17 JANUARY 1942: AXIS SURRENDER OF HALFAYA, QUALALA AND POINT 207 TO 1SAP
Brig HB Heymans (SAP – Ret)
The white flag depicted below came into my possession. After photographing certain parts I donated the flag to my friend, Dr Leon Wessels, whose father’s signature also appears on the white flag.
Here follows the photographs of the signatures:
- Lt-Col RJ Palmer later Commissioner of the South African Police – he was also a veteran of WW1 – and the first police Constable in the South African Police to reach the rank of Maj-General and Commissioner op the SA Police. He is a most interesting character, and he was highly regarded and received various decorations and medals.
- Maj PL Grobbelaar
- Capt JH Louw
- Lt WA Wessels
- ?
- ?
Springbok Tom van Vollenhoven and Brig WA Wessels
Centre row:
- Lt A Lubbe
- Lt PHS Henning – later the Quartermaster of the SA Police
- Capt CG van den Berg
- Lt P Kemp
- Lt E Heney
- Capt van der Merwe
- ?
Maj-Gen PHS Henning on the left.
- Capt CH Kelly-Patterson
- Lt VE Garde
- ?
Brig WA Wessels appears also on this photo 5th from the left.
Dr Leon Wessels (son of Brig WA Wessels) with the white flag which appears to be a pyjama top.
Photos of Maj General RJ Palmer who was at one stage the OC of 1SAP
Comments by HBH
Time waits for no man. We are all getting on in life and we must identify our heroes before we die. The new generation never worked with these “Giants” – it is our privilege to honour them. I don’t have my own library for research any more therefore I could not identify all the officers who signed the white flag – however the white flag is an interesting artifact on its own. Comments welcome – please help with the signatures. Thank you.
