The Malta Memorial is a commemorative war memorial monument, to the 2 298 Commonwealth airmen who lost their lives in various World War II air battles in the Mediterranean, and who have no known grave. It was built on land donated by the Government of Malta, and it is located at Floriana, near the Maltan capital of Valetta, and was inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II on May 3, 1954.
The names of 173 South African airmen are inscribed on that memorial, including the name of Lieutenant Michiel Johan Wichardt Brummer.
Michiel was born in 1918 at Sterkstroom, a village situated on the Hex River, about 30 minutes drive from Queenstown in the Eastern Cape.
His father was his namesake, Michiel Johan Wichardt Brummer of Schoonuitzicht Farm near Vryheid, who was born in 1885 and died in 1938, and is buried in Vryheid. Michiel Jnr’s mother was Anna Aletta Catharina Schoon ex Brummer, born Malan, of 122 Deputation Street, Vryheid. She was born in 1891 and passed away in 1969, and is also buried in Vryheid.
Michiel had two siblings. Sister, Anna Aletta ‘Lettie’ Brummer was married to Johannes Jakobus Janse van Vuuren, of the van Vuurens who farmed at Nhlazatshe, outside Vryheid. Anna passed away in Vryheid in 1969. Michiel’s brother, Leslie Myra Brummer, was married to Bennie Meyer. Leslie was employed by the South African Post Office for most of his life, and he passed away in Lydenburg in 2004.
Johannes Wichardt ‘Gog’ Janse van Vuuren, who lives in Springs, writes that Michiel’s mother, Anna Aletta was Gog’s grandmother, and Gog’s own mother, also Anna Aletta, was Michiel’s sister.
During his school days at Vryheid High School, together with greats like Springbok athlete, Gerhardus Cornelius ‘Gert’ Potgieter, Gog lived with his grandmother at 122 Deputation Street, just below today’s Oxford Lodge.
Leslie and his wife, Bennie also lived at that address, along with their only child, Roelien.
‘Gog’ possesses some letters written by Michiel to his mother and his sister, a letter written by General Smuts, and also a letter from Buckingham Palace to Mrs Schoon.
Letter dated ‘The day before Christmas’ 1942, addressed to Mrs Schoon:
Michiel thanks his mother for the parcel she sent him, and writes about the work being done to prepare the mess for Christmas dinner, and the nonstop rain.
He writes about being trained to pilot a new aircraft and his progress with that.
Letter dated September 26, 1943, addressed to Mrs Schoon:
Michiel begins with ‘Liefste Mammie’, and writes about saying farewell to the desert and how being based in the heart of a city was very expensive, but a great improvement compared to Egypt.
He writes about their extensive travelling in Egypt and it being rife with filth, famine and crime, and about a long journey by train and a lack of sleep.
Letter dated November 11, 1943, to Mr J van Vuuren:
Brummer writes ‘Hallo Lettie’ and asks his sister about her dress making business, congratulating her on an upcoming birthday.
He writes that he was in Tripoli in Libya and there received 14 letters, two from his brother Leslie, one from his mother, and six from his lady friend in Vereeniging.
On his last trip to the Union, Michiel became engaged to a girl known as Lillian, who was from Vereeniging. The question remains, who was she?
Lt. Michiel Brummer was killed in action on June 26, 1944. He was the pilot of a Marauder bomber that crashed into the Mediterranean ocean near Asinara Island, near Sardinia, while returning to Algerho, Italy after a patrol.
The bodies of Warrant-Officer Arnold Allsop, Flight Sergeant Douglas Flack, Sergeant John Ockleford Heath, Sergeant David Martin and Warrant Officer Douglas Edwards were recovered by Italian fishermen and were buried in the Cagliari (St Michele) Communal Cemetery, Sardinia.
Sadly, Brummer’s body was never recovered.
A letter from the English monarchy reads: “BUCKINGHAM PALACE, The Queen and I offer you our heartfelt sympathy in your great sorrow. We pray that your country’s gratitude for a life so nobly given in its service may bring you some measure of consolation. Signed, King George VI”.
In a letter written by General Jannie Smuts, he expressed his condolences to Mrs Schoon on the loss of her son. The letter was accompanied by a trophy and a brooch in remembrance of Lt. Brummer. In the Vryheid Gazette of July 7, 1944, it reads:
“Mev. Schoon, 122 Deputasie Straat, het die volgende berig ontvang van Verdediging Hoofkwartiere: Die Departement van Verdediging maak met diepe leedwese bekend dat u seun 328340V Luitenant Michael, Johann Wichardt Brummer, gerapporteer vermis, vermoedelik gedood, 26 Junie om 16:15 uur stop. Brief volg. Luitenant Brummer was in die R.A.F. Sec S.A.A.F. EN B.N.A.F. Verdere berigte sal gepubliseer word.”
The following week’s edition (July 14, 1944) bore the following:
“Mev. Schoon, 122 Deputation Straat, het weer die volgende brief ontvang van Departement van Verdediging in verband met haar seun, Luit. Johann Brummer: “Addisionele inligting lui dat Luit. Brummer se vliegtuig te Asinara Eiland in die Golf van Sardinië neergestort het.
“Dit is nie bekend wat die oorsaak van die neerstorting was nie. Die liggame van die res van sy bemanning, wat uit lede van die Koninklike Lugmag bestaan het is gevind, uitsondering van die van Luit. Brummer.
“Die Militêre Organisasies en Rooi Kruis Kommittees span alle kragte op die oomblik in om uit te vind wat van die Luitenant geword het. Hulle doen hul uiterste om Mev. Schoon op hoogte van verdere verwikkelings te hou.”
A Latin epigram on the Malta Memorial is translated as ‘An island resolute of purpose remembers resolute men.’
Lest we forget.
Also read: André Mostert – Taken too soon but never forgotten for his bravery
Also read: ‘Lest we forget’ Willie Minott and Sons – The brave soldier who fought against tyranny
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