The Western Cape Military History Society

Join us every 3rd Thursday

Welcome to The WCMHS

The WCMHS is a vibrant, non-profit, subscription-based community dedicated to studying, honouring, and preserving military heritage. Based at the historic SA Legion Rosedale Complex in Rosebank, the Society brings together enthusiasts, researchers, veterans, and collectors who share a passion for military history and the stories that shaped not only our nation, but the world.

The Cape of Good Hope Coat of Arms

Assegaai Submarine Museum – Simon’s Town One of the many museums and sites of special interest visited by WCMHS members.

Recent Speaker

16th July 2026 Speaker: Rear Admiral (rtd) Theo Honiball – Submarines and the Angolan War. Theo shared his experiences as a submarine commander during the Border War.

Upcoming Speakers

Learn more

A small sampling of our

Past Speakers

Professor Heiz Rhode

Emeritus Professor of Paediatric Surgery, University of Cape Town and Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, explored Hitler’s addiction and offered rare insights into the decisive influence thereof on the outcome of WWII. A fascinating subject, ironically explored by very few authors over the years.

David Shaw

David Shaw is a retired High School Principal and published a book titled The Italian Campaign, as experienced through the eyes of his father, Captain Edward Shaw, who served as an Information Officer with the Witwatersrand Rifles/De la Rey Regiment WR/DLR. David traced the footsteps of the Italian Campaign and shared then-and-now photographs.

Elsabe Brits

Prominent, award-winning South African science and medical journalist and author Elsabe Brits, a member of the Emily Hobhouse Museum in Cornwall, UK, wrote a book titled Emily Hobhouse, Beloved Traitor. Elsabe explored Emily’s life’s work both inside the concentration camps during the Boer War and during WWI. As a pacifist and a feminist, Emily was called a traitor. She also gave insight into the Cornwall museum and its genesis.

Associate Professor Lance Mitchel

Lance Mitchel, specialist in anaesthesia and critical care medicine, Emeritus Associate Professor in the Division of Critical Care at UCT, and retired former Head of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at Groote Schuur, became a WWI aficionado after he retired. His talk focused on medical care during WWI and gave insights into the positive impacts of disease prevention through vaccination.

► Necessary Cookies Always Active

Necessary cookies enable essential site features like secure log-ins and consent preference adjustments. They do not store personal data.

► Functional Cookies Remark

Functional cookies support features like content sharing on social media, collecting feedback, and enabling third-party tools.

► Analytical Cookies Remark

Analytical cookies track visitor interactions, providing insights on metrics like visitor count, bounce rate, and traffic sources.

► Advertisement Cookies Remark

Advertisement cookies deliver personalized ads based on your previous visits and analyze the effectiveness of ad campaigns.