Jacques Jean Pierre de Vries

In the post-Cold War, post-9/11 world, the frequency of intra-state conflicts and conflict waged by armed internal groups as well as natural disasters and man-made catastrophes have been on a perceptible increase. On the international stage, the armed forces of many sovereign nations are engaged in such environments on peacekeeping, support, and enforcement as well as relief operations in conjunction with humanitarian organisations. The competency of Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC) has been embraced by many nations and deployed in peace operations to promote cooperation and coordination between civil actors, civilian international governmental, non-governmental organisations and military forces in addressing issues which aid in speedy resolution of disputes and restoration of humanitarian norms. This thesis explores the Austrian Armed Forces approach to CIMIC, as well as the Austrian methodology both domestically and internationally in promoting and deploying more effective CIMIC competencies and discourses.

The Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town played a pivotal role in the Union of South Africa’s contribution to World War I on many fronts In addition to its role as a military headquarters for the successful prosecution of the South African planned and executed German South West Africa Campaign. It also served as a staging post for the deployment of South Africa's Infantry Brigades, Cape Corps and Native Labour Corps deployments elsewhere in Africa, the Middle East and Europe, and as a location for nationally distinct gifts and comforts depots for South African, Australian and New Zealand troops coming ashore while in transit on troop ships going to and coming from the war and home front. The Castle's role in South African military history directly influenced the shape and design of the Delville Wood Commemorative Museum. This connection, in addition to the memorials to Delville Wood in the Company’s Gardens, cements a strong and enduring link between the Castle, the City of Cape Town, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the commemoration of South Africa’s fallen soldiers.

The South African Defence Force (SADF) made effective use of the horse mounted soldier in the Namibian Independence War or ‘Border War’, 1966 to 1989, in Namibia (South West African) and Angola, in a conflict usually depicted as a series of high profile mechanised infantry operations. Nevertheless, the legacy of the horse-mounted infantryman of the South African War era commando was evident in this unit, which proved competent in the counter-insurgency patrol in the Area of Operations, and subsequently domestic deployment during civilian struggle during the State of Emergency. This article offers an exploration of the Potchefstroom Equestrian Centre’s contribution to horse and rider training and the military use of horses in counterinsurgency and urban peace enforcement operations in the period c.1974-1985.