Arthur Rolf Thiel

He joined the Government Service and his first appointment was to the Allerton Laboratory in Pietermaritzburg. In 1936 Arthur was first posted for six months to Port Elizabeth and then for six months to Cape Town to relieve senior staff members. His first field appointment to Port Shepstone commenced in October 1936 during which time he became engaged to Cynthia Coral Stott. In March 1937 he joined Jack Boswell in private practice in Johannesburg and on 13 November 1937 he married Cynthia. In May 1940 Arthur joined the Veterinary Corps and was placed in charge of the Veterinary Hospital at Roberts Heights outside Pretoria.

During 1943 he was transferred to military camps in Pietermaritzburg, East London and Durban where he was involved in overseeing mule transport. He accompanied one boat doing mule transport to India. After the war he opened a Veterinary Practice in Durban where he practised until his retirement in 1975.

Arthur’s first wife, Cynthia, passed away on 29 July 1970 and in 1973 he married the widow Elsa Lorraine Griffin. After his retirement in 1975 they farmed for 5 years at Bothas Hill after which they moved to Warner Beach. From 1983 to 1986 they lived in Oudtshoorn where they bought a house but then returned to Durban and settled in Amanzimtoti. Arthur’s second wife, Elsa (Bobs) passed away on 13 October 1990.