H.A, van Ryneveld

[Dirk]

Am looking for any info about the above-mentioned South African pilot who served in the RFC . He is considered to be the founding member of the SAAF .
Where is Van Ryenveld buried and was any books published about van Ryneveld ?

[Graeme]

Sir Helperus Andrias Van Ryneveld BA BSc was born in the Orange Free State on 2 May 1891, the son of D J Van Ryneveld JP. He was educated at Grey College School and Grey University College and at Imperial College, University of London. He was commisioned into the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment on 2 September 1914 and transferred into the RFC in April 1915. He served in Egypt (Western Frontier and Palestine) October 1915 to June 1916, Salonika June to November 1916, Home Defence November 1916 to March 1917 then on the Western Front March 1917 to February 1919. He received the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette 1 January 1919), the Military Cross (London Gazette 3 June 1916), the Legion d'Honneur (London Gazette 15 July 1919), the Order of Leopold plus Croix de Guerre (London Gazette 15 July 1919), the Order of the Nile 4th Class and was entitled to wear the 1915 Star; he was Mentioned in Despatches six times.

He served in the capacity of South African liaison at the Air Ministry in London and between 4 February and 20 March 1920 flew from London to Cape Town via Cairo accompanied by Squadron Leader Christopher Quintin Brand. They started out in a Vickers Vimy but crashed at Wadi Haifa and had to wait 11 days for a replacement Vimy (provided by the South African government). This crashed at Bulawayo and they had to wait until 17 March before they were able to continue in a DH9 (also provided by the South African government) and reach Wynberg Aerodrome. They were subsequently given £5,000 in prize money and each received a Knighthood.

Van Ryneveld was a Director of the South African Air Force from 1921. He married a Miss Collard from Croydon, England.

I have no notes on his subsequent career.

Any relation with SAAF Lt Gen Sir Pierre van Ryneveld, who was in East Africa against the Italians in WW2?
AGO

[Graeme]

Speaking from memory, H A Van Ryneveld had a brother named Pierre (not sure if younger or older) so the age would be about right. If Van Ryneveld is not too common a name in South Africa, I would think the family connection to be a safe bet.