Adolph Gysbert “Sailor” Malan (1910-1963) It was the 50th Anniversary of the death of famed Battle of Britain pilot Sailor Malan yesterday, he having succumbed to the ravages of Parkinson’s Disease in Kimberley on 17 September 1963. A moving memorial service was held at his grave in the West End cemetery at sunset with wreaths being laid by the South African Airforce Association and the MOTH. He was 53 years of age when he died. His actions during the Battle of Britain and France saw him reaching the rank of Group Captain, having commanded 74 Squadron RAF, the famous Tiger Squadron, and was awarded the DSO and Bar, DFC and Bar and bravery medals from four allied countries of World War II. For those who wish to learn more about this ace fighter pilot just google his name – there is tons of info on the web. Just to touch briefly on what Sailor did after the war and up until his death. Shortly after the war had ended Malan worked for Harry Oppenheimer as his personal assistant and in the early 1950s was one of the leaders of the Torch Commando, a non-aligned action group of ex-servicemen set up to fight against the Nationalist Government’s plans to disenfranchise the Coloureds – who had the vote at that stage. Despite the fact that the group attracted some 250 000 members they were not successful in their quest. He had expressed a wish to go farming so for a year before he moved on to Benfontein farm he worked at the Oppenheimer racehorse stud farm Mauritzfontein. He then leased Benfontein from De Beers Consolidated Mines in 1952 and concentrated on sheep farming. His wife Lynda (who called him John), continued the lease on the farm after Sailor’s death in 1963 but relinquished it in 1972. It was the leasing of Benfontein to Sailor Malan that saw dramatic improvement in quality of life for those who lived there. Electricity was finally extended to the farm from Kimberley, and there were major renovations (and rebuilding in places) of the Homestead. All costs were borne by the De Beers Company. The swimming pool, now covered and filled in, adjacent and to the east of the homestead, was a personal gift to Sailor Malan from the Chairman of De Beers Consolidated Mines, Harry Friedrich Oppenheimer. Malan was an active member of the RAF Association, the SAAF Association, and the MOTH. He was also keen on horse racing and was a steward of the GW Racing Club. Until quite recently the feature race on the Kimberley racing calendar was the Sailor Malan Handicap. This brief does not tell a fraction of the life of this famous airman. If you do not wish to google him, there are two biographies about him, one of which was written not too many years ago. The Kimberley Library has both in stock.
Posted on: Wed, 18 Sep 2013 15:21:49 +0000
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