Inside 5 SAI Ladysmith base 2015

[@johannkieser5006]

I wish I could reunite with all my buddies ; we were in Port Natal School in Durban, allocated to Regiment Port Natal, part of 84 Brigade and 5 SAI Ladismith. Cmdt Kruys said we were the best intake he ever had 1971 and we made him proud. We went to many places fro special training and cleaned the places up well. I am so sorry Cmdt Kruys died - I would have loved to see him one more time - devastating !! When I was at 5 SAI Ladysmith, I looked after his kids many times when he and his wife went out to functions - also Capt Quinn and Capt Holm - those were very special days in my life - miss my army buddies I had for more than 10 years all oer the place and 3 X on the borders so much.

[@gavin731126]

I did my time there in 91 and the RSM would have flipped his lid if he saw how the place is lookingI remember standing guard at that tower at the ammo store . I remember standing diamond hand stand in front of the ablution blocks and leopard crawling to the sound of bodyguard from Whitney Houston . I was in C- company living in tents down by the ablution blocksMy last 40 day's I was a store man/postman down by the big stores across from the ablution blocksBets time I had in my live but never want to relive it againI stay in the US now and came across your video brought back lots of memories thanks

[@williamcochrane8469]

Hi, did my 2 yrs National service there in 1979....aslo stood gaurd at that tower 😉.... man did we Afkak. 😖

[@janjacobusdebruin2473]

What a memory. Did my boarder training there in 1992-1993 . That time we had no choice because of the Apla attacks. Came from Grahamstown basic training to get trained for boarder training. What a life changing experience. I was in Delta company at that time.

[@davethorstry6700]

I was there in 62/63. No fence. We had prefab bungalows wooden floors, thin +- 5mm ply sides. No fence. Trees going in the cracks of the swimming pool. It was a prisoner of war camps for the Italians and was left to the elements after the end of the WW2. We had no ablution block. Hessian sides no overhead cover, one long pipe down the middle with roses. The bedford tanker would go down to the Klip river, fill up, come and connect up to the pipe and that was our shower, no hot, tadpoles, frogs etc. Toilets were the same. One long wooden bench with holes, back to back and shoulder to shoulder you sat! It was a permanent standby camp, we slept in our kit and had countless battalion scrambles. Training was very hard and we had three deaths and two broken backs. Even with no fence we had only one awol. Punishment was severe. The corrugated iron magazine had two cells stinking hot and freezing cold. If my memory serves me correctly we had the world record for fifty mile route march with full packs. This time fifty four years ago we were singing "gonna give you twelve days to get back". Hard but memories of good mates.

[@Deadprofesional]

thanks for that. Haven't seen that place since 1993....

[@Chazaxl]

I recognise some of it. Intake of 91, did 1 year. Looks deserted now. I can remember the end line where the 2.4 ended near the garage area. I can recognise there B and C Company Sleeping area was, the magazine and the large parade ground. Memories.

[@ludwigheuer2599]

Was there in 86. Does not look so bad. There where the tar road stop is near the bottom area of the camp at the river. Apart from no activity and the really easy access it stills looks ok.

[@slippery_snake4048]

Thanks, you should see the state of 4 SAI in Middleburg, Mpumulanga

[@kirbsdurbs]

Christine I can only imagine !!!!!

[@Deadprofesional]

thanks for that. Haven't seen that place since 93

[@stevun08]

Nice one bru. Was there in 92, came from 8 SAI in Upington then went on to 9 SAI in Piet Reteif to do boarder patrol between S.A and Swaziland.

[@robert-trading-as-Bob69]

Bliksem! Did you drive a taxi before this, because you don't seem to understand what a stop sign is.

[@johannkieser5006]

This is not at all how I remembered the Camp at 1971. We had barbed wire and high fences and were off loaded at the main stores. The we had some refreshments adn started getting our basic kit. Then allocated to bungalows. Cmd. Kruys was in command, a man I respect more than most. He siad we were the best intake ever and I honour him as he walked the talk. I looked after his kids many a time, as well as for Capt Quinn - super people - talented, dedicated people - those were the days never ever to be repeated. Now we just have a bunch of lethargic idiots. Maj Kritzinger was my superior - I learned such a lot from him - genius I should say - he and and the Sergeant Major motivated us to be just the best and we won best bungalow, best dressed troop every week - a discipline one would not find in any military base in South Africa today - gone are the pride days - the aint-no-cees just fade away into thin air - Africa Adio ! ! !

[@louisjordaan8266]

1976 intake. Kmdt Benade was in charge. C comp in the hangers. Had a stunt at boshoek and had to run back to base. Six months on the border. Did 10 kamps. Was in Rhodesia as well with the take over. The question I ask for what. Lost some of our buddies there. Looks like a hotel now. Cheers.

[@DeoMei]

Wow. I haven't been back there since basics etc in '76/77. How it has changed.

[@alanfisher7564]

much better facilities than what we had in 1976 hey Deon! We were in tents and then bungalows....

