So, to quote the younger generation, the stories “are what they are!” Accounts, tales, urban legends (some of which I observed or heard about or into which I have chosen to insert my own personae for dramatic effect), of what the ordinary men and women (all of whose names have been changed) who were conscripted or served willingly in the Brown Nutria Uniform of the South African Defence Force, got up to!
About the Author
Douglas (Doug) Armstrong was born in the small Free State mining town of Odendaalsrus, in the winter of 1960. His Father was an Engineer and his Mother a stay at home Mom. When he was three months old his parents were transferred to the Westonaria Gold Mine, near Carletonville. Doug was educated at St John’s College in Johannesburg, where he matriculated in 1977.
After school Doug was called up to Potchefstroom and the 3rd SA Infantry Battalion for his basic training and then applied for Officer training at the Infantry School in Oudtshoorn. Doug qualified as an instructor and held the rank of Corporal, after which he was transferred to 21 Battalion and then to Messina, as part of the Civic Affairs Unit, where he served out his two years of National Service. Doug’s citizen force posting was to the Transvaal Scottish, where he completed several camps.
Doug went on to study a BA (Social Science) at the University of the Witwatersrand and later received an MBL from the Unisa School of Business leadership. Doug has spent all his working life in the field of Human Resources and is now an HR Consultant and Business Coach. He is married to Vanessa, and they have a daughter Jessica and a son Michael.
