A S Dashwood and F W B von Linsingen
I have walked through these gates twice a day for 14 years. That’s around 5600 times. I think about them every time I walk through them. I know they are a national monument it’s one of the first things we are taught in Grade 8, the same as the façade of the School buildings. How many of you know the history behind them though? How many of you have asked the question “who were Dickie and Fritz?” Are they just names we say when asked a question?
This year the gates have been named in honour of Dickie and Fritz for 21 years. But their story starts many more years ago than that.
Alan Stanley Dashwood and Fritz William Berry von Linsingen were both born in Queenstown in the Eastern Cape. They went to the same primary school in Queenstown and matriculated in the same year at Queens College.
Although they went to different Universities they both decided to enter the teaching profession. Alan or “Dashers” as he was known majored in English and joined the staff of Jeppe High School for Boys in 1926. Fritz majored in History and joined the staff of Jeppe High School for Boys in 1927.
Alan acquired the name of “Dickie” because he owned a Chevrolet with a dickie seat. The greatest joy of the boys was to get a lift in the dickie seat or with “Dickie”. The name stuck.
With the outbreak of World War II they managed eventually in 1940 to obtain permission from the school to volunteer for active service and enlisted as privates in the Imperial Light Horse Regiment (ILH).
Dr Miller, a Medical Officer, serving with the 16 Field Ambulance Unit of the 3rd South African Infantry Brigade, had been a fellow student of Fritz von Linsingen at College House, University of Cape Town.
In 1989 Dr Millar was invited to the unveiling of the Memorial gates at Jeppe High School (one half in memory of A S Dashwood and the other in memory of F W B von Linsingen).
Dr Millar was prevailed upon to deliver a tribute to Fritz von Linsingen. After recalling some of the activities in which Fritz was involved at Varsity he went on to mention that his Ambulance unit was sent to Zonderwater for training with the 3rd Brigade to which the ILH was attached.
On one occasion he had been sent to the rifle range for target practice. As a Captain he was the senior officer on the range and was informed by his Staff-Sergeant that he was responsible for range discipline. He replied “I know nothing about range discipline. Appoint one of the NCO’s from the ILH and make him responsible for range discipline.”
After the firing practice the Staff Sergeant again approached him and stated that the NCO from the ILH wished to know whether he was satisfied with the progress of events. On looking up he noted the presence of the ILH Corporal and after the usual “Waffle” he thanked him for his duties on the range.
With a quizzical look on his face, the Corporal said “You don’t remember me Sir? My name is von Linsingen”. The M O stepped forward, shook hands and said “Fritz don’t you bloody well call me ‘Sir’, why are you not an Officer? You have all the qualifications necessary for an Officer instead of a Corporal in a combat battalion.”
To these remarks Fritz replied: - “At 41 years of age I am too old to be an Officer. I am a Section Leader in my platoon and my men are all miners from Johannesburg. They are a magnificent bunch and I would never let them down.”
While under training at Zonderwater, junior officers and other ranks in the ILH frequently addressed both Lance Corporal Dashwood and Corporal von Linsingen as “Sir”, it had to be explained that these men had been pupils of Mr Dashwood and Mr von Linsingen at Jeppe High School.
The last time Dr Millar spoke to Fritz he was on board to the ship taking the 2nd Division to Egypt in June 1941.
The day after the successful battle of Bardia, Dr Miller accompanied a Company Commander of the Rand Light Infantry to the field of the battle. They came to an enemy strong point where 7 Platoon of the ILH had encountered extremely stiff opposition. This strong point constructed in 1936 was a particularly formidable structure with barbed wire, mined with anti-personnel mines and anti tank drop etc.
On approaching the strong point Dr Miller saw ten hastily constructed graves each with a small wooden cross. On the first cross was inscribed the name of the platoon officer; on the second the name of Corporal von Linsingen; on the third the name of Lance Corporal Dashwood; on the remaining seven were the names of seven privates of the ILH.
On turning away with a feeling of shock Dr Miller noted a portion of webbing inscribed “Corporal von Linsingen”, the poignant words sprang to his mind. “They are a magnificent bunch. I would never let them down”.
There is another version of why the two did not become officers and that was because so many of the Jeppe Boys had joined the ILH that they wanted to remain with them. This version is supported by MOTH Doug Rowe, Jimmy SHELLHOLE, who served with them in the ILH.
Many of the Moths and prospective Moths in Edenvale and Bedfordview were Jeppe Old Boys who had fond memories and respect for Dickie Dashwood and Fritz von Linsingen who had taught them in the 1930’s.
These two schoolmasters who were killed in action on 31 December 1941 during the Battle of Bardia in Libya whilst serving their Country, could never became members of that wonderful Brotherhood ‘The Memorable Order of Tin Hats’.What better way to perpetuate the Three Ideals – True Comradeship, Mutual Help and Sound Memory than by naming a MOTH Shellhole after them.
My grandfather Lawrence Card was a member of the Dickie-Fritz Shellhole from inception. He was a tank engineering in North Africa and told me many stories of camping out in the desert and freezing over night and burning his skin on the tank shell during the sweltering hot sun. My Grandfather went to Jules High School in the 1930’s and even though Dickie and Fritz were not masters at his school he told me that the students who came from Jules High held them in the highest regard, which is one of the main reasons he joined the Shellhole named in their honour after returning from World War II.
These gates are a permanent reminder of the spirit embodied by two friends and masters as it was then and as it is today. Be mindful boys every time you pass through their secure stance. Remember them today, and always. They have given much so that we the few can enjoy what we have today.
