Ruzawi Old Pupils' Association

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REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY - WORLD WAR ONE IN AFRICA.
It is worth remembering that the 2 minutes silence acknowledged around the world was in fact begun in Africa. The practice of the Remembrance Sunday silence originates in Cape Town, South Africa, where there was a two-minute silence initiated by the daily firing of the noon day gun on Signal Hill for a full year from 14 May 1918 to 14 May 1919, known as the Two Minute Silent Pause of Remembrance.
This was instituted by the then Cape Town Mayor, Sir Harry Hands, at the suggestion of councillor Robert Rutherford Brydone, on 14 May 1918, after receiving the news of the death of his son by gassing on 20 April.
Signalled by the firing of the Noon Gun on Signal Hill, one minute was a time of thanksgiving for those who had returned alive, the second minute was to remember the fallen. The city fell silent, a bugler sounded the Last Post, and the Reveille was played at the end of the pause. It was repeated daily for a full year. Newspapers described how trams, taxis and private vehicles stopped, pedestrians came to a halt and most men bared their heads. People stopped what they were doing at their places of work and sat or stood silently. This short official ceremony was a world first.
A correspondent in Cape Town cabled a description of the event to London. Within a few weeks Reuters' agency in Cape Town received press cables from London stating that the ceremony had been adopted in two English provincial towns and later by others, including in Canada and Australia.
Sir Percy Fitzpatrick was impressed by what had happened and suggested through various channels to King George V that the 2 minute silence should be observed throughout the world and the King consented that the 2 minute silence would become part of the Remembrance Service on 11 November 1919 and each year after that.
On 11th November 1918 at 11:00 European time the Great War came to an end, officially at any rate. It was supposed to be the war which ended all wars. Sadly, it later became known as World War One. It lasted for 4 years, 3 months and 2 weeks involved over 50 countries and cost the lives of 9 million soldiers, 7 million civilians and most certainly a contributary factor to the outbreak of influenza around the world which killed between 50 and 100 million people.
However, the war in Africa continued and it is worth remembering now the role of Africa in the war because it was significant:
The first rifle shot of World War one was not fired in Europe but actually in West Africa on 7th August 1914 by L/Cpl Grunshi of the Gold Coast (now Ghana) Regiment. The German garrison in Togoland held out for just two weeks, when the campaign started on 9 August 1914 and it was over by 26 August 1914. The first campaign of the war was successfully concluded in Africa by African Regiments.
The first naval engagement between Germany and Britain was on Lake Nyasa, now Malawi, when Captain Rhoades sailed his naval craft, the HMS Gwendolen, back to his German counterpart's harbour having heard of the out-break of the war first and blew holes in his vessel, the Hermann von Wissman, which was in bad form according the German, Captain Berndt, as it was still in dry dock at the time. He rowed out to confront Rhoades to question what he was doing since they had been drinking partners the night before. It transpired that news of the war had not reached him yet. Rhoades sat Berndt down with a whisky, explained the situation, then led away his angry prisoner of war into captivity.

The famous film “The African Queen” was based on a true story when Great Britain sent two small attack craft, HMS Mimi and HMS Toutou, to Cape Town on a ship and then up the railway line to put them on to Lake Tanganyika to challenge the Germans who had the Kingani, a larger vessel in command of the Lake. The two boats managed to capture the Kingani, renaming it the HMS Fifi.
The first major land campaign was successfully concluded with no British involvement at all when the South Africans and the Rhodesians secured victory in the German South West African Campaign. It began on 15 September 1914 and was over by 9 July 1915.

