From Andre' , I meant to post this awhile ago.
"Hi Michael
I can't place you but I'm sure we know about each other, I was born in Oranjemund in 1958 (the class of JD vd Merwe, Bobby Smith and Brian Eyer) and left the town in 1980, lots familar faces on the pics. Sometime ago someone was looking for a photo of the late Phillip Castle's grave - during the weekend I sorted out my garage and found a box full of old army pics, between them I found a pic of a memorial site of Phillip, the photo was taken in the 1980's at the Ruacana airforce base where he was stationed.
Someone also mentioned that Carrots Wilson is somewhere in Mozambique (Cant find the FORUM again). If someone know his address and forward it to me I will appreciat it. As I am staying on the Natal North Coast I often visit Mozambique - will be great to see him again.
Attach is a pic of the memorial
Best regards
Andre Neethling "
I thought it would be nice to have a photo here.
Can't remember all the "players" in this memory but Phillip and Ronnie Young made some home brew beer once and we went off to Phillip's folk's place for a braai and as we walked into the house, the bottles exploded - jeez what a mess! Thank God Mrs Castle was away because she still had the capacity to scare the bejesus out of me even though I was about 17 at the time!
I have bumped into Peter on accasion here in CT and he did very well for himself - he and his wife Lyn opened a few hotels I recall.
Sorry, but who is Peter?
Phillip's brother; also a sister Gwendoline
Oh! Ok...thanks.... any chance of him being a member in here?
Not sure where they are now so dunno; the grapevine works well for Omd online so might be sooner rather than later.
Cherry did Peter not start "Primi Piatti" ? Decor based on mine workshops. Steel girders and the yellow markings on the floors.
Oh yes that would be Johnny Young you talking about, I remember that.
Don't know about Primi but he did start the Castle Protea on Green Point main road and I think he may have been involved in the Victoria Junction hotel. Tx, it was the son not the dad! :emot19:
:emot19: Sh*t yes. I just thought Of Little Ronny and thought he would have been to young. I do remember something to the effect, could have been from a story related at the Youngs place.
While up to speed .. thought i would add this .. found it among my Moms memory boxes .. again for my Mom the saying of " your pain is my pain " she hated to see people lose their young ones .. always tore her apart .. a newspaper clipping .. hope the sizing is ok and its readable ...
Nice addition to this topic Sandy
another one .. I think i mayhave posted it somewhere else , but out it where its relevant .. it was at Ians engagement party recognise the faces ?/
I visited Phillip Castle's Memorial as we were based there the same year. I was with Regement Erongo at that time and visited the site where the actual incident happened right on the border of Angola and SWA.
Thanks for the photographs and cuttings of Philip great person - I spoke to Vivian's brother Stephen at their mom's funeral and he told me of the incident - quiet tragic!
Lost another friend from school in 1975 - +/-19 had not even started his life – was killed at Brug 14 by the Cubans.
This was our Vietnam – so many lives lost and not to mention the physical and mental trauma that some of the guys are still living with today – what a waist – for what!
Still pissed-off!
Richard
Hi Richards
A sad time in the history of our great country, two guys from the unit I served in was killed in the December 1977 (To say that they should have been back in SA if it wasn't for the generals who decided to extend the January 1977 intake from one year to two years (with no bonuses as we didn't join two years voluntary)). Another friend of mine Leon Truter (alias Chappies) from Alexander Bay was killed in 1979.
Don't even mention the bull@#$% about victory parades and parties the ministers attended at Cuito Cuanavale last year to celebrate the "victory over the apartheid forces" on my/out tax monies.
I/we will salute the fallen and pray for the ones who battles with physical scars and mental trauma, on both sides of the conflict as the "enemy" was youngsters just like us in the hands of the "other" generals with their own ideologies and propaganda.
Best regards
André Neethling (Little Nuts)
Well said Andre (Little Nuts), I could not have said it better!
Keep well.
Richard