Pierre van Ryneveld
Encyclopedia
General
Sir Hesperus Andrias van Ryneveld, KBE
, CB
, DSO
, MC
(2 May 1891 - 2 December 1972) was a South African military commander.
He began his military career in World War I
, in which he served in the Royal Flying Corps
(later Royal Air Force
), where he distinguished himself as a fighter ace.
After the war, van Ryneveld was called back to South Africa by the Prime Minister Jan Smuts
in order to set up a South African Air Force
(SAAF). He flew back home, across Africa, in a Vickers Vimy
- a pioneering feat for which he and his co-pilot Quintin Brand were both knighted.
Colonel van Ryneveld established the SAAF in 1920, and directed it until 1933, when he was promoted to Chief of the General Staff (CGS), in command of the Union Defence Forces
. However, the next four years the SAAF remained under van Ryneveld's direct control as no one was appointed as the Air Force's director until 1937.
He served as CGS for sixteen years, including the whole of World War II
. He retired in 1949.
suburb
of Pierre van Ryneveld was named in his honour and the airport just north of Upington
in the Northern Cape
is also named after van Ryneveld. Sir Pierre van Ryneveld High School is in Kempton Park, Gauteng
. The SAAF's annual air power symposium, is known as the Sir Pierre Van Ryneveld Air Power Symposium.
|-
|-
|-
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Sir Hesperus Andrias van Ryneveld, KBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(2 May 1891 - 2 December 1972) was a South African military commander.
He began his military career in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, in which he served in the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
(later Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
), where he distinguished himself as a fighter ace.
After the war, van Ryneveld was called back to South Africa by the Prime Minister Jan Smuts
Jan Smuts
Jan Christiaan Smuts, OM, CH, ED, KC, FRS, PC was a prominent South African and British Commonwealth statesman, military leader and philosopher. In addition to holding various cabinet posts, he served as Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919 until 1924 and from 1939 until 1948...
in order to set up a South African Air Force
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
(SAAF). He flew back home, across Africa, in a Vickers Vimy
Vickers Vimy
The Vickers Vimy was a British heavy bomber aircraft of the First World War and post-First World War era. It achieved success as both a military and civil aircraft, setting several notable records in long-distance flights in the interwar period, the most celebrated of which was the first non-stop...
- a pioneering feat for which he and his co-pilot Quintin Brand were both knighted.
Colonel van Ryneveld established the SAAF in 1920, and directed it until 1933, when he was promoted to Chief of the General Staff (CGS), in command of the Union Defence Forces
South African National Defence Force
The South African National Defence Force is the armed forces of South Africa. The military as it exists today was created in 1994, following South Africa's first post-apartheid national elections and the adoption of a new constitution...
. However, the next four years the SAAF remained under van Ryneveld's direct control as no one was appointed as the Air Force's director until 1937.
He served as CGS for sixteen years, including the whole of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He retired in 1949.
Honours and awards
The PretoriaPretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Pierre van Ryneveld was named in his honour and the airport just north of Upington
Upington, Northern Cape
Upington is a town founded in 1884 and located in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, on the banks of the Orange River. The town was named after Sir Thomas Upington, Attorney-General and then Prime Minister of the Cape. It originated as a mission station established in 1875 and run by...
in the Northern Cape
Northern Cape
The Northern Cape is the largest and most sparsely populated province of South Africa. It was created in 1994 when the Cape Province was split up. Its capital is Kimberley. It includes the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, part of an international park shared with Botswana...
is also named after van Ryneveld. Sir Pierre van Ryneveld High School is in Kempton Park, Gauteng
Kempton Park, Gauteng
Kempton Park is a city on the East Rand in the Gauteng province, South Africa. Formerly an independent municipality in the Transvaal, Kempton Park no longer has its own municipal government, and has been part of the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality since 2000...
. The SAAF's annual air power symposium, is known as the Sir Pierre Van Ryneveld Air Power Symposium.
- 14 May 1920 - Lieutenant-Colonel Hesperus Andrias Van Ryneveld, DSO, MC, late Royal Air Force - Appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in recognition of the valuable services rendered to Aviation by the successful flight from England to Capetown, South Africa.
External links
- South African Air Force Museum - General Sir Hesperus Andrias (Pierre) Van Ryneveld
- Prominent People - van Ryneveld, Pierre
See also
- List of South African military chiefs
- South African Air ForceSouth African Air ForceThe South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
|-
|-
|-