This country raised funds to assist Great Britain, and amongst them were the Angoni chiefs in the east contributing a princely sum of GBP32 and Sh1 at the time to help buy an aeroplane for the British Army. The Litunga from Barotseland thought it an honour to support King George V so raised GBP2,000 for the war effort as well and ordered his son who became Mwanawina III to march with 2,000 Lozi warriors northwards to be trained into Policemen and carriers in the defence of the territory.
The last airman to be shot down by the famous Baron von Richthofen, the Red Baron, was Second Lieutenant David Greswolde-Lewis, born and raised in Bulawayo, Southern Rhodesia.
A Victoria Cross was awarded to an Australian soldier, Lieutenant William Dartnell, in Kenya where he is buried.
There were 20 countries involved in the East Africa Campaign which finally ended in this country: Australia, Belgium, the Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of the Congo), Gambia, Germany, Gold Coast (now Ghana), India (& Pakistan), Kenya, Nyasaland (now Malawi), Mozambique, Nigeria, Portugal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanganyika (now Tanzania), Uganda, Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) and the United Kingdom.
Whilst the guns fell silent in Europe on 11th November they continued in Africa until 13th, when General von Lettow Vorbeck's troops were about to cross the Chambeshi river in Northern Rhodesia and the last shot of the war was almost certainly fired by a Northern Rhodesian Policeman south of the river in response to the advancing German Askari firing on them at the rubber factory. The delivery of the news of the Armistice had been delayed at a town called Broken Hill, now Kabwe, when the inhabitants received it on 11th they had a such a party it was not until the 13th that they realised no-one had sent the official message forward. General von Lettow Vorbeck was given the news of the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front on that day, firstly from information taken from a captured dispatch rider, the last prisoner of World War One, a man called Eric Pullon a civilian, and then later that same day from a note sent forward through the British front lines by Lieutenant Davey and Sergeant Rumsey of the Northern Rhodesia Police. The German General was planning to attack the rubber factory on the southern bank of the Chambeshi river the next morning.
So, at 07:30 on 14th November 1918 General von Lettow Vorbeck met with Hector Croad, the District Commissioner from Kasama, to be told that he would have to march to Abercorn, now Mbala, to lay down his arms in front of General Edwards. The man who carried the white flag to the meeting was Yoram Jia, an African originally from Nyasaland. Both Croad and Jia later worked on the Shiwa Ngandu estate made famous in the book The Africa House.
It took von Lettow 10 days to complete the journey and at 12:00 on 25th November 1918 in the pouring rain he began his unconditional evacuation from East Africa. General Edwards allowed von Lettow to keep his sword because of the honourable way he had conducted his campaign.
Given the time difference, the war in Africa lasted two weeks and two hours after the guns had fallen silent in Europe.
We will remember the 78 settlers of this country including one lady, a Jewish lad and an American listed on the Livingstone memorial at the Victoria Falls, who left their homes and gave their lives for the cause.
We will remember the 117 men of the Northern Rhodesia Police including an Australian who are listed on the police memorial in Livingstone town who died defending this country from invaders.
We will remember Hector Croad buried in the Pioneer Cemetery in Mbala and Yoram Jia who carried the white flag on 14 November 1918 to bring the fighting in Africa to an end.
We will remember the servicemen buried at Kansenshi in Ndola not only people from units in this country but also from the British South Africa Police, the Royal Navy, South African Forces and one from Belgium.
We will also remember the German soldiers and their proud Askari who died and are buried in Africa.
We will remember people like Private Beattie from the Northern Rhodesian Rifles who was buried in a grave at Chinsali in 1916, unmarked officially, a piece of African granite acting as his headstone because someone will not look upon him as a war casualty. His family mourned him nonetheless and his name is recorded on the official memorial panel in Hawick, Scotland.
We will remember those affected by war like Captain Evans MC and bar, DCM, Russian Cross of St George 2nd Class, MID, from Abercorn, now Mbala, who after the war suffered from the demons which haunted him, called Ukutilimuka locally or more commonly today Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and was the cause of him being stripped of his all his bravery awards in 1923.
We will remember the 1,467 carriers who died in the Northern Province of this country whilst serving in the British Army and the 433 who fell in this country for whom the Abercorn Memorial in Mbala is dedicated and where we in Zambia held our centenary commemoration on 25th November 2018.
We will remember and acknowledge the over one million Africans who served in many roles during that war and in subsequent conflicts around the world.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,

Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.

They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;

They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

Arthur Bryan Curtis DFC - 76 years ago yesterday awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, gazetted 13 April 1945 whilst with 35 Squadron RAF. Later to play international rugby for Ireland in the season 1950. Remembering also his passing 32 years ago on 17 April. A generation from Ruzawi owe so much to this great man.

