Wine, women, Bot River and the RAF Catalinas
Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2021 3:36 pm
What does a South African Wine, No 262 Squadron RAF and Bot River in the Overberg of the Western Cape have in common? Quite a bit actually.
Today the area is a tranquil, very picturesque, haven with some some wonderful fishing and a bird/nature sanctuary with good hotels nearby in Onrust and Hermanus, Well worth a visit where one might quaff some Benguela Cove Catalina Semillon.A bit of background on Bot River
In 1674 the kraal of Captain Klaas/Dorha was recorded just west of the Bot River. The Hesseque people frequently camped on the banks of the Bot River and watered their cattle. They called the river Gouga, meaning “much butter”, which was then translated by the early travellers into Botter and later shortened to Bot. The old Mill in the village of Bot River is the location of the cattle trading post, where VOC (Dutch East India Company) obtained cattle from the Khoekhoe.
Bot River during the Second World War
The Allied Forces’ main supply line between Britain and Europe was via the Cape of Good Hope. Two separate U-boat packs were assigned by Germany to attack the route resulting in tremendous casualties due to the lack of aerial patrol. In 1943 Britain sent out RAF squadron 262 with Catalina flying boats, which were on lease from the USA. The main operating base was in Durban with subsidiaries at Langebaan and St Lucia. The Botriver lagoon was established as an emergency base for the landing and refuelling of Catalina flying boats. It was occasionally used as an advanced operating base. It was an essential link in the patrol, and when major convoys passed a number of planes would be stationed there. Landing ramps were built on the site of the present Lake Marina Boat Club in Fisherhaven. Other facilities included a slipway, workshops and stores. The RAF detachment comprising 14 men was accommodated at the Onrust River Hotel. As the RAF was only supposed to have training schools in South Africa, SAAF squadron 35 was twinned with them, and every flight carried both RAF and South Africans. The base was in full operation until February 1945, when both the RAF squadron 262 and SA squadron 35 were transferred to Britain. In 1944 the Bot River and Klein River lagoons broke open and the main road bridge at Onrust was washed away. Hermanus was cut off for by road and telecommunications were down for three days. Assistance was offered by the RAF of 262 squadron – their vehicles had Aldis Signal Lamps and were used to send messages until a rough walking bridge was erected between Hermanus and Onrust. No physical evidence of the Catalina flying boat base remains today.
The wine is named after the long-lived Flying Boat that was on lease to the RAF (Royal Airforce) and operated from the Bot River Lagoon during the Second World War. The Catalina was used for coastal patrols and aerial support of the Allied convoys carrying supplies between Europe, Africa and the East. The Lagoon was set up as an advanced emergency base in February 1943 and remained in full operation until February 1945.
When the Allied Forces sailed past the Cape of Storms, up to three Catalinas operated from the Lagoon. Of the fourteen RAF men stationed at the base, three married South African women and returned to South Africa after the war.
