Harold Strachan

South African writer (1925-2020)

Robert Harold Lundie "Jock" Strachan (1 December 1925 – 7 February 2020) was a South African writer and anti-apartheid activist. He flew for the South African Air Force during World War II. He became Umkhonto we Sizwe's first explosives expert. He put in jail for sabotage, and after his release he served another sentence for telling a journalist about poor prison conditions.

Harold Strachan
An elderly but fit-looking white man with a beard, in mid-sentence
A still from an interview with Strachan in 2010
Born
Robert Harold Lundie Strachan[1]

(1925-12-01)1 December 1925
Died7 February 2020(2020-02-07) (aged 94)
NationalitySouth African
Occupations
  • Artist
  • Anti-apartheid activist
  • Writer
Notable work
Criminal chargeSabotage
Criminal penalty3 years prison
Criminal statusReleased
Spouses
AllegianceSouth Africa
Service/branch
RankLieutenant (SAAF)

He wrote two semi-autobiographical books, and completed the Comrades Marathon twice, winning a medal once.

Strachan died from liver disease-related problems on 7 February 2020 at the age of 94.[2]

References change

  1. Molver (2010), p. 18.
  2. Harold Strachan obituary

Other websites change