R.O.P.A. welcomes participation from all past pupils. The R.O.P.A. committee values representation f News and memories of Ruzawi School, our past pupils and 'Friends of Ruzawi'

08/09/2022

Go Cheetahs!
We’ll be watching you all. Sending a special good luck to our old boy, Graham Kaulback!

08/09/2022

Our thoughts are with the family of Peter Hugh Alan Bowles. Much loved and a life well-lived.

29/07/2022

Congratulations to our Ruzawi old pupils!

Zimbabwe U21 Polocrosse Selection 2022

We would like to congratulate Keegan Mannix and Adele Kotze for their selection in the Zimbabwe U21 National Polocrosse side to play against England here in Zimbabwe in August.

Photos from Ruzawi Old Pupils' Association's post

27/07/2022

A wonderful time had by all at the biennial R.O.P.A. Durban July Event with everyone dressed to the nines with this year's Durban July theme "Show me the honey".

27/07/2022

A huge thank you to our generous sponsors, the R.O.P.A. committee and friends of Ruzawi and our wider community for supporting the Ruzawi Durban July event. An afternoon of fun with great entertainment and some glitz and glamour, all in support of Ruzawi School.

12/07/2022

Flying the R.O.P.A. flag high! Congratulations Mudiwa.

Congratulations to our Ruzawi Old Pupil, Mudiwa on this great achievement. We wish you many great times ahead. 🎉🎉🎉🏉🏉🏉

What a great message to receive from past parents of Ruzawi, the Hakunavanhu’s:

A very proud moment for Team Hakuna whiskey! With all the strong foundation built from Ruzawi, Mudiwa made Vice Captain of Zim U17 Rugby 🏉 squad recently on tour to Kimberly. We are ever so grateful to Ruzawi and you personally for grooming these boys at a young age. We are now reaping the fruits of your hard work. Thank you Mr Davis and Thank you Ruzawi for a job well done. Foundation built on a rock 🪨 💪🙏

29/06/2022

Our thoughts and prayers are with the Curtis family at this sad time.

27/06/2022

Our condolences to the family of a Ruzawi Old Boy, Class of 1942, Anthony Leslie Hardy who recently passed away at the age of 92.
“He had a long and happy life and would sometimes reminisce about the early days at Ruzawi.” - his son, Ant Hardy

Anthony’s brother, K.P. (Peter) Hardy lost his life in the Second World War and is remembered in this portrait hung in the Ruzawi chapel.

Photos from Peterhouse Group of Schools, Zimbabwe's post

24/06/2022

Such a wonderful week of Marondera schools sport.

21/06/2022

Well done to our Ruzawi Old Boys for making selection to the national hockey sides!

Ross Mills
Thomas Webb
Kian Arnold
Aku Munyonga
Mufaro Watyoka
Taine Chapman
Kohl Eksteen
Sean Bennett
Tavonga Mhuriro

Go boys!

01/06/2022

Such spirit: the bonds you can only form in boarding school.

01/06/2022

The pure joy of cheers on the sides of sports fields, cold air in the lungs and reconnecting communities: it’s so wonderful to have team sports back.

24/05/2022

Durban July is back!
Get in touch to book a table as spaces are limited.

17/05/2022

With a big weekend of sport ahead, we’d love any Ruzawi Old Pupils to come and support our teams.
After the matches, join us at The Coachman before heading down the road to watch the Peterhouse Group of Schools, Zimbabwe vs Falcon rugby.

10/05/2022

William “Peter” Hewlett (Grenfell, Class of ‘54) and his grandchildren at Ruzawi.

Peter came to join his family for Monday morning chapel and flag-up: special moments shared down the generations.

07/05/2022

The Learning Knights program for the Ruzawi grade 7’s develops fantastic life-skills. The physical challenge they choose to complete helps develop grit, resilience and team work: values that are central to Ruzawi.

03/05/2022

Wishing everyone a good start to the new term.
Who remembers the feeling in your tummy as you walked through the arch, with a heavy trunk handle weighing in your hand?

10/04/2022

Bubbles and prize giving for the R.O.P.A. golf day: a big thank you to Royal Harare for hosting us again on their beautiful course.

10/04/2022

The 2022 R.O.P.A. Golf Day was a fantastic event, bringing together old, current and future members of the Ruzawi family.

