In 1797 a decision was made to establish a permanent military base on Wynberg Hil1. 4 It was well placed between Simon's Bay and Cape Town and offered a good view of the False Bay coastline. Silver trees were cut from the government woods at Witte boom to serve as the skele- WYNBERG MILITARY BASE AND THE ARMY OFFICERS' CLUB Private R.W. Brann* Wynberg Military Base is, with the exception of the Castle, the oldest military establishment in South Africa. Its history has long been neglected. This

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... aper presents a short discussion of some of the highlights in the camp's history which spans almost two hundred years. Unfortunately, the original buildings constructed at the base between 1797 and 1807 have been demolished; a few of those built in the latter half of the nineteenth century still remain scattered inbetween the more modern architecture. One building of note is the Victorian style Garrison Officers' Mess (now called the Army Officers' Club) which was declared a National Monument in 1969 and celebrated its centenary on 21 st November 1988.