T - Department of Defence

S A S O L D I E RhistorySir Pierre van RyneveldhonouredBy Capt Leon Steyn,Curator of the SA Navy MuseumAmemorial service of special significancewas held on 19February 2011 at the SA AirForce Memorial at Bays Hill inThaba Tshwane. The beautifuland tranquil surroundings ofthe Wall of Remembrance painted thebackdrop to the occasion, during whichthe casket containing the ashes of the lateSir Pierre and Lady Betty van Ryneveldwere placed in a newly dedicated nicheinside the Wall of Remembrance.Van Ryneveld, the founding father of theSA Air Force, died in 1972. He was crematedand his ashes together with thoseof his wife were placed in a casket at theKoedoespoort Memorial. This memorial,erected close to the actual landing site,commemorated the epic pioneeringflight of Van Ryneveld and Brand acrossAfrica from England in March 1920.In recent years the memorial has sufferedneglect and the casket containing theashes were subsequently removed andThe niche of Sir Pierre van Ryneveld andhis wife, Lady Betty van Ryneveld.The Wall of Remembrance at the SA Air ForceMemorial honoures those who had served inthe SA Air Force.kept in safe custody at Chief of theAir Force's office at Air Command.Through the efforts of Director AirForce Heritage, Brig Gen DerrickPage, and the SA Air Force Association,plans were set afoot to "reintern"the ashes in a more appropriateand safe environment, whichat the same time would be moreaccessible to family and friends.The Wall of Remembrance at theSA Air Force Memorial was theobvious choice as it honoured thosewho had served in the SA AirForce.In view of the importance of theevent the Memorial Service wasattended by the Chief of the SA AirForce, several Air Force Boardmembers, and a former Chief of theSA Air Force, Lt Gen Dennis Earp.Padre DonWatson, in his eulogy,highlighted themany achievementsof Sir Pierre vanRyneveld and thebig investment hemade in the establishmentof the SAAir Force ninetyyears ago.Many proud membersof both the VanRyneveld and Brandfamilies attended thememorial service.Sir Pierre van Ryneveld.The granddaughter of Sir Pierre, MsLinda van Ryneveld, thanked Chief ofthe SA Air Force for the effort to save,not just the ashes, but also the memoryand heritage of Sir Pierre and LadyBetty van Ryneveld. In his address MrTony van Ryneveld, a nephew of SirPierre, made mention of his uncle'ssteely determination and fighting character,how he triumphed over severalobstacles to establish the SA Air Forceand of his tenure as Chief of GeneralStaff of the Union Defence Force andthe turbulent times of World War II.After the placing of the casket, a lone42• J U N E 2 0 1 1