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2SAI (Walvis Bay)

Namibia / Erongo / Walvis Bay
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I believe this is the old 2SAI (SADF) military base foodhall. Can someone confirm this?
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Coordinates:   22°58'12"S   14°29'32"E

Comments

  • k.zander01 (guest)
    I was there 1986 - looks very familiar I must say
  • B Kirby (guest)
    I did my National Service here in 1975 - this is most definitely the old other ranks mess hall, or "varkmenasie" as it was called (Afrikaans for Pig's Dining Hall). This mess services the 1200 - odd troops that were based here during my time. The senior NCO's had their own mess as did the Officer's.
  • Mike (guest)
    I was also there in 1975 and it definately looks like it.
  • Clark (guest)
    I was 2 SAI in 1987-1988, so yeah it does look like it. The building closest to it would have been the old sick bay. I went back to Walvis in the late 90's for work and I was told that all the old bungalows are now down at the beach for holiday accommodation.
  • jacswart
    It is now the Dutch Reformed Church of Meersig.
  • Roberto (guest)
    I was there in 1980/81 Both the main mess and NCO mess burned down in 1980. So I unless this is a new one post 1980 it is not the one reffered to by the guy in 1975
  • Bernhard (guest)
    Did my basics in 1980 looking for the men that were in Charlie7 Korp du Toit en Lt Brutenbach. Would like to recover some momentos insignia etc etc. bivanzyl@telkomsa.net
  • Ray Wood (guest)
    Did my 9 months in Walvis in 1972 and don't remember the "Varkminasie" been T shaped as the building is in the pic. As far as I can remember it was just one straight building.
  • beukesrupert
    this was the mess hall, the one that burned in'80 was the officers mess and was further north near the circle
  • Derek Lawler (guest)
    I did national service there in 1975. The base has been demolished to make way for housing but the old mess hall still stands and has been converted into a church
  • Gavin Grant (guest)
    hey guys ,i was there in 86 and to my knowledge ,the showers and toilets were in front of the mess and the gap on this photo look too far ,as i remember i used to hide by the nco,s bungalow near to the mess as we used to have opfoks every morning so we used to jippo under there bungalo and wait till the troops ran to the mess then we came out of hiding and joined the queue for breafast.pls would anyone drop a line who was there in 86 and went to Eenhana in 87,would love to hear from the guys that were there then.
  • B Kirby (guest)
    With reference to the shape of the menasie: It was most certainly "T"-shaped! There was the dining area and then the kitchen, store rooms and walk-in fridge was an offshoot from the main dining hall. There was also a small butchery - I cut up enough damn chickens during my time on "diensweek"! The perk was that you had access to cold milk in the fridges - a luxury in that heat. Do you remember the raised movie projection hut in the middle of the dining area? The lance-corporal who was in charge was a strange gent who had a bicycle with more attachments than a ricksha. He had a 12v battery on the rear carrier which powered an amazing array of lights and his sound system which was built into a dashboard above his handlebars. Not the sharpest pencil in the box!
  • Mias Olivier (guest)
    I was in Bravo comp. in 1986/87. I went back to Walvis with my wife in 1993, and by then there was little left of the base that I could show her. From the photo it looks about right.
  • Chris Gonsior (guest)
    I was there in 1973/74, HQ Company. With the benefit of hindsight, I quite enjoyed my time there...
  • Derek Craig (guest)
    Kirby - The guys name was Archie. Saw him for many years after at Tokai, Cape Town
  • Derek Craig (guest)
    Yes Bruce - He still drives his bicycle - seen at Blue Route often.- I now live in Worcester but get to Tokai often. Regards - I have not been on this site for so long. dercra@gmail.com
  • Stephen Heyns
    I was there Alpha Company 1979
  • Rynier (guest)
    Well 45 years ago it looked totally different, but I think you could be right. I seem to recognize the parade ground area (to the right), as well as the area where the troop bungalows use to be (open sandy area to the left). These bungalows were all mounted on poles. The stores and vehicle park buildings all seem to have dissapeared. You are certainly bringing back some very old memories --- God bless and regards Rynier mwrynier@mweb.co.za
  • Derek Lawler
    Yes that is the old 2 SAI mess, it was converted to a church and it's the only part of the old base that's left.
  • Bruce (guest)
    Hi Derek - yes - Archie it was indeed! Went AWOL and sent a postcard to his superior - got picked up because the card indicated his whereabouts. Busted down to lance-jack as I recall? Derek - I'm near Tokai - was Archie living in the area?
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This article was last modified 2 years ago