A different view on current affairs & history
Perhaps it was because the English speakers were strangers in a new land, that their entrepreneurial talents were unleased, but whatever it was, they displayed it in their many endeavours. One little known fact was the attempt to establish its own maritime defence. In this case , the explanation could plausibly have been the naval attack on the settlement in 1799 by the French which highlighted the colony’s vulnerability.
Main picture: Firefight involving the La Preneuse
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Better known as Darby, the Whaler, David Doit only appeared on the local whaling scene in the latter half of the 19th Century after having spent time in Grahamstown after his birth circa 1838. Doit obtained employment with the P.E. Boating Company as an oarsman and later promoted as a coxswain, a position that he held for nearly 30 years. It was during his extended stint as a crewmember of James Searle’s boat that his sailing skills were finely-honed.
Competition between rival firms was keen in those days and the crews used to spend hours on the Donkin watching for a whale to ‘blow’ in the Bay. As soon as one was spotted, there was a race to the beach in order to launch their boats and the first crew to harpoon a whale were handsomely paid by the owners.
Main picture: Painting by Thomas Baines of a surfboat being launched through the breakers
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According to the book Port Elizabeth: A Social Chronicle to the End of 1945, the Union Boating Company was formed in February 1865. The chairman and directors were Joseph Simpson, J.H. Clark, G.C. Smith, C.T. Jones and F.S. Fairbridge and the Superintendent was James Searle. The company purchased the stock of E.B. Wheatland and leased the building used by him, and others adjoining and being built behind, between Commerce and North Union Streets.
Main picture: James Searle
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Like his three brothers, Fred, Milton and Harry, Redvers volunteered for military service during WW2. As the last of these volunteers has passed on, nobody can listen to first hand accounts of their experiences during the war. All that remains are the shards of their experiences as related to disinterested children. Even piecing together these pieces, it provides no more than a smidgen of those experiences.
Main picture: Redvers Percival Dix-Peek in military uniform
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Like all immigrants internationally, their initial priority was to make a living. For most waves of immigration to South Africa this was the least of their concerns as they were part of an organised importation scheme; the Indians in Natal to the sugar cane fields, the Chinese to the underground gold mines on the Witwatersrand and the English Settlers to the Eastern Cape border regions. The Chinese in Port Elizabeth were an exception to that rule. Being overwhelmingly single and without a family they probably initially relied upon the settled Chinese to survive. In a strange land with little understanding of English, they resorted to the time honoured tradition in order to overcome communication barriers viz sign language
Main picture: Chinese general dealers store in Dassiekraal circa 1920
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Historically South Africa has always experienced segregation except that with the accession to power of the National Party in 1948 separation in all facets of one’s life was now governed by its own separate and restrictive legislation. Amongst the avalanche of legislation in the early years of Nationalist rule was one law that mandated the separation of beaches by the local councils.
This is the story of the ascendance of beach segregation and its ultimate demise.
Main picture: Map of segregated beaches along Port Elizabeth’s coast
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Available through:
Fogarty’s Books – Port Elizabeth
Alan Montgomery – PE Sales 084 981 8491
Dean McCleland – Non-PE Sales 083 801 5446
PE of Yore Volume 1 Defying the Odds – Limited stock
All societies consist of their fair share of ne’er-do-wells, addicts, cheats and liars. Others with no such character flaws become engulfed in such destructive behaviours due to not overcoming life’s challenges. The calamities that befall them comprise the kaleidoscope of events such as the loss of a child, serious injury or collapse of one’s business. In all probability the Chinese of Port Elizabeth were no more or less guilty of engaging in such destructive behaviours. For the most part, the bulk of the Chinese population was law abiding and industrious citizens to boot.
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Over my life of 72 years, I have witnessed this building slowly crumble and fade away. Now little more than a pile of bricks, my memory was pricked after 40 years after relocation to Joburg when a Mrs. Charlotte Brunette surprised me with a photo of an oil painting of this building. Now yet another piece of the giant PE puzzle has found its niche in the mosaic.
Main picture: Church on Kragga Kamma-AI Enhanced
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