OUDTSHOORN NEWS - A deeply sentimental painting, belonging to a former Rhodesian Special Air Service (SAS) trooper and his wife, has gone missing.

The couple is now appealing to the public for help in locating the treasured artwork after receiving information that it may be in Oudtshoorn.

Torty King, a highly regarded trooper who served in C Squadron, 1 (Rhodesian) Special Air Service (SAS) Regiment during the Rhodesian Bush War, and his wife Joan moved to Australia in 2019. Before relocating, the couple stored several of their belongings in Port Elizabeth at the MESCA Winston Churchill Cottages.

According to Joan, the painting, created by Torty’s mother as a wedding gift for Torty and Joan, was among the items that were stored.

The artwork took her six months to complete and held immense personal value to the couple.

The painting was later discovered to have been stolen from the storage location. After years without any leads, the couple recently received information suggesting that the artwork might now be in the Oudtshoorn area.

Torty King Photo supplied

Torty’s life story adds to the emotional value of the piece. During his service with the Rhodesian SAS, he was badly injured in a shooting incident during the Rhodesian Bush war on 23 December 1976. The attack left him with several serious injuries, including the loss of an eye, while two of his close friends were killed in the incident.

Due to the deep personal history attached to the painting, the couple is eager to recover the artwork and is appealing to the public for assistance.

A reward of R10 000 is being offered to anyone who can help locate the painting or provide information that leads to its recovery.

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the artwork is urged to contact Billy Grant on 072 446 7117.

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