Can anyone give me any historical info on the Medium A whippet given to SA in 1919 being known as HMLS Union? I know it is now sited at the SA College in Pretoria but I am looking for more historical info on this machine. This is what I have found out so far:
The first tank in SA was a Whippet Medium Mark A Tank, presented new from British Army stocks in 1919 to the UDF for use in a fundraising campaign. Entitled HMLS Union (His Majesty's Land Ship, and Union for the UDF), due to the lack of trained mechanics in the South African Permenant Force, it was transferred to the South African Air Force. During the Rand Rebellion in 1922, the Whippet was brought up in successful support of the infantry. Air Corporal W.J. Johns the driver was killed when shot through the drivers aperture. It served at Robert's Heights until retired in 1939 as a training vehicle. Seen in 2005 as a gate guardian at the SA Army College, then reported to be in near running order and painted silver overall
Can anyone give any further info? Was it the only one sent to SA and does anyone know its original WD number?
It's A387 (technically not a WD number as the War Department didn't exist at that time - MWD number would be more accurate). I have here somewhere an article titled "Armour in the Red Revolt on the Reef" by someone called B. Botha published in an obscure New Zealand magazine called "Tank TV" in 1996 that details its service in the Rand Rebellion. To my knowledge it was the only Medium A sent to South Africa (or, indeed, Africa).
Not much is on record at the SA Army College in Pretoria; only six pages of correspondence on file.
It arrived in SA in January, 1920 and was renamed, as mentioned previously, as HMLS Union.
Most of the correspondence deals with the apportionment of the costs involved - 4,000 pounds for the tank and transport to Cape Town brought the total cost to 1,904-2-8d.
This total cost was to be divided between the Union Government and the Governor-General's fund. The two crews and their uniforms would be supplied and paid for by the Union Government and working expenses to be borne by the G-G's Fund. A sail cover was also purchased to protect the tank to the cost of the Ordnance Dept.
As a result of the tank touring the Country, total funds raised were 12,852-12-1d, with expenses incurred being 7,094-9-0d.
Some time after 1920 it was decided to get the tank working again, despite the fact that the crews had long been demobilised, and it was estimated that 75 pounds would have to get it into a "fair field condition". At this stage the tank fully became the property of the Defence Department.
I can find no reference to it becoming the property of the Air Force - perhaps confusion arose because it was held in the Aircraft and Artillery depot in Pretoria, from where it was released to serve during the Rand Rebellion in 1922.
A driver was killed by sniper fire after the tank had become trapped in some tramlines during the Rebellion.
It was later stored at the Drill Hall in Johannesburg, when it was decided in June 1926 to make it the centre-piece of a war memorial to be erected at the SA Army College.
Unfortunately, there does not seem to be any record of the actual tank number, but if the engine compartments were opened up, there might be some reference.
When I visited the tank to take pictures for David Fletcher, I was given a full tour of the tank, and when I went to Bovington to hand over the photos, David asked me if it was roadworthy as the Director of Bovington wanted to get their one running. As HMLS Union has been static since 1926 and has had no maintenance other that regular paintings of silver, there is little doubt that is in no condition to be roadworthy without a tremendous amount of effort. These days, there is absolutely no Government interest to get it running.
I did make some enquiries about having the tank transferred to the War Museum in Johannesburg, but was advised that as it is a listed war memorial, there was little chance of that happening.
There is an interesting article with photos on the tank in the South African Military History Society's Journal of June 2009 - http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol145rh.html
Sorry a lot of the detail is typical accountant's-type info, but they're they ones who keep most of the records.
Thanks for the info which has filled some gaps for me. Could you just clarify please the amount of the total cost involved. Is it £4000 plus the £1904 2s 8d you quote?
