VRYHEID KZN: Where is our beloved ‘Honey’ tank?

Last week Thursday, many residents were up-in-arms after witnessing the tank in Hoog Street being removed from ‘its home’. The tank resided in front of the old MOTH Shellhole for many years, but inevitably the building was sold a few years ago – to Johnny Marcovich. Johnny kindly allowed for the tank to remain on the property, since he understood the value and importance of its heritage. He also used to be part of the Memorable Order of Tin Hats (MOTHS).

The Vryheid Herald contacted the headquarters of the MOTHS organisation in Durban to investigate the whereabouts of the tank, as well as to get some background on the work that the MOTHS do. Vryheid has an abundance of history related to battlefields and buildings. MOTH Museums & Memorials chairman Michael Lee explains as follows:

“The Memorable Order of Tin Hats (MOTHS) is an ex-servicemen and women’s organisation founded in Durban on May 7, 1927, by a remarkable man named Charles Alfred Evenden, or Moth ‘O’ as the Moths fondly and respectfully refer to him.

“The Order is based on concord and harmony, and operates independently of race, religion or politics in the same way as front-line service, but with full democracy. The MOTHS is a registered Public Benefit Organisation, deriving no income other than from donations and / or internal fund-raising initiatives in order to function, that provides community services in the form of homes and support services to frail care, the aged, and veterans in need. One of the structures under the constitution of the MOTHS is to ensure the preservation of artefacts of militaria to the benefit of prosperity for local and international visitors alike to view, and importantly, to remember the ultimate sacrifice made in the path of righteousness, by so few, for so many, during times of conflict.”

“The MOTH Museums & Memorials portfolio is operated by a committee of both Moth and civilian volunteers or non-Moth members. This committee is charged with ensuring that best practice is conserved, in the maintenance and preservation of artefacts left in its charge, either through donor-ship or ownership under its mandate. We are obligated, therefore, to ensure that artefacts and memorabilia of a bygone era under our curatorship are well preserved for future generations.”

Vryheid’s beloved tank is an M3 Stuart ‘Honey’ Tank which was an American light armoured tank and was introduced during World War II. Its name derives from the British service name ‘Stuart’ from the American Civil War Confederate General JEB Stuart. The tank operatives dubbed it ‘Honey’ because of the tank’s high standard of reliability and agility. These tanks were supplied to the British and Commonwealth forces under a lend-lease agreement with the USA, prior to the USA entering the war after Pearl Harbour in 1941. It was used throughout the war from then on. Once the war was over, these tanks were used for either reconnaissance or light armoured tank support or reserve service in Kashmir, Indonesia, Portugal, Angola, El Salvador and South Africa.

The tanks were discontinued in 1955 by the South African Armoured Corps into a reserve role, and totally discontinued in 1968, owing to parts and service shortages. Some of the ‘Honey’ tanks were donated to the MOTHS, other veterans’ organisations and various museums by the former Union of South Africa Defence Force, to be used as sentries and gate guards at these establishments.

Michael says that “the particular ‘Honey’ tank that was placed in Vryheid in the late 60s was presented to the Freedom Shellhole under the MOTH emblem, to preserve and maintain as long as the Shellhole resided on that MOTH-owned property. With the passing of time, the Order has seen a significant reduction in its membership, as former front-line veterans answer the ‘Sunset Call’ or fade from the organisation.’ He furthermore explained that the upkeep and strain on the available donor funds to maintain properties and artefacts owned or under the curatorship of the MOTHS has become increasingly difficult. “The property formerly owned by the MOTHS in Vryheid was unfortunately put up for sale due to dwindling numbers of members and insufficient local funding support. The new owner of this property then graciously allowed the MOTHS to leave this artefact in safekeeping for a period or until the Shellhole in Vryheid had the funds to uplift and relocate, as well as upgrade and maintain this vehicle on a MOTH-owned new property, if funds or fund-raising permitted, and within the MOTH Constitution parameters.”

There was no surety that the vehicle under MOTH ownership would ever be uplifted or maintained before it became unsalvageable. This has already occurred and can be seen by the severe corrosion of the inner turret and driver compartment.

The Shellhole in Vryheid indicated the lack of funding to be able to comply with the MOTH Constitution to ensure the maintenance or preservation of artefacts, nor the ability to secure a MOTH-owned property to place the tank. They therefore came to an agreement regarding the relocation (as required under the MOTH Standing Orders), as it was proposed by the Moth Museums & Memorials committee.

The transportation of the tank was secured by a legal tender process to find the most suitable rigging and transport company to relocate this asset. A fund-raising initiative by the committee commenced, providing enough funding for future upkeep. “The best location for preservation on MOTH property was identified as the Warriors Gate Museum of Militaria in Durban. The museum – owned, maintained through donations, and managed by the MOTHS – is centrally located and has also been the MOTH General Headquarters (GHQ) since 1936. The museum exhibits to not only local but also international tourism, school groups and Moth members, who travel from all over the country and from around the world to visit this ‘Sanctuary and Shrine’, being the centre of the Order and the initial beginning of Mothdom.”

The M3 Stuart ‘Honey’ tank will undergo a significant preservation upgrade, will be repainted, and then stand guard over the entrance of the Old Fort and MOTH museum. The rotary engine will not be remounted, but kept in an exhibit in the museum grounds to be preserved.

Michael wants to thank the Vryheid community and Moths at the Freedom Shellhole for their patience and diligence during this relocation of the tank. He would also like to thank Renwood Carriers, who went beyond their mandate and job scope in transferring this asset with a high degree of professionalism, at no extra cost.

“Thank you, Vryheid, for watching over our MOTH asset, the ‘Honey’ tank, for the period it was on loan to you, but the time had come to find a permanent home, where it could be preserved for generations to appreciate. This preservation could not be guaranteed nor continued, unfortunately, as its past location,” Michael concluded.

Vryheid has not lost the ‘Honey’ tank, but rather has been ‘babysitting’ it for several years – until it was time for it to relocate to its permanent and safe home to be preserved for all future generations…

VRYHEID KZN: The ‘face of Vryheid’ left in disgust

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