Delville Wood remembered
At a memorial service on Sunday, wreaths were laid to remember those who lost their lives in the Battle of Delville Wood and the sinking of the SS Mendi.
THE annual civic service hosted by the SA Legion on behalf of the eThekwini Mayor to remember the fallen from the Battle of Delville Wood and the sinking of the SS Mendi, was held on Sunday at the Cenotaph near the Durban City Hall.
The Battle of the Somme commenced on 1 July 1916. At Delville Wood the 1st South African Infantry Brigade was to show what that meant. Their feat can never be surpassed.
Shortly after midnight on 15 July 1916, the 1st South African Infantry Brigade, consisting of 121 officers and 3 153 men under the command of General Tim Lukin, was ordered to capture and to hold “at all costs” an area of the Somme known as Delville Wood.
What followed is a story of extraordinary heroism and endurance, a story of which South Africans may forever be proud. The Springboks, as they were known, attacked only to be met by a murderous artillery barrage and machine-gun and rifle fire from three sides. At one time, 400 shells landed in the wood every minute, reducing it to a wasteland. They dug in and withstood countless counter-attacks by vastly superior forces. They bravely held the line for a vital five nights and six days.
It cost the South Africans dearly, for when the Brigade was finally relieved and their ammunition completely spent, only five officers and 750 men, mostly walking wounded, were able to parade in front of their commander – a total of 2 373 casualties, made up of 1 709 severely wounded and 664 dead. Only about 200 terribly mutilated bodies were recovered from the wood.
The sinking of the SS Mendi, which took place on 21 February 1917, was South Africa’s worst maritime disaster. Tragically, 660 lives were lost.
At the service on Sunday, wreaths were laid in memory of those who lost their lives in these tragedies.
Do you want to receive news alerts via Telegram? Send us a message (not an sms) with your name and surname to 060 532 5535.
You can also join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have signed up for our news alerts you need to save the Berea Mail Telegram number as a contact to your phone, otherwise you will not receive our alerts
Here’s where you can download Telegram on Android or Apple.
To receive our free newsletter click here.
