Lt. Arthur William Penver DFC Arthur William Penver was studying in the UK when war broke out. He returned to South Africa and joined the South African Airforce. He received his commission on his birthday 1st August 1941 and was sent to North Africa in the same month. While flying his Hawker Hartbees aircraft with his gunner …
Major Stewart Finney DFC Bar Major Stewart “Bomb” Finney was a pilot in the South African Air Force (SAAF) during World War II, and he played a crucial role in the Allied efforts in the Western Desert campaign. He was one of 14 South African fighter pilots to be awarded DFC with Bar in World War …
Pinelands is surrounded on four sides by railway track, so it follows that rail transport plays a major part in the history of Pinelands. Raapenberg Station was the first railway station to service Pinelands. It was originally just a low wooden deck and hut serviced by steam trains. Later a full station was built but …
The worst train accident in the Pinelands area took place in 1960. On Tuesday 7 June 1960 at 3 minutes to 8 am a train pulled out from Raapenberg Station in Pinelands heading towards Langa Station in heavy rain. The train was returning to Langa after dropping off passengers and was carrying 20 passengers. Six …
Halfway House at the top of Woodside Drive was a wood and iron structure that had been the home of the Plague Hospital superintendent. It became the office of the Pinelands Bus Company (Pty) Ltd when a Pinelands resident, Mrs Dennison, started the bus service between Pinelands and Mowbray in 1929. Mr. Moore, a neighbour, …
Pinelands residents had expressed their concerned about low-flying aircraft. Their fears were confirmed on a mid-afternoon Monday, 26 November 1956. Regina Barten and Marie Roe, both aged 10 years, had often played together on the wide grassed island between Morningside and Avonduur, adjacent to Julianveld. While they played Regina had noticed a Venture Bomber, used …