[@h1017412]

Thanks for posting, have never been there personally but knew someone who was a PTI there. Interesting to put vision to audio - although from the comments it appears it's changed significantly since my friend was there. What people should bear in mind is that the SANDF is not responsible for the maintenance of these facilities. For some reason that's beyond me, maintenance of all military facilities is the responsibility of the Department of Public Works. Blame them for the state of disrepair - not the army.

[@victorhulley5926]

i was at 5 SAI 1989. Brings back big memomies. the dorms the QM, Sick back and the parade ground. alot stil the same

[@victorhulley5926]

also when we arrive we were housed in tent there below the QM. i my time the grass was always cut and neat. also stood infront om the QM

[@thegreenant6045]

Victor Hulley Hi, in which area were you?

[@lucasjacobs9246]

i was also there for basic training Sgt maj fundaro will never forget him , i was in echo company

[@MatthysJohannesSmit-t3m]

Were there in 1984

[@ln778]

Diensplig 1972 5 SAI. kmdt Kruys BO, Maj Cronje komp Bev. Soek al jare om met Maj Cronje in verbinding te tree. Hulle het manne van ons gemaak. Glo My.

[@jonahvarlik9901]

79 - 81 it was all dust and dirt roads. The brick flats wwere still being built.

[@jamescurran3574]

Memories.. 91 intake.. I still have scars on my elbows from leopard crawling up that dirt road by the ammo stores guard tower

[@Deadprofesional]

thanks

[@pieterwillembotha6719]

Can we see a video of the former base where 32Bn used to reside?

[@danielf4503]

Buffalo?

[@zommellemmoz3999]

Look for 32 Bn clips - in particular the second announcement of the unit being disbanded - it will give you an idea of what fine soldiers they were and the treason committed.

[@pietercoetzee483]

Geen potholes nie? Want daar gaan niks aan nie. Net twee troepe in die kamp een hek wag vir dagskof en een vir nagskof.

[@grantstockdale1966]

My time 87 - 89 ... How nice to be able to just DRIVE THROUGH a Military Base. Could have been very Dire in my time !!!

[@hansel498]

Hi was there in 92 bravo coy then deployed to lesotho border

[@promisemaubane5560]

Taking video of a military base is not allowed, and putting the whole base at risk.. cameras ate not allowed in a military base!

[@almadlicka2410]

Was there in 1979

[@williamcochrane8469]

Hi, did my 2 yrs National service there in 1979....aslo stood gaurd at that tower 😉.... man did we afkak... Coldest winter in those tents at the bottom (remember cracking my frozen socks in the tent in the morning, shining tent poles and doing push up on the ashfelt. Lol Spent a 1st year in training and 2nd in South West Africa, Ruacana (koncor Dam) Ondangwa, Katima and others....klaared out 14days early because I didn't get my 2 weeks leave...then spent 10yrs doing camps (DLI)..boarder duty and townships..caught for every one 😣 PS: We used to chicken parade that whole camp & it was pristine! What a shit hole & looks deserted...What army?? PPS: will be good to hear from anyone that remembers the Purdies (rocks) we used to carry from the river to the shooting range. 😆 PPS: Never stayed in a building always in a tent for my whole army period. Fasbyt was never far away...from Roofe, bloue Gat to Ouman. Now in Scotland 20yrs and living the dream.

[@louisjordaan8266]

Did my basic training 76 - 77. Com Benadie was in charge. C com in the hangers with sargent major Beets.

[@AndrewSparkfish]

Jeezlaikit. ...it's turned into a ghost town.....

[@sweetjamed945]

Ek sal my beeste en skappe daar laat wei die grass is lekker groen en lank en daar is darem a hek wag hope net hy sal my skaap en bees laat in en uit teken want men's ry net in en uit sonder probleem. En die kamp is darem toe gespan met draad ek hope nie die soldate slag my diere nie hulle is seker lekker lui om iets te doen en lekker vet ook. In die ou dae van disipline was daar paratheid en hekwagte wat jou halt gedag het en in teken register met a eskort waarheen jy gaan. My bees en skaap sal teminste die gatte en gebreekte pad met hulle bees en skaap mis opvul en hell voor ek vergeeet ek hope daar is drinkwater vir my diere welkom na die army vakansie plaas die R.S.M. sal seker nie warry nie van oud soldaat met goeie boere disipline

[@johnwayneisthisme3475]

Look at all the f@?

[@Andrewza1]

wheres the dismal state?

[@zommellemmoz3999]

If you can't see it then it means you probably did not serve and will not know what the typical base looked like. So take the word of the guys that were there and posted a commeny.

[@davehamlyn3097]

Looks really deserted and nothing happening.

[@siyabongasibusiso3467]

People want to spent time with their families 👨‍👩‍👧‍👧👨‍👩‍👦‍👦👨‍👨‍👦👨‍👨‍👧now. the big bosses are pocketing alot of money for them selves only and only want people to work for them.

[@Deadprofesional]

thanks for that. Haven't seen that place since 93

[@Deadprofesional]

thanks for that. Haven't seen that place since 1993

[@Deadprofesional]

thanks for that. Haven't seen that place since 1993