A huge thank you to our sponsors for their support.

17/03/2022

One of the most unique and special parts of Ruzawi is the “families”: building special bonds between children in different age groups throughout the school and ensuring that every child feels like they belong.

16/03/2022

Everything a school should be: full of adventure, fun and creative learning.

10/03/2022

Well done Tawanda, the whole Ruzawi family is supporting you.

Another Titans player bursting onto the international scene, Tawanda Matipano has been called up to the greater Zimbabwe squad.

He previously represented Zimbabwe in both the 15 and 7 man formats at age group level. We are looking forward to see Tawanda excel at senior level.

Well done buddy.

05/03/2022

It’s the small things that make a big difference:
Lashings of love and care and special fun traditions are what school memories are made of.

02/03/2022

So much joy in these little faces.

“Where every boy and every girl will find their place within our world” - The Ruzawi Anthem

Listen to the beautiful Ruzawi anthem here: https://www.ruzawi.com/#

23/02/2022

Smiles and sportsmanship all round.

23/02/2022

Ruzawi Old Pupils' Association updated their address.

16/02/2022

A fine tradition, captured so well.

12/02/2022

Such a great visit!

David Anderson (1960-65 - Fairbridge) visited Ruzawi last month and astonished us with his vivid memories of boyhood antics and anecdotes.

11/02/2022

Class of '72 have reached their 50th year as Learned Knights. Thank you for sharing Stuart Faed!

10/02/2022

R.O.P.A. Newsletter Feb22

NEWSLETTER FEB22
Inviting past pupils and the Ruzawi Family to catch up on the latest news from the Old Pupils' Association Chairman and revealing some exciting developments on the School's horizons.
http://mailchi.mp/f8d1f78d3988/ropa-newsletter-feb22

R.O.P.A. Newsletter Feb22

10/02/2022

The start of a new year and so many happy faces as these Ruzawi children embark on this term's adventures.

04/02/2022

The Ruzawi community was deeply sorry to learn yesterday that Mike Taylor passed away in Cape Town.

Mike started his schooling at Umvuma Primary and he ran away on the first day!
He went on to Umtali Boys’ High School where he captained the Swimming Team and later captained the Rhodesia Swimming Team.
Mr Taylor taught at Godfrey Huggins before joining the staff of Ruzawi in 1973. He took up the post of Second Master and Director of Sport at St Stithian’s, Johannesburg in 1982. By this time he was not doing as much swimming and had taken up long distance running. It was this interest that prompted him to plan the course for what was first called “The 10km Run” for Ruzawi boys.
Mr Taylor would tell you that “It is not a race. It is a run”
Mike raised enthusiasm levels by accompanying the pupils ~ running from the first athlete to the last and back again to the first, making sure that everyone was coping, encouraging them along the way.
This event was named “The Mike Taylor Run” in 1986 and is a firm fixture on the Ruzawi calendar.
From 1985 to 2006, when he retired, Mike Taylor was Headmaster of Somerset House in Somerset West.
- A Comrades Marathon is 90km. He has run ten of these.
- The Two Oceans Marathon is 56km. He has run twenty-five of these.
- A standard marathon is 42.2km. He has run eighty-seven of these.
The Ruzawi family at large extend heartfelt condolences to the Taylor family and the Somerset House community.

31/01/2022

Right up there with the top scorers in the World Cup. Ruz boys flying the Zim flag high. Well done Brian🇿🇼

FIFTY! Brian Bennett brings up his 4th YODI half-century 👏

Live scorecard 👉 https://cutt.ly/BOl0xbA

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28/01/2022

Bookings are open for the Ruzawi Charity Golf Day in support of Island Hospice and Healthcare Marondera.

26/01/2022

Great batting v 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 today.
Good luck to the 🇿🇼 bowlers!

