Page 110 - KBHA BULLETIN 6

World War 2 Reminiscences

Cynthia de Villiers

During World War 2 while our men and women of eligible age were serving in the

different forces the women at home were very involved in the war effort. Kalk Bay had an
active S.A.W.A.S branch under the leadersihip of Mrs. Pare.

My mother, Irene Smuts, was head of the Gifts and Comfort Section and we used to have
work parties in our home, “The Ark”. We knitted jerseys, balaclava caps, scarves and

hundreds of pairs of socks for the troops.

There was a time when aluminium was needed and we went about in an old car called

“Toktokkie” to collect pots and pans. Another time it was gold and people gave their rings
and jewellery. Mr. Will Hare gave his yacht to the Navy.

The hotel, “Seahurst”, later known as the “Robin Gordon”, was converted into a hospital

for “other ranks”, while the double-storey house “Thalassa”, on the hill opposite the

harbour, was used as convalescent home for officers.

On a Friday evening we young women went to the dockyard at Simon’s Town to dance
with the sailors of the visiting ships while our mothers went there to fry bacon and eggs for

them. To enter the Simon’s Town area we had to show passes at a road block on the rise
before Glencairn. The cars’ headlights were covered with cloth or paper with a narrow slit

across the middle to allow for vision. At home our curtains had black linings so that no

light was visible to show the enemy the lay of the land.

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