moolaa's remark about Syd Nomis in the "Fergie McCormick" thread made me Google Syd...and I got side tracked into a bit about Okey Geffin....BOY, what a classic character! Please read the part about his time in the WW II POW camp. Bokke has got some BIG characters...I'm sure other countries too. Douglas Bader springs to mind for the Poms.
Moz, Vic is old, but not that old...I can't recall him being a POW at any stage of his career, never mind in WWII .
Vlag, I can't find anything on the web, but I seem to recall from the book that he either played or was sellected for, but never played flyhalf for England. "Reach for the Sky" was a prescribed English novel in grade 9. After a way in, I realised it was one of the movies my dad showed us with a projector, pre VHS. I was amazed that it was a true story. Legend.
Ja, I know there's nothing on the net about his rugby, but there's not much on the net pre WWII outside of mainstream media. Ive got a memory like an elephant and I recall something like that. I guess I'll have to read the book again.
PS...as I recall from the book, he started golf agter he lost his legs.
All you Saffas should know one of my heroes [ and not just for his war record] Sailor Malan.
Wow, 35 kills!
Pat Pattle had at least 41, but he was KIA in 1941.
Sailor Malan fought against apartheid and for other WW2 veterans post war ,a thoroughly decent man and brave as all get out.Moz indeed those are some great movies and I saw them all as a kid ,633 Mosquito squadron was pretty groovy team ,reminds me of the Isreali "film producer " who borrowed some mosquitos to make a movie then buggered off to Isreal with them !
"The wooden wonder "
WD, I saw the part of him fighting against apartheid...and the reason he got out of that fight too. I did not know about it before you dropped his name. He seemed to be a good man with backbone and the balls to back it up. Thanks for bringing it up....PS, there was another Adolph Mal an in SA history.
