Museum of military history

Symbolic home of soldiers and veterans worldwide

- Ian Hughes

One of the nation's least explored or visited centers of excellence is the National Museum of Military History. Or simply the Military Museum.

Situated in close proximity to the Johannesburg Zoo in the quietly affluent suburb of Saxonwold, its vaguely musty, slightly run-down air of quiet dignity is a stark contrast to its opulent surroundings.

It does, of course, commemorate war, its innate heroism and its innate waste and the field guns, tanks, airplanes, and the rest that it houses are—it must be remembered—instruments of death.

But these mute artifacts of destruction are really a reflection of the violent nature of humanity, albeit frequently redeemed by the nobility of sacrifice.

So it is inevitable that a museum such as this would evoke a somber contemplation of our follies and our history underlines this over and over and over again.

And yet at the same time often glorified by singular acts of monumental courage and bravery which leave us aghast and elevated.

The museum is administered under the quiet authority of Allan Sinclair, a 37-year veteran of the museum and military veteran himself. Formerly a curator at the museum, then acting director briefly before his permanent appointment to director earlier this year.

He spoke to us of the museum, its challenges, and its mission.

"Historically funded by the department of education but today as one of the Ditsong collective of 10 national museums we are funded by the department of sport, arts & culture.

"But sadly never quite enough and so must rely on visitors and other fundraising activities. We're always battling for funds.

"There is regrettably a widespread ignorance of the museum and of what we offer so we look for every opportunity to communicate to schools and the public.