the Museum revealed that during the First World War (1914-1918) no formal showcase was made of South Africa’s involved in this war. In 1940, Captain J Agar-Hamilton was appointed as the official historian of the Union Defense Forces. The formation of a Historical Research committee ensured the preservation of documents and military memorabilia and this laid down the foundation for an establishment of a museum and what we find today.

The South African National War Museum was officially opened on the 29^th August 1947 by the then Prime Minster of South Africa, Field Marshal J.C. Smuts PC,CM,OM,DTD,KC. When Smuts opened the museum, during the ceremony he stated the following: “

 “… We are gathered here today to open what may not unfairly be looked upon as a memorial to the greatest united effort our country has been called upon to produce.  Memorials, of course, have more than one use.  They serve to remind us of what is past, of great deeds of heroism and sacrifice; they also serve as a pointer, and sometimes as a warning to the future.

It is in these senses that the South African War Museum may be regarded as a memorial.  It will remind us, I hope, not only of the part we played in the recent great struggle to save civilization, but also of the horrors, the loss of life and the devastation, and serve as a warning to us to create a world in which we shall never have to use again the weapons of mass destruction we see here today, or those dreadful weapons to follow them …”

He was referring to South Africa’s participation in the Second World War and had pinpointed theraison d’etre of the Museum’s existence.

In 1975 the Museum was renamed  the South African National Museum of Military History and  it expanded its exhibits to include the history of all military conflict in which South Africans have played a part.  The Museum also serves as a popular and unusual venue for conferences and other functions.

In 1999, following the restructuring process of national museums, the Museum was amalgamated together with the Transvaal Museum of Natural History and the National Cultural History Museum into the Northern Flagship Institution.  This institution was renamed Ditsong: Museums of South Africa in 2009 and the Museum is now called the Ditsong National Museum of Military History.

The Museum is also regarded as the spiritual and symbolic home for all soldiers and veterans in South Africa.  As a result a number of veterans’ organisations use the Museum as their headquarters. The South African Military History Society, the South African Arms and Ammunition Collectors Association, the South African Arms and Armour Society, the Gold Reef Scale Modelers and the Warsaw Flights Commemoration Committee use the Museum for monthly and annual meetings and are considered to be part of the 20 organisations that are stakeholders.

It was a great outing and you can easily spend several hours poring over all the interesting information and stand in awe at the sheer size of some of the planes and tanks.

 It is really well worth a visit. We packed a picnic basket and had lunch on the chairs under the trees and of course we each bought an ice-cream from the café to end off a really great day.

Outside the Museum entrance is the tall, freestanding South African (Anglo-Boer) War memorial. It is huge and a really impressive war memorial.

 It was known as the Rand Regiments Memorial and it was originally erected in memory of the soldiers who served and died with the Rand Regiments during the 1899-1902 Anglo Boer War. 

It was designed by a British architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens and a commemorative stone was laid by the Duke of Connaught on 30 November 1910. 

The memorial features an ornate angel on the very top of the dome and inscribed on the inside the pillars are the names of the Rand Regiments and soldiers from these regiments who lost their lives during these battles.

In 2002 the memorial was then re-dedicated recognizing all the men, women and children of all cultures, races and nations that lost their lives during the Anglo-Boer War.

Inside the columns the names inscribed are of the members of the Bethune’s mounted Infantry, Commander in Chief’s Bodyguard, Johannesburg mounted Rifles, Thorneycroft’s Mounted Infantry, South African Light Horse, Imperial Light Horse, Railway pioneer Regiment, Imperial light Infantry and Rand Rifles who lost their lives in the war.

The huge landmark probably one of the biggest in the Northern Suburbs has a special meaning for me. As many of you know I am employed as an Operational Advanced Life Support Paramedic for the City of Johannesburg Fire Department and I work in the inner-city. I drive past this huge monument and it is behind me as I make my way to work and again I drive towards as I make my way home. It marks either the start of hell from or the beginning of heaven as I make my way to and from my shifts. Like the huge angel protecting and shielding me from the terrible calls we have to deal with in the inner-city and its slums.

CONTACT DETAILS:

PO Box 52090 
Saxonwold, 2132
Tel: +27 010 001 3515
Fax: +27 011 646 5256
E-mail: milmus@ditsong.org.za

GPS Coordinates: 26°09' 47" S 28°02' 30" E

The Museum will accept donations of military uniforms, badges, medals, flags etc.  Items from the Anglo Boer War, the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, the Border War and the Struggle Movement are particularly welcome.

OPENING HOURS:

Daily from 09:00 to 16:30 (excluding Good Friday, Christmas Day and the first Sunday in September when the Jazz on the Lake concert is held at Zoo Lake)

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the poor lighting some of my photos did not come out so I needed to take some photographs off google.