UPDATE: 🇿🇼 U19 set Scotland U19 2⃣4⃣9⃣ runs to win from 50 overs

(Welch 78, B. Bennett 54, D. Bennett 35; Jarvis 3/46, Peet 2/36, Mclntyre 1/13)

📷

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17/01/2022

Ruz Reconnecting 2022

There has been an incredible response to a recent appeal for registration on the R.O.P.A. database. Our goal is to make contact with every one of our valued past pupils.
If you have not received 2021 newsletters, please click on the link to subscribe with your current details.

https://mailchi.mp/25af8e9ec4dc/ruz-reconnecting-2022

Ruz Reconnecting 2022 The countdown to Ruzawi's 100th birthday is underway. R.O.P.A. aims to reconnect with all past pupils so that every Learned Knight is included in the build up to a very special celebration. Please share the registration link with your friends https://mailchi.mp/25af8e9ec4dc/ruz-reconnecting-2022

15/01/2022

Looking forward to all updates of our past pupils’ performance and experiences in the Windies.

Our 🇿🇼 Under-19s face 🇵🇬 Under-19s this Saturday in their first match at U19 Men's Cricket World Cup 2022 in West Indies, starting at 3pm (CAT). Best of luck, lads!

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Nyaradzo Group

15/01/2022

So proud of David Bennett!

Congratulations to David Bennet who scored his maiden half century in the ICC Under-19 Men's Cricket World Cup, 50 off 44 balls.

🇿🇼 are 182-2 after 34 overs (Bawa 70*, D. Bennet 57*)

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09/01/2022

WebSports Live Scoring Platform

A live link to the match v St Andrew’s, Grahamstown.

https://www.websports.co.za/livecricket.html?gid=354507&sportid=1

WebSports Live Scoring Platform Click on the link to follow live action

08/01/2022

The Peterhouse 1st XI 2022 set off to the Eastern Cape on tour today. We are proud of the nine Ruzawi past pupils in the team: Kian Arnold (G16), Sean Bennett (F18), Kohl Eksteen (F18), James Gau (F16), Dylan Grant (F16), Campbell Macmillan (F17), Codie Marillier (G17), Ross Mills (F16), Thomas Webb (G16) Special mention of the Captain for 2022, Tendekayi Mataranyika (G 16), who is representing Zim U19 at the Cricket World Cup in West Indies.

With appreciation for the generous sponsorship of cricket bags and tour shirts provided by Marillier Properties and Nyaradzo Life Insurance.

Wishing this fine group of boys a successful tour and most enjoyable year of cricket.

13/12/2021

The Ruzawi community wishes to express sincere condolences to the Browning family and friends for the loss of John on 24th November 2021. We thank the family for providing this insight to his life.

Death Notice : John Browning (3.6.36-24.11.21)

On the 24th of November 2021, John Browning died in his home in Harare after a relatively short illness.

He was born and brought up on the Ridge Farm, in Bindura. He was sent off to school at an early age to Chisipite Primary School (who had a handful of boys), and then on to St Alberts (in Emerald Hill), until he was old enough to go to Ruzawi School. Then on to St Andrews School in Grahamstown. He was a very clever student and accelerated through school. He then went to Gwebi Agricultural College for 2 years, and then on to Cirencester Agricultural College for a year. He traveled and worked in the USA before returning to Zimbabwe to work and develop Benridge Farm, in Bindura, for the next 40 years. Benridge was originally bought by his step grand-father, a Mr Appleby in 1913. He became a very successful Zimbabwean farmer with a diverse agricultural approach.

John had many interests in his life. In particular he had a passion for wildlife and conservation, and was a keen hunter, fisherman and bird watcher too. He was a natural sportsman, but his main sport was polo, at which he excelled. He represented Zimbabwe several times.

He contributed to charitable organizations as a keen member of the Lions Club of Bindura, and was very involved in the old people’s home, the Mazowe Valley Trust until his dying day.

He lost Benridge in 2002, and moved into Harare, where he continued working until the end of Sept 2021.

He is survived by his wife, Sue, and his three daughters, Jane Tyler, Joana Saunders and Sarah Browning.

09/12/2021

Congratulations to past pupils Brian and David Bennett (F '15), Tendekayi Mataranyika (G '16) and Steven Saul (F '15) for their selection to represent Zimbabwe at the U19 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies.
These boys have travelled a happy and successful journey together through Ruzawi and on to Peterhouse. Credit to their dedicated coaches and supportive parents.
Best wishes for a tremendous tour in 2022.
#1stXI#RuzFire#