Real life characters in books of fiction

Tom Warder (Freddy) at 19




Selby - the other 'Warder boy' aged 21



Contributed by: Elaine Murray




Marie Warder — 'an unsung public relations officer for South Africa, the country of her birth.'

In reading any of Marie Warder's 21 books, the world has been learning things about South Africa it never knew before. Saddened by ignorance of South African history, her stories have covered it from the earliest days to the present. She has consequently been referred to by the South African press as 'South Africa’s unofficial ambassador in Canada'.

For example, when she overheard a clerk at Veterans' Affairs Canada, state that South Africa was “never in the war!” loyalty to her husband’s South African squadron immediately triggered the writing of 'With no remorse…' set in Malta, and complete with a photo of the South African Air Force band 'The Venturians'. Marie sets another novel—'Tarnished Idols'— in a Johannesburg newspaper office during World War 2, so that she can make mention, among others, of Field Marshall Jan Smuts, Dan Pienaar and South Africans in POW camps. Saddened by widespread ignorance of South African history, she tells - in 'Storm Water' - the story of Van Riebeeck, the Dromedaris, Paul Roux, the Huguenots—and the avaricious, unscrupulous governor, Adriaan van der Stel.

It is not surprising therefore, that reviews on Amazon.com and Chapters/Indigo.ca, as well as references on Google and other search engines, reveal how many of her readers, falling in love with South Africa, now want to go there for themselves. She has promoted South African Airways, Castle Beer, and such uniquely South African delicacies as biltong (best 'jerky' anywhere!), melktert (milk tart), koeksusters (a favourite confection), braaivleis (barbeque), and beskuit (South African 'biscotti'); weaving them so skilfully into her tales, that is not unusual for readers to write for more information, ask for recipes and express surprise upon learning that the blooms they love in North America are called Barberton daisies in South Africa, for good reason.

For many years her obvious love—for the Orange Free State, the Basotho people of her youth, as well as her affection for Kempton Park, where she founded a private school), Parys (where everyone now wants to go fishing) — has shone through every chapter of every novel she has penned; the enthusiasm of her readers has further inspired her. How tragic to have to hear her now confess that she is having difficulty with the storyline in the current manuscript on which she is working - to satisfy the clamour for 'more about Benjamin Ashton and his family'.( The Beauclaire Saga)

"All that I have written in the trilogy, so far, applied to a time before an ever-rising tide of ineptitude and violence began to threaten the Edens my characters enjoyed.What do I do with them now?" she wonders despairingly. "Get them out of there?"

Loyalty triggered her books.
As has already been said, it was loyalty to 27 Squadron SAAF, her husband’s, that triggered the book, 'With no remorse...' set in Malta. While it is unapologetically a work of fiction, it is an extraordinary narrative of daring and courage, of sacrificial love and rock-solid loyalty while, at the same time, a tale of suspicion and jealousy; of devilish cunning and despicable treachery. The reader is taken to the strategic island during the period between the historic siege and the end of World War 2, after which - because of the phenomenal courage of the people - the whole island was rewarded with the George Cross by the King of England, George V1. We fly with the men of Coastal Command and their Ventura aircraft, meet some of the civilians who are caught up in the turmoil and, finally, the Venturians the band of 27 Squadron SAAF who, even in the midst of war - make music wherever they go.

The Korean War (1950 - 1953)

Just a year after the SAAF's notable contribution towards beating the blockade of West Berlin, its services were once again called upon to assist the Western and UN powers. This time the scene of operations was Asia, where North Korean forces had invaded the Republic of South Korea in 25 June 1950.

The United Nations had acceded to the request of the United States, to intervene militarily on the side of South Korea and the Union Government thus provided the services of the SAAF's 2 Sqn to the UN forces. The offer was gratefully accepted, and on 26 September 49 officers and 157 other ranks of 2 Sqn, all volunteers, left for Johnson Base in Tokyo, prior to their deployment in Korea. The first flight of four F-51D Mustangs departed for Korea on 16 November and the first operational sortie was flown three days later.

By the time the armistice was signed, 2 Sqn would rack up a long and distinguished record of service in Korea - flying F-51D Mustangs and later F-86F Sabres. Their role was mainly flying ground attack and interdiction missions as one of the squadrons making up the USAF's 18th Fighter Bomber Wing.

Flying a total of 12,067 sorties, losing 34 pilots and two other ranks,the South Africans also lost 74 of their 97 Mustang aircraft and four of yheir 22 Sabres; however, the men of the squadron received 797 medals - which included 2 Silver Stars (the highest award which can be earned by non-American nationals) 55 Distinguished Flying Crosses and 40 Bronze stars. Eight of their members were taken prisoners-of-war.

REAL LIFE CHARACTERS IN A BOOK OF FICTION

A review sumitted by Elaine Murray.

This extraordinary narrative of daring and courage, of sacrificial love and rock-solid loyalty is, at the same time, a tale of suspicion and jealousy; of devilish cunning and despicable treachery. In With no remorse the reader is taken to the strategic island of Malta during the period between the historic siege and the end of World War 2, after which - because of the phenomenal courage of the people - the whole island was rewarded with the George Cross by the King of England, George V1. We fly with the men of Coastal Command and their Ventura aircraft, meet some of the civilians who are caught up in the turmoil and, finally, the Venturians - the band of 27 Squadron SAAF who even in the midst of war - make music wherever they go.

Below: Making music outside of the French Foreign Legion Headquarters in Oran