9C – Nine Charlie! Army Signallers in the Field: The Story of the Men and Women of the South African Corps of Signals, and Their Equipment (Volume 3 of the SACS Trilogy), Walter Volker

The third of the trilogy is ‘9C – Nine Charlie! ARMY SIGNALLERS IN THE FIELD. The Story of the Men and Women of the South African Corps of Signals, and their Equipment’, and as its title suggests is focused on the contribution of the people who dedicated their efforts, careers, and even sometimes lives, to ensuring one of the most effective army signals organisations on the globe.

It is estimated that over the decades of its existence over 100 000 signallers were part of the South African Corps of Signals, while many more were affected directly or indirectly by its activities. “9C” refers to the standard call-sign of the Signals Officer – who would play a key role during operations, but also in times of peace. This work also focuses on the equipment that was used by the signallers – the vehicles, the radios, the systems and networks. The equipment vendors that played such a crucial role in the success of this organisation, as well as made a contribution to the flourishing of the electronics industry in South Africa, despite comprehensive sanctions and trade embargoes, are also reviewed. Some of the major projects that the SA Corps of Signals was involved in, and which became part of the common language in the army – Ebbehout, Netor, Bowie, Marnet – are also covered in detail. This book also contains a section of the role of signals in the Southern Oceans and Antarctica.

As is the case with the preceding two volumes, this is also impressive work of epic proportions, and will most probably prove to be the book of reference on army signals in South Africa. This volume is a also primarily a compilation mainly of new material never before published or accessible to the general public, large parts which have come from verbal recollections, rather than documentation. It is the result of thorough and meticulous research, including over two hundred personal interviews, stretching over a period of many years. Interviewees range from a number of generals to the lowest troop, to ensure a level of authenticity and reality in all aspects of this history. The result of including numerous personal accounts sprinkled throughout the pages of the book is that the history literally comes alive and creates a sense of personal experience and interest, rather than just a record of dry facts. The author/compiler has also gone to pains in ensuring names and places are mentioned wherever possibly, not just dates and events – again this serves to give the account a greater level of human interest.

What makes this a worthwhile addition to the library of any student of military history, is the fact that the signals/communications role is relevant to almost every part of the military machine; as a consequence it provides a good overview of operational aspects as well as behind-the-scenes developments in terms of Electronic Warfare. The innovations and inventions that were necessary as a result of South Africa’s isolation during recent decades are also well covered.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PART I: DRAMATIS PERSONAE
1. Who’s Who of over Six Hundred well known Signallers
PART II: SIGNALLERS DURING WORLD WAR I
2. Signals Officer in German SWA and German East Africa – Maj F.E. Jackson
PART III: SIGNALLERS DURING WORLD WAR II
3. From SSB volunteer to Signals Officer - Col “Kakie” de Klerk
4. From Radio Ham to Director Signals - Col Bert Howes
5. Earning the Military Medal in Italy – Smn Boatwright and Mawdley
PART IV: SIGNALLERS DURING THE BORDER WAR
6. The Father of Electronic Warfare - Maj Gen Gerrit Murphy
7. Photo Essay of some Early Border War Operations - Col Bobby Keller
8. Signals Officer during Operation Modular – Lt Col Marius Venter
9. Experiences of a Senior Signals NCO - WO1 Deon van Zyl
10. Experiences of a National Serviceman in Electronic Warfare - Stuart Robertson
11. Experiences of a Citizen Force Signals Officer - Capt Walter Volker
PART V: MILITARY BASES
12. Over Thirty Military Bases associated with the SACS
PART VI: MAJOR PROJECTS OF THE SACS
13. Summary of Projects
14. Project EBBEHOUT
15. Project NETOR
16. Project MARNET
17. Project BOWIE
PART VII: SIGNALS AND RELATED EQUIPMENT
18. Visual Signals Equipment
19. HF and VHF Radio and General Communications Equipment
20. Multiplex Equipment
21. Teleprinters and Data Entry Terminals
22. Crypto Equipment
23. Radar Equipment
24. Electronic Warfare Equipment
25. Night Vision Equipment
26. Other Signals-Related Equipment
PART VIII: SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT VENDORS
27. SMD/ Racal/ Grinel / Grinaker Electronics / SAAB Grintek
28. Grintek Ewation (GEW)
29. United Electronics (UEC)
30. Barlows Communications (Barcom Electronics)
31. Reunert Limited and its Antecedents
32. Siemens Telecommunications
33. Altech
34. C. Plath Gmbh, Hamburg
35. SA Electro-Medical / Rhoode & Schwarz
36. Global Communications
37. Nanoteq
38. Jasco Electronics
39. WEB Systems
40. The SABC and SA Post Office
PART IX: ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS
41. Nature Conservation in the SACS
42. Signal Support for Weather Stations in the Southern Atlantic Ocean

About the author
Walter Victor Volker was born in the south-eastern Transvaal (now Mpumalanga) town of Piet Retief in 1958. On completion of his matric in 1976, he attended the University of Pretoria, where he obtained a B.Sc. degree with majors in physics, mathematics and philosophy. This was followed by a short stint as a teacher at a mission school in Swaziland, after which he spent most of 1980 with a Christian community based in Washington DC.
He then started his national service in January 1981, with basic training at 3 SA Infantry Battalion in Potchefstroom, after which he was transferred to the Army Gymnasium in Heidelberg, completing an advanced course in army signals and then the Candidate Officers’ course. In November of that year he was transferred to 2 Signal Regiment at Wonderboom, where he participated in a number of Division and Brigade exercises at the Army Battle School as the Mobile Command and Control Communications officer. He continued being involved with 2 Signal Regiment during his Citizen Force years, with the last major operation being two months border duty in mid-1988 during Operation Prone, based at Ondangwa.
In 1983 Walter joined NCR Corporation, which was to prove the start of a seven year career in computer marketing and sales from the Pretoria office. In 1990 he joined Allied bank in Johannesburg, responsible for network strategy planning. Following the Absa merger in early 1991, he worked for Absa for the next 17 years. During 1996 Walter and his wife were seconded to work with MasterCard in New York, USA. On completion of this assignment he returned to establish and head up a new division – Group Payment Systems – as General Manager responsible for all the payment systems of the Absa Group.
In March 2008 Walter was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Payments Association of South Africa (PASA), which is responsible for the management and regulation of the payment systems in South Africa in support of the South African Reserve Bank.
Apart from a number of post-graduate courses completed at various national and international institutions, including IMD in Lausanne, Switzerland, he also holds an MBL from UNISA’s School for Business Leadership. Over the years he has also served on a number of boards and committees such as the MasterCard Global Debit Board, EMVCo Board of Advisors, International Committee of Payment Association Chief Executives (ICPACE), Bankserv board, Allpay board, PASA council, and others.
Walter is married to Trudie (nèe du Toit) since 1984 and they live in Pretoria. His hobbies include genealogical research, military history, art, jogging. He has published a number of books on genealogy, including The Cotton Germans of Natal; this series represents his first published work in the area of military history.