As November 11 marks Remembrance Day, the commemoration of the end of World War I, it also honours the moment when the fighting officially ceased on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 after the signing of the Armistice between the Allies and Germany.

The day is a tribute to the bravery, sacrifice, and service of those who fought and died in wars. It reminds the world of the human cost of conflict and the importance of peace.

In light of Remembrance Day, veterans reflect on their military experiences and the lessons they learned. Johann Jungbauer (68), joined the military in 1981. He completed his national service before doing his civilian service at the Transvaal College, which he continued until 1998.

“I was working as a paymaster, which meant whenever the soldiers were going across their border, I had to register them, as well as prepare and facilitate their payment,” he said.

In the military, he worked his way up to become a captain. He jokingly said he preferred being a captain rather than a major, as captains had three stars.

“It just looked better,” he laughed.

Before joining the military, Jungbauer attended university to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

“We were forced to do the training and it made me mix with guys I never thought I would mix with. Some guys had just finished Standard Eight, so you learned that the world wasn’t just graduates. Once you put that uniform on, there are no such things as ranks; you have to do the work like everyone else.”

He is now a member of the Memorable Order of Tin Hats (MOTHs), a brotherhood of former South African front-line soldiers. He currently serves as treasurer for the MOTH’s accommodation in Brakpan.

“We go out to help other soldiers who are in trouble; we even have cottage complexes throughout the country to look after guys who are destitute,” he explained.

Throughout his career, Jungbauer has dedicated his time to teaching youngsters about the service that veterans have rendered.

“I teach them about Job Maseko and the work of all the black soldiers who rendered their services. Many people think the war had only white soldiers, but that is not the case.

“An example of this is the SS Mendi, which had over 4000 black soldiers onboard, and young people don’t know about it because they have only heard one side of history,” he said.

The SS Mendi was a British troopship that sank in the English Channel in 1917 after a collision with the SS Darro.

Another veteran, Les Cass (73), a member of the East Rand Veterans Association, began his military career in 1971, serving in the university service. He was a head weapons specialist, which later led him into the gun business in Middelburg, Mpumalanga.

He later became an intelligence officer as a sergeant. After serving as a candidate officer for 10 years, a record he says nobody in the history of the South African Defence Force has achieved, he later became a lieutenant.

“I always believed you do not lead for your rank, you lead as a leader irrespective of the title,” he said.

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He debunked the misconceptions that people have about the military. He said many people look at a white veteran and assume he was an apartheid supporter or that he fought against black South Africans, which is not the case.

“There were many black South African troops in the bush war fighting the Cubans and the Russians. I was never a National Party (NP) supporter; instead, I supported the Progressive Federal Party (PFP), which advocated for non-racial democracy,” he said.

Cass said he would like to be remembered as someone who adds value to the community and as someone who helped create jobs to fight crime.

Jungbauer added, “I have a special place for my fellow men and I want them to have a better life, that is what fulfils me.”

The Springs Military and Mine Museum has become a place where people go to learn about history and appreciate the sacrifices of those who fought in the war. One of the museum’s curators, DJ Goosen, said he feels proud to see the museum’s progress.

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“We started with nothing; there were naysayers who said it won’t work out, but this place is a testament to making sure that if you start something, you finish it,” he said.

Goosen reflected on his career in the Air Force. “I was proud to serve the country and the Air Force. It will always be a part of me,” he added.

Fellow curator and veteran Errol Brits served from 1977. After completing two years, he was transferred to Brakpan, where he served until 2015 before being moved to the Air Defence Formation head office in Pretoria, where he served as a sergeant major.

He eventually left the military in 2021.

“Leaving the military, having served for 45 years, was a sad time in my life. The military was all I knew, so I was miserable for about six months after leaving it behind. The launch of the museum gave me a new purpose,” Brits said warmly.

He highlighted that his wife, Mandy, has been a consistent support system throughout his career, always standing by him through every new endeavour.