Our little seaside village, Gordon’s Bay, has a rich Naval History. We are the proud home of the South African Naval College. Unlike many small towns, we are also able to boast two working harbours. The Old Harbour is the location of our Naval Base.
The South African Naval College is tasked with providing officer training to the South African Navy and is one of three officer training institutions within the South African National Defense Force, the equivalent of the Air Force and Army Colleges.
The SA Naval College forms a sub-branch of the SA Navy (SAN) and annually puts its best foot forward for South Africans to see what it is and does when they open their doors to all and sundry for their Open Day.
According to SAN Public Relations Naval Base (NB) Simon’s Town, the Naval College is the maritime service’s elite training unit in the heart of the Helderberg. The Open Day is an opportunity for “an inside look” at the college, the SAN, and other SA National Defence Force (SANDF) units via static displays of equipment with uniformed personnel on hand to explain the what’s and whys.
SAN personnel will show precision drills and dive capabilities with the usual firefighting displays, boat rides, and dog handling displays, adding further value as will the presence of the SAN band. The day usually kicks off with a naval procession/parade on Beach Road finishing at the College proper. Gates open for free entrance at 08h30 and the day ends at 18h00. Make sure that you attend at least one Open Day.
Another event where the SA Naval College opens the base to the public is the annual Carol’s by Candlelight. The South African Navy Band perform well known carols and the visitors are encouraged to participate and sing along. It is a favorite event amongst locals and many look forward to it every year.
Another event not to be missed is the College’s Annual Gala Evening, hosted in Strand Town Hall. This fundraising event has grown over the years from simply a South African Navy Band performance evening, to it’s current format of a sit down dinner and concert. Their performances range from strictly classical arrangements, to more contemporary musical performances. There is always something for everyone. Each year there is an unique theme and both locals and visitors alike dress to impress. All funds raised from this event are donated to several charitable organisations.
Here is a little bit of the History of our current Naval Base, before the establishment was placed under the control of the South African Navy in 1958, by the South African Government.
The base was previously known as SATS General Botha, the GB on the mountainside also stands in recognition of the General Botha and not in fact as some people believe for Gordon’s Bay.
HMS Thames was a Mersey-class cruiser launched in 1885 for the Royal Navy. Thomas Benjamin Frederick Davis was a wealthy businessman, yachtsman and philanthropist. In 1920 Davis bought the Thames from the British Admiralty and sent her to South Africa. He donated the ship to the South African government and stipulated that it had to be used for the full-time training of boys for careers at sea. It was renamed TS (training ship) General Botha in honour of the South African prime minister. She was moored in Simon’s Bay, outside the naval dockyard.
TS General Botha in 1925
On 15 March 1922 the first intake of seventy five boys joined ship in Simon’s Bay. General Botha’s wife was supposed to conduct the official christening, but she was feeling poorly, with the result that Isie Smuts had to officiate on 1 April 1922. The TS General Botha remained in Simon’s Bay for the next twenty years, during which 1,276 cadets received their training. The presence of German submarines in the southern oceans in 1942 caused the naval authorities to become concerned for the safety of the cadets living on board the TS General Botha. They were therefore moved up to Red Hill, but still went down to the ship for their daily training. At the end of the year the TS General Botha was commandeered by the navy and berthed in the dockyard for the rest of the war.
After the war it was found that the TS General Botha was beyond economical repair. On 13 May 1947 she was towed into False Bay to a position nine nautical miles ESE of the Roman Rock lighthouse and sunk by gunfire from Scala battery.
The South African Nautical College General Botha
At the end of April 1948 the cadets were moved to the former SAAF crash boat station at Gordons Bay. The name of the establishment was changed to The South African Nautical College General Botha and the new Captain-Superintendent was Captain G V Legassick RNR. For the next 10 years General Botha prospered. A new engineering course was introduced as well. (sourced, Wikipedia)
We are truly proud of our Naval College and they are an integral part of our community. We are sure that the current Officer in Command Captain Z Mabela can be proud of her recruits and staff too.
