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Here is an extract from Wikipedia regarding South Africa’s involvement in World War II:
On the eve of World War II, the Union of South Africa found itself in a unique political and military
quandary. While it was closely allied with Great Britain, being a co-equal Dominion under the 1931
Statute of Westminster with its head of state being the British king, the South African Prime Minister
on 1 September 1939 was J.B.M. Hertzog – the leader of the pro-Afrikaner and anti-British National
Party. The National Party had joined in a unity government with the pro-British South African Party
of Jan Smuts in 1934 as the United Party. Hertzog's problem was that South Africa was
constitutionally obligated to support Great Britain against Nazi Germany. The Polish-British
Common Defense Pact obligated Britain, and, in turn, its dominions, to help Poland if attacked by the
Nazis. When Adolf Hitler's forces attacked Poland on 1 September 1939, Britain declared war on
Germany two days later. A short but furious debate unfolded in South Africa, especially in the halls
of power in the Parliament of South Africa. It pitted those who sought to enter the war on Britain's
side, led by Smuts, against those who wanted to keep South Africa neutral, if not pro-Axis, led by
Hertzog.

Declaration of war against the Axis (Germany, Italy and Japan)
On 4 September, the United Party caucus refused to accept Hertzog's stance of neutrality in World
War II and deposed him in favor of Smuts. Upon becoming Prime Minister, Smuts declared South
Africa officially at war with Germany and the Axis. He immediately set about fortifying South Africa
against any possible German sea invasion because of South Africa's global strategic importance
controlling the long sea route around the Cape of Good Hope.
John Vorster and other members of the pro-Nazi Ossewabrandwag strongly objected to South
Africa's participation in World War II and actively carried out sabotage against Smuts' government.
Smuts took severe action against the Ossewabrandwag movement and jailed its leaders, including
Vorster, for the duration of the war...

Although there was no conscription there was enormous pressure for South African boys to
volunteer and the older Anderson boys felt duty bound to join up. So Gordon, Lorrie, Vincent
and Douglas were sent off to fight, as were Stan Butcher (known as Butch), the fiancé then
husband of Tilly, and Jimmy Hart, the fiancé of Vera. They all eventually came home, relatively
unscathed, and the Andersons could breathe again and celebrate.
There was enormous excitement awaiting the Boys: the Girls were feverish with anticipation as
they set about cooking a feast with Ida at the helm and everyone joined in with laying the
enormous dining table and preparing Welcome Home treats. My Mother was more than a little
divided in her feelings as over the road our little family in 30 Berg Street was also grieving for
my Father’s brothers who did not return home. It was a relief to get to the celebration where
there was only happiness and where I at the age of five could meet some of my uncles for the
first time. I who had come from such a quiet Hodgkiss family was a little intimidated by these
loud men with their noisy laughter as the uncles vied with one another with their stories and
Grandpa Jack joined in the fun. Serious stories of escape and prisoner of war camps became
hilarious as these soldiers released their tension in laughter. It was not the end of the tension
and stress for each of them but just for this night there was only happiness and relief.
The Hodgkiss family was not so fortunate; not only had they already lost two sons, one as a
baby and later Sidney at the age of 25 in 1924 of asthma. And now the War indirectly claimed
Cyril in 1942 and then Albert of a heart attack in 1944. Albert left his widow, Linda of the red
hair who was Jack’s sister. The only sons left were Bertie, who had been adopted as a baby, and
Les who was a year younger.

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