It was by chance that the SSS ladies overheard a conversation between two soldiers at a regular nightclub one evening; if they had their civilian driver’s license, they were eligible to get their Army U-License, provided, of course, they passed the test.
“You have to get that license, Peggy,” Audrey suggested very excitedly.
“I cannot imagine why you’d think I’d be able to handle a big Army truck Audrey, good gracious.”
“Oh come on Peggy, it won’t only be for big trucks, you can drive around in any Army vehicle. We can go out in the Jeep instead of always walking or catching a train.” Audrey almost begged.
“I will see in the morning,” Peggy replied, but her mind was already made up that she wanted to get the license.
It would be another week until the opportunity for Peggy to take the U-License test presented itself. She, the only female in the group, nervously stepped up to the Jeep while her friends watched from the sideline praying she passed. The men also waited on the sidelines hoping she would make a big mistake and mess up so badly the Corporal would be forced into using his uncouth language, and that they might get entertained.
“Get in the Jeep.” He practically shouted at Peggy.
Peggy hopped in as fast as a rabbit and sat glued to her seat while the Corporal instructed her on the various buttons and gears before she was permitted to switch it on. On her first attempt, Peggy stalled the Jeep, and it called for a raucous cheer from the men. They shouted things like “The Super Snob Society are so clever they can’t even drive.” The Corporal cussed neatly under his breath and wiped his brow. On the second attempt it started, and this time it was the ladies who cheered. With all the cheering coming from the sides the Corporal flung his arms in the air and verbally abused the cheerleaders, the Army and the fact that he had to babysit a woman let alone teach her to drive when he could be doing more important things.
Peggy’s legs were shaking as she took off down the gravel road fearing the next line of abuse that would be hurled at her from the Corporal. She kept her composure and her wits about her and slowly grated the gears into second, then third and eventually fourth. The Jeep jolted and bounced over the potholes and dips in the road. Peggy convinced herself that the Corporal purposely took her along this road to fail her. Constantly he wiped his brow and his face and held onto any solid part of the Jeep to keep himself from bouncing out of it.
Peggy cruised the Jeep into its parking place, and a great cheer exploded from the ladies and the men. The Corporal bolted out of the jeep as Peggy very lady-like slid off the seat and landed gently on her feet, straightening her skirt and blazer all in one movement. The Corporal held his clipboard up and finally cracked a wry smile on his face. “Well done Ms. Hatcher, you have passed.”
Peggy thanked him, took her certificate and walked back in haste waving the certificate in the air at all her cheerleaders.
“One of these days he is going to salute me,” Peggy said determinedly.
During lectures on the Filter room or Freddie as by now, they had all learned the nickname; there was always a debate as to the preference between a Radar Station or Freddie. Peggy, Audrey, Dorothy, Maisy and two of the other ladies, all had a strong liking for the Radar Station while the remaining four desperately desired to go to a Freddie. With their passing-out parade looming this debate intensified and all the pros and cons were discussed. The Radar Station’s pros were that it was more relaxed and when passes were granted they were permitted to wear civilian clothes, otherwise known as civvies. But, if you worked at a Freddie, you had to get permission to wear civvies. The Freddie pros were that you got to see and hear private information that no one else did. If there were a need to call in planes or boats to investigate suspicious movement in the oceans, you would know about it. At times, those at a Freddie were informed of ships sinking and planes that went down. Maisy shivered at the mere idea of being at a Freddie.
On a warm sunny Saturday afternoon, the ten ladies of the SSS marched out in perfect formation onto the parade ground at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town. Staff Sgt. Erasmus marched alongside them proud of the fact that he proved everyone wrong – he perfected their marching drill, and they performed it flawlessly. A lot of bets were lost after the SSS finally ended their marching drill; the Super Snob Society or the Secret Solemn Society had excelled. Even Maisy nervously completed her drill march without fault. When Staff Sgt. Erasmus finally called out, “At ease.” he cheated with a smirk and a very slight nod at the unit.
One by one the ladies of the SSS received their ranks of Sergeant and their postings, and as soon as the parade and presentations were over, they hastily opened their envelopes. Peggy, Audrey, Dorothy, and Maisy took one look at their papers then looked anxiously at one another. They all shouted “Silversands” out loud in unison and grabbed a group hug. It was too good to be true that the Army had stationed them all together. Quickly they held each other and said a prayer of huge thanks that God had heard their prayers. Out of the ten ladies of the SSS unit, the four friends were posted to Silversands Barracks and would work at the Silversands Radar Station. Two of the other ladies were posted to East London, two to Port Elizabeth and two to a Freddie in Cape Town. They were still rambling on about their post when a gruff voice cleared its throat behind them.
“Well done ladies yous deserves it.” Staff Sgt. Erasmus said saluting the ladies. They SSS unit laughed and saluted him back.
“Thank you, Staff Sgt.” The ladies said loudly in their formal Army tone.
“Now tells me wheres you going?” The ladies rallied around him telling him of their postings without revealing the unit. Maisy blushed in a bright red flush of color when she informed him of her posting. “I was waiting for you to’s salute wif da wrong hand.” He said to Maisy after she spoke.
Maisy laughed, stood to attention and saluted the Staff Sergeant. “I wouldn’t dare Staff Sgt.” She belted out as loud as anyone had ever heard her speak before. Staff Sgt. Erasmus’s chest ballooned almost to the point of popping off the shirt buttons he laughed so loud and so hard.
They celebrated their passing-out and their ranks at the Stardust Nightclub in Cape Town. Dancing the night away and enjoying the fact that they were now Sergeants in a very secret society. Occasionally, someone would pass them by and pass remarks such as “Shoo be careful what you say here; the Secret Solemn Society is present.” To that, the ladies would raise their glasses and cheer. By now they were used to these rude remarks. At first, it hurt them terribly but over the period of the training courses they had learned that it was only said because they held such secrecy and this was not something the soldiers (and even most of the top brass) of the South African Defense Force were used to yet.
The very next day the ten friends of the SSS unit packed their kit-bags and their Ditty boxes and broke up their group forever.