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Cliff Barren and I wasted no time in preparing to test our land legs again when we reached Cape Town. We showed our shore pass at the dock gate and stepped out for town but were approached by a gentleman who introduced himself as Mr Vye.

He invited usto be his guests for the duration of their stay. He explained that he ran an advertising agency which he was leaving his sons to run. South Africa was a country divided in many different ways. Both soldiers noted the signs listing facilities for Whites Only or Blacks Only. They had been warned about this aspect of the country and had been told to make no comment.

They were also told to watch out for enemy agents. The country was home to a large population of Germanic origin. The Boers made little secret of their sympathy to the Germans in their war against the British. This tension was resolved by interning many Boers and sometime whole families for the duration of the war.

‘We readily accepted this generous and unexpected offer and climbed aboard his De Soto limousine. Mindful of this espionage warning, we were initially suspicious. However, the blatant way that we were approached and the number of other car waiting outside the port, rather like a taxi rank to offer hospitality to other soldieries, persuaded us that they were not being seduced by a spy.

'After a tour of the town we went to their host’s home for lunch to meet the family. After 3 days of feasting and soft living at the Vye home, we were driven back to the dock gates just in time for the 11 p.m. curfew. We went aboard loaded with fruit, magazines and memories of selfless hospitality.

'The generosity did not end with our departure. The Vye’s said they would send food parcels to their wives regularly, a promise which they honoured.’

This story was submitted to the people’s War site by a volunteer from CSV Oxford on behalf of the late Bob Borthwick. It is a transcript of his own diary and he gave written permission for the material to be edited and published.

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