[Brian Conyngham]

Originally Posted by milhistry

That photograph was taken at the opening of Parliament in the 1930s. The officers are Capt Viljoen , Major Charles Meredith , Col George Brink (at that time OC Cape Command) and sitting is Maj Gen AJE Brink, Chief SA General Staff.

Viljoen I think became a Major-General and Chief of air Staff in the 1960s.

George Brink was OC Cape Command, then Director Military Operations, GOC 1 Division, GOC Inland Area, at some point I think DCGS and eventually Director General of Demobilisation as Lt Gen.

Meredith was ex SAAF and was a Staff Officer at the Castle during the 1930s. He later went to Rhodesia where he commanded the Rhodesian Air Training Group. He retired as Air Vice Marshal Sir Charles. A relative of mine was on staff of OC Cape Command in the 1920s & 1930s and Meredith's signature appears often on his conduct sheets.

Andries Brink was CGS until succeeded by van Ryneveld in 1938 I think. He retired as a Lt Gen.

I will see if I can dig out the dates for the change from eagle to springbok. The change of ornament had something to do with the weight or balance of it IIRC

Thanks for clarifying this photograph with names and a date.