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I grew up with Jan Smuts being household name, quite literally. My great uncle, Henry William Alexander Cooper, was his private secretary during the war years, and my dad's godfather. We grew up with his artifacts and treasures in our home. My dad became ill when I was in my late thirties, and this treasure trove became mine to administer. Much of it went to the Smuts House, some to Brenthurst, and I then found his book, Our First Walk. I have taken it upon myself, a decade later, to publish it in his honour, as he would have wanted, so that he is never forgotten.
Smuts House (The Heritage Portal)
Henry was one of eleven children raised on the family homestead ‘Platdak’ in Rietfontein, Pretoria, at the end of the Boer War. He was a studious boy and got into the habit of keeping daily diaries in his early years. These tell sad tales of the stark economic situation in Pretoria after the war when obtaining daily provisions was a stretch, as is revealed more clearly in this book.
After completing his schooling, Henry enrolled for a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of South Africa, where his favourite subject was Philosophy, and within that, Greek Philosophy and Mythology. He joined the Civil Service, and before long became Secretary to Minister Denys Reitz. He recalls Reitz, a larger-than-life figure, springing jumping from his car to attack a group of feeding lions, making a huge noise, and banging his hat on his legs as he approached them. They fled.
Henry was noticed for his diligence and competence, and was quickly snatched up by the Prime Minister, Field Marshal Jannie Smuts – the ‘Oubaas’ – as he was known, as his Confidential Secretary, and served him throughout the Second World War. There were times when he spent more time in London than South Africa, while the Oubaas met with Royalty, Heads of State and famous politicians. He was at the founding of the United Nations, when Smuts had the honour of being asked to write the preamble to the UN Charter. His recollections of these times and his international travels to places as diverse as South America and the Far East, were legendary and a great privilege to listen to.
Smuts at the San Franciso Conference for the founding of the United Nations
What came through to me about my uncle, was his objectivity, sense of humour and ability to paint a canvas of events with stunning clarity, always avoiding hate speech.
He was a patient and forgiving man, always filled with a vision of a united South Africa where the party Smuts had founded, the United Party, would lead to a union between English-speakers and Afrikaans-speakers.
This never happened, and Smuts was defeated in the 1948 general election after much gerrymandering of constituencies by the right-wing and often pro-Nazi Nationalist Party.
Henry stood for election in his constituency of Gezina on several occasions, but didn’t stand a chance of election, given the political landscape and structure and gracefully conceded defeat.
He succumbed to a very serious virus in the 1960s, which soon revealed he had suffered a stroke, and while fully mobile, he had lost his ability to speak. He died in the 1970s and will always be remembered as a great role model and inspiration.
It was his wish that we have his book published and distributed. If you would like a copy, please email Hayley Hynd -hayley@vcaconsulting.co.za.
Hayley Hynd is the great niece of Henry William Alexander Cooper
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