75th Anniversary of Royal Family Visit to South Africa Day 23

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 Day 23: 22nd February 1947

Programme

9.30am Train arrives at Worcester Train Station

10.30am Train leaves the station for the departure to a stopover near George (arriving next morning) 


This is a Saturday and I have not got a cover with the postmark dated 22nd February.

There are some useful books on the Royal Tour.

1. The Last Hurrah  by Graham Viney first published 2018 ISBN:978-1-47214-318-1

2. The Royal Family in Africa by Dermot Morrah published 1947 possible to still purchase (E-bay)

3.  The Royal Tour of South Africa by Les Pivnic. A Special Edition of South African Railways and Harbours Photo Journal. Published in Black and White ISBN 0-620-2337-9

Overnight the Train had been parked up in a special siding built by the South African Rail Board where water, lighting and phones were available. The stop was in the Breede River at a Vineyard.

This is the Details of Worcester from the Tourist Guide to South Africa that went with the Tour.

Worcester was in 1947 the centre of a great fruit growing area of Boland. The fruits grown were grapes, peaches, apricots and plums. Although there were only 18-19 thousand residents, there was a formal meeting on the station. Then the Royal Family did a tour of the town waving to all the residents and the tour of the town was repeated much to the delight of the waving and cheering crowds. 

One picture from the 1 hour stop captured by the ILN.


A picture of the Princesses with the train during a stop on its way to George


Now some photos from the personnel collection of J. Niehaus who was one of the Electrician's on the tour. Pictures of the Royal Train in Cape Town and leaving. 







Three covers dated 17th February 1947. Although the covers look similar there are differences. On the bottom line to the left it says only "Royal Family". Post Mark No3


This one has "Royal Family in South Africa" but the crown between Flags is covered in orange


This one has "Royal Family in South Africa" but the crown between Flags has an orange line.




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