Major van Mentz

[HERITAGE PLUS]

Flying Officer Brian van Mentz of 222 Squadron RAF was killed on 26th April 1941 when the Ferry Inn at Horning Fery was hit by a bomb.

I have found a mention that 'his father was a Major van Mentz who was , Adjutant of the Witwatersrand Rifles, killed in action in WW1'.

I am seeking confirmation of this and any details on this Major.

Thanks in advance

Dave

[IPT]

On a South African genealogy site, there's Sidney Van Mentz (d 1925), married to Rosine Davies, which appears to confirm the details from the above source.

Presumably, the uncle anglicised his surname?

[IPT]

This appears to prove that he survived the war.....

Denise was born June 5, 1919 in Johannesburg, South Africa, of British parents, and grew up in South Africa and later in England. She had two older brothers, Brian and Alan.

Her father, Sydney van Mentz, was the youngest volunteer for the Boer War in 1902 in South Africa. He came from Holland so he spoke Dutch and was an interpreter for the English Army (Dutch is similar to Africaans which is like an old fashioned Dutch). Later he fought in the First World War (1914-1918) and then became the Government Agent in Johannesburg.

http://dianawalker.com/denise-eckstadt-vid...ory-of-our-mom/

[HERITAGE PLUS]

IPT

Thanks for the information it is much appreciated.

Dave