I doubt whether many people reading this will know that a large number of DCO employees packed up their jobs and went off to war during the Second World War. Even fewer will be aware that the bank issued a book detailing their exploits, called “A Bank in Battledress”. I have a copy of that book and while many of the names listed were still around when I joined, I propose to only mention the few auditors who served, that I actually worked under.
Pride of place goes to Lt W.A. ROBERTS - MC – Wilf to his friends, never to his clerks. I joined his Natal team in 1976 and from the word go, I was cowed by this formidable man. He still had shrapnel in his leg from the war, which obviously pained him and one stayed out of his way on his “bad” days. He expected and got great respect from his team, which he ran with an iron, military hand. Managers quickly learned not to balk or argue with Mr Roberts and we, his team, trod even lighter around him. Fierce though he was in an office, at Friday night “committee meetings” at the Ulundi Bar in the Royal Hotel, he was kindly, mellow, generous and approachable. However, attendance was mandatory, even if you drank only soda water. Around that time I acquired the book and read up about Lt Roberts and how he had earned his Military Cross – my respect and awe knew no bounds. This is an extract from his entry in the book:
With complete disregard for his personal safety Lt Roberts led his depleted platoon into the initial assault, surprising and killing 12 members of the Hermann Goering Division and capturing 16 so that by 9 am Bagregio fell for the loss of one killed and six wounded.
Believe me you just don’t mess with a man like that!
Next was Lt A.O. MORLEY SAAF (Known to all as Bush) – After Mr Roberts, I was sent to join Mr Morley in Potch. He was a short, dapper man, always dressed in a black suit, every inch the “Bank Inspector” which is what we were called then. I spent a couple of years in his company – unforgettable years as it happens for one reason and another. When I write the “book” many colleagues are urging me to do, Uncle Bush will require several chapters. I’ll save those up but soon I shall be posting a couple of his own stories out of respect for him – one from his war years and one from the bank. I really would hate for such a wonderful, reticent and modest man, to be totally forgotten.
Then came Capt T.C. EVANS DFC (SAAF) (Known as Trevor) I joined Trevor at Newcastle. I was taken aback by his acerbic way of talking to me. I didn’t know he was a “sun worshipper” and was quite miffed when he commented on how pale I was and “Don’t you ever go in the sun? You look like a slug” he said. As soon as humanly possible, he was off to the Municipal Swimming pool, where he would don an embarrassingly miniscule Speedo and lie in the sun. His wife lived in Uitenhage and they “corresponded” by cassette tape. Whenever the tapes came in, he’d take an early lunch and head back to the hotel to “read” his letter. An extract from the Bank in Battledress reads:
“An excellent type of officer who sets a very high standard in discharging his duties. His sound work both by day and night, has played no mean part in the operations of the Squadron in the present campaign”
Trevor retired to his property at Redhouse which he surrounded with a high wall so that he (and his wife) could pursue the nudism which he so enjoyed. Not a door to knock on unannounced then, one would imagine.
Pte C.W. BAILEY (ILH & Kimberley Regt)( Charles to his friends) I worked on several teams with Charles and got on pretty well with him. He was well-liked but a thorough auditor. Dedicated to the bank, I was with him in Windhoek when his wife died. He flew back home and buried her and was back at work the next day.
Cpl B.J.EDWARDS (Wits Rifles & De la Rey Regt)(Bref to his friends) Before I met him again on audit, I had, as accountant, endured a harrowing audit by him and had every reason to dislike him. Yet, when I joined him to audit Maseru branch, I discovered a man with huge sense of humour who delighted in playing a bully, when he really wasn’t one. I had to revise my opinion of him and really enjoyed his antics, once I realized they were all sham. He was a big man, who endlessly puffed a pipe and I often used to run into him in Port Elizabeth after he retired.
L/Bdr M.H. DARLING (SA Artillery)(Mike) Mike led the Western Cape team and on occasion, I joined them. In 1980 I toured Namibia with them and also audited East London with the team. I never got to know him very well but it was fun being on his crew. In Namibia, his wife and his ancient dog toured around with him – and no, I have no idea how they got the hotels to accept the dog.
Gnr H.R. STONE (SA Artillery)(Shorty to his friends) I never worked on audit with Mr Stone but I have included him because he audited a branch at which I was relieving the manager and in the course of enjoying a beer together after work, he persuaded me to join Audit.
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