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I've done more research on the Johannesburg Section, ZARP and have found some of my stuff to be flawed. First off, Captain Oosthuizen's middle initial was "R," not "C." Secondly, he's also bizarrely referred to as "Philip" (as opposed to "Pieter") at the current memorial at Bergendal (erected 1970). The original memorial, dedicated in 1934, had Oosthuizen's first name listed as "Pieter." Apparently though, his birth certificate lists him as "Philip." He DID have a history of changing his name, though...he fought with Von Lettow-Vorbeck under the name of "Piet Neuwenhuizen."

The memorial also incorrectly listed my cousin, Lt. Wilhelm Friedrich Pohlman, as "Lt. F.W. Pohlman" until 1970, when the memorial was redone. "Friedrich" was what he was addressed as by his friends...I guess the builders of the original memorial simply assumed he was "F.W." and not the correct "W.F."

Another anomaly relates to the unit's two Sergeant-Majors...Christiaan Johannes Biljon and Tomas (sp?) Prinsloo. It's not known whether or not Biljon was actually "van Biljon." You can find sources (generally first-hand sources...including one of my cousin's letters and the only work ever intended to be published about the Johannesburg Section, ZARP) that say there was no "van," but both versions of the memorial list him as "Sergeant-Major C.J. van Biljon." Sergeant-Major Prinsloo is odd because he's only listed as a Sergeant in the unpublished paper. Perhaps he was brevetted just prior to the action?

One of the Sergeants also merits some mention...David S. Smith. While Smith was good friends with the highest-ranking survivor who wasn't wounded/incapacitated (Sergeant Johannes van Staden), we know basically nothing about him other than his name. It's speculated by some that Smith was Jewish and hiding under a false name. Good theory, except that Lt. Pohlman was also a Prussian Jew. Another theory has him as Polish Catholic with a nearly unpronouncable (to the other ZARPs) last name. Problem there is, there was also a Polish Corporal (or Lance Corporal) named Pawlowski and is the only recorded man both Polish and Catholic in the unit (at the last moment, Corporal David Kaplan, a Polish Jew, was transferred by the Transvaal Staatsartillerie into the ZARP to handle the unit's Krupp 37mm Pom-Pom Gun). So, who was Smith? Your guess is as good as mine.