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Udo Richard Averweg's Page

Udo Richard Averweg is a keen student of military history and served as a commissioned officer with Congella Regiment. He is a member of the South African Military History Society (KwaZulu-Natal Branch).

Stark reality of Natal Command

Natal Command on the Durban beachfront served as a headquarters of the military in Durban and was familiar to generations of those who served there and the residents who passed by upon their daily business. Now only the facade and chapel remain but, in the spirit of keeping memories alive, this article by Udo Averweg discusses soldiering in Natal, the role the headquarters played and gives details of the senior officer and NCO who were in charge when the base was closed.

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LEGACY OF PIONEER ARTIST JOHN THOMAS BAINES

The City of Durban has a historical calendar landscape brush-stroked with many anniversary dates. 8th May remains one in its artistic history. This day marks the anniversary date on which John Thomas Baines (1820-1875), a renowned English artist and intrepid explorer who travelled through southern Africa and Australia, died on Durban’s Berea.

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The Battle of Congella

� Tuesday 23rd May 2017 marks an important date in Durban�s historical tapestry – it is the dodransbicentennial (175th) anniversary of the commencement of the Battle of Congella in the greater city of Durban.

From a military historical perspective, the Congella battle site was actually named after former Zulu barracks (known as an ikhanda), called kwaKhangela. This was established by King Shaka kaSenzangakhona (ca. 1787 – 1828) to keep a watchful eye on the nearby British traders at Port Natal - the full name of the place was kwaKhangela amaNkengane (�place of watching over vagabonds�)…

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The Siege of the Old Fort Relieved

Saturday 24th June 2017 marked the 175th anniversary of the arrival of the schooner Conch to
the Bay of Natal (now known as Durban harbour). The ship’s arrival from Algoa Bay (now
known as Port Elizabeth) on 24th June 1842, was instrumental in raising the month-long siege
of the British garrison at Fort Port Natal (now known as The Old Fort, Durban).

<== Click to download and read the PDF file of this story.